St. George, Judith. David Small (illustrator). So You Want
to Be President? (2004). New York:
Philomel. 56 pages. ISBN: 0-399-24317-8.
Annotation
Previous Presidents of the United States are introduced in this
picturebook with lots of facts, trivia, caricatures, and entertaining details.
My thoughts
I like informational picturebooks and especially those that make learning
classroom knowledge easy and enjoyable. This book accomplishes this and
presents random facts will help children to remember the 42 previous presidents.
For example, some of the memorable and unusually funny facts are: George
Washington’s love for dancing, Theodore Roosevelt’s son bringing a horse into
the White House elevator, William Howard Taft getting a head of cabbage thrown
at him during a speech, and George Bush’s dislike of broccoli. By making the
former presidents into relatable people, St. George makes this a successfully
entertaining informational book. There is a great deal of information by the
end of the book and most children will be able to remember these new facts. I
also liked the appendix at the end of the book lists the former presidents and
gives factual information (such as birth place and year, dates in office, and
what the president is most remembered for).
Artwork
This Caldecott Medal winning illustrations by David Small really adds
sense of humor and bring this book to life. Small’s portrays these former
presidents as caricature’s with inflated heads and exaggerated expressions.
These caricatures will help with future identification of presidents through
photographs or newspaper cartoons. The colors are also high intensity and bright
which also make the picture interesting.
Curricular
connections
Grade 5: American history- Presidents
Reading level/ Interest Age
Grade 1 and up/
Age 6 and up.
Reviews and Awards
Winner of the
2001 Caldecott Medal
ALA Notable
Children's Book, 2001
Media: Ink, watercolor and pastel chalk
Genre: Juvenile picture book, Nonfiction
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