Who Named Their Pony Macaroni? Poems about White House Pets by Marilyn Singer

Who doesn't love pets? Marilyn Singer's poems explore presidential pets from the very first president on through more contemporary pets. 

Thoughts: Pets are a very kid friendly subject. Using presidential pets draws readers in and before they know it, they're learning a little about history. I like that the poems take different forms. My favorite poems are "Unusual Pets," "A Turkey for Abe Lincoln," "Emily Spinach," "Rex the Ghostbuster," and "Born at the White House." The mixed-media illustrations are engaging and colorful. I especially like the expressions on the pets' faces throughout the book. The ten page "Executive Pets" section at the end of the book offers readers more information about all the presidents and their pets. I look forward to sharing these poems with elementary students and maybe a poem here and there during storytime. 

If you want to know more about the presidents and/or their pets, you should checkout If You Want a Friend in Washington: Wacky, Wild & Wonderful Presidential Pets by Erin McGill, Kid Presidents: True Tales of Childhood from America's Presidents by David Stabler*, and Rutherford B., Who Was He?: Poems about Our Presidents by Marilyn Singer. 

*Link is to the blurb I wrote for Cybils. 

Themes: Pets, Elementary

(Illustrated by Ryan McAmis. Disney Hyperion, 2019.)