Title: So You Want to be President
Author: Judith St. George
Illustrator: David Small
Publisher & Year of Publication: Philomel Books / 2000
Genre: Children’s Nonfiction
Recommended Audience: Ages 7 - 12
Summary: This book is filled with many facts and humorous stories about previous presidents. For example, it explains why President Nixon was impeached and how President Taft had to order a larger bath tub because so was so big. The author emphasizes how each president was special and unique in their own way.
Evaluation/Reflection: Be careful of the original version published in 2000. The book claims that President Clinton was impeached, since the book was published in 2000 it was probably written under the assumption that he would be. However, it was updated and revised in 2004.
Memorable Literary Element: The use of humor used in this collection of biographies. Opposed to other biographies, it is also arranged by topic rather than chronological order.
Illustrations: The book is illustrated with humorous water color cartoon paintings and drawings.
Review: Just in time for the presidential election, St. George (In the Line of Fire: Presidents Lives at Stake, 1999, etc.) uses the experiences of our 42 presidents to counsel youngsters harboring that uniquely American desire—to be president. Reflecting on the “good things about being President and . . . bad things about being President . . .” she offers a pleasingly diverse slate of facts and figures for her readers’ consideration: age (the oldest—Reagan; the youngest—Teddy Roosevelt), size (the smallest—Madison—at 100 lbs., contrasting with Taft, at over 300), career choices (generals, lawyers, haberdashers, farmers), first names (six Jameses, four Johns, four Williams, two Georges, two Franklins), education (nine presidents never went to college, while one—Andrew Johnson—“didn’t learn to write until after he was married”). At the close of this sometimes wry, sometimes sober survey (including impeachments, wars, and assassinations), St. George encourages: “If you want to be president—a good president—pattern yourself after the best . . . [those who] have asked more of themselves than they thought they could give . . . They [who] have had the courage, spirit, and will to do . . . [what’s] right.” Small’s (The Huckabuck Family, 1999, etc.) pitch-perfect caricatures, rendered in a mix of watercolor, ink, and pastel, expand on the personalities and support the narrative’s shifting moods. There’s a helpful key to every illustration and a presidential chronology from Washington to Clinton. Even a few “non-presidents” are featured: Pat Nixon and Henry Kissinger watch (with future President Ford) President Nixon bowl in the White House lanes, and there’s a wonderfully wry glimpse of two “also-ran’s”—Jesse Jackson and Geraldine Ferraro—excluded from an across-the-centuries presidential reception by a velvet rope. A superb, kid-centered survey and a perfect way to enliven the perennial class unit on the presidents.
Promotion Idea: This book would be great for a bulletin board during presidential elections or for Presidents Day. Fun facts could be listed from the book as well.
Acquisition: Public library or currently available on Amazon for $14.66 (hardcover).
Author: Judith St. George
Illustrator: David Small
Publisher & Year of Publication: Philomel Books / 2000
Genre: Children’s Nonfiction
Recommended Audience: Ages 7 - 12
Summary: This book is filled with many facts and humorous stories about previous presidents. For example, it explains why President Nixon was impeached and how President Taft had to order a larger bath tub because so was so big. The author emphasizes how each president was special and unique in their own way.
Evaluation/Reflection: Be careful of the original version published in 2000. The book claims that President Clinton was impeached, since the book was published in 2000 it was probably written under the assumption that he would be. However, it was updated and revised in 2004.
Memorable Literary Element: The use of humor used in this collection of biographies. Opposed to other biographies, it is also arranged by topic rather than chronological order.
Illustrations: The book is illustrated with humorous water color cartoon paintings and drawings.
Review: Just in time for the presidential election, St. George (In the Line of Fire: Presidents Lives at Stake, 1999, etc.) uses the experiences of our 42 presidents to counsel youngsters harboring that uniquely American desire—to be president. Reflecting on the “good things about being President and . . . bad things about being President . . .” she offers a pleasingly diverse slate of facts and figures for her readers’ consideration: age (the oldest—Reagan; the youngest—Teddy Roosevelt), size (the smallest—Madison—at 100 lbs., contrasting with Taft, at over 300), career choices (generals, lawyers, haberdashers, farmers), first names (six Jameses, four Johns, four Williams, two Georges, two Franklins), education (nine presidents never went to college, while one—Andrew Johnson—“didn’t learn to write until after he was married”). At the close of this sometimes wry, sometimes sober survey (including impeachments, wars, and assassinations), St. George encourages: “If you want to be president—a good president—pattern yourself after the best . . . [those who] have asked more of themselves than they thought they could give . . . They [who] have had the courage, spirit, and will to do . . . [what’s] right.” Small’s (The Huckabuck Family, 1999, etc.) pitch-perfect caricatures, rendered in a mix of watercolor, ink, and pastel, expand on the personalities and support the narrative’s shifting moods. There’s a helpful key to every illustration and a presidential chronology from Washington to Clinton. Even a few “non-presidents” are featured: Pat Nixon and Henry Kissinger watch (with future President Ford) President Nixon bowl in the White House lanes, and there’s a wonderfully wry glimpse of two “also-ran’s”—Jesse Jackson and Geraldine Ferraro—excluded from an across-the-centuries presidential reception by a velvet rope. A superb, kid-centered survey and a perfect way to enliven the perennial class unit on the presidents.
Promotion Idea: This book would be great for a bulletin board during presidential elections or for Presidents Day. Fun facts could be listed from the book as well.
Acquisition: Public library or currently available on Amazon for $14.66 (hardcover).