So You Want to Be President? (Caldecott Medal Book) [Hardcover]

Judith St. George (Author), David Small (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: August 21, 2000 | Age Range: 7 and up | Series: Caldecott Medal Book | Lexile Measure: 730L (What's this?)

So you want to be President! Why not? Presidents have come in every variety. They've been generals like George Washington and actors like Ronald Reagan, big like William Howard Taft and small like James Madison, handsome like Franklin Pierce and homely like Abraham Lincoln.

From the embarrassment of skinny-dipping John Quincy Adams to the mischievous adventure of Theodore Roosevelt's pony, Judith St. George shares the backroom facts, the spitfire comments, and the comical anecdotes that have been part and parcel of America's White House.

Hilariously illustrated by Caldecott honor-winning artist David Small, this celebration shows us the foibles, quirks, and the humanity of forty-one men who have risen to one of the most powerful positions in the world.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Tired of books about the presidency that present themselves as history books? Author Judith St. George--along with Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator David Small--has created a book about the presidency that's serious fun. The basic theme is that anyone can be president: a fat man (William Howard Taft) or a tiny man (James Madison), a relative youngster (Teddy Roosevelt at 42) or oldster (Ronald Reagan at 69). Presidential hobbies, sports, virtues, and vices all get a tongue-in-cheek airing, perfectly matched by Small's political-cartoon style of caricature painting. It's fun, but the underlying purpose is clearly serious: to remind kids that the American presidents have been a motley group of individuals, not a row of marble busts. Ironically, that message makes the presidency far more interesting (and appealing) than it seems in some of the more traditional books. There's a factual addendum at the back giving all the dates and names, with a one-line bio for each past-president. (Ages 8 and older) --Richard Farr

From Publishers Weekly

HThis lighthearted, often humorous roundup of anecdotes and trivia is cast as a handbook of helpful hints to aspiring presidential candidates. St. George (Sacagawea; Crazy Horse) points out that it might boost your odds of being elected if your name is James (the moniker of six former presidents) or if your place of birth was a humble dwelling ("You probably weren't born in a log cabin. That's too bad. People are crazy about log-cabin Presidents. They elected eight"). She serves up diverse, occasionally tongue-in-cheek tidbits and spices the narrative with colorful quotes from her subjects. For instance, she notes that "Warren Harding was a handsome man, but he was one of our worst Presidents" due to his corrupt administration, and backs it up with one of his own quotes, "I am not fit for this office and never should have been here." Meanwhile, Small (The Gardener) shows Harding crowned king of a "Presidential Beauty Contest"; all the other presidents applaud him (except for a grimacing Nixon). The comical, caricatured artwork emphasizes some of the presidents' best known qualities and amplifies the playful tone of the text. For an illustration of family histories, Small depicts eight diminutive siblings crawling over a patient young George Washington; for another featuring pre-presidential occupations, Harry Truman stands at the cash register of his men's shop while Andrew Johnson (a former tailor) makes alterations on movie star Ronald Reagan's suit. The many clever, quirky asides may well send readers off on a presidential fact-finding missionDand spark many a discussion of additional anecdotes. A clever and engrossing approach to the men who have led America. Ages 7-up. (Aug.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Age Range: 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 56 pages
• Publisher: Philomel (August 21, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399234071
• ISBN-13: 978-0399234071
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #986,018 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 65 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of Fascinating Fun Facts December 6, 2000

By Roz Levine

Format:Hardcover

Did you know that six of our presidents were named James and four were named William? Or that James Madison was our smallest president at only five feet four inches, Abe Lincoln our tallest at six feet four inches and William Howard Taft weighed more than three hundred pounds? Did you know that most presidents went to college, but nine didn't and they included George Washington and Harry Truman. Presidents have come from all walks of life, had lots of different interests and hobbies and have found their way to the most powerful office in the world, in a variety of ways. Judith St. George has taken the stuffiness out of presidential history and written a very clever, witty book full of funny anecdotes and interesting facts. Her easy to read and enjoyable text is complimented by David Small's expressive and imaginative political cartoon-like illustrations. Together they take the some of the mystery out of the presidency and let future aspirants know that anyone can grow up to be president. This is a terrific book for 8-12 year olds, chock full of information and includes an appendix with dates and important contributions for each of our 41 presidents.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What a fun way to learn known and little-known facts about the presidents! September 24, 2008

By Judy K. Polhemus TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Political times are here! Campaign promises are in the air. Do these two candidates--Barack Obama and John McCain have the "right stuff?" Let's check them out against previous presidents.

"So You Want to Be President" is filled with all kinds of facts about all previous 42 presidents. Oh, I heard you--you're right, there have been 43 presidents. This book, written by Judith St. George and illustrated by David Small and published in 2000 just before the election, contains all kinds of facts about the men who have been president.

If you are a blood relative of a president, your chances go up to become a president. Father and son twice, grandfather/grandson, fifth cousins, and second cousins. You don't have to be handsome to be president--Lincoln wasn't and he certainly stands the test of time. Harding was handsome and he is rated one of the worst presidents. And there's Bill Clinton...

Nine presidents played instruments; nine did not go to college. Jefferson was "top-notch in the brains department." Ten presidents were generals in the military. Almost any job can lead to the White House, including tailor and actor. If you are dishonest, you get kicked out.

This book was awarded the Caldecott Gold Medal in 2001 for best children's literature to be published the previous year. The illustrations are humorous and serious, always eye-catching and complementary to the script.
The text is equally entertaining and educational. This book will be a classic because it is historical and accurate. A delightful journey through American history, particularly the presidents, makes this a welcome addition to any library collection.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars When I grow up. November 17, 2001

By Martha McDonald

Format:Hardcover

Does your child ever say they want to be president some day? Or maybe they have started to study our past leaders in school but show no interest in learning about a bunch of dead guys? In either case, and many others, the book So You Want to Be President written by Judith St. George and illustrated by David Small may be just what is needed to pique your child's curiosity.
This brightly colored book gives all kinds of interesting and odd facts about all of our past presidents. It does not try to explain all of the complex duties the office entails so it is not beyond a child's range of understanding. And though the reading level is more for a youth of 5th grade or higher, the intriguing tidbits make for an interesting read for adults as well.
So You Want to Be President offers such details as "The president does not have to eat yucky vegetables...George Bush grew up, he became President. That was the end of broccoli," which appeals to almost every child's dislike of green nasty things and makes a connection for them with the an adult who held the highest station in our country. Other bits like the fact that Truman owned a men's shop, Andrew Johnson was a tailor and Reagan was an actor relays the idea that anyone can become President, no matter their beginnings. Yet another page of the book makes sure that the reader knows that one of the most important virtues needed to be the leader of the free world is honesty. St. George sights the impeachment of Clinton and the resignation of Nixon as examples. She states them as facts without the controversial sides that accompanied the issues.
In the last pages of the book, St. George lists each president and by what their term is most remembered. This gives a little more history than just the fun facts earlier in on. To go along with this, the illustrations are all charactures of each of the presidents. Each picture ties in with its text in a fun and attention drawing way. Because of this, even a child being read to because they are not at the reading level required can participate in the fun and learn something as well.
This book is a humorous look at presidents from the past including odd little details like which ones played instruments, who lived in log cabins, and who was the biggest, smallest, tallest, or shortest ever in office. It mixes education with fun by using true charactures in its bright illustrations finishing with explanations of each and every president. It is an excellent book to add to your child's shelf.