Marvin Redpost: Class President

Marvin Redpost #5

by Louis Sachar, Amy Wummer (Illustrator)

Class President <> Paperback <> LouisSachar <> RandomHouseChildren'sBooks

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Humor, Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Chapter Books, School Stories

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Louis Sachar (pronounced Sacker), born March 20, 1954, is an American author of children's books.

Louis was born in East Meadow, New York, in 1954. When he was nine, he moved to Tustin, California. He went to college at the University of California at Berkeley and graduated in 1976, as an economics major. The next year, he wrote his first book, Sideways Stories from Wayside School .

He was working at a sweater warehouse during the day and wrote at night. Almost a year later, he was fired from the job. He decided to go to law school. He attended Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco.

His first book was published while he was in law school. He graduated in 1980. For the next eight years he worked part-time as a lawyer and continued to try to write children's books. Then his books started selling well enough so that he was able to quit practicing law. His wife's name is Carla. When he first met her, she was a counselor at an elementary school. She was the inspiration behind the counselor in There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom . He was married in 1985. Hisdaughter, Sherre, was born in 1987.

Reviews

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dad: Who should I talk to first?

Poppy: Me! Me! Me!

Dad: Okay Poppy, what do you remember about the book Marvin Redpost Class President?

Poppy: I remember when the principal came. ...I mean, I remember when the President came.

Dad: What happened?

P: Ummmm... He... Had ummm... He...

D: Do you want to ask one of the other girls?

P: Uh-huh.

Eleanor, jumping in: It made it so that Marvin Redpost was on TV.

P: It made it so that the President came on TV.

D: El, what do you remember about the book?

El: I remember - this was my favorite part of the book, and my least favorite at the same time - I hated it when they did NOT *grits her teeth in the telling* listen to Marvin when he was trying to tell them that he was on TV. ...I hated that part.

D: So why was it also your favorite part?

El: It was my favorite part because they found out that he was on TV, and I was really excited when they watched Marvin on TV.

Poppy (looking at an older picture of me): Daddy! Look! That's you when you had a necklace on you!

D: What about you, Gwen? What do you remember? Or what did you like?

Gwennie: (In a bored voice): I liked it when he was on TV.

Dad: Did you really?

Gwen: (Drawn out): Yeeeesssss... Beee CAAAaauusse.

Dad: Because why?

Gwen: Because his sister said, "LOOK! THAT'S MARVIN! MARVIN IS ON TV!!!"

El: I thought that was cute, too!

Pop: I thought that was cute, booty. I thought that was cute 3. I thought that was cute number everything!

El: Cute number everything? ...Hey dad?

D: Yeah?

El: When they said that Marvin forgot shoes, I thought they meant he forgot to wear shoes - not that he forgot to buy shoes. ...But that would have been weird.

Dad: Anything else, anybody?

El: Yes! I recommend it to people! Wildly! And I want to give the book 5 stars!

Poppy: Me too.

Gwen: (Still seeming bored): Me too.

Dad: Gwennie, you seem really bored for the review today. You don't have to be here if you don't want to be. Are you ok?

Gwennie: (Kindof humming a pretty song while sucking her thumb): I'm just tired.

El: Dad? What was your favorite part?

Dad: I think, that being a teacher I liked the part about the holes. I could relate to that. (In the book, it was "Spirit Week" at school, and it was "hole day," so students and staff were supposed to wear clothes with holes in them. Of course the teacher, Mrs. North, wore clothes with tons of holes. ...And then found out The President was visiting. You'd think we'd get these memos ahead of time.

...Of course, when The President visited my school, I did get the memo ahead of time, so I shouldn't complain.

Here's the first time he visited the school district where I teach - back in 2008. (I've got my hands clasped in front of me.

Here's the second time he visited the school district where I teach - 2016. I'm a little embarrassed that it's a selfie, but not so embarrassed that I'm not sharing it... :

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

We got this slim volume as an award for the library's summer reading program, so I decided to read it today. Otherwise, I probably would not read the fifth volume of a series without reading the books before it, let alone post of review of it! But even though I did not know the characters very well, Class President was still an enjoyable read. After all, I'm a big fan of Louis Sachar. This book had gentler humor than his Sideways series and was definitely aimed at a younger audience than Holes or Small Steps.

Topics that made me think: What would I ask a U.S. president? Are we adults too jaded to seriously try to be "good citizens?"

[Shana OkieCozyReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about being a good citizen.

Marvin is excited to wear hole-y clothes to school and finds out that they are having a special visitor, the President of the United States. They discuss with him ways to be good citizens.

“America is made up of all of its citizens. If we want America to be a great country, it is up to every single one of us—me, you, Mr. McCabe, Mrs. North, Marvin—to be good citizens." P39

“This is why I wanted to come to a third-grade class," he said. "I knew third graders would know how to be good citi-zens. Sometimes, when people get older, they forget. I hope a lot of people will see and hear you on television this evening.
They may learn something." P41

[Emma Rewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love the teacher in this story! Stand up for your own classroom, girl! Thanks to Louis Sachar for writing realistic classroom expectations and giving the teacher character such a strong voice!

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish the President of the United States could come to my class just like he came to Marvin Redpost's class. If he did come, I would ask him how old his two daughters were. I'd thank him for all that he has done for our country so far.

[Fluffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

class presedent is vary funny.marven redpost is my favorit charactor in the book.this was one of the first books i read this year.its such a good book.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is NOT a book about a boy running for class president. It is more clever than that. If you not an American citizen, you may want to give this book a pass.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marvin's class is getting an extra special visitor today. He almost can't believe his ears when his 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. North tell them that the President of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA will be in their classroom that very day! With security protocol and all, no one knew ahead of time. Given the opportunity to each ask the President one question, Marvin is super nervous. What can he ask?

It's funny for me to say this but this was a refreshing read. It's nice to read a simple story of a President visiting a class of students and answering their questions in a truthful and uplifting way. It's also nice to see a story where the students are inspired by their President to maybe become one someday themselves.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember when the President was someone innately worthy of admiration? This book will take you back there. It’s a simple story of a third grade class in the DC suburbs that receives a surprise visit from the Commander in Chief. What follows is an aspirational civics lesson that put me in the general headspace of Jed Bartlett: Marvin Redpost and his class brainstorm about what it means to be a citizen, while the Prez exhibits decency, humor, and grace. I also loved the little detail of Marvin’s teacher standing up to the local newsman, not wishing her students to be embarrassed on camera. Great little read: Funny, tender, and hopeful.

[Kathy (Kindle-aholic) · Rating 3 out of 5]

My youngest reader picked this book as her summer reading prize at the library. It didn't really hold her interest. A big part of that is age - a lot of the plot centers around Marvin being nervous about talking in class in front of the President. Those concerns don't have any relevance in the little one's life and school experience just yet.

We also started with book 5. It's one we will probably revisit later. I did find the parents interactions at the end really jarring. Maybe if I had read the other previous books it would make sense?!?

[Linda Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lighthearted fiction book that would work in a text set for citizenship or government. it would also make a good read-aloud for discussion on civic and family responsibility. Marvin Redpost are a series of books at a guided reading level M. Grades 1-3 will enjoy these books.

[Lolo Onda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first I have read of the Marvin Redpost series. My students seemed to really enjoy it. It was light-hearted and an easy read for most of my readers! I would be interested in reading another from the series!

[Tym · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not the target audience so a child probably would give this a higher rating. It’s spirit week at school and it’s “hole day” everyone, even the teachers and principal, is wearing holey clothes to school. Then they find out the President is coming to visit. Fun, but nothing all that special IMO

[Natali · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first grader read this to me, one chapter per night. It’s cute. Appropriate for advancing readers. I laughed when she saw the drawing of the president and said, “He’s so young.” I guess her idea of a presidents’ age is skewed at the moment.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

My students loved this book. We read it during dress-up days and it went along with the book. The students and staff got quite the suprise when they found out that the president of US was stopping by for a school visit.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still cute, but felt less complete than the other Marvin books I've read.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute book! Great content to facilitate discussion with guided reading groups.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another random one, but still pretty good (and a message to listen to your children when they're trying to tell you things, jeez).

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book for reluctant readers.

[Caffers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable little read about Marvin, his teacher and classmates, parents and the Pres.
Will pass this on to one of my grands...

[Della Tingle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book, but at the end of the book, Marvin’s parents really got on my nerves! 😟

[Sakura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always tricked by the title of this series. It was a nice, funny story!

[Ciera Legue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it a lot only problem i had was the ending i felt it ended aprubtly and that it should have had at least one more paragraph.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie gave it a 3 but I liked it more.

[Alina Ng · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some words I don’t know. But it is nice to read.👌

[Desig · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice book

[Hikari · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s president of United States coming to Marvin’s class. The class prepared the questions to ask the president. When Marvin finish the question, the president said he could be president someday. But because of Marvin forgotten about shoe store, his families were angry about he didn’t come to shoe store afternoon. So his family does not understand if Marvin is in TV and His mother and father said that he could not watch TV for one week.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book for students that are new to chapter books. The characters were relatable and there was just enough detail without being overwhelming for the intended audience.

[Squire Whitney: Hufflepuff Book Reviwer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Marvin Redpost: Class President does not contain much of a narrative. It merely centers on the United States president showing up to pay Marvin’s class a visit. What’s more, the title and cover are both hugely misleading, seeing that Marvin never even considers running for class president. That said, this small book can certainly teach children a thing or two about government and the role of a president. The only thing that I distinctly remembered about the entire series from my initial reading as an elementary school student was the president remarking that he was not even sure that he knew that there was a president in third grade: a rather random detail to stick in my brain—but, as this series constantly sets out to illustrate, children’s minds work in deeply amusing and unpredictable manners.

[Kayla Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This week at Marvin’s school they have been dressing up: Monday was mismatch sock day, Tuesday was vacation t-shirt day, Wednesday was hat day, on this Thursday it is hole day. Marvin wore holes on each knee and another whole under his arm. All of the kids in his class had holes in their clothes, and surprisingly, their teacher, Mrs. North, had holes in her clothes as well. Unfortunately for this class, they had no clue that there was a special visitor on that day, the President of the United States and he brought the TV news station along with him. There was no time for the students to change or even come up with a plan. The President gave a short speech to the class and then allowed each student to ask him a question. When it was Marvin’s turn, he asked the President if there is anything he should be doing if he wanted to become the President one day. The President shocked Marvin and told him that if he continued to do what he has been doing, “Work hard. Listen to your teacher. Be a good citizen” he will surely be able to become the President one day