Judith St. George (1931–2015)

It took me years to hunt down this book, which I vividly remembered reading in middle school. The super-duper unique title sure made this book easier to find after twenty years.

All that time I spent Googling weird strings of keywords (YA, Nazi, insulin, horror. Or: diabetes, cat, German, attack dog, book, ghost.) probably put me on some sort of watch list. But when I finally chanced upon the correct combination of words and recognized the bizarre cover I squealed. I immediately ordered a show more copy because the library didn't have it.

It was not as tense and horrifying as I remember, but not as puerile and silly as I feared. Actually, it wasn't half bad. Good enough to keep. Good enough to re-read again.

I just wanted everyone to know that if you, too, remember reading a book about a kid who house-sits a mansion where a murder/suicide took place and that there was something about Nazis and something about a white cat and something about insulin and something about an attack dog (or something), you are not hallucinating. You are thinking of Haunted by Judith St. George. You're welcome. show less

5 stars for the memory of this book in my preteen (?) years. I loved this book which really was my introduction to the women's rights movement. I felt very inspired by Josie--inspired to be independent as a woman and to be a working girl (both came true). It was a tough read in some ways, the violence. But it was necessary for the story. I recommend this for young women interested in the Woman's Rights Convention era of history. I enjoyed it as a story on its own: I still remember little show more details like the way she burnt the toast employed as a server girl and had to smear extra jam onto the burnt parts. That was a vivid picture for me: we all make mistakes and mistakes can be corrected.

TW: domestic violence show less

Illustrated by David Small

This picture book for young children tells some of the interesting tidbits about the American Presidents, from George Washington to Bill Clinton. The message is that almost anyone can be president – fat, thin, tall, short, born in a log cabin or a mansion, college graduate or struggled to learn to read, army general or tailor. There is an updated edition, that includes George W Bush, but even that one states all that all the presidents have been white men, and show more that no woman has even run for the office. (Although there is acknowledgement of Geraldine Ferraro’s historic run for Vice President.)

David Small’s illustrations earned the Caldecott medal. His near caricatures are fun and engaging, and he includes small details to delight both children and the adults who may be reading aloud. I loved Teddy Roosevelt playing with a train set on the floor, or Richard Nixon bowling, or the Presidential “band” with Bill Clinton on the sax, Chester Arthur on the banjo, and Thomas Jefferson on the violin.

I think I would probably rate this only three stars if it weren’t for the illustrations. Small’s drawings earned that extra star from me. show less

Presidential animals, giant bath tubs, accomplishments as well! This book is filled with so many interesting facts about presidents, your students are sure to find something that they didn't know before. Judith St. George does a fabulous job teaching students about the presidents in an exciting an unique way that is sure to keep their attention. The humorous illustrations also add a level of charm to the book to keep you turning pages.
I thought this was one of the best books I have seen on show more teaching factual information that is often seen as boring to students. I think students of many ages would enjoy this book.
I would use this book in my social studies class to teach about the presidents, but I would also have it setting out for students to read on their own time as well. I think they would want to read this time and again. show less