To mark Presidents Day on Monday, USA TODAY's Bob Minzesheimer looks at four children's books about presidents and politics, real and imagined.

"WHITE HOUSE Q&A"

By Denise Rinaldo

Smithsonian/Collins, 48 pp., $16.99 Ages 5-9

With loads of illustrations and links to educational websites hosted by the Smithsonian Institution, "White House Q&A" is a child-friendly, non-partisan primer about life in the White House, past and present. Among the questions: "Are pets allowed? Of course! Would you tell the president, 'No pets allowed!?' President Theodore Roosevelt's children practically had a zoo." The best photo shows young visitors in the White House movie theater beloved by President Clinton. The book describes President Nixon as the only president "who ever gave up his job before his term was over," but it stops there. Can you spell Watergate?

"WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE?"

By Barbara Kerley

Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham

Scholastic, 44 pp., $16.99, ages 4-8

Speaking of his eldest daughter, Teddy Roosevelt said, "I can be president of the United States, or I can control Alice. I cannot possibly do both." Misbehaving children of all ages should enjoy Barbara Kerley's charming and humorous introduction to the wildest, most entertaining teen in White House history. It notes that Alice's mother, also named Alice, died two days after giving birth, but Alice did not want to hear anyone saying, "The poor little thing!" She wanted to see how high the springs sprang on her grandparents' favorite sofa. Later, she rejected boarding school, telling her dad: "Let me loose in your library," which is what he did.

"PRESIDENTS' DAY"

By Anne Rockwell

Illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell

HarperCollins, 32 pp., $16.99, ages 3-6

The Rockwells, a mother-daughter team (Mom writes, her daughter draws) offer a presidential history lesson built on a class play. Charlie, the tallest kid in class, gets to be Abraham Lincoln. Nicholas, who's a good writer, is Thomas Jefferson. Kate, the narrator, plays George Washington because they share the same birthday. That boosts Kate's own campaign for class president and stirs her dreams of becoming the first woman president of the USA. Has anyone told Hillary?

"DUCK FOR PRESIDENT"

By Doreen Cronin

Illustrated by Betsy Lewin

Simon & Schuster, 35 pp., $16.99All ages

A hit in 2004, "Duck for President ,"a laugh-out-loud political fable, has a new cover for the 2008 election. And Duck, a candidate with both a left wing and right wing, has a new slogan: "A fresh bill on Capitol Hill." He remains as politically ambitious as ever. After promising a "kinder, gentler farm," Duck outpolls Farmer Brown in a landslide, then upsets Ms. Governor by offering, "A Duck for a Change." Then it's on to the White House, although Duck learns that campaigning is a lot more fun than governing. See the website, www.duckforpresident.com, to view Duck's new campaign ad.