Lisa Von Drasek
Grace for President is an excellent picture book on the campaign process.
—The Washington Post
Publishers Weekly
DiPucchio (Mrs. McBloom, Clean Up Your Classroom!) delivers a lively and well-timed lesson on the electoral system. Grace, dismayed to learn there has never been a female U.S. president, announces she'd like to hold that office someday. Calling it a "star-spangled idea," the teacher organizes an election, with each student representing a different state and casting its allotted number of electoral votes. Depicted with comical hyperbole in Pham's (Freckleface Strawberry) characteristic style, Grace's superstar opponent is smart, popular, athletic Thomas. Shrewdly calculating that the boys hold more electoral votes than the girls, Thomas studies and plays soccer while Grace diligently delivers speeches, offers free cupcakes, holds rallies and even begins to fulfill her campaign promises (the text doesn't comment on the other obvious difference: Thomas is white and Grace is a child of color). Not surprisingly, a boy casts the winning ballot for Grace, proclaiming her "the best person for the job." High-spirited images include Grace posing as Lady Liberty, speaking from the top of a bunting-draped jungle gym and kissing a baby. (The don't-miss-it picture is at the beginning, of kids looking at a poster containing the presidents' portraits, all of them rendered to an almost photographic likeness by Pham). An endnote clarifies the workings of the Electoral College. Ages 5-9. (Feb.)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information
School Library Journal
Gr 1-4- When her teacher displays a poster of all the American presidents, Grace asks with alarm, "Where are the girls?" Dismayed to learn that there have been no women, she announces that she will run for president someday. Mrs. Barrington proposes that she practice by running for president of the elementary school, and the race is on. Her formidable opponent is Thomas Cobb, spelling-bee champion, science-fair winner, and soccer-team captain. DiPucchio succeeds at the daunting task of explaining the Electoral College to young children as the other students are randomly assigned to represent states and their corresponding number of delegates. The illustrations of Grace capture a sense of boundless enthusiasm. Her loose dreadlocks bouncing, she seems to almost jump from the page as she throws herself into the campaign. Grace is African American, but race is never discussed as the delegates quickly begin dividing themselves along gender lines. Oddly enough for a book about equality, there are a few stereotypes present. Grace gives away cupcakes while Thomas studies his science. At the mock convention, the delegates line up to cast their votes. The boy representing Alaska looks like an Eskimo dressed in a hooded fur coat while the girl from Arizona wears a feathered headdress. The story shows how difficult an election campaign can be, as Grace tries to be everywhere and do everything possible to win support. Thought-provoking and timely, this book will be useful in discussing both the positive and negative aspects of United States election campaigns.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA
Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
When Mrs. Barrington rolls out a poster displaying all the U.S. presidents' portraits, the observing and bold Grace Campbell asks, "Where are the GIRLS?" Learning from her teacher that a female head of state is yet to be, Grace decides she will become the first woman president-of her grade, that is. Running against her rival Thomas Cobb in Mr. Waller's class proves to be more challenging than anticipated. Through the process, Grace campaigns diligently, creates platforms and learns how the Electoral College operates. DiPucchio demonstrates the intricacies of the process with each boy and girl representing one of the states and their corresponding electoral votes. Creating a bit of fait-accompli drama, she has readers assume the favored will be "the best man for the job" Thomas Cobb, since all the boys hold a few more electoral votes than the girls. But true democracy prevails when the last state of Wyoming casts its three remaining votes for "the best person" and Grace is declared the winner. Pham's deeply toned opaque and textured paintings of a multicultural group of children bring out the various details of each phase of a campaign. A timely, well-constructed explanation brought down to a level anyone can comprehend. (author's note) (Picture book. 7-10)
From the Publisher
Praise for Grace for President:
Rise/Amelia Bloomer Project Book List
"DiPucchio and Pham are game gals. Explaining the electoral system to adults isn't easy, but they make it understandable to kids."—Booklist
"Thought-provoking and timely..."—School Library Journal
"...the book delivers lessons on electoral votes, polls, and the reason every vote counts."—The New York Times
