So You Want to be President? Revised and Updated Edition | 
| Author: Judith St. George
Creator: David Small
Publisher: Philomel
Category: Book
List Price: $17.99
Buy New: $5.15
You Save: $12.84 (71%)
New (28) Used (16) Collectible (1) from $3.31
Avg. Customer Rating:  48 reviews
Sales Rank: 29014
Media: Hardcover
Edition: Rev Upd
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 56
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 11.6 x 9.2 x 0.6
ISBN: 0399243178
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.099
EAN: 9780399243172
ASIN: 0399243178
Publication Date: August 19, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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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) I--Richard Farr/I
Product Description
This new version of the Caldecott-winning classic by illustrator David Small and author Judith St. George is updated with current facts and new illustrations to include our forty-second president, George W. Bush. There are now three Georges in the catalog of presidential names, a Bush alongside the presidential family tree, and a new face on the endpaper portraiture.br Hilariously illustrated by Small, this celebration by St. George shows us the foibles, quirks and humanity of forty-two men who have risen to one of the most powerful positions in the world. Perfect for this election year--and every year!
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| Customer Reviews: Read 43 more reviews...
Presidential randomness October 7, 2008
What a fun book! I wish my 5th grade presidential education had been this much fun! It summarizes the way of the presidency, along with a bunch of neat facts about the U.S. Presidents themselves. It discusses presidents' childhoods, careers, habits, pets, etc. Its a lot of fun and sadly educational. The pictures are a lot of fun--they're very cartoony and look eerily like the actual presidents. There is a lot of information processed into an easy and fun read.
 Good history, with a little bit September 28, 2008
This is a good book for children because it is not all glossed over and glorifying, while still making its points.
What a fun way to learn known and little-known facts about the presidents! September 25, 2008
14 out of 15 found this review helpful
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.br /br /"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.br /br /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...br /br /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.br /br /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.br /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.br /br /
 Not worth a 6 year old's time- Historically Inaccurate September 24, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I was going to buy this book for my first graders until I read it. When I read that Bill Clinton was impeached for lying I was disappointed. I could not believe that this book won an award. How sad. I put the book back on the shelf where I found it because I did not want to waste the my first graders' time.
Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children August 15, 2008
Forty-two men with various credentials, talents, sizes, and interests have served as President of the United States. This fascinating and informative book takes us on a whirlwind tour of some of the more unusual quirks and interesting features of the nation's presidents since George Washington first assumed the role. For such a big job, some presidents were quite small in stature (James Madison measured five feet four inches and weighed only one hundred pounds) and came from modest backgrounds (Andrew Johnson could not read until he was fourteen, and several men held jobs as farmers and teachers before becoming President). Just as the presidents left different legacies and made varying contributions, they also had different hobbies and lifestyles. James Monroe spent buckets of money on lavish decor for the White House, while William Harrison began each day with a walk to market and a basket on his arm. br /br /The new edition of this 2000 Caldecott Medal winner is a must-read for its noteworthy facts and amusing caricatures. Woven in are some important economics lessons about jobs, human resources, and the economic role of government. So You Want to Be President? adds a realistic perspective to the achievements of previous presidents by drawing attention to their backgrounds, shortcomings, and antics.br /
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