Don't Know Much About the Presidents [Hardcover]

Kenneth C. Davis (Author), Pedro Martin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Don't Know Much About

• Did George Washington really chop down the cherry tree?
• How was James Madison a father if he didn't have any children?
• Where in the White House did William Howard Taft get stuck?

HAIL TO THE CHIEF! The commander in chief is the leader of our nation the president of the United States. Here's your chance to learn about the presidents' inaugurations and important political achievements, as well as their nicknames, hobbies and even what kind of foods they did (and did not) eat. Discover how life in the White House has changed, and the diverse ways the First Ladies helped America.

Best-selling author Kenneth C. Davis packs fan facts and coot quotes into his signature question-and-answer format. Detailed timelines make it easy to follow the major landmarks in American history. Presidential portraits and humorous illustrations make the design very inviting.

Who knows? After you learn so much about the presidents, maybe you'll want to run for office someday, too!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Ready for some quirky facts about the presidents of the United States? Andrew Jackson had to sneak out of his own inauguration party and sleep in a hotel because his fans got so wild. Poker-playing Warren G. Harding once gambled away a set of White House china. Lyndon B. Johnson was an auto mechanic, a grape picker, and a high-school teacher before becoming president.

Kenneth C. Davis's tremendously popular Don't Know Much About... series takes on America's commanders in chief in this entertaining, often enlightening guide to the 43 presidents. Each president is allotted a page or three, which includes years in office, highlights of his time in power, and weird bits of trivia, including George Washington's propensity for brushing his horse's teeth every morning (although he himself didn't believe much in bathing) and spiffy dresser Chester Arthur's habit of changing his pants many times a day. A timeline runs along the bottom of most pages, describing major milestones in American history. It's fun and educational, how about that? (Ages 6 to 10) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly

Kenneth C. Davis once again uses a Q&A format, this time detailing the lives of the 43 men who have led the nation, in Don't Know Much About the Presidents, illus. by Pedro Martin. Alongside amusing stories (e.g., "By the time Washington became president, he had only one tooth of his own"), each section also includes each president's term, a timeline of major events and opens with a presidential quote.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition (December 24, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060286156
• ISBN-13: 978-0060286156
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 9.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #831,978 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ken Davis is the author of Don't Know Much About History, which spent 35 consecutive weeks on The New York Times bestseller list, and gave rise to the Don't Know Much About series, which has a combined in-print total of 4.3-million copies.Ken Davis has been dubbed The King of Knowing by Amazon.com because he becomes a subject expert in all of the areas he writes about; the Bible, Mythology, the Universe, the Civil War, for example. Ken has also been a Wise Man; on Who Wants to be a SuperMillionaire and a Life Line on the regular edition of the show. Ken Davis's success aptly makes the case that Americans don't hate history, just the dull version they slept through in class. But many of them want to know now because their kids are asking them questions they can't answer. Davis's approach is to refresh us on the subjects we should have learned in school. He does it by busting myths, setting the record straight and always remembering that fun is not a four-word letter word. A somewhat well-kept secret: Ken Davis never graduated from college, but he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Concordia College in Bronxville, where he was also asked to give a commencement address. Ken Davis is a frequent media guest. He has appeared on hundreds of television and radio shows, including NPR, The Today Show, Fox and Friends, CNN, and The Discovery Channel. He has been a commentator for All Things Considered, and has written for the New York Times. In addition to his adult titles, he writes the Don't Know Much About Children's series published by HarperCollins. He lives in New York with his wife. They have two grown children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything You Wanted to Know about Our Presidents, and More, January 20, 2002

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Don't Know Much About the Presidents (Hardcover)

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!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is the Best, May 12, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Don't Know Much About the Presidents (Hardcover)

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!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Intro to the Presidents, April 22, 2003

By 

Avid Reader (Weston, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Don't Know Much About the Presidents (Hardcover)

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!