The President's Stuck in the Bathtub

Gr 3–6—Katz presents humorous poems about each of the U.S. presidents from George Washington to Barack Obama. The poems are of various forms, including concrete, rhyming, and free verse. The mostly clever and amusing selections are based on facts or true incidents, and the author adds a brief footnote that gives extra background about each administration. Some of the facts are similar to those found in Jane O'Connor's If the Walls Could Talk: Family Life at the White House (S & S, 2004) or Judith St. George's So You Want to Be President (Philomel, 2000), but there is also some new information. For example, Katz states that John Adams wanted to be addressed as "His Majesty," and James Monroe once threatened his Secretary of the Treasury with fireplace tongs. This book disagrees with O'Connor's account as to who was the first president to put up a Christmas tree in the White House, reflecting disagreement by scholars on the topic. Neubecker's colorful cartoons highlight the humor and add subtle details that help make each man recognizable. This is a good supplement for those who already own O'Connor's and St. George's books and want additional materials about the presidents at this reading level.—Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT