Publishers Weekly Review
Messner (Chirp) and Rex (Pluto Gets the Call) open with a flyleaf bookplate that reads not "This Book Belongs to" but rather "This Country Belongs to." It's emblematic of their core idea that "the presidents of tomorrow are always out there somewhere." Ingeniously structured around inaugural years, the book's softly textured digital vignettes are montaged to give a sense of events unfolding in many places and lives at once: "At the time of Washington's inauguration... Presidents 8, 9, and 12 were all kids." Two spreads illustrate that when William McKinley (the 25th president) took office in 1897, Teddy Roosevelt (26th) was assistant secretary of the Navy, Herbert Hoover (31st) was running a gold mine in Australia, while Dwight D. Eisenhower (34th), age seven, was helping out in the family creamery and playing baseball. Throughout, this timeline treatment shows how some future presidents have clearly and intently waited in the wings, while others could not seem further from the Oval Office. By the time the authors wrap with a variously inclusive spread reading "at least ten of our future presidents are probably alive today," readers may be convinced that the future is wide open--presidentially speaking. Ages 8--12. (Mar.) |
School Library Journal Review
Gr 2--5--Messner leads a delightful march through our nation's presidents, focusing on where they were and what they were doing at various points in history. She emphasizes that there are "presidents of tomorrow" already living among us today. The time line begins with George Washington and describes what the nine presidents who were alive during his tenure were doing. The text discusses the list of leaders and their early lives through the presidency of John F. Kennedy, including the information that presidents 42--45 were still children. The book ends with a call to future generations. Messner's writing maintains a buoyant tone throughout the narrative. Most of her factoids are interesting, though they become dry by the time readers get to later presidents. Messner seems to show a bit of bias in her inclusion of a negatively toned fact about Donald Trump, combined with prominent inclusions of Hillary Clinton. Most other facts are lighthearted. With the exception of Clinton, the book does not feature any other presidential nominee who lost. However, this does not detract from the overall quality of the text or Rex's beautiful illustrations. VERDICT A vivacious exploration of the early lives of the leaders of the free world; an excellent nonfiction addition that will engage young history buffs.--Brittany McMahon, Westernport Elementary School, MD |