Module 1/Genre 1 - Picture Books

So You Want to Be President? – Book Review

Bibliography

St. George, Judith. 2000. So You Want to Be President? Ill. by David Small. New York: Philomel Books. ISBN 0399234071

Plot Summary

In this informative and light-hearted picture book, different facts about Presidents of the United States are presented in humorous ways. Information from physical characteristics to behavior to their background is revealed in ways that show that anyone can become president. Anecdotes are used throughout to help the readers feel a connection with our past presidents. So many different facts are presented that everyone has to feel some sort of connection with at least one president.

Critical Analysis

So many facts are presented in this book that make all the presidents seem real and personable. The author, St. George, also draws commonalities between presidents that served decades or centuries apart. St. George also uses quotes to show humor and the pros and cons of being president of our country. Also helpful, at the end of the book are the names of presidents in each illustration and a list of presidents with basic information added for quick reference.

David Small’s caricatures depict the presidents and a few other political figures. His use of exaggeration makes it easier to identify the presidents. His use of colors also adds to the feeling of each illustration. The illustration of Presidents Clinton and Nixon walking away from “Honest Abe” with their heads hung in shame and the dark mood set with color of course sets the picture of the paragraph about their dishonesty. The illustration of FDR’s profile shows his pure joy while still exaggerating his chin and squinted smile so you know who he is.

This would be a great book to share with any social studies class. This would be a wonderful resource for children from kindergarten to high school.

Review Excerpt(s)

Booklist: “…delightful illustrations, usually droll and sometimes hilarious, will draw children to the book and entertain them from page to page.”

The Horn Book: “Arranging historical tidbits in an attractive buffet, this well-timed book offers anecdotes both cautionary and guaranteed to attract attention and arouse interest.”

The New York Times: “'So You Want to Be President?' is easy enough to read even for children in the lower grades, but like many such books it is ideally enjoyed by a child with an adult. That way, its rich anecdotes provoke questions, answers, definitions, recollections and more anecdotes.”

Connections

-Lead a discussion with young children about what they have in common with presidents of the past. Share what things you have in common with different presidents.
-Lead a discussion with teens could to see if they think some of the presidents would not be president today and why. They could write responses about which president is the most inspirational to them.
-Have older art students draw caricatures of their favorite teacher.