Kid Presidents

“Kid Presidents: True Tales of Childhood from America’s Presidents” by David Stabler is basically a book of funny stories about our Presidents when they were boys – from George Washington right through to Barack Obama, this book shows that they were all just regular kids. Reading this book reminds you that history isn’t just facts and figures but it’s about real people who had adventures and misadventures just like we do today.

The stories in this book are not the old chestnuts that every history book includes but they are true and funny and strange, and show that when they were kids, these future presidents had all the same problems that kids have today – fighting with brothers and sisters, getting in trouble in school, having to do chores they didn’t want to do, and so on.

Stabler includes stories about sixteen of the presidents – mainly the most well-known – but there are also themed chapters with short anecdotes and fun facts so that every president shows up at least once. I will admit that some of the items in the “44 Facts About 44 Presidents” don’t seem all that interesting, like the fact that James Monroe and John Marshall were friends when they were boys, or that Bill Clinton once found a snake living in the family outhouse (what I find more interesting is that this fact implies that he grew up without indoor plumbing!), or that Warren G. Harding belonged to a gang called the Stunners.

Doogie Horner’s illustrations add to the book – the cartoon-style artwork is very funny and adds to the enjoyment of the book. “Kid Presidents” is geared for kids between around 8 and 12. It’s a fun, interesting read and there is even an index so you can locate a story about your favorite (or least favorite!) President.

I received a free e-copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.