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I Grew Up to Be President
Discover how each of these little rascals grew up to become commander-in-chief--now that's an executive order!
From George Washington to Barack Obama, this child's is a child's perfect introduction to all of the U.S. Presidents. On every spread, readers will learn about the Presidents' childhoods, families, careers, accomplishments in office, and life after the White House. Famous quotes, major events, and fun facts are all included. With simple text and full-color illustrations and photographs throughout, every parent, teacher, and child will want this essential reference for their bookshelf.
From George Washington to Barack Obama, this child's is a child's perfect introduction to all of the U.S. Presidents. On every spread, readers will learn about the Presidents' childhoods, families, careers, accomplishments in office, and life after the White House. Famous quotes, major events, and fun facts are all included. With simple text and full-color illustrations and photographs throughout, every parent, teacher, and child will want this essential reference for their bookshelf.
96 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2011
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63 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 30, 2020
Slightly biased towards a liberal rather than conservative bent. Still a fun book for children.
November 15, 2023
Calkhoven, L. (2011). I grew up to be president. New York: Scholastic, Inc.
Citation by: Sarah Hope Tyler
Type of Reference: Biographical Reference
Call Number: 973.99 C155 2011
Content/Scope: This resource profiles each of the forty-four United States presidents, providing summaries of each man’s childhood, road to presidency, significant events or interesting tidbits during his time as president, and a “Fact File,” containing birth and death dates, names of his wife and children, political party and vice president. An introduction gives users an overview of historical background leading to and the reason for the office of president. Two articles after the president profiles detail the three branches of the U. S. government and how presidents are elected.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias: Published by Scholastic, this biographical reference is authoritative because of its publisher and the expertise of its author. Calkhoven has written biographies of George Washington and Harriet Tubman for the Sterling Biography series, several titles published by American Girl, and the Boys of Wartime trilogy. This is an accurate resource, since it includes a profile of Barack Obama. At the time of publication, it was accurate in mentioning that Hillary Clinton was named secretary of state after the 2008 presidential election. Authority and accuracy is also evident through the inclusion of a “Sources” section that lists three books and five websites, with the note that additional resources exist. Bias is not detectable since each president has a two-page profile with information in the same format.
Arrangement/Presentation: After the one-page introduction, the president profiles are arranged chronologically from George Washington to Barack Obama. Each profile is two pages and includes a portrait of the president as an adult with the “Fact File” and a caricature of what he would have looked like as a child holding something unique to his life or presidency. For example, Theodore Roosevelt carries a teddy bear, Ronald Regan holds a jar of jelly beans, and George H. W. Bush is flying a model airplane.
Relation to Other Works: This book provides more up-to-date and appealing information to elementary students than the collection’s current holding of Scholastic’s Encyclopedia of the Presidents and Their Times; it elaborates and their early years prior to presidency, which is highly useful to students conducting biographical research. The two-page profiles treat every president equally, unlike Scholastic’s presidential encyclopedia which includes one page for each year in office.
Accessibility/Diversity: Recommended for students in third through fifth grade, this book is accessible to younger elementary students, who may only wish to look at the portraits and caricatures of the presidents. Reluctant readers, special education students will enjoy the fun facts included in the two-page profiles, while gifted and talented students will appreciate the details on the three branches of government and how presidents are elected. Acknowledging that some users may not understand sophisticated words, the author briefly defines them in the text; for example, “impeached” is briefly defined as “accused of breaking the law” in the profile of Bill Clinton. The two-page glossary will aid students in understanding terminology which is specific to governmental and presidential affairs and will support students’ general English acquisition.
Cost: $8.99
Professional Review: Whitehurst, L. S. (2012). I grew up to be president. School Library Journal, 58(3), 140.
