Customer Reviews

The President and Mom's Apple Pie

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

 

 

Michael Garland's latest upbeat story is as American as, well, apple pie, and as brightly colorful as a Fourth of July parade. It's an imagined look-back at our history and a charming portrait of small town life.

The year is 1909 and the President, William Howard Taft, is coming to town. Now, he's not only our country's leader but he's a jolly man who appreciates a good meal (from his rotund appearance many of them).

The President's train IS greeted by the Fireman's Band playing "Hail To The Chief" and a loud round of cheers when Taft himself emerges. But, before the President can dedicate the town's new flagpole his attention is caught by an aroma that he can't resist. When he asks what it might be a young boy suggests it might be "Tony's Italian Villa," where they make wonderful spaghetti. The boy leads Taft to Tony's and then on a gustatorial tour of his city.

Still, the President was smelling something else delicious. Guess what it was?

With sprightly full color illustrations and a fun text "The President and Mom's Apple Pie" deserves some cheers of its own.

- Gail Cooke

We picked this book out at the library and it quickly became my son's favorite book.

The story tells the tale of a visit by President William Howard Taft to a small town in 1909 to dedicate the town's new flagpole. Once the portly president catches whiff of a "beguiling" scent, he forgets about his presidential duties and leads the townpeople in search of the tantalizing aroma until he discovers its source.

The story is light and fun and easy to read. The illustrations couldn't be better. They are vibrant and full of life.

My kids, ages 2 1/2, 5 1/2 and 9 all love the book. They laugh at the story and constantly find new amusement with the pictures. Even those of us who are a little bit older can find enjoyment in the book. It evokes a wonderful sense of nostalgia for "the good old days". We've read the book each night for a week. I usually get sick of reading the same stories over and over ... not this one.

I have to admit - I was not expecting much of this book when my youngest son snatched it from a shelf at the library. I thought it would be like so many of the books we take out based on an appealing cover alone - nice to look at, but with an uninteresting story. Boy was I wrong!

My kids found this book to be exciting and very funny. They loved the idea that the President of the United States would be led around town by a little boy their age, and completely identified with the little boy's character. They enjoyed thinking about the meals President Taft ate around town, and wondered whether the steamed veggies at the Chinese restaurant were really yummy, or if Taft was just being polite.

It really is a shame that, as I write this review, the book is out of print - it really deserves to be much more popular. My advice to anyone reading this review - snatch up one of those bargain remainder copies. You won't be sorry!

This is a sweet book about a president we don't think of much anymore. William Howard Taft was over 300 pounds and our heaviest president. This is a children's book about his love for food. It is very cute and a good one to introduce the presidents with. My kids are always fascinated by presidents and this is a friendly introduction to President Taft.

"I remember that day in 1909 as if it were yesterday. President Taft was coming to our town to dedicate the new flagpole! No one had talked about anything else for weeks..." So begins our young narrator's story. The entire small town had come down to the train station to greet the president. Flags were flying, the Firemen's Band was playing and the crowd, all decked out in red, white, and blue was cheering. Taft, all 300 pounds of him, squeezed through the train door and hopped nimbly off the train. But before he could even shake the mayor's hand, or walk to the town's new flagpole, he stopped and sniffed the air. "What is that wonderful aroma?" inquired the President. He had a dreamy look on his face." Leading the way, President Taft, with our young narrator's help, and all the townspeople trailing behind, begins a true gourmand's, taste-testing tour of all the eating establishments in town, to find the source of that mouth-watering smell..... Using Taft's enormous size and large appetite as the basis for his story, Michael Garland spins a silly and hilarious tall tale. The entertaining text begs to be read aloud, and is only outdone by his bold, bright, and busy computer generated artwork, filled with lots of humor and eye-catching, period detail. Perfect for kids 4-8, The President And Mom's Apple Pie is an engaging, funny, manic romp through yesteryear, and a marvelous, illustrative feast for the eyes.

The book was in good condition, however, they should have stated that it had been owned by a library. I would have known then that it was stamped in several places and not have purchased it.