Presidents' Day

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Amy June Bates. This portrait of the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee focuses on Joe Biden's childhood and young adult years. The narrative ties together anecdotes showcasing Biden's leadership, compassion, faith, and strong commitment to family, with a focus on his humble upbringing and struggles with stuttering and bullying. Written by his wife--with veteran nonfiction author Krull--this picture book biography is laudatory but not overly so. Warm illustrations contribute to the text's comforting mood. Family tragedies are included in a timeline (current to March 2020). A list of homey "Bidenisms" and a bibliography are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 4-6 Brinkley weaves together the history of the space race, mid-twentieth-century geopolitics, and the career of John F. Kennedy as he ascended to the presidency, focusing on Kennedy's championing of space technologies for American political might. He illustrates the tight connections between scientific advancement and the Cold War. Historical photographs illustrate the book. Bib.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(2) YA Brockenbrough's critical biography opens with a sampling of events leading up to the 2016 presidential election. Her cohesive narrative then takes readers through Trump's family history and career, including the first year and a half of his presidency, which provides context for his present-day behavior. It's not a flattering portrait, but it is factually accurate, scrupulously documented, and well-reasoned, with photographs and primary-source documents throughout. Timeline. Bib, ind.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2019

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Marc Brown. Sharing, fairness, choice, respect, ­truthfulness--most young people are well acquainted with these concepts; the Browns ([cf12]Dinosaurs Divorce; Dinosaurs Go Green!; and many others) use these principles to help deliver an engaging civics lesson. The inviting second-person text speaks directly to "kid citizens," encouraging them to view themselves as participants in our government. The lively panel illustrations, featuring Marc Brown's green cartoon dinosaurs (back after a decade-plus hiatus), expand on Laurie Krasny Brown's text and add levity to the discussion. Each of nine sections focuses on a concept, relating it to daily life and then demonstrating how it manifests in a democracy. "Share Equal Rights" explains equality this way: "You probably know how it feels to be left out or included. Inviting kids into your game is also sharing." This leads to a broader interpretation: "Sharing also takes place in a country. When no one gets left out, then everyone has equal rights." Describing fairness as "a way of showing respect" and stating that "good rules help make fairness possible" lays the groundwork to talk about justice. Sections on how to be a judicious consumer of information ("Look for Truth") and what free speech means (including tips on "How to Have an Argument") should be required reading for all of us--of any age. This optimistic and accessible guide to civic responsibility concludes with the charge to "Stand Up for Democracy"--a message now more important than ever. "Words for Kid Citizens to Know" are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2020

(3) 4-6 Captured Television History series. This series examines television's impact on major events. Each volume opens with an engaging account of the main topic, grounding readers in the details. Kennedy-Nixon looks at the history of presidential debates, as well as what preceded and followed the first televised debate. Terrorism covers the ways in which Americans were riveted by nonstop news coverage of the 9/11 attacks, and the U.S.'s subsequent war on terrorism. The "4D" feature is an online video portal. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Captured Television History titles: TV Captures Terrorism on September 11 and TV Shapes Presidential Politics in the Kennedy-Nixon Debates

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(2) K-3 Illustrated by John Parra. Ethel L. Payne grew up on the South Side of Chicago surrounded by stories from her parents and from her grandparents, who had been enslaved. These stories, weekly trips to the library, and encouragement from teachers and family helped Payne become a strong writer. Believing that "somebody had to do the fighting, somebody had to speak up," Payne became a journalist and used her work as a tool for activism throughout her life. She captured the stories of Black soldiers stationed in post–WWII Japan, which led to a job with the Chicago Defender. She began covering the presidency, "one of only three black journalists issued a White House press pass," and worked through the Carter administration, becoming known as "The First Lady of the Black Press." The moments from Payne's life that Cline-Ransome chooses to highlight, paired with Parra's textured, iconographic acrylic paintings, create a powerful story that demonstrates the ways someone with a gift for writing can use it as a tool for fighting injustice. In an author's note, Cline-Ransome discusses her own attempts at being a journalist and the fearlessness it takes to be an effective one. A bibliography and further reading list are appended.

Reviewer: Nicholl Denice Montgomery | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2020

(3) YA Foreword by Yara Shahidi. This inspiring and refreshing book features ten young women honestly recounting their experiences working for the Obama White House. From their proudest to their most humbling and intimidated moments, the stories exude authenticity and provide exciting details about working behind the scenes in politics. An appended "Girl's Guide to Getting into Government" suggests programs and resources for politically minded young women.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Tails from History series. Illustrated by Rachel Sanson. This amusing easy reader tells the silly-but-true story of President Calvin Coolidge's misfit pet Rebecca, a raccoon who ate her meals at the table and even participated in the White House Easter Egg Roll. Sanson's playful, cheery illustrations prominently feature the Coolidges' menagerie of unusual pets (including a donkey and a wallaby) while highlighting Rebecca's personality and her struggle to fit in. Additional facts are appended.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(3) 4-6 Captured History series. In presidential photographer Pete Souza's iconic 2011 photo, President Obama and his advisors watch and wait as U.S. Navy SEAL Team Six storms Osama bin Laden's Pakistan compound--resulting in the death of the terrorist leader and 9/11 mastermind. Accompanied by well-chosen photographs, this matter-of-fact account provides adequate information for school reports. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Meredith Madyda

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Rafael López. Teresa Carreño (1853–1917) learned to play piano early in life. When she was eight, her family fled war-torn Venezuela and moved to New York, where she became a well-known child prodigy. Her status provided her with the extraordinary chance to play for President Lincoln, still grieving his young son’s death. Engle’s writing shines; López’s vivid illustrations evoke characters and historical settings with absorbing detail. Appended with a brief historical note.

