Customer Reviews

Don't Know Much About the Presidents (revised edition)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Do you know who was the youngest president ever elected to office, who served the shortest term, and who served the longest? Do you know which president had fifteen children, which was an avid fisherman, and who brought a goose, wallaby, donkey, lion cub, raccoon, two cats, twelve dogs, and birds to the White House when he moved in? The answers to these questions and much, much more can be found in Kenneth Davis' marvelously entertaining and engaging, Don't Know Much About The Presidents. Written in an easy to read, question and answer, conversational format, Mr Davis packs this book chock full of historical information, fun facts, and trivia. Learn about each of our 43 president's talents, idiosyncracies and family, his inauguration, important achievements, and life in the White House during the time he served. Each biographical spread is complemented by Pedro Martin's charmingly witty and humorous illustrations that enhance the text and just add to all the fun. With a detailed timeline highlighting important and interesting historical events running continuously along the bottom of each page, Don't Know Much About The Presidents is a treasure trove of fun and information that's perfect for kids 8 and up. So find out which president's good luck charm was a red carnation, and enjoy!

I like this book because it tells me all the facts about
the presidents and I love to study presidents. My 14 year
old sister needed help with her report on Theodore Roosevelt and
Franklin D. Roosevelt and she asked me because she knew I would
know some things! I have checked "Don't know much about the
Presidents" out of the library and since I have to take it back,
my dad said he would buy me my own copy to keep!

This book is a wonderful introduction to learning about the presidents, even for younger children who express an interest. Our five-year-old is a good reader, and can manage much of this book herself. A great one to keep in the back of the car for short (or long) trips. Or pick a president each night to learn about at bedtime. This book is written at a level that can be appreciated by the younger set, but because it's got a sense of humor and some fun facts about each president, will also be enjoyed by older children (and adults!). We're enjoying re-learning about the presidents again with our daughter!

My 8-year-old daughter has literally memorized this book. I think what's so engaging are the quirky facts and the way they're presented. She has now asked me to get her any books I come across by Kenneth Davis. What more can you ask for: a book that is so educational but one that kids will read over and over, all of their own initiative.

This book is a wonderful introduction to learning about the presidents, even for younger children who express an interest. Our five-year-old is a good reader, and can manage much of this book herself. A great one to keep in the back of the car for short (or long) trips. Or pick a president each night to learn about at bedtime. This book is written at a level that can be appreciated by the younger set, but because it's got a sense of humor and some fun facts about each president, will also be enjoyed by older children (and adults!). We're enjoying re-learning about the presidents again with our daughter!

This is an educational book that tells you about the presidents in a fun way. It gives interesting facts about their lives; like,for example, did you know George Washington's dentures were made of elephant and walrus tusks, cow, hippo, and even human teeth?! This book includes important dates, events, and timelines. Great illustrations. I would highly recommend you read this book for knowledge, and a few laughs!

This book is a lot of fun. I bought it for my 9 year old who was less than enthused when I showed her what I bought. But once she started reading it, I had to make her put it down to go to bed. The last 3 nights she's picked this one first and is rattling off interesting facts about presidents she hadn't even studied up to this point. There are plenty of books with facts on the presidents, but this one is a lighter book with interesting personal and sometimes silly facts about the presidents. It's a great coffee table book for adults also since it's easy to pick it up and read any page.

An age-appropriate book for my six-year old daughter. The amusing illustrations and little-known facts about the presidents keep her (and me) interested.

Reviewed by Evan Weldon (age 7) for Reader Views (2/09)

"Don't Know Much About the Presidents" by Kenneth C. Davis gives information about all 44 U.S. Presidents, including our new President Barrack Obama. Some of the information is funny. James Madison was about as tall as a pipsqueak. He weighed less than a hundred pounds and was about the size of my eleven-year-old brother. George Washington never had a toothache as president because he had only one real tooth. There was plenty of serious information in the book, too, and there was a timeline of things that happened during each person's presidency.

There are funny drawings and cartoons. George Bush was a World War 2 fighter pilot and survived four plane crashes. There is a funny drawing of a burning plane and George Bush as the pilot saying "Whoops. Again." There was also a very funny drawing of William Howard Taft, our fattest president, stuck in the bathtub! (He was 332 pounds!)

I would recommend "Don't Know Much About the Presidents" by Kenneth C. Davis to people who want to learn more about the presidents and politics. This is a 63-page book with lots of information. It took about two hours to read the book out loud but it only seemed like five minutes because it was so good. You'll keep thinking about this book even after you finish reading it!

This is a great introduction to presidents as others have said, but also to American history. The best thing about it is the time line provided with each president that lets kids know what was going on at the time of that president's term in office. It is fun to hear my kids tell others the silly facts they have learned about the presidents and it's impressive that a book could make this much impact on kids. They are learning and enjoying it! That always gets 5 stars in my book!