Module 3: So You Want to Be President?

Image retrieved from childrensbookalmanac.com

Book Summary: This book summarizes various aspects of being President of the United States, such as features of the White House, perks, drawbacks, duties, all while interweaving history and background of past presidents throughout the information. The book is full of fun anecdotes about different presidents. It talks about which presidents were frugal and which filled the White House with expensive knickknacks; it also discusses presidents' hobbies, including a funny story about a reporter stealing John Quincy Adams' clothes while he was skinny dipping in the Potomac. This book is full of interesting facts and presents a ton of American history in a fun, easy to read way. 

APA Reference: 

St. George, J. (2000). So you want to be president? New York: Philomel Books. 

Impressions: I thought this one was of the most unique books I've read so far. It was a fascinating read, even for an adult, and I learned a lot of interesting information about presidents and the presidency that I didn't previously know. I think children would also like it and find it interesting and fun to read. It's presents the information in a fast-paced way, and a reader doesn't have to read it cover to cover or even in chronological order; you can skip around and still learn a lot and enjoy the book. It won the Caldecott medal, so obviously it has great illustrations, done by David Small, and one reason I chose this book to write about this week was how well the illustrations complement the book. They are done in caricature style, and look like political cartoons you would see in a newspaper or magazine. They embellish the anecdotes in the text; for example, on the page that talks about Warren Harding being handsome, he is depicted as the winner of a "Presidential Beauty Contest" in a king's robe with a crown and scepter, waving to a crowd of adoring fans.  A reader could easily flip through this book just looking at the illustrations and completely appreciate it, and, more than that, the pictures would make someone want to read the text to find out what the illustrations are referring to. 

Professional Review: 

"Curious tidbits of personal information and national history combine with humorously drawn caricatures to give this tongue-in-cheek picture book a quirky appeal. 'There are good things about being President and there are bad things about being President.' So begins a walk through a brief history of facts, successes, oddities, and mishaps. For example, most readers won't know that William Howard Taft weighed over 300 pounds and ordered a specially made bathtub. Small's drawing of a naked Taft being lowered into a water-filled tub by means of a crane should help them remember. Another spread depicts a men's shop where Andrew Johnson (a tailor) fits Ronald Reagan (an actor) for a suit while Harry Truman (a haberdasher) stands behind the counter. While the text exposes the human side of the individuals, the office of the presidency is ultimately treated with respect and dignity. A list of presidents with terms of office, birthplace, date of birth and death, and a one-sentence summary of their accomplishments is provided. This title will add spark to any study of this popular subject."--Alicia Eames, New York City Public Schools. 

Eames, A. (2000). St. George, Judith: So you want to be president? [Review of the book So you want 

     to be president?, by J. St. George]. School Library Journal, 46(8), 206-207.

Library Uses: This book could be used as introduction to unit or activity about U.S. presidents. The librarian could read the book, or excerpts from the book, to groups of students. Then, the students could choose a president to research and create a project about (which would also be a good way to teach/enhance research skills). This could be done around President's Day, and the projects could be displayed around the school. Art classes could even be involved, and students could create caricatures of their chosen presidents, inspired by the book's illustrations, to accompany the displays.