My Dad, John McCain by Meghan McCain, Dan Andreasen (Illustrator)

From Barnes & Noble

In this biography, Meghan McCain offers an affectionate portrait of her father, U.S. Senator John McCain, the Republican candidate for president in 2008. A very personal view of a war hero, prisoner of war, and public servant. Artist Dan Andreasen has illustrated numerous popular children's books, including River Boy and Pioneer Girl.

From the Publisher

Born the son and grandson of military men, Senator John McCain from Arizona was destined for a life serving his country in the armed forces. Like many great men, he occasionally struggled with authority, but once he found his true calling -- flying naval aircraft -- his ideals and commitment to his country took him far.

From the low point of five years as a prisoner of war to the high points of raising a large, happy family and being chosen as the Republican nominee in the 2008 presidential election, Senator McCain has lived an incredible life driven by a love of his country and a desire to serve it to the best of his ability.

This picture book biography, written with great love and insight by his oldest daughter, writer Meghan McCain, shows us the public John McCain and the personal John McCain in a way we've never seen before -- making this American hero come to life before young eyes.

Publishers Weekly

No one would expect John and Cindy McCain's oldest daughter to be objective-on the other hand, some personal touch would have been nice. She does talk a lot about family, that is, about the wartime services of McCain ancestors, all the way back to the Revolutionary War; McCain's pedigree as the son and grandson of admirals; the military duty of two McCain sons. Given this emphasis, it's odd to have omitted any mention of McCain's first family; it's not as if the concepts of ex-wives and half-sisters are unfamiliar to the target audience. The one truly moving section details McCain's heroism under captivity in North Vietnam; the rest succumbs to an apple-pie variety of blandness. Meghan McCain discloses that her father loves his country and also that he "never gives up," whether he's playing on the boarding school football team or "fighting for what he believes in." Andreasen (Pilot Pups) steeps his accomplished, mostly realistic pictures in nostalgia: cross-hatching suggests old-time engraving, while burnished tones hint at antiqued colors. A number of spreads represent photos and newspapers-the effect is oddly distancing, as if Meghan McCain were flipping through someone else's scrapbook. Ages 5-10. (Sept.)

Children's Literature

Written by John McCain's oldest child from his second marriage, this tribute is predictably loving and glowing. Apart from the obvious devotion, the book could have been written by anyone since it tells the well-known facts of his life, such as the McCain family military background, McCain's own experience in the military, his election as senator of Arizona, his first unsuccessful run for his party's nomination, and finally his nomination by the Republican party in 2008. We are repeatedly told that he just does not give up and that he is a good man, but the book remains a little bland, falling short of the vibrancy and energy that some readers might like to see. The story quality would have benefited from some actual family experiences or humorous anecdotes, something that would make McCain, the man, stand out and give McCain, the author, a reason to write the book. The illustrations are very attractive, old-fashioned, and quiet, almost pensive, accurately reflecting the text. Reviewer: Kathryn Erskine

Kirkus Reviews

The Republican nominee's eldest daughter announces at the outset that her dad would make a great president and then proceeds to explain why. Recapping in broad strokes his schooling, his military career, his years of captivity in Vietnam and his entry into politics, she highlights his courage, his patriotism and most especially his bulldog refusal to give up when faced with adversity or reversals of fortune. Conveying tone more than action, Andreasen's honey-hued, full-bleed paintings interleaf static re-creations of major incidents with reproductions of snapshots, medals and significant artifacts, along with portraits viewed from low angles to give their subject an evocatively larger-than-life air. Children won't learn anything about the candidate's take on significant issues, his day-to-day work or even what his overall goals are, but they will come away appreciating his strength of character-whether or not they (or their parents) buy the author's argument that that's enough for presidential greatness. (Picture book/biography. 6-8)

Product Details

• ISBN: 1416975284
  
• ISBN-13: 9781416975281
• Format: Hardcover, 32pp
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
• Pub. Date: September 2008
• Sales Rank: 3,004
• Age Range: 5 to 10

• Interviews & Essays
• Reading Group Guide
• Forewords & Introductions

Interviews & Essays

Reading Group Guide

Discussion Questions

Name some characteristics that you think help make a good president.

