Calvin Coolidge (United States Presidents (Enslow)) [Library Binding]

Michael Geoffrey Allen (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9-Vice President Coolidge became president after the unexpected death of Warren G. Harding in 1923. This dramatic transfer of power to the Republican former Massachusetts governor in the middle of the night opens the book and a general biography follows. For a leader who was born during Reconstruction and reached the peak of his power during the Roaring Twenties, his life and time in public office is less than captivating; he is basically just what Allen summarizes as a "good- citizen" with a "positive legacy." His presidential tenure saw U.S. tensions with Japan, a strike by coal miners, and the resurgence of not only the KKK, but also speculation in the stock market. An ironic note is that while "Improved Relations with Mexico" is touted on the cover, that nation does not even appear in the index. The final chapter offers a good summary of the man and his arguable importance. While the book is not visually appealing, the elements that make a solid nonfiction title are here in satisfactory amounts: reproductions of source documents, footnotes and source notes, and a further reading list (even if many titles are inaccessible).
Andrew Medlar, Chicago Public Library, IL
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Reviewed with Michael A. Schuman's George H. W. Bush.

Gr. 6-12. The two newest additions to the United States Presidents series begin with pivotal moments in each man's life: Coolidge being woken in the middle of the night to be sworn in after Harding's sudden death; Bush facing Desert Storm. Then each text moves chronologically, highlighting the leader's childhood, family influences, education, career, and journey to the White House. The authors do an impressive job of emphasizing the strength of character of each president while still providing a balanced assessment of their influence on U.S. history. With fewer personal details to share, Allen explores Coolidge's shy character and analyzes the impact of his stoicism as President. In contrast, Schuman is able to move briskly through Bush's life and his many challenges, successes, and setbacks as a politician. Both biographies will give readers a clear profile of twentieth-century leaders in the context of major events in American history. Roger Leslie
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Library Binding: 112 pages
• Publisher: Enslow Publishers (November 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0766017036
• ISBN-13: 978-0766017030
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #521,067 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #100 in Books > Children's Books > Biographies > U. S. Presidents & First Ladies

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars info for upper grades -- personal details, March 8, 2011

By 

M. Heiss (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Calvin Coolidge (United States Presidents (Enslow)) (Library Binding)

This is an acceptable, but sentimental, biography for 6th-graders and up. Not much humor, just straight telling. The book focuses much more on his life before and after the presidency, skipping much about his actual time leading the nation. A few photos and documents (some good letters) are reprinted. It doesn't do a particularly good job dealing with Harding's Teapot Dome scandal, which Coolidge cleaned up.

However, the information about the formative years of Coolidge's life, and his elected offices prior to the presidency, and his response to the deaths of his son and his father, is very good.

This book delivers a likable Coolidge and lays out his personality, but mostly leaves his leadership out. Better info is available in "Calvin Coolidge" by Amy Graham, for a similar age group.

We used "Silent Cal: The Wit and Wisdom of Calvin Coolidge" to really bring more information about Calvin Coolidge's likability to light.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not good for any age group, January 23, 2004

By 

Peter Neva (Tucson, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Calvin Coolidge (United States Presidents (Enslow)) (Library Binding)

I checked out this book because it was the only book on Calvin Coolidge in my library (they had placed it in the adult section.) The vocabulary is adult while the writing style is for children.

I wish I hadn't checked it out. The book focuses on Coolidge the human being and episodes such as how hurt he was by the death of his son. I wanted information on policy choices. Lastly, there is nothing about Mexico in the entire book. Maybe we had improved relations with them, I don't know. But I do know that "This was a time of Ku Klux Klan resurgence..." and that's all we get about it!

If you give this book to any child, be they ages 9-12 or grades 6-9, you deserve to be slapped.