Presidential Misadventures: Poems That Poke Fun at the Man in Charge

by Bob Raczka, Dan E. Burr (Illustrator)

Overview

A spoonful of poetry helps the mockery go down! This collection of presidential poems is historical and hysterical.

The clerihew is a simple poetic form specifically invented to make fun of famous people—and who is more famous than the misbehaving presidents of the United States? Here are forty-three poems teasing the commander-in-chief that are fun to read aloud and even more fun to write yourself. From the author of the incredibly inventive Lemonade: And Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word comes a new collection filled with zingers, humdingers, and Presidential Misadventures.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781466887077
Publisher:	Roaring Brook Press
Publication date:	01/27/2015
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	48
File size:	27 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Bob lives with his wife, Amy, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. They have three children (Robert, Carl and Emma) and a dog (Rufus). They are all Cub fans.

As a boy Bob loved to draw, especially dinosaurs, cars and airplanes. He also spent a lot of time making paper airplanes and model rockets. One time, he even made a flute out of a stick he found and it actually played music.

Bob studied art in college, which came in quite handy while he was writing his series of art appreciation books, Bob Raczka’s Art Adventures. He also studied advertising, a creative field he has worked in for 30 years.

A few years ago, Bob discovered how much he enjoyed poetry. It wasn't long before he started writing his own. He has always loved playing with words.

If Bob could share just one message with today's kids, it would be, “Make stuff!” Draw imaginary creatures. Build forts. Write comic books. Make up games. Invent a new baseball pitch. Design your own Halloween costume. Try your own recipe.

Dare to be creative.

Dan E. Burr is an illustrator and cartoonist who has won several Eisner and Harvey Awards. He created the artwork for Kings in Disguise and On the Ropes, both written by James Vance. He is also the illustrator of Presidential Misadventures: Poems That Poke Fun at the Man in Charge.

Editorial Reviews

These poems are satisfying bursts of sarcasm and wit.” —Publisher's Weekly

“Lighthearted and entertaining, Raczka's irreverent quatrains show middle graders no figure is too lofty for some poetic play.” —Kirkus

“A jovial collection . . . Share these aloud with history buffs or to enliven the classroom.” —Booklist

“A fun and informative addition to poetry collections.” —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

2014-10-01
Presidential portraits in light verse.Raczka adopts the four-line, limericklike clerihew to skewer each of the U.S. presidents. Assisted by brilliantly expressive pen-and-ink caricatures from award-winning cartoonist Burr, Raczka makes the most of historical trivia, lampooning a wide variety of presidential idiosyncrasies. Sometimes he pokes fun at daily habits: "Fitness nut John Quincy Adams / lived by the words, ‘Up and at 'em.' / Every morning, right at dawn, / he swam the Potomac with no clothes on." Other times he highlights significant events: "Rough Rider Theodore Roosevelt / was shot near the heart, which he hardly felt. / The bullet was slowed by a fifty-page speech, / which Teddy still gave. That's a ‘tough' you can't teach." Throughout, Raczka succeeds in portraying these historic leaders of the free world in a light seldom seen. To add to the fun, an appendix provides brief back stories to the historical tidbits inspiring each poem, ranging from educational miscellany like the origin of Barack Obama's "Yes we can" campaign slogan in the motto of the United Farm Workers Union to such mindless trivia as 340-pound William Howard Taft and his infamous bathtub. Lighthearted and entertaining, Raczka's irreverent quatrains show middle graders no figure is too lofty for some poetic play. (Informational poetry. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews