Please, Mr. President, ‘make it rain candy’

NEW YORK —  End war, forever. Make the planet greener. Please help my dad find work. Make it rain candy!

Thousands of kids detailed their hopes and expectations for President Obama in letters and drawings as part of a “Dear Mr. President” project, with 150 chosen for publication in a free e-book being released today, on Presidents Day.

Most had tall orders for the new guy in the White House.

Anthony Pape, 10, of DuBois, Pa., offered: “I hope that we will have no war ever again. I mean why are we fighting why can’t we all be friends.”

Fellow 10-year-old Sasha Townsend of Soquel, Calif., had a similar request, and then some.

“I would appreciate it if you would try to make this a greener planet and try to bring home the troops and end the war,” the fifth-grader wrote. “I am very luckey because I am not part of a military family, but it saddens me to hear about all the people who die in Iraque and know that somewhere In the world people are greiving over a lost family member.”

Seven-year-old Aaron Van Blerkom’s letter was simpler -- but no less problematic.

“Dear Mr. Obama,” the Pasadena first-grader began, “Please Make it rain candy!”

The “Dear Mr. President” project was a joint effort between the National Education Assn. and KidThing.com. A special hard-copy edition of the book will be sent to the White House for Obama.