President Pennybaker

Young Luke Pennybaker's moment of disillusionment comes when he has finished his list of chores and still isn't permitted to watch television. Life is unfair. How to remedy the situation? Run for president. First, he gets the support of his schoolmates on a platform of less homework and more pets. Then he spends the summer campaigning and wins the election, even though he can't vote. But once in office, Luke realizes the job's harder than he thought. On to plan B. Obviously, the story's specifics aren't intended to bear much scrutiny, but even so, the humor in places seems forced. Happily, the talented Goode's artwork finds fun everywhere: atop a mountain with Luke speechifying to backpackers; at a debate where his idea of painting the White House orange is topic number 1; and on the job, where Luke's advisors leave him less time to watch TV than before. With a retro look (Luke even resembles a young Skeezix from the Gasoline Alley comic strip), this is good-looking election-year fare.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2008 Booklist

Adding to the slate of presidential-election titles, Feiffer's (Henry the Dog with No Tail) spirited picture book introduces a fresh-faced candidate, plucky Luke Pennybaker. Fed up with the blatant unfairness at home (no TV time, even after he's done his chores), Luke and his running mate, Lily the dog, represent the Birthday Party, espousing a platform of messy rooms all around as well as cake, ice cream and pets for everyone. When their message (Be fair!) catches on, Luke and Lily find themselves in the White House (painted orange at Luke's request)--which may not be ideal after all. Goode's (Baby Face) airy, pale-hued watercolors cleverly set the context. Seemingly realistic, the illustrations are blithely anachronistic, mixing black-and-white TVs, sputtering jalopies, a 1940s police uniform and knee-length boys' trousers--a faux-historical setting just right for a tale framed as the story of how Luke Pennybaker became the youngest boy ever to run for president. The line between fantasy and real-world politics stays clear, leaving readers free to enjoy the fun. Ages 4-8. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved All rights reserved.

K-Gr 3-Young Luke Pennybaker realizes that life is unfair after receiving one too many "no's" from his dad. In response, he decides to run for president. With his dog as running mate and campaign promises that address homework, sleeping late, and the right to a messy room, his candidacy quickly takes off. The "Birthday Party" candidate beats his Democratic and Republican rivals in a landslide. When he moves into the White House, which has been painted orange in response to Luke's persuasiveness, President Pennybaker soon learns that even free ice cream and presents won't please every one of his constituents. He promptly resigns, leaving the leadership of the nation to his dog. Deadpan narration allows the absurdity of the premise to carry the day, with plenty of help from the illustrations. Goode's breezy watercolors set just the right tone. Luke looks amusingly earnest and always very much a regular kid. Other characters are equally expressive, without being too exaggerated. Old-fashioned phones, televisions, and other implements set the action in an earlier era, neatly adjusted to include rich ethnic diversity and a female presidential candidate. The humor is deftly understated, both visually and verbally, making this an amusing and appealing send-up of politics and children's chores.-Steven Engelfried, Multnomah County Library, OR (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

"And why not?" readers will ask of young Luke Pennybaker's run for president on a platform of time-honored plaints: no to homework, no to bedtime, no to everything but dessert, gifts and messy rooms. Luke's a card-carrying member of the Birthday Party, his eye skinned for unfairness--for kids, admittedly, but by implication (nicely understated by Feiffer and underscored by Goode's artfully composed, old-timey illustrations) throwing a protective covering over all the people. Not to forget dogs, as his running mate is Lily, his pooch. Ushered into the White House (now the Orange House) upon his landslide victory, Luke soon learns of the endless, pick-nose demands of office. He's outta there, but not to worry, for Lily is happy to take her bowl into the Oval Office. Breezy and charming and pleasingly subversive, the book burrows right into the heart of the Declaration. This little Jeffersonian is exercising his right to the pursuit of happiness, the noble, embracing aspiration that--unvoiced here, but looming--could well be lost upon over-35-year-olds. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Young Luke Pennybaker's moment of disillusionment comes when he has finished his list of chores and still isn't permitted to watch television. Life is unfair. How to remedy the situation? Run for president. First, he gets the support of his schoolmates on a platform of less homework and more pets. Then he spends the summer campaigning and  wins the election, even though he can't vote. But once in office, Luke realizes the job's harder than he thought. On to plan B. Obviously, the story's specifics  aren't intended to bear much scrutiny, but even so, the humor in places seems forced.  Happily,  the talented Goode's artwork finds fun everywhere: atop  a mountain with Luke speechifying to backpackers; at  a debate where  his idea of painting the White House  orange is topic  number 1; and  on the job, where  Luke's advisors leave him less time to watch TV than before. With a retro look (Luke even resembles a young Skeezix  from the Gasoline Alley comic strip), this is good-looking election-year fare. Copyright 2006 Booklist Reviews.

Adding to the slate of presidential-election titles, Feiffer's (Henry the Dog with No Tail ) spirited picture book introduces a fresh-faced candidate, plucky Luke Pennybaker. Fed up with the blatant unfairness at home (no TV time, even after he's done his chores), Luke and his running mate, Lily the dog, represent the Birthday Party, espousing a platform of messy rooms all around as well as cake, ice cream and pets for everyone. When their message ("Be fair!") catches on, Luke and Lily find themselves in the White House (painted orange at Luke's request)—which may not be ideal after all. Goode's (Baby Face ) airy, pale-hued watercolors cleverly set the context. Seemingly realistic, the illustrations are blithely anachronistic, mixing black-and-white TVs, sputtering jalopies, a 1940s police uniform and knee-length boys' trousers—a faux-historical setting just right for a tale framed as "the story of how Luke Pennybaker became the youngest boy ever to run for president." The line between fantasy and real-world politics stays clear, leaving readers free to enjoy the fun. Ages 4–8. (Aug.)

K-Gr 3— Young Luke Pennybaker realizes that life is unfair after receiving one too many "no's" from his dad. In response, he decides to run for president. With his dog as running mate and campaign promises that address homework, sleeping late, and the right to a messy room, his candidacy quickly takes off. The "Birthday Party" candidate beats his Democratic and Republican rivals in a landslide. When he moves into the White House, which has been painted orange in response to Luke's persuasiveness, President Pennybaker soon learns that even free ice cream and presents won't please every one of his constituents. He promptly resigns, leaving the leadership of the nation to his dog. Deadpan narration allows the absurdity of the premise to carry the day, with plenty of help from the illustrations. Goode's breezy watercolors set just the right tone. Luke looks amusingly earnest and always very much a regular kid. Other characters are equally expressive, without being too exaggerated. Old-fashioned phones, televisions, and other implements set the action in an earlier era, neatly adjusted to include rich ethnic diversity and a female presidential candidate. The humor is deftly understated, both visually and verbally, making this an amusing and appealing send-up of politics and children's chores.—Steven Engelfried, Multnomah County Library, OR