Title: Presidential Pets
Author: Julia Moberg
Publisher: Charlesbridge; Imagine
Publication: August 2, 2016
Summary:
America’s First Pets.
It’s been said that if you want a friend at the White House, get a dog. Or, we might add, perhaps a cat, bird, bear, or maybe an alligator! Throughout America’s history, the presidential menagerie has included an array of creatures both big and small, ordinary and absurd.
This inside look at the White House’s animal residents features a rollicking, rhyming verse for each commander-in-chief’s pets, accompanied by cool facts, presidential stats, and laugh-out-loud cartoon art. John Quincy Adams kept an alligator in the bathtub, while Thomas Jefferson’s pride and joy was his pair of bear cubs. Andrew Jackson had a potty-mouthed parrot, and Martin Van Buren got into a fight with Congress over his two baby tigers. First daughter Caroline Kennedy’s pony Macaroni had free reign over the White House. But the pet-owning winner of all the presidents was Theodore Roosevelt, who had a hyena, lion, zebra, badger, snake, rats, a nippy dog that bit the French ambassador, and more!
Perfect for this election year! While the race heats up, everyone will be wondering who the next first pet will be.
Review:
This was very cute. Each president is represented and discussed. Not only is there a short but fun poem about the pets the presidents had but also a small section about what the presidents were known for, their wives, and some additional interesting facts and information.
I do feel like this would be appropriate for children in a little bit of older elementary or beginning of middle school age because some of the facts about the presidents talk about acts they passed or important events of the time which might be a little advanced for lower elementary.
Overall, this was a lot of fun. I actually read a few sections to my husband and he went on to look up additional facts that were of interest to him. Definitely worth checking out if you enjoy learning about presidential pets. Personally, we have an English Springer Spaniel and decided on him because his breed served as such a strong and wonderful family pet to G.W. Bush.
Star Rating: 3.5 out of 5
