Member Reviews

This book is an educational tool for youngsters and their parents. I learned so much about the portraits of our presidents on the walls of the White House, and the significance of their term(s).

Was this review helpful?

A graphic novel written in the language of the students learning about the US government starting with the executive branch! No stilted or archaic discussions of the men who were president and what that meant to them and to the general population, but a clear and illustrated presentation in the current US vernacular which makes it all more real to today's kids. Excellent!
The illustrations are fun, simple, brilliantly diverse, and delightful.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to anyone aged 8-111, but especially to a school, church library, or your local public library!
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected proof EARC on Adobe Digital Editions from Capstone | Capstone Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
Expected publication Aug 01, 2024

Was this review helpful?

This is a quick read that introduces each of our presidents and shares some fun facts about our government and how it has developed and changed throughout the years.
I could see using it with my 3rd and 4th graders specifically as part of an introduction to U.S. history. It is rich in vocabulary, and the illustrations are engaging.
I didn’t love how snarky the presidents are to one another in some of their conversations with one another. That’s the only thing that brought what would have been a 4⭐️ book down to a 3 1/2⭐️.
I would have no reservations about putting this on my school shelves!
Thank you, NetGalley, for an ARC of this book!

Was this review helpful?

My students love graphic novel, specifically those from Graphic library so, it is no surprise that this new history focus is a win. In an easy to follow format due to the engaging illustrations the book presents important political topics from the Oval Office to the most important role each president has played in the growth of our nation. The book is skillfully written to highlight the workings of our government without taking any political stances that are better left in other settings. This is perfect middle grades nonfiction quick read that teaches while still being entertaining. I know when it is added to my classroom shelf, it will be well loved.

Thank you to NetGalley and Capstone publishing for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Done in comic/graphic style, this is a succinct, fun look at not just the Oval Office but some of the very important things that go into making our government work effectively. Illustrated by Manuel Molina Navarro, the artwork is at once both whimsical and realistic, not to mention not particular reverent toward its targets. Not insulting, just not necessarily always seriously respectful. Supposedly narrated by President Harrison, the various presidents are usually referred to by their number, ie Washington is #1 and so on and so on. And, yes, while it dwells on a handful, each president through Biden does get a mention, albeit the latter ones largely only a one-liner of their chief accomplishment as it draws closer to modern times.

Basically, what you'll get here isn't just a recitation of the presidents, however, but also how our nation was born, its government set up, Washington's role, er, #1's role, the importance of a peaceful transfer of power, the development and use/need for cabinet advisors, as well as exactly what executive orders and a veto are. For instance, as important as it was, it notes that the Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order. Interestingly enough, Theodore Roosevelt once held the record for the most executive proclamations with 1,081. Franklin D. Roosevelt would later use 3,721, not to mention having 635 vetoes. Of course, as noted, remember his term of office was long, which ultimately lead to the 22nd Amendment limiting a president to only two terms. In other words, precedents were being set, tweaked, and used as reference for future actions and, let's face it, inaction. My favorite quote, btw, was "No one wanted our president to be a bossy king". That's what I mean by the sometimes flip irreverence of the book.

Bottom line, while sparse on presidents after FDR, one where the entire world was frequently in turmoil, this is an informative, easy read for, oh, upper elementary and beyond. That said, given some of the rather inside jokes, so to speak, an in-the-know adult may need to explain some things to young readers. Timely given the upcoming election as I type, and manages to remain rather rather firmly in the middle without ignoring basic elements of the government established by the Founding Fathers. Thanks #NetGalley and #Capstone for refreshing my mind on our government basics and those who have wielded it in the most powerful office in the world. And, oops, readers, almost forgot. There's a glossary, Read More section, list of internet sites, and index at the end. This would make a great addition to school libraries and classrooms, not to mention our own bookshelves.

Was this review helpful?

The American presidency was unique when it was new. Instead of creating a special class of people to lead, or a line of families, the US chose a method where the different parts of government were limited and the main leader, the president, had limited terms.
This book is fantastic because it shows how the presidency started and the different issues around it. It's a graphic novel, and the illustrations are a lot of fun. Overall, this is an enjoyable way to learn about an important topic. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

Was this review helpful?

For NetGalley purposes, I want to be clear that this is a review for the book, History Tipsters Sneak Into the Oval Office. Unfortunately, the heading on Netgalley is for another book: History Tipsters Go to the Polls. The advanced reader copy I was provided does not discuss our voting rights and the election process like I expected. Instead, it talks about how the office of President of the United States was established and how the President’s authority has evolved and changed over time.

My children love graphic novels and have especially enjoyed graphic novels about historical events, so I was excited to preview this book. The illustrations are wonderful, and the font is best for middle grade readers or their equivalent. This book does a great job describing how the Founding Fathers established the office of the President and how the first men to hold the position set precedents for term limits, the office of vice president, and the peaceful transition of power between political parties. It also addresses how subsequent presidents utilized cabinet positions, executive orders, and veto power. All of these lessons are discussed by the characters of the presidents themselves. I think the different presidential characters can get a bit confusing if the child is not yet familiar with “who’s who,” but it’s a great introduction to some lesser known names, even if they can’t quite keep track. It’s also an opportunity for an adult to get involved and maybe explain some of the “jokes” the characters occasionally throw at one another.
Overall, this book does a wonderful job explaining the executive powers of the President in a way that’s accessible and “fun” for middle grade readers. Even many adults can benefit from the review!
Thank you to NetGalley and Capstone publishing for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Learning how Presidential elections work in the United States can be confusing to kids (and adults who conveniently forget about the Electoral College when their candidate doesn't win). I thought this graphic novel was a good introduction to the process but as someone who reads A LOT of presidential histories, I found a factual error on one of the first pages. Not the first time this has happened with children's books about the Presidents that I've picked up, so I'll only deduct one star.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

I thought that this book was a very fun way to introduce children to both politics and history. It is very important that children learn about the American political system from a young age, because one day they will be helping to make decisions about who we elect into political office. And this book is a great start with those important lessons,

Connect with Me <3

My blog is https://bookreviewsbyjules.blogspot.com/


Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/44083250-julia (follow me and/or send a friend request!) - This is how I keep track of all of the books I read each year. I also crosspost all of my NetGalley reviews here.

Instagram/bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookreviewsbyjules/ (I try my best to follow back all Book accounts back in 48-72 hours)

2nd Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookreviewsbyjules_/ (This account is used as a backup Instagram because my original bookstagram account which I created in 2022 has been getting action blocked quite frequently (I was hacked in February 2024 and lost access to my account for about 5 days, and I think that has something do with why I have been having issues with my account. I have reported the issue to Instagram several times). I try to post on Instagram at least 3x a week. I post many NetGalley ARC books on Instagram, but I also enjoy talking about previously released books that I love. With the exception of NetGalley books, I enjoy both listening to and reading all the books I read.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556223311374

Substack: https://bookreviewsbyjules.substack.com/ (feel free to subscribe!)

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookreviewsbyjules?lang=en

StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/bookreviewsbyjules

Was this review helpful?