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Madam President

Publication Information

Author: Thimmesh, Catherine

Illustrator: Jones, Douglas B.

Title: Madam President

Date: 2004

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

City: Boston, MA

ISBN, paperback:

ISBN, hardback:

Recommended audience:

ABE/ABLE: Yes

ESOL:

Family:

Young Adult: Yes

Picture: Yes

General Information:

Book Type(s): biography and autobiography, nonfiction

HSE Descriptor(s): social studies

Summary:

Short biographies of some of the powerful and influential women who have been involved in politics. The biographies are woven into a simple story about a girl who wants to be president when she "grows up" despite the people around her who try to tell her that she can't. The content should interest adults even though the illustrations are somewhat childish.

Teaching Ideas:

Readers should be encouraged to do a matrix of the characteristics of the women in the book, perhaps with further research on these women and on women not mentioned in the book (Golda Meir, etc.) who have been important leaders. Learners may want to study or review the constitution, the process one goes through to become president, the history of women in other fields (medical, etc.), and a discussion about what present day women might make successful bids for the presidency. A then-and-now study of women leaders would prove interesting.

Teaching Strategies: