Where Do Presidents Come From?: And Other Presidential Stuff of Super-Great Importance (review)

Townsend fans will immediately recognize his familiar style in this graphic-novel-formatted title: manic bunnies and monkeys; smarty-pants kids with wide mouths, pointy teeth, and vacant Orphan Annie eyes; and a supporting crew of caricatures, robots, and talking objects. This time they are gathered in the service of teaching an election-year civics lesson on the presidency, its historical roots, its perks, and its problems. Townsend supplies the straight facts in a deadpan, mock-pedantic tone that gleefully contrasts with the send-ups of historical dramatis personae and the antic blather of the cartoon children soaking up the lessons. Since it's no accident that the release date for this venture coincides with the run-up to this year's election, kids can be forgiven if they skip over the background chapters on Washington and the Revolution and the separation of powers and cut right to the chase: who can run for office (no angry bunnies); who hung presidential underwear in the White House; what goes on at Camp David ("blah blah blah blah blah peace treaty"); and what's the deal with this whole electoral college thing? Social studies teachers with a wacky streak who stick around long enough to see through the mayhem will appreciate the solid information and traditional—almost stolid—organization, complete with chapter reviews. Extra credit, kids?