Write a Review Wednesday: Madam President

Say it Rah-shay By Sep 12, 2012 No Comments

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Kindergarten-Grade 3—A confident girl walks readers through a typical day at home and at school (Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary) as she fantasizes about herself as president. Her first executive order is for waffles. She then negotiates a treaty between a cat and dog and appoints a toy cabinet; Mr. Potato Head is a dapper Secretary of Agriculture. In decisive fonts, the Head of State vetoes tuna casserole and other schoolhouse aberrations. She “leads by example” when it’s time to straighten up her bedroom, but wisely delegates an ambassador’s visit to the VP as weariness sets in. Smith’s understated text is accompanied by clean, cleverly designed compositions. The heroine’s trapezoidal head and triangulated body are offset by stylized trees whose leaves are trimmed to float in perfect orbs. In what appears to be mixed media involving digital and hand-painted scenes as well as collage, the artist creates a ’60s feel with earth-toned backgrounds that resemble the faux grass wallpaper so evocative of the period. Mid-20th-century games and presidential biographies for children are part of this fearless leader’s paraphernalia. As in Smith’s other spoofs, this book blends message with medium for maximum delight. Kathleen Krull’s A Woman for President (Walker, 2004) and Jarrett Krosoczka’s Max for President (Knopf, 2004) offer complementary glimpses at females and the Executive Branch. Hail to the chief!—Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

For parents in this election year when bipartisan rhetoric is more than enough, here is a sweet, fun read to share with your little ones. A little girl goes through her day and imagines herself and chief and commander.  This is such a wonderful book. It iss patriotic, it shows kindness, it shows authority, it shows a strong female character and it is, well, nice.

Lane Smith does a fantastic job telling the story of a little president. He hits all of the presidential duties with a comedic yet serious tone that will entertain parents and inform little ones. His illustrations are a funky mix of colors and activity and this is a fun and visually appealing read.

This book will read well solo or with a group. It will also assist in discussing the duties of the president.

Learn more about the author by visiting his website. To get your own copy of the book, visit your library or click on the picture above.

Exercising my right to veto,
-r

r’s note: An amazon affiliate link is used in this post.

Author

I am mom, daughter, sister, yarn lover, word lover, crazy cat lady and library chick. Find me with book or with hook and a hot cuppa.

No Comments

Your turn! Tell it to Rah-shay!