Citation by: Sarah Hope Tyler
Type of Reference: Biographical Reference
Call Number: 973.99 C155 2011
Content/Scope: This resource profiles each of the forty-four United States presidents, providing summaries of each man’s childhood, road to presidency, significant events or interesting tidbits during his time as president, and a “Fact File,” containing birth and death dates, names of his wife and children, political party and vice president. An introduction gives users an overview of historical background leading to and the reason for the office of president. Two articles after the president profiles detail the three branches of the U. S. government and how presidents are elected.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias: Published by Scholastic, this biographical reference is authoritative because of its publisher and the expertise of its author. Calkhoven has written biographies of George Washington and Harriet Tubman for the Sterling Biography series, several titles published by American Girl, and the Boys of Wartime trilogy. This is an accurate resource, since it includes a profile of Barack Obama. At the time of publication, it was accurate in mentioning that Hillary Clinton was named secretary of state after the 2008 presidential election. Authority and accuracy is also evident through the inclusion of a “Sources” section that lists three books and five websites, with the note that additional resources exist. Bias is not detectable since each president has a two-page profile with information in the same format.
Arrangement/Presentation: After the one-page introduction, the president profiles are arranged chronologically from George Washington to Barack Obama. Each profile is two pages and includes a portrait of the president as an adult with the “Fact File” and a caricature of what he would have looked like as a child holding something unique to his life or presidency. For example, Theodore Roosevelt carries a teddy bear, Ronald Regan holds a jar of jelly beans, and George H. W. Bush is flying a model airplane.
Relation to Other Works: This book provides more up-to-date and appealing information to elementary students than the collection’s current holding of Scholastic’s Encyclopedia of the Presidents and Their Times; it elaborates and their early years prior to presidency, which is highly useful to students conducting biographical research. The two-page profiles treat every president equally, unlike Scholastic’s presidential encyclopedia which includes one page for each year in office.
Accessibility/Diversity: Recommended for students in third through fifth grade, this book is accessible to younger elementary students, who may only wish to look at the portraits and caricatures of the presidents. Reluctant readers, special education students will enjoy the fun facts included in the two-page profiles, while gifted and talented students will appreciate the details on the three branches of government and how presidents are elected. Acknowledging that some users may not understand sophisticated words, the author briefly defines them in the text; for example, “impeached” is briefly defined as “accused of breaking the law” in the profile of Bill Clinton. The two-page glossary will aid students in understanding terminology which is specific to governmental and presidential affairs and will support students’ general English acquisition.
Cost: $8.99
Professional Review: Whitehurst, L. S. (2012). I grew up to be president. School Library Journal, 58(3), 140.
June 21, 2014
1.) A fiction “twin text” title, author and copyright date:
Vote! by Eileen Chrstelow (February 18, 2008)
2.) Rationale for the twin text selection and how it extends and/or enhances the non-fiction book:
For a Civics/Citizenship lesson, I would pair these texts so students get a national and local perspective on elections. I Grew Up to Be President provides information about each president as well as presidential elections. Vote! puts a local spin on elections. This book also addresses the impact that a citizen can have on politics, which is a standard for fourth grade.
3.) Identify the text structure of the non-fiction book and briefly describe a strategy application for the twin texts:
Text structure: Description, Chronological Sequence, Question and Answer
Strategy: Webbing
I would use this strategy before and after reading the books. Before reading these books, I would have students create several webs in their social studies notebook. Students would create a web for: elections, presidents, voting and citizens. After reading the books, I would have students add to their webs (in a different color). This activity would begin with background knowledge and end with a combination of the students background knowledge and new learnings.
4.) An adapted book review citation:
(March 01, 2012). School Library Journal. http://www.booksinprint.com.leo.lib.u...#
Vote! by Eileen Chrstelow (February 18, 2008)
2.) Rationale for the twin text selection and how it extends and/or enhances the non-fiction book:
For a Civics/Citizenship lesson, I would pair these texts so students get a national and local perspective on elections. I Grew Up to Be President provides information about each president as well as presidential elections. Vote! puts a local spin on elections. This book also addresses the impact that a citizen can have on politics, which is a standard for fourth grade.
3.) Identify the text structure of the non-fiction book and briefly describe a strategy application for the twin texts:
Text structure: Description, Chronological Sequence, Question and Answer
Strategy: Webbing
I would use this strategy before and after reading the books. Before reading these books, I would have students create several webs in their social studies notebook. Students would create a web for: elections, presidents, voting and citizens. After reading the books, I would have students add to their webs (in a different color). This activity would begin with background knowledge and end with a combination of the students background knowledge and new learnings.
