Patrick and the President

Reviewed by: Margy - Coffin Elementary School, Brunswick, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 11, 2017

Review

Both the author and the illustrator of Patrick and the President are from Dublin, and their knowledge of Ireland adds authenticity to this work of biographical fiction in picture book format. All eight grandparents of President Kennedy were born in Ireland, and he visited the county for four days in the spring of 1963. While there he visited a school and a distant relative’s home for a reception. Young readers will get a glimpse of the joy and pride shown during that visit for the American president. “Is it real?” young readers will ask. Yes, President Kennedy really did visit Ireland for four days, and yes he really did go to a school and a relative’s home. But the boy named Patrick is part of a work of fiction, the author’s imagination. He did not exist, but children like him really did get to see and visit briefly with President Kennedy. The author Ryan Tubridy is a Irish talk show host, and the illustrator P.J. Lynch has illustrated several works of historical fiction in picture book format including When Jessie Came Across and Sea and The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey. His watercolor illustrations are realistic with period details and perspective from history, and they add to the book’s warmth. This book is recommended as a supplemental purchase for libraries that can afford to add a slice of history in story form to complement their nonfiction biographies of President Kennedy.

Overall Book Score: very good