The Buck Stops Here: The Presidents of the United States

by Alice Provensen

An informative text combines with silly rhymes and detailed illustrations to provide an educational and entertaining romp through the careers of all forty U.S. presidents. Reprint.

Genres: History, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens, Presidents, Biography, Biography Memoir

56 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1990

About the author

Alice Provensen collaborated with her late husband, Martin, on numerous highly acclaimed picture books, including the Caldecott Medal-winning The Glorious Flight and Nancy Willard's Newbery Medal-winning A Visit to William Blake's Inn, which was also a Caldecott Honor Book. The Provensens have been on the New York Times list of the Ten Best Illustrated Books eight times.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful illustrations by a great artist Alice Provensen. Also lead to a discussion about Watergate with my six year old son.

[Lauren Anglin · Rating 5 out of 5]

1) Book summary, in your own words (3 pts)
This is an informative nonfiction book about the presidents of the united states.
2) Grade level, interest level, lexile (1 pt)
5th grade
3) Appropriate classroom use (subject area) (1 pt)
classroom library
4) Individual students who might benefit from reading (1 pt)
Students interested in the connections between the presidents of the united states
5) Small group use (literature circles) (1 pt)
none
6) Whole class use (read aloud) (1 pt)
I would not use this book as a read aloud. I would have it in my classroom library. I would also use it as a reference in social studies in a lesson about the american presidents.
7) Related books in genre/subject or content area (1 pt)
none
8) Multimedia connections (audio book, movie) available (1 pt)
none

[Shelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice addition to the numerous picture books my daughter and I read on presidential history. The information in the afterward should be read with each president's picture page to better explain why those images were selected to showcase key events or legislation past during their presidency. If your child has little background information on the presidents this is not the book to share to get them excited about learning.

[Nashiea Edmiston · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit outdated and definitely not informative enough to be used as the sole text for studying the order of US Presidents, however, this would make for a great accompaniment to a unit on presidents. The book contains rhymes, which will help with recall/memorization of the order of the presidents. Really enjoyed the illustrations in this book. Children will be able to recall pictures from the book when thinking back on a particular president.

[Andria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked the poetry with the one main fact about each president. The pictures were ones you could get lost in for hours learning about the presidency of each one.

[Beth Kakuma-Depew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the illustrations of late 20th century presidents to be stiff and awkward. And why is President Obama sitting on a porch on a plastic chair? I get that highlighting Michelle's garden is visually interesting. But this make her husband look less presidential than the other guys. And while the author did not intend this - it hints at negative stereotypes of African-Americans.

Still the clever rhyming poems tell a story of American history through presidents that young readers enjoy.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great picture book with rhymes naming each of the presidents in order, with a one-line blurb of information about them. The illustrations give more details about what was happening in and about the U.S.A. during that president's administration, including their contributions.

[Shaundell Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love history! This is a cute children's picture book, in poetry format, listing the United States Presidents and their major achievements. I learned much.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my first "history books" that I had as a kid and found a copy this year. It's such a quality presidential history for children.

[Grace Avender · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and informative. Reminds me of Jean Fritz's books!

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, engaging multi-age-appropriate primer.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good little picture book for kids who like the Presidents.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book about all the Presidents of the United States from Washington to Obama.

Each page is packed with illustrations showing the major events, reforms, and important facts about each presidency. There is also a short verse on the bottom of each page to sum up each President's term. For example: George W. Bush's script on the bottom says, "Junior Bush, Forty-Three, Plagued by catastrophe" with illustrations of 9/11, War against Iraq, Katrina, and No Child Left Behind.

Each president is given only one page with the exception of a few Presidents like George Washington (he got 2 pages) and William Henry Harrison, who got only half a page, because he died after serving only 1 month as President of the United States.

A really accessible reference for ELLs.

[Christine Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This rich pageant of the American presidents is the culmination of award-winning author-illustrator Alice Provensen's distinguished career.
Using detailed vignettes that capture each era, witty couplets, and extensive factual material, Provensen takes readers on a journey from George Washington through Barack Obama. Newly updated, this twentieth anniversary edition is a treasure trove of American history.



Subjects

Presidents -- United States -- Pictorial works -- Juvenile literature.

United States -- History -- Pictorial works -- Juvenile literature.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up in hardcover at the SPL book sale, just because it was illustrated by Alice Provensen - I really just adore her style. It's an illustrated rhyming guide to remembering the names and deeds of the U.S. presidents up until George Bush, Sr. And I just really like it.

[Lorna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The real meat of each president's legacy is in the end notes. Each presidential page (or pages) is full of bullet point info or graphics on significant happenings. Some of these I found easier to read than others.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The real value of this book is in the informative illustrations. The rhymes are so short they explain nothing and only raise more questions. but the informational section in the back helps give clarity. Unfortunately, my copy is rather out-of-date: it ends with Clinton entering his second term.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My version only goes up to George Bush Sr.

Lovely illustrations, as usual in Provensen books.

Contains a sentence-long rhyme about each president, and the illustrations show important events during their term(s).

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

You'd need to already know quite a bit about the presidents to understand the references in this book.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone interested in US history will love this book. Quirky, beautiful illustrations with well-chosen facts about each presidency. Outstanding!

[Tracie Little · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book for US History.

[Bree · Rating 1 out of 5]

Notes:
such potential gone to waste here
fun-facts galore, but no real 'history'
great illustrations
rhyming text was so unnecessary

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little outdated as it stops at George H. Bush, but still was a great read aloud for my kids ages 12-8

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not enough information on each president. Some parts seemed confusing to the kids.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must have checked this one out of the local library about half a dozen times as a kid. The best book ever to get for an elementary age kid with an interest in presidents and American history.

[Kent Kirker · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second edition of this book.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the 20th Anniversary Edition of the original publication, including all of the Presidents through our 44th President. The narrative is short and rhyming, and while it might be useful to help children remember the order in which the Presidents served, some of the rhymes are a bit awkward.

The illustrations are nicely detailed and include notes when the various states joined the union as well as important events during each President's tenure.

The author's depictions of people on the pages for President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama are far more rudimentary than her illustrations from the previous edition, but I realize that she was in her nineties when this update was published.

I really liked the more in-depth notes about each president at the end of the book. It isn't a comprehensive biography, but adds enough detail to capture the highlights of their tenures.

I did note a couple of errors: on p.49, Clinton's tenure is depicted as 1993-2000, but he didn't leave office until 2001; and on p. 56 in President William Howard Taft's section, she writes, "In sprite of his bulk,..."

Overall, it's an informative and entertaining book and helps children put our long lineage of Commanders in Chief in order, and in perspective.