Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Caldecott Award Winner: So You Want to Be President?


Citation: St. George, J. (2004). So you want to be president? New York: Philomel

Questions:
1. What did you like or dislike about the book?
I just absolutely LOVE this book! The pictures are beautiful and students don’t realize that they are learning history when they read this book. 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 are included. It's fun, but the purpose is serious: to remind kids that the American presidents have been a diverse group of individuals. There's a factual supplement at the back giving all the dates and names, with a one-line bio for each past-president. This book is great to use in social studies.

2. What in your life may have influenced your reaction or response to this book?
I just love history and social studies and I really enjoyed teaching it. I also love weird facts, so this book combines the two.

3. How would you compare this book to another book or books, or book or books by same author?
This book similar to another book written by Judith St. George titled So You Want to Be an Explorer?. Other similar books by this author include You're On Your Way, Teddy Roosevelt and The Journey of the One and Only Declaration of Independence.

4. What new thing (information or insight) did you learn about children's literature in reading this book?
I learned that history doesn’t have to be boring and even young readers would enjoy learning facts about the presidents.

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