Action Presidents

by Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey

Real History! Fake Jokes! Action Presidents is a four volume middle-grade graphic novel biographies of four of the United States's greatest executive leaders: George Washington, Amraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and John F Kennedy. In the words of our publisher: “Historically accurate and highly entertaining, Action Presidents’ bold and hilarious comic style will keep curious readers learning until the last page.”

Action Presidents took over a decade of planning and production to bring it to life. Fred and I first conceived the idea a follow up to Action Philosophers in 2007 and eventually produced a prototype issue in 2013 that helped capture HarperCollins' interest in turning it into a series of graphic novels suitable for all-ages. We then researched, wrote and illustrated all 4 books at the same time over a period 3 years. HarperCollins published black and white editions of volumes 1 and 2 in February 2018 (Presidents Day!) before deciding to make the whole series full color and re-publish in 2020 for the next presidential election. It then it took me another year to color all 4 books for the official relaunch in June 2020. THe global covid lockdowns scuttled all our plans to do a big book launch for a series that took us 4 years of our lives to produce, and they were released to very little fanfare. I'm still very proud of these books (the John F Kennedy book might be my all-time favorite) and thanks to the historical subject matter they still keep attracting new readers - it's always a thrill whenever I hear from a child or parent who just discovered them and became an instant fan.

  • WINNER: Theodore Roosevelt Association Children’s Book Award, 2021

  • FINALIST: Excellence in Graphic Literature Award (Middle Grade), 2021

Published by HarperCollins, 2020

The cover of Action Presidents #1 George Washington by Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey
The cover of Action Presidents #1 George Washington by Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey
The cover of Action Presidents #2 Abraham Lincoln by Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey
The cover of Action Presidents #3 Theodore Roosevelt by Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey
The cover of Action Presidents #4 John F Kennedy by Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey
The cover of Action Presidents #2 Abraham Lincoln by Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey
The cover of Action Presidents #3 Theodore Roosevelt by Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey
The cover of Action Presidents #4 John F Kennedy by Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey

praise for Action Presidents

“A delightful, educational spin on history—and plenty of jokes,”

-School Library Journal

“Sheer joy.”

-Booklist [starred review]

A comic page illustrating young George Washington's mother perpetually discouraging him from military service.
A comic page illustrating young George Washington's encounder with the French army on the frontier
A comic page illustrating young George Washington's early career as a scout and surveyor
A comic page illustrating young George Washington's struggles with his first scouting mission
A comic page illustrating young George Washington reporting for a mission from Lt Gov Dunwiddie at the Viriginia capital
A comic page illustrating young George Washington's encounter with a murderer on the frontier
A comic page illustrating young George Washington being sent on his first scouting mission by Lt Gov Dunwiddie
A comic page illustrating young George Washington's narrow escape from a murderer
A comic page illustrating young George Washington and his companions meet Taracharison the Half King
A comic page illustrating young George Washington's narrow escape from a murderer
A comic page illustrating young George Washington and his companions arrive at Fort Le Boeuf
A comic page illustrating young George Washington's report to Lt Governor Dunwiddie
A comic page illustrating young George Washington's mother perpetually discouraging him from military service.
A comic page illustrating young George Washington's early career as a scout and surveyor
A comic page illustrating young George Washington reporting for a mission from Lt Gov Dunwiddie at the Viriginia capital
A comic page illustrating young George Washington being sent on his first scouting mission by Lt Gov Dunwiddie
A comic page illustrating young George Washington and his companions meet Taracharison the Half King
A comic page illustrating young George Washington and his companions arrive at Fort Le Boeuf
A comic page illustrating young George Washington's encounder with the French army on the frontier
A comic page illustrating young George Washington's struggles with his first scouting mission
A comic page illustrating young George Washington's encounter with a murderer on the frontier
A comic page illustrating young George Washington's narrow escape from a murderer
A comic page illustrating young George Washington's narrow escape from a murderer
A comic page illustrating young George Washington's report to Lt Governor Dunwiddie
an excerpt from Action Presidents #1 George Washington
an excerpt from Action Presidents #2 Abraham Lincoln
an excerpt from Action Presidents #3 Theodore Roosevelt
an excerpt from Action Presidents #4 John F Kennedy

Ryan Dunlavey is an illustrator and author based in New York City. © Ryan Dunlavey, all rights reserved. Email: ryan@ryand.art