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President Pennybaker
What if a boy ran for president and won?
Being a kid isn't easy, just ask Luke Pennybaker. Chores, school, homework, and more chores. Who needs it? Sent to his room for a time-out, Luke devises a plan to run for president and make like fair for kids once and for all.
As "Pennies for Pennybaker" builds momentum, Luke's campaign takes hold across America. Being president of the United States is all a kid could hope for - or is it?
Completely plausible and surprising, Kate Feiffer and Diane Goode's spirited collaboration is sure-fire inspiration for presidential hopefuls across the land.
Being a kid isn't easy, just ask Luke Pennybaker. Chores, school, homework, and more chores. Who needs it? Sent to his room for a time-out, Luke devises a plan to run for president and make like fair for kids once and for all.
As "Pennies for Pennybaker" builds momentum, Luke's campaign takes hold across America. Being president of the United States is all a kid could hope for - or is it?
Completely plausible and surprising, Kate Feiffer and Diane Goode's spirited collaboration is sure-fire inspiration for presidential hopefuls across the land.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 26, 2008
39 people want to read
About the author
Kate Feiffer
23 books16 followersKate Feiffer is the author of several children’s books, including Double Pink, illustrated by Bruce Ingman; President Pennybaker and My Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life, both illustrated by Diane Goode; The Problem with Puddles, illustrated by Tricia Tusa; and Henry the Dog with No tail, illustrated by her dad, Jules Feiffer. She lives on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 8, 2022
After a trying experience with his father, in which he isn't allowed to watch television, even after completing all the tasks required of him, Luke Pennybaker come to conclusion, as have many before him, that life is unfair. Deciding that he will make it fair, he runs for President of the USA, with his dog Lily as his Vice Presidential candidate. As he explains to a reporter, he is not a member of either the Democratic or Republican Party, but he is a member of the birthday party. But when Luke and Lily win by a landslide, our hero discovers that being the President isn't everything it's cracked up to be...
I had mixed feelings about President Pennybaker, which features a story by Kate Feiffer and watercolor artwork by Diane Goode, an author/illustrator team who also collaborated on the amusing My Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life . On the one hand, I can see that the premise is meant to be humorous, and taps into that universal childhood feeling that limitations are unfair, and adults sometimes unreasonable and inconsistent. The artwork, as is usually the case with Diane Goode, is delightfully charming. On the other hand, there is a general pettiness to the instances of unfairness that Luke decries, and a smallness to what he promises the people of the country. I imagine some will think it's cute, and appropriate for children, but I couldn't help but think, as I read through, that children are often disproportionately affected by real unfairness, and there isn't (sadly) anything unchild-like for many young people, in worrying about such things as poverty or abuse. I did like that Luke realizes that what he really wants after all is to be a normal kid again, but all in all, this one didn't really hit the mark for me, and I prefer such titles as Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin's Duck for President or Ben Clanton's Vote for Me! , when it comes to picture-books about elections.
I had mixed feelings about President Pennybaker, which features a story by Kate Feiffer and watercolor artwork by Diane Goode, an author/illustrator team who also collaborated on the amusing My Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life . On the one hand, I can see that the premise is meant to be humorous, and taps into that universal childhood feeling that limitations are unfair, and adults sometimes unreasonable and inconsistent. The artwork, as is usually the case with Diane Goode, is delightfully charming. On the other hand, there is a general pettiness to the instances of unfairness that Luke decries, and a smallness to what he promises the people of the country. I imagine some will think it's cute, and appropriate for children, but I couldn't help but think, as I read through, that children are often disproportionately affected by real unfairness, and there isn't (sadly) anything unchild-like for many young people, in worrying about such things as poverty or abuse. I did like that Luke realizes that what he really wants after all is to be a normal kid again, but all in all, this one didn't really hit the mark for me, and I prefer such titles as Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin's Duck for President or Ben Clanton's Vote for Me! , when it comes to picture-books about elections.
March 24, 2017
A young boy wanted to watch tv, and despite having done all of his chores, his father still says no. "It was this very moment, this precise instant, this exact time and place that Luke realized life was unfair."
This book had me cracking up the whole way through. President Pennybaker was going to make life fair for everyone! But he soon realizes that being president is a lot harder than he had realized, and he just wants to go back to being a normal kid.
This book had me cracking up the whole way through. President Pennybaker was going to make life fair for everyone! But he soon realizes that being president is a lot harder than he had realized, and he just wants to go back to being a normal kid.
February 8, 2020
Cute one to read around President's Day with kids. Love the ending!
July 18, 2012
It all started because Luke Pennybaker wanted to watch TV and his father wouldn’t let him. Luke realized life was unfair and he decided to become president so he could do whatever he could to change that. And that’s how Luke Pennybaker became the youngest boy ever to run for president. He campaigned from coast to coast and he answered questions from the press. And even though he wasn’t old enough to vote in the election, Luke Pennybaker, and his VP, his dog Lily, won by a landslide! But what happens when being President isn’t exactly what Luke imagined it would be like?
Feiffer’s text is perfect for a read aloud and kids will identify with the unfairness that Luke Pennybaker encounters as a child. There’s a humorous style to the writing as well, which children and adults alike will enjoy. The watercolor illustrations set the story around the 1920’s or 1930’s. There are old cars, TVs, and telephones. The orange and blue theme that runs throughout the book helps to tie the illustrations together.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
Feiffer’s text is perfect for a read aloud and kids will identify with the unfairness that Luke Pennybaker encounters as a child. There’s a humorous style to the writing as well, which children and adults alike will enjoy. The watercolor illustrations set the story around the 1920’s or 1930’s. There are old cars, TVs, and telephones. The orange and blue theme that runs throughout the book helps to tie the illustrations together.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
March 14, 2010
This book is exactly the sort of cathartic read that every kid wants to have fleshed out for them on the printed page: A kid, represented in this book in the form of refreshingly straightforward, creative (and very funny!) Luke Pennybaker, announces his intentions to run for President and make our country better suited for the style of kids everywhere.
Author Kate Feiffer has found her groove in this book, which is marked by a good amount of effective humor, and of course the kind of campaign promises that prove Luke Pennybaker to be a candidate after every kid's heart. His successful election is all but a foregone conclusion from the start, though President Pennybaker may find out after all that serving in the office of President is not always as fun as it might seem.
I enjoyed this book, as I'm sure most young readers will. I would give President Pennybaker at least one and a half stars.
Author Kate Feiffer has found her groove in this book, which is marked by a good amount of effective humor, and of course the kind of campaign promises that prove Luke Pennybaker to be a candidate after every kid's heart. His successful election is all but a foregone conclusion from the start, though President Pennybaker may find out after all that serving in the office of President is not always as fun as it might seem.
I enjoyed this book, as I'm sure most young readers will. I would give President Pennybaker at least one and a half stars.
October 7, 2016
When Luke Pennybaker asks his father if he can watch TV he doesn't get the reply he wanted. Instead he gets 5 questions, and in the end the answer is still no. That's when Luke realizes that life isn't always fair, and decides to do something about it: he'll run for president. He not only promises to make life fair, he promises that every kid will get "a dog or a cat or a hamster or a gerbil or a rabbit or an iguana." But is being president really everything Luke wants?
This is a cute book with a funny story and reminds me of a lot of the stories I remember as a kid. It's not heavy-handed on teaching a moral or anything, it's just a fun book that kids can relate to. The artwork is well drawn and colorful, yet simple, and my wife and I enjoyed it as much as our daughter.
This is a cute book with a funny story and reminds me of a lot of the stories I remember as a kid. It's not heavy-handed on teaching a moral or anything, it's just a fun book that kids can relate to. The artwork is well drawn and colorful, yet simple, and my wife and I enjoyed it as much as our daughter.
February 22, 2010
I thought this one fell short of the reviews. A small boy runs for president on the platform promise that he will make things fair! This book has some clever moments but as one reviewer stated...it is funny the author made a big deal on the legal voting age - but not on the legal age to run for president. So life is not fair and the grass is not always greener. I prefer Duck For President as an election time read (or anytime for that matter)!Duck for President
July 17, 2014
I enjoyed this book. This story is about a boy who feels like life isn't fair. He decides to run for president so that he can make life fair for everyone. He soon finds out though that not everyone is happy with his idea of what is fair and he decides that he just wants to go back to being a kid again. This story has fun illustrations that kids will enjoy and a funny twist at the end that kids will think is funny. Some pages have a lot of words on them so this may be a difficult read aloud for younger kids.
February 19, 2009
Life's not fair. Get used to it.
Luke Pennybaker decides to run for president so he can make things fair. His unique platform (lots of promises, including one to paint the White House orange) gets him elected in a landslide, but he quickly figures out that life's unfair all over. Cute little story to read around election time.
Luke Pennybaker decides to run for president so he can make things fair. His unique platform (lots of promises, including one to paint the White House orange) gets him elected in a landslide, but he quickly figures out that life's unfair all over. Cute little story to read around election time.
November 14, 2008
My second grade teacher, Mrs. Chapman, would be very proud. What color would you paint the White House? Which party are you a member of? Grass roots at their finest! Children and the President both have 'tough jobs'.
December 13, 2012
A cute book for election time, could be used as a read aloud then discussed with elections. Students would love the sillyness of the main character being president. Recommended for first and second graders.
April 30, 2013
This is a book that is very creative about a young boy who wants to be president. His adventure will keep you laughing! I would recommend this book for any age students in elementary school! Great book to show them to dream big!
August 29, 2008
A cute story! Luke did have a major gripe. If my kids did everything I asked like that I would not say NO! I would give them a hug and a TV watching limit.
November 2, 2008
If you want your kids to read about how "life's not fair" then go for it.
February 1, 2009
I read this one with my kids and they were all unanimous on giving this one a five. I thought it was a clever way of dealing with the subject of "it's not fair." This is a fun read.
February 10, 2009
A little strange that the author made a point of the age to vote but not the age to run for president.
July 27, 2014
My 4-year-old loved the ideas in this book about a little boy who doesn't think life is fair so he decided to run for President.
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November 24, 2012I would definitely read this book during election time and have students plan a mock presidency race and let them vote for different jobs within the classroom.
July 3, 2015
Sweet and to the point...life isn't fair. Sometimes even when you do all your chores you still don't get the "prize." And even being the President doesn't change this simple fact of life.
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July 18, 2015A young boy, frustrated by the lack of fairness in his life, decides to run for president with the goal of making the nation a fairer place.
September 26, 2008
Ah, if only presidential politics were this simple--and honest!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews