Rutherford B., Who was He? : Poems About Our Presidents Book Review

Bibliography

Singer, Marilyn, and John Hendrix. Rutherford B., who was he? : poems about our presidents. New York: Disney Hyperion Books, 2013.
ISBN: 9781423171003

Plot

Moving chronologically through America’s history, Singer writes poetry involving each of the United States of America’s Presidents. While some presidents share a poem, many have a single poem dedicated to the most influential or intriguing event of their presidency. The poems are written in an assortment of styles, including one poem which demonstrates Singer’s distinctive “reverso” poetry. Each poem is attended by a vivid illustration and presidential quote.

Critical Analysis

The language of Rutherford B., Who Was He? uses words that command attention and draw the reader into the focus of each president’s main achievement or acclaimed action. While some presidents work together in the poems, the chronological method of the poetry presents history as building on the previous presidency. Singer is able to use various sounds and rhythms with each poem to enunciate the challenge that the president faced. Quotes from the presidents along with boisterous, colorful illustrations further the emotion of urgency as the book is read. Whether reading through the chronological sequence of poems, or just one poem, the reader may develop this urgency and the appeal for each president to hold integrity and rightness in his actions. Singer promotes this idea even with presidents who “failed”, such as Nixon and Clinton, choosing to highlight their accomplishments and assume the best about their presidency. Within the biographical information at the end of the book, readers can find a more balanced opinion of each president’s successes and failures. John Hedrix’ illustrations are reminiscent of political cartoons, and coincide with the accompanying quotation. Each illustration is deliberate to show the president’s character, whether through facial expressions or posture. A challenging read both to understand history through poetry, and to realize that presidents are men striving to accomplish the best for the country.

Personal Response

I enjoyed the different rhyming patterns of the poetry within the book; each seemed to fit the president’s achievement or renown. The two poems which included more than one president speaking were confusing at first to understand, and to read based on typical poem structure. The inclusion of actual quotations as well as the bibliographical information made for an enjoyable experience of learning throughout the book.

Excerpts of Reviews

“Most libraries will want to make room for this one; it's a wonderful teaching tool for U.S. history and a delightful, readable book for a wide audience of browsers.” School Library Review

“Sometimes combining drawn and painted elements with quotes, the artwork is eclectic and expressive. Packed with facts and historical references as well as human interest elements, the rhythmic, rhyming verse may sometimes baffle elementary-school children and even older students without a solid grounding in history and politics.” Booklist

Connections

1. Children can research and find out more about a little-known president and read aloud the poem out of the book when presenting their fact tip.
2. Discuss the “reverso” poem and how Marilyn Singer created that word to describe the poems she was making. Talk about two sides to a story, or two sides to a person. Children can discuss two sides to themselves, or think of an event they have had happen in their life and discuss both sides of that event. Link this to Reverso poetry writing and presidents. Have children research critical events mentioned in the poems that presidents had to make decisions on, and talk about both sides of that event or person/character decision.
3. Read the interview with Marilyn Singer together with children found here: http://www.hbook.com/2013/04/authors-illustrators/five-questions-for-marilyn-singer/ (Horn Book, 2013). Children can write questions they would have liked to ask Mrs. Singer about Rutherford B., Who Was He? and poetry writing.
4. Read other books by Marilyn Singer such as, Follow Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems,  Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse, and A Full Moon is Rising.