Module 1: So you want to be president?

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
St. George, Judith. 2000. SO YOU WANT TO BE PRESIDENT? Ill. by David Small. New York , NY: Philomel Books. ISBN 0399234071

2. PLOT SUMMARY
This picture book is a light-hearted look at the presidency. Facts and statistics about the office of the presidency and about the men who have filled it are presented in an appealing manner. The qualifications required to serve as president are included as well as statistical oddities. For example, being named James seems to assist one at being elected president since six have been elected. Judith St. George breathes life and human qualities into widely known and lesser known presidents. Strange yet interesting facts surface. She includes positive and negative aspects of the nation’s highest office. The book concludes with several pages devoted to encouraging all readers that they could be a future president.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
When evaluating this book, one must begin with the title. The phrase, and title, SO YOU WANT TO BE PRESIDENT sets the tone for the book. It sounds as if the author is throwing out a challenge to the reader. It appeals to children and adults more than a basic title such as Presidential Facts. Almost everyone has dreamed of being the president, the title makes it seem like it could happen.

Ms. St. George jumps into her whimsical look at the presidency with the statement “There are good things ….(and) bad things about being the President.” The fun of having a bowling alley at home and the danger of someone trying to cause hurt are both presented. She doesn’t want to simply portray the excitement without revealing some of the less glamorous aspects.

“If you want to be president…” is repeated many times throughout the text. These words are then followed by a question to the reader or an attribute to investigate. St. George asks the readers, primarily children, questions or presents statements that they can relate to: “Do you have a pet?”; “…your size doesn’t matter”; “Don’t worry about your looks”; and “Some presidents knew how to dance and some didn’t”. She then relays tidbits answering these as they relate to the presidents. To the question “Do you have a pet?” Ms. St. George informs the reader of many of the pets that have lived in the White House.

David Small’s illustrations are priceless. The quirky nature of the text is complemented by the cartoon drawings of our forty one presidents. The drawings could be used by readers who were not visually familiar with the appearance of a president. One could read the text and then use the illustrations to match a presidential name to a face based on the information given. Most adults know what Abraham Lincoln looked like, but what about Martin Van Buren? This book provides a face for names.

The illustrations resemble caricatures or political satire drawings. Most of the presidential figures have small bodies and oversized heads. It begs the question “Does the illustrator trying to use the oversized head to represent an oversized ego?” Perhaps he was just trying to make the figure of “President” seem more human and less unreachable and unattainable.

At the end of the book, an index of presidents and pictures is provided. This allows the reader to verify that s/he knew which president was which. Lastly, there is a list of all of the presidents and vital statistics. These include term dates, birth and death year, birthplace, and one interesting fact about that president. This information is presented in an appropriate manner. Vocabulary is precise and simple but not oversimplified, which could lead to misinformation or an accusation of “dumbing down the material”.


4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Curious tidbits of personal information and national history combine with humorously drawn caricatures to give this tongue-in-cheek picture book a quirky appeal….While the text exposes the human side of the individuals, the office of the presidency is ultimately treated with respect and dignity.”
From BOOKLIST: “The light tone of the book makes it possible for readers to absorb a great deal of information…”

5. CONNECTIONS
* This book could be included with American History curriculum. Students of all ages could research and investigate the facts presented to verify the text’s truthfulness.
*Students could create their own book of unusual presidential facts.
*Other books about the presidents:
Piven, Hanoch and Sarah L. Thomson. WHAT PRESIDENTS ARE MADE OF? ISBN 0689868804
DK Publishing Staff. PRESIDENTS (Eyewitness Book Series). ISBN 0789488981