Module 3: So You Want to Be President

So You Want to Be President by Judith St. George

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Book Summary:

So You Want to Be President is a collection of presidential trivia presented as a pseudo manual on how to increase your chances at becoming the next President of the United States.  The book begins by listing a few perks of the presidential office that kids will appreciate, such as a big White House (complete with swimming pool, bowling alley, and movie theater) and not having to eat your vegetables.  The book then continues with interesting facts and funny anecdotes about 42 of our previous presidents, from George Washington to Bill Clinton.  It touches on common presidential names, differences in size and appearance, quirky personalities, ages, backgrounds, abilities, previous occupations, and finally the extraordinary accomplishments that have helped to shape our country.  Each factual tidbit is illustrated with amusing caricatures crafted by David Small, earning So You Want to Be President a well-deserved Caldecott Medal.

APA Reference of Book:

St. George, J. (2000). So you want to be president. New York: Philomel Books.

 

Impressions:

I’m not a fan of presidential histories or biographies in general, but I found So You Want to Be President to be an entertaining and informative peek at the backgrounds and personalities of the various U.S. presidents.  Rather than stating dry facts, this book highlights similarities and differences among the presidents while including quotes, jokes, and anecdotes.  The president caricatures by David Small are priceless additions to this already noteworthy book; my favorites include Warren Harding as a beauty king and the four presidents named “William” in cheer-leading skirts, sporting pom-poms.  So You Want to Be President also features a helpful, quick reference listing of the previous 42 presidents.  I also appreciated that the book ended on a serious and uplifting note stating that whatever their strengths or foibles, each president’s “first priority has been the people and the country they served.”      

Professional Review:

Publishers Week

"This lighthearted, often humorous roundup of anecdotes ant 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) show Harding crowned king of a "Presidential Beauty Contest"; all the other presidents applaud him (except for a grimacing Nixon). The comical, caricature 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 Georg 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) make alterations on movie star Ronald Reagan's suit.  The many clever, quirky asides may well send readers off on a presidential fact-finding mission--and spark many a discussion of additional anecdotes.  A clear and engrossing approach to the men who have lead America.  Ages 7-up."  

Publishers Weekly. (2000, July 17). [Review of the book So you want to be president, by J. St. George]. Publishers Weekly, 247(29). Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/ 

Library Uses:

Elementary School Library

So You Want to Be President, can be read by the librarian in celebration of President’s Day in February.  Students can then be challenged to learn the presidents in order for a small prize.  Use the tunes in Animaniacs President Song or Ron Clark’s Presidents Rap to help students memorize the names of our previous presidents.   A possible art project would be to have students create Lincoln’s top hat. Each student would receive a paper plate painted black and an 8 x 8 piece of black construction paper. Then they would cut out the center of the paper plate, leaving a 2 inch rim and attach the black construction paper into the circle using tape.

Module 2: The Story of Ferdinand

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

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Book Summary:

The Story of Ferdinand tells the tale of Ferdinand, a young bull who enjoys smelling the flowers under a cork tree rather than butting heads with the other bulls.  One day, five men arrive to select the strongest and fiercest bull for the coveted honor of participating in the bull fights in Madrid.  Ferdinand has no intention of taking part in the contest to be chosen, but when he accidentally sits on a bee, his wild behavior convinces the men that they have found their bull.  Ferdinand is carted away to the bull fight, where his size intimidates the matador, the banderilleros, and the picadores, and convinces the crowd that he will fight fiercely.  Instead, Ferdinand sits in the center of the bull fighting ring and smells the flowers present in all the ladies' hair.  No matter how upset the matador and others got, no matter what they did, Ferdinand would not fight and so he was returned to his home where he could spend his days just smelling the flowers.

APA Reference of Book:

Leaf, M. (1936). The story of Ferdinand. New York: Viking Press.

Impressions:

The Story of Ferdinand is a beautifully illustrated story that can’t help but bring a smile to the reader’s face.  It’s strange to think of a bull as having distinctive facial expressions, but illustrator Robert Lawson’s black ink drawings perfectly capture Ferdinand’s expression of bliss as he smells the flowers and his wild eyed panic after sitting on the disgruntled bee.  The Story of Ferdinand also conveys two important messages: that being different from the herd is just fine, and joy can be found in life’s simple pleasures (like smelling flowers).  Children will enjoy miming smelling the flowers as the story is read aloud, and laugh at the image of the matador crying while Ferdinand sits happily in the bull ring just smelling the flowers.  Additionally, I recommend viewing Disney’s adaptation, Ferdinand the Bull, which brings this story to animated life.

Professional Review:

Children's Literature

“For seventy-five years Ferdinand has be quietly sitting under his cork tree smelling the flowers. This slip-covered 75th anniversary edition will introduce the loveable pacifist to a new generation of children. Little ones will giggle when the docile Ferdinand is stung by the bee and becomes the ferocious bull that everyone hopes will draw a crowd to the bullfighting ring. On the big day anticipation reigns as the banderillos march in followed by the picadores and finally the matador, himself. At last the timid Ferdinand quietly makes his way to the middle of the ring where he just sits and smells the ladies' flowers. Returned in shame to his home, Ferdinand is happy to sit beneath his cork tree for the rest of his days. This edition retains the size and font of the original and Lawson's simple pen and ink drawing still retain their excitement, drama, and humor. Here is a winner and a classic that does not show its age.”—Beverly Fahey

Fahey, B. (2011). [Review of the book The story of Ferdinand, by M. Leaf]. Children’s Literature.
      Retrieved from http://www.clcd.com/

Library Uses: 

Elementary School Library

The Story of Ferdinand, can be read by the school librarian in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15th- October 15th). Students can be taught the Spanish translations for some of the simpler words in the story, like "el toro" for bull and "las flores" for flowers. Then the story can be read a second time, substituting the Spanish words for the English ones.  A possible craft project would be to have students create a happiness flower.  Each student would receive a flower template printed on cardstock.  On the flower, they would draw and/or list activities that make them happy, just like smelling the flowers made Ferdinand happy.