Class President (Marvin Redpost (Prebound)) [Hardcover]

Louis Sachar (Author), Amy Wummer (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1999 | Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up | Series: Marvin Redpost (Prebound) (Book 5)

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Even though they have all come to school in holey clothes, Marvin and his third-grade class manage to impress their surprise visitor--the President of the United States.

--This text refers to the School & Library Binding edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-It's an unusual day at Marvin's school: everyone, including his teacher and the principal, is wearing something with holes in it. All come to regret "hole day" when they find out they will be having a surprise visitor-the President of the United States. As the teacher frantically tries to cover up the tear in her shirt that reveals her belly button, television crews enter the classroom. When the president arrives, he talks to the children about good citizenship and then allows time for questions. Marvin is so caught up in the excitement of the day that he forgets to go right home after school and finds himself in big trouble with his parents. All is forgiven, however, when his folks see him with the president on TV that night. Sachar exhibits a keen sense of the way a typical third grader thinks and he sprinkles the text with believable dialogue. Through a perfect blend of humor and thoughtful prose, he drives home the point of what good citizenship is without being didactic. The lively text is broken up periodically with black-and-white drawings. Despite its rather abrupt ending, this beginning chapter book will appeal to fans of the series.
Anne Knickerbocker, Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From Booklist

Marvin's third-grade class is celebrating "hole day" when the President of the United States pays them a surprise visit. A television crew films the action as the president leads the class in a discussion of good citizenship and answers their questions on a variety of topics. Sachar's wit brightens the book, but the humor never overwhelms his depiction of the small, everyday expressions of human nature and, in particular, the child's experiences, such as Marvin's simple enjoyment of "hole day"; his frustration when his parents won't listen to him; and the way his brain turns off when the president asks his name. An entertaining addition to a popular series of beginning chapter books. To be illustrated. Carolyn Phelan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 67 pages
• Publisher: Perfection Learning (March 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0780795806
• ISBN-13: 978-0780795808
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,179,067 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

author spotlight
Newbery Award-winning author Louis Sachar is the creator of the entertaining Marvin Redpost books as well as the much-loved There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom, winner of 17 child-voted state awards.

Louis Sachar's book Holes, winner of the 1999 Newbery Medal, the National Book Award, and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, is also an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, an ALA Quick Pick, an ALA Notable Book, and was made into a major motion picture.

A Few Words From Louis Sachar
Of all the characters from Holes, why did you choose to revisit Armpit in SMALL STEPS?
LS: I tend to write about underdogs. It seemed to me that life would be tough for an African-American teenager from a low-income family with a criminal record. Especially someone stuck with the name, "Armpit."
Although this new book is about a character from Holes, the two books are very different. How would you explain to a fan of Holes what to expect from SMALL STEPS?
LS: I can't. I'm no good at describing my books. Holes has been out now for seven years, and I still can't come up with a good answer when asked what that book is about.
Could you imagine future novels about any of the other boys?
Do you think about what Stanley is up to now?
LS: I don't think too much about Stanley or Zero. I left them in a good place. Although money doesn't bring happiness, or give meaning to someone's life, the problems Stanley and Zero face now (and I'm sure they do face many problems) are less interesting than those faced by someone like Armpit.
Plenty of teenagers fantasize about what it would be like to be a young rock star.
You portray it as lonely. Tell us about that decision.
LS: The media tends to portray the teenage world as one where drinking and sex is taken for granted. In fact, I think most teenagers don't drink, are unsure of themselves, and feel awkward around members of the opposite sex. I thought it was important to show Kaira, a rock star no less, as such a person. Her situation, in many ways, is made more difficult as she has no social contact with anyone her age. She is trapped in a world of agents, record producers, and hanger-ons.
I'm imagining that off all the books you've written, Holes is the one that has changed your life the most. Not only did it win the Newbery Medal, it's also simply a popular sensation. Is this assessment accurate? What is this novel's continuing impact on your life? Would you consider it the book that you are proudest of?
LS: Not counting Small Steps, I think Holes is my best book, in terms of plot, and setting, and the way the story revealed itself. It hasn't changed my life, other than that I have more money than I did before I wrote it. I'm still too close to Small Steps to compare it to Holes.
Why do you typically write only two hours each day?
LS: Small steps. Every time I start a new novel it seems like an impossible undertaking. If I tried to do too much too quickly, I would get lost and feel overwhelmed. I have to go slow, and give things a chance to take form and grow.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Chapter Book for Beginning Readers, October 22, 2001

By 

Wendy Pendygraft (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Class President (Marvin Redpost, No. 5) (A Stepping Stone Book(TM)) (Paperback)

Marvin Redpost is a third-grader at Dogwood Elementary School. This week has been a specialweek at Dogwood Elementary. Everyday they have worn something outrageous such as socks that do not match, and today is "hole day". Every one,including the teacher and principal,is wearing clothes with holes in them. The only problem is that there is going to be a suprise visit from the President of the United States.

This is a great chapter book for beginning readers. Even though the language is simple,LouisSachar makes an interesting and humorous tale that young readers will enjoy. Marvin Redpost and the other kids in Mrs. North's third-grade class are characters that almost any young reader will identify with and enjoy reading about.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I really like this book, May 18, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Class President (Marvin Redpost, No. 5) (A Stepping Stone Book(TM)) (Paperback)

I think this book is cool! In the book marvin does a big math proplem inclass. He gets it right. The class president said Marvin will probably be the next president. I like that idea!

By Tristan

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars WATCH OUT, THE PRESIDENT IS COMMING THROUGH, January 25, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Class President (Marvin Redpost, No. 5) (A Stepping Stone Book(TM)) (Paperback)

Marvin Redpost is going to school and it's "hole" day. EVERYONE has holes in their clothes. Then they get a surprise, the PRESIDENT OF THE UNINTED STATES was comming to their school. They have no time at all to change. Marvin becomes great friends with the President and then he gets on the T.V.! This was a wonderful book and it had wonderful details. A great time passer. Very, very funny!!!!!!