I’m so glad I did! It’s funny, engaging, entertaining and will totally keep your kids’ attention. I read it to my 9 and 5 year olds and they thought it was quite amusing! A very cute children’s story that features a very imaginative little girl as she shows readers what it would be like for a KID to be President for a day.
About the author: Well-known in the children’s book community, Lane Smith is the author of JOHN, PAUL, GEORGE & BEN and the illustrator of Roald Dahl’s classic JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. His collaborations with Jon Scieszka include THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, and the Caldecott Honor Book THE STINKY CHEESE MAN. In 1996 Lane served as Conceptual Designer on the Disney film version of James and the Giant Peach. He also wrote and illustrated THE HAPPY HOCKY FAMILY and THE HAPPY HOCKY FAMILY MOVES TO THE COUNTRY.
Here’s a little bit of an interview with the author:
Question: How did the idea for Madam President come about?
Lane Smith: It was June, 2006. I was at the ALA convention in New Orleans; nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina and the area was still in disarray. I was there to talk about John, Paul, George & Ben so I had our founding fathers in my thoughts. I wondered what Washington or Jefferson would’ve done. This got me to thinking about the massive responsibilities a president has to contend with. I began to jot down ideas. I began with, “A president has many duties…” Of course after several rewrites the tone became lighthearted and comical. My books always turn out that way. But I’m proud to say it also has many sweet moments. A first for me.
Question: Do you have a favorite illustration in the book? What’s the story behind it?
Lane: I like the page with all the kids going to class and the secret service agent (a cat in sunglasses) is keeping an eye on Madam President from behind a tree. That cat is modeled after our persian cat, Pretzel. She’s a real goofball. Truth be told, she would make a terrible secret service agent. The president would be trying to get through crowds on her way to Air Force One and Pretzel would be in a corner, distracted by a string.
Question: This is your second book with a presidential subject. What draws you to this topic (pun intended)?
Lane: Ha. Good one. I’ve always loved history but when my wife and I moved to a part of Connecticut rich with Colonial history the subject started to seep into my work.
If you’d like a copy of this great book for your family please feel free to leave a comment by October 21st letting me know what being a president would look like through the eyes of your child.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:22 pm 1
Thanks for the review. This sounds like a fantastic book and I know my 9 year old daughter would love it. I think I should add it to her Christmas list.
October 11th, 2008 at 11:09 am 2
Omigoodness! We’re ALL about the presidents in our house! (Just blogged about it this week) And John, Paul, George and Ben (by Lane Smith) is one of our favorite books. Did not even know this one was out! Enter us in the contest, please!
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October 11th, 2008 at 8:36 pm 3
Let me see first they would probably take all the power away from the dad and me and from there it would go downhill with junk food, bedtimes, no school I’m sure the list would go on and on. Actully they would probably surprise me and do exactly the opposite. NAHH!!
Looks like a great book hope I win it!!!
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October 16th, 2008 at 5:57 pm 4
My youngest dd says she would throw chocolates out of the White House once a month so all could have chocolate.
my youngest ds says he would do something silly but he really doesn\’t know what
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October 19th, 2008 at 5:45 am 5
My son, 8, says he ‘doesn’t care who’s elected he just wants someone who will end this war’. I was surprised he was that aware of world events.
Mom24@4evermoms last blog post..You’re gonna miss this…
October 19th, 2008 at 11:26 am 6
My son would probably be fascinated with all of the underworkings, CIA, secret service stuff.
Thanks for the chance!
Megret
musesofmegret (at) gmail (dot) com
October 19th, 2008 at 7:07 pm 7
I think my daughter would really like this book! I’d love a chance to win! Thanks!
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October 20th, 2008 at 12:58 am 8
My son says being president would make him rich…….kids
thanks for the contest
jen
October 20th, 2008 at 3:32 am 9
my kids are tired of the commericals and want someone elected already and say look at the money wasted when it could help those who are losing their jobs- they would enjoy it
October 20th, 2008 at 3:33 am 10
Well… it’ depends on which of my children. If it was my son he’d give school kids off all winter long so they can play in the snow (LOL) and if it was my daughter she’d make designer clothing mandatory for children (she’s my “fashion diva”).
LOL!
Thank you for the great giveaway!
October 20th, 2008 at 9:44 am 11
My three year old would just consider herself the “boss”.
October 20th, 2008 at 10:32 am 12
My son always pictured the president as a lion on a throne. Oh well, he had to start somewhere, right? This sounds like a wonderful book for kids!
October 20th, 2008 at 12:50 pm 13
I just got this out from the library and would love to own a copy of it!
My oldest daughter once told me she thought of the President as being like a Mommy or Daddy for the whole country
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October 21st, 2008 at 4:32 am 14
When I was a kid I thought the president was rich and got to print money whenever he wanted… boy was I WAY off base!
October 21st, 2008 at 8:14 am 15
My daughter was telling me that if she were President she would give money away.