It seems that ever since Halloween, each month brings at least one or more events that we can celebrate with children’s books. No sooner than displays for January into early February were assembled–winter, Chinese New Year, Ground Hog’s Day, MLK Day–Valentine’s Day, Black History Month, and Presidents’ Day are just around the corner.
I know that we traditionally celebrate only Washington and Lincoln in February, but what about all the other presidents whose birthdays don’t even rate the minimal attention that Abe and George get. So, I was glad to see four new children’s books on presidents that were reviewed in the NYT on Sunday, January 12.
“To Dare Mighty Things-The Life of Theodore Roosevelt” by Doreen Rappaport features a huge picture of Teddy Roosevelt on the cover, as well as a double-page illustration showing T.R. “lassoing a gigantic wad of cash.” Roosevelt was a president whose personal and political life offer so much to the reader. From a frail young boy to a blustering crusading president, this new biography offers both text and illustrations that will please the reader. Our copy has already circulated.
In Maira Kalman’s “Thomas Jefferson-Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Everything” the author explains to the reader that Jefferson was interesting in “everything.” From architecture, to horticulture, to inventions, to music, to politics, Jefferson did it all. But Kalman doesn’t shrink from the reality that Jefferson was a slave owner. She relates the horrors of slavery and the living conditions slaves endured. Geared to ages 6-8, Kalman makes her case that Jefferson, like all of us, was flawed.
Numerous adult books were recently published to remember the 50th anniversary of the death of JFK. Jonah Winter and illustrator AG Ford have collaborated on “JFK” a picture book biography for ages 4 to 8. The reviewer describes this new work as “sparkling like a Life magazine collectors’ edition.” Text and illustrations gives a good account of his family and political life.
Finally, “Rutherford B. Who Was He?” by Marilyn Singer is a collection of poems about many presidents. Some of the rhymes are “tortured” according to the reviewer, but you have to give Singer credit for rhyming “drudge” and “pudge” for Taft, “underrated” and “celebrated” for Carter and “jazz cat” and “New Democrat” for Clinton.
Four new books about presidents that may inspire a future holder of that office.