Daughters of Gottheimer, Homeland Security Secretary co-write children’s book on bipartisanship

The daughters of a Democratic congressman from New Jersey and a conservative Republican who serves as Donald Trump’s Secretary of Homeland Security have turned their own friendship into a new children’s book on the power of bipartisan cooperation.

Ellie Gottheimer, a rising high school senior from Tenafly and the daughter of Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly), co-wrote Shmoo & Ozzie Go to Washington” with Larra Mullin, a rising senior from Oklahoma and the daughter of Markwayne Mullin, a former U.S. Senator and congressman.

The two became friends when their fathers served together in the House.

The picture book, released Tuesday for readers ages 4 to 8, is the debut title from Voices of Tomorrow Press, a publishing venture the teens describe as “built by young authors, for young authors.”

The story follows two dogs, named for the girls’ real pets, who learn to set aside their differences to save a beloved dog park — a gentle echo of the real-life partnership between their fathers.

Gottheimer and Mullin have built a rare reputation for bipartisan dealmaking, from quietly pushing a Ukraine aid package through Congress in 2024 to a joint TV interview last fall urging Washington to lower its political temperature. Mullin was confirmed by the Senate this spring to lead the Department of Homeland Security, succeeding Kristi Noem.

“This heartwarming story introduces kids — and their parents — to the power of bipartisanship,” the authors said in a statement, “showing how working together, even when we disagree, can make a real difference.”

Gottheimer plays field hockey and named “Shmoo” after her dog, Rosie.  Mullin, a competitive wrestler and the fourth of six siblings, named “Ozzie” after one of her family’s dogs.

Proceeds from the book, now available on Amazon, will benefit Project Night Night, a nonprofit that each year provides tens of thousands of homeless children with a security blanket, a stuffed animal, and an age-appropriate book to support their early literacy and sense of security.