SO YOU WANT TO BE PRESIDENT?

Judith St. George shares delightful details--the "good things" and the "bad things" about United States presidents from Washington to Clinton. The traits include the definitive, such as a discussion of presidential size; the humorous, such as a description of the bathtub of William Howard Taft; the catchy, such as the number of presidents with the name John; and the intimate, such as the antics of Teddy Roosevelt's children. She poignantly touches on deeper issues: presidents who have not been prepared for the office, those who have not been honest, and the responsibilities and possibilities of the job. Brain Keeler sets a fast, dignified pace, and it takes multiple listenings to assimilate all the details. As this title was a Caldecott winner, the listening experience is enriched by having the book in hand. David Small's illustrations add such detail to the narration that the listener comes away with a much more comprehensive appreciation of the presidential office. A.R. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 02]