Presidents, by Eric Huang, Sam Caldwell (illustrator)

 Publication Sept. 3, 2024

Not only fun and entertaining but, shh, educational, too. I absolutely loved this book. As a history major and teacher, it made my reading heart happy. I liked the overall design and illustrations which seemed to lead readers in a logical, flowing manner. Now, true, there's nothing stopping you from letting your eyes and interest dart here and there, I know mine did, but for those who crave a loose but orderly manner, it'll work nicely. Author Eric Huang keeps his narrative relatively succinct, with text frequently found in boxes, while artist Sam Caldwell's illustrations are realistic enough to let your differentiate between the presidential characters shown but with a touch of whimsy, too. Overall, it's a setup that should appeal to both young and adult readers. Yes, adults will enjoy this one, too, and, dare I say it, are likely to learn a thing or two, too.

I won't spoil the discoveries to come for you but will share a few teasers. Like which president could have probably easily mended a hole in your sock? Who was the first president actually born a US citizen? Who started the White House library? (I guessed Jefferson. Wrong.) Which president once graced the cover of a magazine as a model? When did the White House officially become known as the, well, White House? Who..... oh, enough teasers. If you're interested in history, this book will have something for you as it covers all the presidents through President Biden. The First Ladies and Vice-Presidents get their due, too, as do the multitude of White House pets. You'll be amazed at some of the pets kept through the years. 

Finally, there's a timeline, a map showing the birth state of each president, and a glossary. All nicely presented and informative. Wait to you see which president was practically born on the border between two states! Thanks #NetGalley and #QuartoPublishingGroup for given me a sneak peek at this fun, entertaining book. I'm sure I'll be browsing it a few more time until I can get my hands on a print copy.