Class President (Marvin Redpost #5)

Gr 2-4–It's an unusual day at Marvin's school: everyone, including his teacher and the principal, is wearing something with holes in it. All come to regret "hole day" when they find out they will be having a surprise visitor-the President of the United States. As the teacher frantically tries to cover up the tear in her shirt that reveals her belly button, television crews enter the classroom. When the president arrives, he talks to the children about good citizenship and then allows time for questions. Marvin is so caught up in the excitement of the day that he forgets to go right home after school and finds himself in big trouble with his parents. All is forgiven, however, when his folks see him with the president on TV that night. Sachar exhibits a keen sense of the way a typical third grader thinks and he sprinkles the text with believable dialogue. Through a perfect blend of humor and thoughtful prose, he drives home the point of what good citizenship is without being didactic. The lively text is broken up periodically with black-and-white drawings. Despite its rather abrupt ending, this beginning chapter book will appeal to fans of the series.-Anne Knickerbocker, Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX

Copyright 1999 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.