4.) An adapted book review citation:
(March 01, 2012). School Library Journal. http://www.booksinprint.com.leo.lib.u...#
December 20, 2015
Summarize the book:
This book is an informational book for kids about where the presidents came from and their interests and hobbies when they were kids. There is tons of little facts about each president and tells about each presidents childhood, friends, family, interests, and what they did in office and out of office.
Identify the characteristics from the text that support the specific genre:
This book fits this genre because it is an informational book about presidents but it is also very kid friendly and has awesome pictures and quick facts.
Identify specific concepts that could be integrated into the classroom:
Specifically is it obvious that this book would fit in nicely into a social studies unit on the presidents and explaining about who the presidents where and what they did. I don’t know if I would assign it but if it were in a text set it would be awesome to have as a supplemental text. The fact and pictures are so crisp and the information about each president will be interesting to the students.
Provide any other suggestions that would be useful regarding literary content, reading level, and other ways in which the book might be integrated:
I think this book would be great to help students who like big pictures and lots of color. I also think students will like this book because it is actually information that they are told is important. Students will learn little facts and enjoy telling their teachers and parents what they learned.
This book is an informational book for kids about where the presidents came from and their interests and hobbies when they were kids. There is tons of little facts about each president and tells about each presidents childhood, friends, family, interests, and what they did in office and out of office.
Identify the characteristics from the text that support the specific genre:
This book fits this genre because it is an informational book about presidents but it is also very kid friendly and has awesome pictures and quick facts.
Identify specific concepts that could be integrated into the classroom:
Specifically is it obvious that this book would fit in nicely into a social studies unit on the presidents and explaining about who the presidents where and what they did. I don’t know if I would assign it but if it were in a text set it would be awesome to have as a supplemental text. The fact and pictures are so crisp and the information about each president will be interesting to the students.
Provide any other suggestions that would be useful regarding literary content, reading level, and other ways in which the book might be integrated:
I think this book would be great to help students who like big pictures and lots of color. I also think students will like this book because it is actually information that they are told is important. Students will learn little facts and enjoy telling their teachers and parents what they learned.
January 25, 2013
I enjoyed Caulkhoven (author) & Zomcheck's (illustrator) book. The format and text of this non-fiction picture book, are easily accessible to child readers with slightly larger than standard print. The interesting, kid-friendly facts shared sum up a key administrative achievement/policy that each president was best known for, as well a few personality traits, an incident and/or hobby that made each boy-who-would-be-president unique. I think the illustrations, which look somewhat like a "sophisticated" caricature of each president as a child, (although I'm certain that this does not adequately describe the artwork) will undoubtedly appeal to young readers--particularly graphic novel fans. Maybe even reluctant readers would find this book's style of information-sharing less overwhelming and off-putting.
August 28, 2016
I loved the "tidbits" of facts written in such a way to stimulate further interest in growth. I didn't see a whole lot written on the childhood per se of the presidents, but I thought the facts that were given would be of interest to children, such as pets, etc.
I will admit that I did love that the authors addressed George Washington's "I will not tell a lie' which has survived for hundreds of years.
I will admit that I did love that the authors addressed George Washington's "I will not tell a lie' which has survived for hundreds of years.
March 25, 2012
Each two page spread provides details about each president. Information, though brief, gives a description of childhood, adulthood, and key moments during their presidency. there are also a few interesting facts provided after the summary of the president. This title would be a good addition to other president books for introductory research.
July 8, 2012
I learned a thing or two reading this to my son. Great fun! I bought a copy at his school book fair & I think it will be a favorite for years to come.
November 15, 2012
could be good when we're collectively looking at all the presidents of the US. Something interesting on each page, and not too long
December 6, 2012
Super fun and full of quirky facts that kids will love.
July 31, 2016
Writing Style:Browsable.
An introduction to the presidents of the United States describes each president's childhood, career, achievements while in office, and life after the White House.
An introduction to the presidents of the United States describes each president's childhood, career, achievements while in office, and life after the White House.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews