New Poetry Book

The President's Stuck in the Bathtub

By: Susan Katz

Illustrated by: Robert Neubecker

Katz, Susan. 2012. The President's Stuck in the Bathtub: Poems About the Presidents. Ill. by Robert Neubecker. New York, NY: Clarion Books.

ISBN: 9780547182216

The President's Stuck in the Bathtub is an informative collection of poetry written by Susan Katz. Katz's collection consists of 44 poems, one for each president of the United States. Every poem in the book is written to further a child's knowledge about our past and present president. Some of the poems have rhythm and rhyme, while others are written in more of a verse format. Some of the poems are written in a shape. The poem about Abraham Lincoln and his stovepipe hat is written in the shape of his hat. Another aspect of the book is there are facts about each president located on the bottom of the page of their own personal poem. Some of the facts pertain to the president's family or pets. For, example William McKinley had a parrot that talked to everyone in the White House that walked by his cage.

All the poems are consistent in quality. The facts that Katz displays in her poetry are humorous. For example, the poem "Hatbox" is about Abraham Lincoln and how he used his stovepipe hat to carry important documents. The poem titled "The Naked Truth" is about how John Quincy Adams loved to skinny dip in the Potomac river. The poems in the book appeal to young readers because they are humorous, yet they are full of facts. These poems help extend the reader's knowledge about our nation's presidents. One of the helpful aspects of the poems in the book is that they enrich a person's insight to our country's leaders. I learned many interesting facts while reading, such as Andrew Jackson was a poor speller.

Robert Neubecker's illustrations are full of color and humor as well. For example, the poem about James Buchanan is titled "Funny Looking," and Katz explains how Buchanan had a bad eye and he would tilt his head to the side in favor of his good eye. Neubecker's illustration shows Buchanan with his head titled, as well as his dog.

Each poem displays a title, the name of the president, and the years of his service. Katz also has an index in the back listing all the presidents.

Children will enjoy this book of poems about our 44 presidents. They will gain knowledge and insight about our country's past and present leaders. It is a history lesson with a humorous twist. I also think that Katz does a great job of showing children that presidents are humans like all of us, and we all have personal funny stories to tell.

Out Hunting

(Ulysses S. Grant, 1869-77)

Hunting wild turkeys,

Ulysses S. Grant remembered

to stalk silently,

to hide carefully, deep

in the trees.

When two, three,

or twenty handsome turkeys

thundered by,

no one

escaped his eye.

Grant remembered

to watch where they flew,

but there was one thing

he forgot to do.

oh, shoot!

Yet by keeping his gun

propped on his shoulder,

he gave those birds

a shot

at growing older.

Activity: After reading this poem about Ulysses S. Grant discuss with children the humor that is found in this poem. Ask them, "What is humorous about the ending of this poem?" After discussing the answers ask students to brainstorm and think about a funny story about their own life. Students can then write a poem about a funny event that happened in their life, just like that poem about Ulysses S. Grant.