It starts out simply enough: two children run pell-mell across an open field, one holding a high-flying kite with the line “I wish you more ups than downs.” But on subsequent pages, some of the analogous concepts are confusing or ambiguous. 4-8)Ī collection of parental wishes for a child. Though the Oval Office here is no more than a messy bedroom, this funny romp lightly delivers a hefty message for today’s girls: The White House is yours for the taking. Potato Head is Secretary of Agriculture, for instance, and a winged unicorn is “Secretary of Fantasy.” Such retro elements as a deck of Old Maid cards and a Ruth Buzzi button will tickle adults, as might a Duck Soup–derived reference to “he ambassador of Freedonia.” Children can squint at the spines of Madam Prez’s library (which leans to American history) and spot scores of visuals signaling her obsession (presidential busts, a pet cat doubling as a Secret Service agent). A whimsical double-page spread proclaiming “A president must choose a capable cabinet” pairs toys with their official titles: Mr. Smith’s illustrations combine cartoonish figures, mod interiors and stylized landscapes a-swirl with fall leaves. A deadpan text outlines a president’s extensive duties, while Madam-a ponytailed girl in a snappy pin-striped pantsuit-trips through an exhausting day, bestowing small American flags as she goes.
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