So You Want to be President?

So You Want to be President?
Written by Judith St. George
Illustrated by David Small
Caldecott Medal Winner 2001

In this book the author points out both the good things about being president (such as living in a big white house and not having to eat yucky vegetable such as broccoli (George Bush)) and the bad (lots of homework and always having to be dressed up). The author also presents facts (mostly obscure ones) about the past presidents of the United States to prove the point that anyone can be president.

When my son and I read this book together, he looked at me and said, “I guess that I could be president someday too. Most all of these guys seem like everyday people - they were not perfect at all.” We both enjoyed it immensely.

This same author and illustrator have teamed up before to create two similar books: So You Want to be an Inventor and So You Want to be an Explorer.

I have learned from reading this book that an abundance of facts can be presented in a comical caricatured format and make for interesting reading for both children and adults. This book also made me want to find out more details, specifically the name of the female reporter that sat on John Quincy Adams clothes (while he was skinny dipping) until he gave her an interview. It was Anne Royall; she was definitely way ahead of her time!