President Pennybaker

Luke Pennybaker was fed up of things being so unfair. He decided to do something about it. This head strong kid runs for president using funds of pennies raised for Pennybaker. He even enlists the help of a trustworthy VP, his dog. This is a fun and entertaining story with interesting and colorful retro illustrations. I enjoyed reading the story in the midst of election time.

PRESIDENT PENNYBAKER, by Kate Feiffer and illustrated by Diane Goode, is a large picture book that's great for either bedtime or anytime story telling for kids. Simply written and filled with colored cartoons (that look like the old comics The Adventures of Tintin: Tintin in America / Cigars of the Pharaoh / The Blue Lotus (3 Complete Adventures in One Volume, Vol. 1)), the story revolves around a young boy, Luke Pennybaker, who decides to run for President of the USA to make life fair for kids everywhere and he wins! Anyway, the cute story not only teaches young kids to aim big but also to be careful what they wish for because they just might get it. And that sometimes...being a kid isn't so bad.

"He told the reporter that in the Birthday Party kids get treated like it's their birthday every day of the year. They get to eat cake and ice cream and open presents every morning. They get to wear shorts in the winter and dirty clothes to fancy parties. They get to play games at school and draw pictures during dinner. They can flood the bathroom when they take a bath and keep their room as messy as they want to." -- From the book The premise of President Pennybaker is simple: After being told by his father that he can't watch TV (even after he did the chores his Dad reminded him about), Luke Pennybaker realizes that life is not fair. In fact, he feels that if a kid asks one question, he should get one answer--not five more questions in reply. So after yelling and being sent to his room, he decides that he'll do whatever it takes to make life fair by becoming the youngest boy ever to run for president. Now, the dust jacket for this book says President Pennybaker is "plausible" and "surprising". Sorry, but this simply isn't true. For one, if a kid can't even vote (as shown in the book), it surely isn't plausible that one can become president (especially since the U.S. has a minimum age requirement of 35). And the VP choice? A dog. Not only is the sitting president fully behind Luke's candidacy (he paints the White House orange in support), but so is the entire country. Now, before you get irritated that I'm applying governmental facts to a children's book, please allow me to remind you that the marketing for this book targets children who may be interested in politics or someday running for president. And, it specifically markets Pennybaker for President as plausible and of interest because it's an election year. (When you read the ending, you'll especially realize how ridiculous this assumption is.) Even for a "fantasy" book, I felt that the plot was weak and simplistic, with the illustrations lackluster. (What kid WOULDN'T want to make all the rules? Or paint the White House orange or some other color?) There's nothing amusing or engaging about President Pennybaker--at least, from my adult perspective. (And believe me, I LOVE good children's books, as well as juvenile fiction!) So why the five stars? For some inexplicable reason, my almost 10-year old LOVES this book! He read it as soon as it arrived. That night, I asked him if he wanted me to read it to him (since I had to read it anyway to review it). He not only sat through it, he enjoyed it! And today, he went into the other room, picked up this book and read it AGAIN. (This is a kid that has dozens and dozens of books, including recent WALL-E books and other more engaging stories.) He told me he LOVES it. I have never, ever seen him this enthusiastic about a book. Go figure! So while I think President Pennybaker isn't worth the paper it's printed on, my son loves it. Perhaps the special child in your life will, too. (There's no accounting for taste when it comes to kids...)

This whimsical story deals with what could be a terribly ponderous topic -- the way life just isn't fair. The context is a child whose very kid-like outlook lands him in the White House, only to find that adult life really isn't fair (but still with a happy ending). The story flows easily despite the fact that it could have stepped onto a million landmines. It's captures some timeless facets of electoral life and ethics in ways that I expect my kids to refer to for years. In fact, I don't know the last time I read something that seemed so destined to become a classic. This is the perfect birthday present for this Fall, but one which will be appreciated for a long time. Finally, the pictures have lots of fun details that will engage kids through many readings.

This is a cute and fun picture book. The pictures are remniscent of an earlier age, but the complaint is the same...life isn't fair for kids. They have to clean their rooms, wear nice, clean clothes to parties, do their homework and eat their dinners before they get dessert. So, Luke Pennybaker decides to run for President and change all that. With his dog, Lily, as his Vice Presidential Candidate, they hit the campaign trail. In the end, Luke finds that along with the freedom he would like to choose, comes responsibility too. I loved the surprise ending too, but I won't give that away.