Product Details

• Actors: Stockard Channing, Senator Edward Kennedy, Joan Allen
• Directors: Scholastic
• Format: Animated, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: NEW VIDEO GROUP
• DVD Release Date: February 9, 2010
• Run Time: 76 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002Y06VIO
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,980 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Video Description

From KIDS FIRST!: Get an inside look at what it might be like to be the President of the United States. Scholastic Storybook Treasures has a long history of bringing award-winning children’s books to DVD. This collection focuses on Washington DC and the Presidency. In “So You Want to Be President?” we learn the pros and cons of the job. This title is great for recognizing Presidents as real people. It shows how the United States President comes in all shapes and sizes and how past Presidents’ different personalities contributed to the nation’s history. The title takes us through a day on Capitol Hill with a senator in Washington DC and also gives us the history of Esther Morris who got women to vote in the 1800s. “So You Want to Be President?” doesn’t glorify the Presidency in the least. It does show what an important job it is, but is brutally honest about successes and failures of past United States Presidents. It provides accurate facts and information. KIDS FIRST! Child Juror Comments: This DVD is about President’s and what they do. I thought it was good how it told you about the Presidents. It tells a story from a senator’s dog’s point of view. I loved that because I love dogs, and it was fun to see Washington from the dog’s viewpoint. It looked and sounded good. It showed what the Presidents looked like in cartoon animation like a caricature. I think my friends would like this because they would get better grades in social studies. My favorite part was when the girl wanted to become President, and she changed a few words in the song from “he” to “she.”

Product Description

Features include:

•MPAA Rating: NR
•Format: DVD
•Runtime: 76 minutes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulously Fun!, March 30, 2010

By 

Jennifer Bogart "@ Quiverfullfamily.com" (Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: So You Want to Be President... and More Stories to Celebrate American History (Scholastic Storybook Treasures) (DVD)

So You Want to Be President? is another absolutely spectacular release in the Scholastic Storybook Treasures series of DVDs which gather groups of animated children's book adaptations together on disc. This topically focused collection focuses upon American politics: the history of her past presidents, a modern look at Capitol Hill, a little girl's presidential aspirations, and one woman's journey towards voting equality.

"So You Want to be President" (26 minutes) is based upon the heavily awarded and well-loved children's picture book of the same title by Judith St. George. The playful use of illustrator David Small's caricatures, kid-friendly facts about past presidents, and a heaping dose of humor along with presidential trivia make this animated version an even bigger hit (if possible) than the book! Based on the 2000 edition of this title (there is an updated 2004 picture book available), this short film ends with George W. Bush's controversial election (Election 2000).

"My Senator and Me: A Dog's-Eye View of Washington, D.C." (26 minutes) is written Senator Edward M. Kennedy and follows him through his daily rounds through the eyes of his loyal and affable Portuguese water dog. Splash's playful perspective makes learning about the process of approving bills easy to understand and follow for young children.

"Madam President" (9 minutes and my six-year-old's favorite) follows a young girl's slightly megalomaniac aspirations to the presidency while "I Can Do That! Esther Morris Gets Women the Vote" (16 minutes) follows the true-life story of Esther Morris and her journey towards political equality for women the state of Wyoming.

The optional read-along sub-titling highlights each word as it is narrated, providing an English-rich environment for aspiring young readers. Bonuses include an interview with Lane Smith, author and illustrator of Madam President, and "Meet Senator Edward M. Kennedy and Splash" where young viewers get to see the senator and his loyal dog in live action rather than animation. A presidential timeline and simple discussion questions (very brief) are also included. The total running time of the four featured titles is approximately 73 minutes plus bonus features.

This high-interest title is a wonderful choice for some lighthearted relief in the midst of memorizing the names of all the presidents, in celebration of President's Day, as an adjunct to learning about the political process, or just for plain enjoyment! Now for an interesting admission - we're Canadians, but we love So You Want to Be President. Regardless of your nationality, exposing children to the ins and outs and major faces of American politics will serve them well. Best of all, my children love this disc and ask for it regularly.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars American History - additional information for youngsters, November 5, 2011

By 

Spinifex Blossom - See all my reviews

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This review is from: So You Want to Be President... and More Stories to Celebrate American History (Scholastic Storybook Treasures) (DVD)

This book was very good for showing my grandchildren what life was like "back then". Not as good a book as I was expecting, however, still managed to stimulate discussion about how come there wasn't any electricity - therefore no computers, light, ipods, etc. Grandaughter (9) and grandson (4) did not return to this book as much as others in the series of "What was it like when ..... ". However, it was still a learning event in a fun way.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars my grandchildren love it, April 5, 2011

By 

carol binder (HIGHLAND, CA, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: So You Want to Be President... and More Stories to Celebrate American History (Scholastic Storybook Treasures) (DVD)

my grandchildren read this with their dad and it has been a good spring board for discussion and informal teaching in a fun way