Reviewer: Alicia K. Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Lisa Weber. In a quirky (if gimmicky) presentation, the events of Abraham Lincoln's life are explained to him in the second person. The central conceit is that Lincoln's success was dictated by the important decisions he made in his life and career, several of which are outlined in multiple-choice format throughout the narrative. An unconventional and humorous way to approach biography. Reading list, timeline, websites.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Kristy Caldwell. Not only was workers' rights advocate and public servant Frances Perkins (1880–1965) the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet, she also improved the welfare of men, women, and children in the U.S. for generations. Over the course of her career, she fought tirelessly to increase workplace safety, reduce working hours, establish a minimum wage and unemployment insurance, and, most notably during her tenure as FDR's Secretary of Labor, institute our system of Social Security. Hopkinson uses Social Security as a framing device, beginning the text by posing two questions to modern readers ("How many years will it be until you turn sixty-two?" and "What year will that be?") and ending with a "Thanks, Frances!" In between, ­Hopkinson provides a broad overview of her subject's life, with the picture-book biography mostly highlighting a few seminal events that shaped Perkins's work ethic and determination. Caldwell's realistically drawn digital illustrations feature circular vignettes that occasionally depict additional accomplishments not covered in the text. The pastel color palette featuring teal and rose gold has an old-­fashioned vibe, enhanced by period details. Back matter includes an author's note, a reading list, a bibliography, and source notes. ­Follow up with Kathleen Krull's more thorough account for slightly older readers, The Only Woman in the Photo (rev. 3/20), illustrated by Alexandra Bye.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(3) 4-6 Kanefield offers a thoroughly researched and often moving introduction to President Lincoln's life and family. She also succinctly clarifies convoluted nineteenth-century politics and the historical importance of complex, contentious issues (e.g., the Missouri Compromise; the Dred Scott Supreme Court decision) that divided Americans and resulted in the Civil War. Numerous primary source quotes and well-captioned photos, drawings, and documents aid the narrative. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Alexandra Bye. President Roosevelt usually gets credit for the New Deal programs that helped pull America out of the Great Depression, but as Krull's latest picture-book biography (The Beatles Were Fab (and They Were Funny), rev. 5/13) makes clear, the real credit is due to "the first woman ever to join a presidential cabinet," FDR's Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins. A shy and quiet child, Perkins was always thinking about the injustices she saw growing up. Inspired by advice from her grandmother ("when someone opens a door to you go forward"), Perkins would spend her life speaking up for the most vulnerable as a pioneering social worker, suffragist, and author. She helped improve conditions in NYC's low-income neighborhoods and workplaces, and her activism led to a career in the "all-male world of politics." As Secretary of Labor, Perkins proposed "nothing less than a restructuring of American society" with the New Deal and the Social Security Act of 1935. This inspiring biography of a woman who paved the way for so many future leaders (as the cleverly designed endpapers make clear) is long overdue. Krull's straightforward yet passionate narrative is packed with information, succinctly pinpointing key biographical moments and explaining complex history. Direct quotes from Perkins in stylized hand-lettered script accompany Bye's child-friendly digital illustrations, which are as dynamic and colorful as their remarkable subject. An author's note and sources are appended.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2020

