When the president of the United States has a frustrating day, he decides to go back to the place where he learned the most important lessons of all.

Everyone has bad days. Even the president.

So when his day starts off badly, Mr. President decides he is in need of a time--out from running the country. Disguising himself, he sneaks out of the White House, hurries down the street to the local school, and enrolls in Mrs. Appletree's class.

There Mr. President slides his fingers through globs of finger paint. He spins himself silly on the merry--go--round at recess. He practices saying "please," raising his hand, and taking turns. And he doesn't miss a single beat when everyone does the hokey--pokey.

But when he returns to the White House, he is greeted by a panicked secretary of state and two angry world leaders on the brink of war. Fortunately, Mr. President recalls what he learned in Mrs. Appletree's class, and he comes up with just the right approach to avoid an international crisis.

Children will delight in Rick Walton's laugh--out--loud story and its over--the--top take on conflict resolution. Brad Sneed's watercolor illustrations capture the humor of the story with their exaggerated, outsized characters and playfully distorted compositions.