What things did John McCain learn during his career in the US Navy as a navy pilot? What were some of the experiences he had?

What do you know about Prisoners of War (POWs) from his experience?

What did McCain do as a POW to show his greatness?

What did McCain want to do when he left the navy?

Discuss the work of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. For which state was McCain a congressman?

How did John McCain decide to run for president? In which previous election did he first run for president? For which party? Who was chosen as candidate for that election?

As a senator, what has been important to John McCain?

How did McCain become a candidate for election this time? When was he officially nominated to run as the 2008 Republican presidential candidate?

When is the national election for president?

This realistic and personal story is told by Meghan McCain, a daughter of John and Cindy McCain. If you wrote a book about your mom or dad, what would it say?

What do you think it would be like to be president? Would you like to be? Why?

Activities

Many presidents have come to office as a result of their military background. Name the presidents who served in these wars: Revolutionary War; War of 1812; Mexican American War; Civil War; Spanish American War; WW II.

What medals did John McCain earn while serving his country in the navy? List all of them and explain what he had to do to earn each of them.

Make a list of characteristics that would make a good president.

Using a map of the United States, followthe 2008 election. Project which states you think will go to John McCain, and color them red. Using this map the night of the election, see how well you predicted.

The Vietnam War played a large part in John McCain's life. Learn more about how he views the country now, and what he has done since to help improve relations with Vietnam.

Websites of Interest:

weeklyreader.com/election/index.asp
Follow the election, see how the election works, and follows McCain's campaign. Also provides definitions of election words and offers election games.

senate.gov/
This is the official U.S. Senate site. You can look up individual senators here. Try finding John McCain, Senator from Arizona.

house.gov/
This is the official U.S. House of Representatives site.

clerkkids.house.gov/index.html
Kids at the House of Representatives. Lots of fun activities to help you better understand the House of Representatives and how it works. A great virtual field trip to the congress.

mccainblogette.com/
Musings and pop culture on the political trail.

Forewords & Introductions

Discussion Questions

Name some characteristics that you think help make a good president.

What things did John McCain learn during his career in the US Navy as a navy pilot? What were some of the experiences he had?

What do you know about Prisoners of War (POWs) from his experience?

What did McCain do as a POW to show his greatness?

What did McCain want to do when he left the navy?

Discuss the work of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. For which state was McCain a congressman?

How did John McCain decide to run for president? In which previous election did he first run for president? For which party? Who was chosen as candidate for that election?

As a senator, what has been important to John McCain?

How did McCain become a candidate for election this time? When was he officially nominated to run as the 2008 Republican presidential candidate?

When is the national election for president?

This realistic and personal story is told by Meghan McCain, a daughter of John and Cindy McCain. If you wrote a book about your mom or dad, what would it say?

What do you think it would be like to be president? Would you like to be? Why?

Activities

Many presidents have come to office as a result of their military background. Name the presidents who served in these wars: Revolutionary War; War of 1812; Mexican American War; Civil War; Spanish American War; WW II.

What medals did John McCain earn while serving his country in the navy? List all of them and explain what he had to do to earn each of them.

Make a list of characteristics that would make a good president.

Using a map of the United States, follow the 2008election. Project which states you think will go to John McCain, and color them red. Using this map the night of the election, see how well you predicted.

The Vietnam War played a large part in John McCain's life. Learn more about how he views the country now, and what he has done since to help improve relations with Vietnam.

Websites of Interest:

http://www.weeklyreader.com/election/index.asp
Follow the election, see how the election works, and follows McCain's campaign. Also provides definitions of election words and offers election games.

http://www.senate.gov/
This is the official U.S. Senate site. You can look up individual senators here. Try finding John McCain, Senator from Arizona.

http://www.house.gov/
This is the official U.S. House of Representatives site.

http://clerkkids.house.gov/index.html
Kids at the House of Representatives. Lots of fun activities to help you better understand the House of Representatives and how it works. A great virtual field trip to the congress.

http://www.mccainblogette.com/
Musings and pop culture on the political trail.