(3) 4-6 Former White House photographer Lucidon has compiled this eye-catching pictorial record of Michelle Obama's time there. Stunning photographs document both the first lady's ceremonial duties and the initiatives she championed, such as fitness, girls' education, and the arts. Enhanced by Lucidon's accessible commentary and relevant quotes from Mrs. Obama, this is an excellent photographic tribute to an influential first lady.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) YA Martin provides a fast-paced account of JFK's heroic actions as commander of a patrol torpedo boat attacked by a Japanese destroyer in 1943. Exceptionally well-researched and -written, the book dramatically portrays Kennedy's courageous efforts to protect his badly injured crew. Captioned archival photos of the Kennedy family and of JFK as a naval skipper are included, in addition to fascinating WWII "Facts and Trivia" sidebars. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) YA This book uncovers details of the lives of six people enslaved at Mount Vernon under George Washington. McClafferty pieces together information from a variety of primary sources, including Washington's own writings (excerpts of many such documents are reprinted here). A final chapter discusses contemporary archaeological study of Mount Vernon's slave cemetery. Full-color photographs, documents, and maps bring the extensive research to life. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(2) K-3 "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog." That quote, attributed to Harry S. Truman, is probably apocryphal, but it certainly makes for an entertaining picture-book premise. McGill begins by explaining that many presidential pets have indeed been dogs, 142 of them showcased in a spread of loose-lined spot illustrations with captions for each of the dogs' names ("Drunkard Washington"; "Veto Garfield"). Then she relates a few stories about particular presidents and their canines (including Truman, who didn't keep the cocker spaniel that a supporter sent him). This narrative pattern repeats as McGill notes that sometimes presidents prefer cats (twenty of those), horses (fifty-five), other farm animals (thirty-two), or birds (forty-two). Or even exotic big animals (Jefferson's grizzlies; lions named "Tax Reduction and Budget Bureau Coolidge"). Or small critters (the Quincy Adams silkworms; the guinea pigs and flying squirrels in Theodore Roosevelt's family). Organization of the pets by category creates an easy-to-follow structure for sharing lots of fascinating presidential trivia, and the cartoony illustrations, rendered in cut paper, ink, gouache, marker, and colored pencil, are playful and kid-friendly. For context, McGill has appended sources and a list with each president, his years in office, and the types and names of all of his pets (or occasional lack thereof). The front and back endpapers round out the presentation with black-and-white photos of First Families posing with their pets.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2020

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Adam Rex. "No matter who holds the job right now, the presidents of tomorrow are always out there somewhere." There are picture books aplenty about United States presidents, but make way for this breath of fresh air. Messner presents brief profiles of each one through a particular lens: starting in 1789 with George ­Washington, she makes her way down the timeline to the current day, looking at which future presidents were alive when each predecessor served and what they were doing at the time. For instance, when Washington served, nine future presidents were already alive, though Martin Van Buren, William Henry ­Harrison, and Zachary Taylor were still ­children. We often see more than one president at a time as we move through decades, while text boxes impart relatable or little-known facts about them. Rex breathes life into these illustrations, showing the humanity absent from most official portraits. Each president pictured is tagged with a number on these busy but never cluttered spreads so that we always know who's who. And Messner doesn't sugarcoat or whitewash history: "Most [of America's earliest presidents] were wealthy, white, Protestant men," she states; and she notes that while Thomas Jefferson wrote that "all men are created equal," he himself owned slaves. The mood turns to awe-inspiring at the close, when we read that "at least ten of our future presidents are probably alive today," the art here showing an inclusive group of children and adults at a portrait gallery of presidents, gazing hopefully into the unknown, "getting ready to lead." Back matter includes a substantial bibliography.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2020

(2) K-3 Illustrated by S. D. Schindler. Here readers see Thomas Jefferson constantly questioning the world around him as he wonders how far he can walk in an hour, or how long it takes peas to grow, or what the temperature is on a certain date. (Throughout, Schindler surrounds Jefferson with tools of his time, such as an early counter wheel, a facsimile of Jefferson's journal detailing plant growth, and a thermometer.) So, when the famous French naturalist Monsieur Buffon publishes a book declaring American animals smaller and less gifted than European ones, Jefferson the scientist recoils at the inaccuracies. And Jefferson the statesman knows that if Europeans accept America as inferior, future trade, immigration, and monetary power will be adversely affected. He combats Buffon's fabrications the only way he knows: he submits his own data (which, the back matter points out, was, if not incorrect, at times purposely misleading) and enlists colleagues to record comparative animal weights and measures. Even though Jefferson is "already quite busy with the Revolutionary War," he proves that America is home to some really big animals by shipping a moose to France--a gift Schindler depicts as arriving bedraggled and stinky. Rockliff's light touch adds humor to the tale, while Schindler's soft watercolors both mirror the text's tone and give a sense of the times. Back matter answers Jefferson's mathematical questions and includes a list of both primary and secondary sources.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2020

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Grace Lin. Roosevelt's clear, inviting introduction to basic civics, from the operations of local governments to federal checks and balances, is presented with Markel's updates to reflect events since the 1932 original as well as changing sensibilities. Lin's illustrations include black-and-white spot art and color-saturated full-page pictures, often with labels, making this volume an accessible guide for young future voters. Reading list, timeline, websites.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. Those interested in our first ladies will be amused and marginally enlightened by Singer's predominantly lighthearted, rhyming verses. As the women varied enormously, so do the poems; while she's always respectful, Singer clearly respects some more than others. Carpenter's ink and watercolor illustrations wonderfully illuminate both history and character and add details to the poetic portraits. Brief biographical notes are appended. Bib.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) 4-6 Epic Fails series. Illustrated by Tim Foley. This irreverent but entertaining volume provides brief overviews of the careers of United States presidents, with a focus on their bad luck, poor choices, and most controversial politics. Written in a conversational tone that will appeal to young readers, each chapter features a theme such as "Dead Presidents," "Eccentric Presidents," and "Unlucky Presidents," among others; black-and-white illustrations and photographs appear throughout. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello