The Look-It-up Book of Presidents

Rating:
Summary: A Valuable Reference Work
Review: I have included the updated edition of this book in several of my bibliographies for the children's books I'm currently writing because the presidential profiles are, for the most part, very readable, informative, and enlightening.

Rating:
Summary: Great basic reference
Review: This book was recently updated as it seeks to include all of the presidents. The fact that earlier editions of this book have been in print for several decades is a testiment to its fine quality. It is written for the late elemntary to middle school grade level but is a nice quick reference even for adults. The book tends to whitewash certain controversies and treat presidents in a more favorable light than might a longer, adult oriented book. Still, the book gives the basics of major scandals in the presiencies of Grant, Harding, Nixon, etc. Furthermore, the book gives the reader a basic understanding of who each of our presidents was and what the basic issues were during the presidency of each. Knowing the basics of each of our presidents is important for good citizenship and this book fills the bill nicely. I hope that this book will encourage readers to want to read full legnth biographies of some of the presidents profiled or, at least to delve deeper into their presidencies by reading a more complex, adult level book of this type. I highly recommend this great introduction to our presidents.