Mr. President Goes to School

by Rick Walton, Brad Sneed (Illustrator)

Overview

When the president of the United States has a frustrating day, he decides to go back to where he learned the most important lessons of all.
When his day starts off badly, Mr. President decides he needs a time-out from running the country. Sneaking out of the White House, he hurries to the local school and enrolls in Mrs. Appletree’s class. There, Mr. President spins on the merry-go-round, and practices saying “please” and taking turns. But when he returns to the White House, he is greeted by panic and two angry world leaders. Fortunately, Mr. President recalls what he learned in Mrs. Appletree’s class, and he comes up with just the right approach to avoid an international crisis.
Children will delight in Rick Walton’s laugh-out-loud story and its over-the-top take on conflict resolution. Brad Sneed’s watercolor illustrations capture the humor of the story with their exaggerated, outsized characters and playfully distorted compositions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781561458929
Publisher:	Peachtree Publishing Company
Publication date:	09/01/2015
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 11.00(h) x 1.10(d)
Lexile:	AD560L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Rick Walton was the author of over sixty books for children, including a collection of poetry, joke books, picture books, activity books, mini-mysteries, and educational software. He loved to read, travel, play the guitar, study foreign languages, and write. He passed away in 2016.

Brad Sneed has illustrated almost twenty picture books, some of which he has also written. He lives in Kansas.

Editorial Reviews

K-Gr 2—Mr. President is having a rough time at the White House, dealing with everything from gophers in the Rose Garden to two countries on the brink of war. To alleviate his stress, he escapes the Oval Office and goes to where the world is "a little simpler"—kindergarten. Walton's lively text is nicely written and children will be introduced to some basic concepts such as raising one's hand before speaking and being polite to everyone. Although the use of the president as a character adds an extra dimension and much humor to the book, the depiction of executive-office responsibilities and the easy way in which a war is averted is perhaps not the best introduction to world events. The use of the Ping Pong table and cheesy spy costume make the book even more lighthearted. The illustrations add a lot to the depth of the book. Sneed's attention to detail makes the book fun to look at over again and again. Overall, a fun introduction to the great things that can be learned in school.—Catherine Brenner, Bethlehem Public Library, Delmar, NY

School Library Journal