Overview
Many of our presidents have had extraordinary pets including an alligator, tiger cubs, elephants, bald eagles, a hippo, a bear, a zebra, and a coyote. This easy reader, with photos and illustrations, will have stories about many of these animals - including the Obama's dog, which according to a recent interview with Michelle Obama, will likely be a rescued Portuguese Water Dog.
Synopsis
Many of our presidents have had extraordinary pets including an alligator, tiger cubs, elephants, bald eagles, a hippo, a bear, a zebra, and a coyote. This easy reader, with photos and illustrations, will have stories about many of these animals—including the Obama's dog, which according to a recent interview with Michelle Obama, will likely be a rescued Portuguese Water Dog.
Children's Literature
The amount of media time devoted to the choosing of the Obamas' new dog has shown how easily we are captivated by this human side of our presidents. This book brings that aspect of the home life in the White House to young readers and shows the fascination people have always had with the pets in the White House. While many First Families have had dogs, several have had extraordinary pets, including an alligator, a zebra, a hippo, raccoons, and elephants. The text is consistently organized by type of pet and population of the household zoo, making it easy to read and of high interest for readers who enjoy animals. The attractive layout includes both photographs and illustrations. Chapters focus on brief, entertaining stories, ensuring attention will not be easily lost. The mention of presidents throughout history and the varying reasons for the pets chosen includes touches of history that may inspire readers to learn more. The main focus, however, is on the recent presidents readers will be most familiar with. Reviewer: Jennifer Lehmann