From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 4—Krull incorporates imagery of flight throughout this adulatory overview of Clinton's life. From her thwarted childhood dreams of becoming an astronaut to her decision to sail through the clouds in a presidential bid, Clinton overcame numerous obstacles in the way of advancement for women. Hand-lettered inspirational quotations appear on each spread. Attractive watercolor, gouache, and pencil illustrations depict her disappointments and achievements. Visual elements such as balloons, birds, and planets reinforce the airborne theme. Extensive endnotes provide background about the scenes depicted. Independent readers might consult these pages for a more complete biography that ends with a list of all the women who have run for president plus related titles. Ardent Clinton supporters may relish this homage, but others probably would appreciate a more down-to-earth biography.—
Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Picture-book biographies of presidential candidates are something of a trend these days (including two recent biographies of Barack Obama and one of John McCain by his daughter). Hillary Clinton may be out of this year’s race, but she was an important part of it, and this offers an appealing portrait of a person who pursued her goals with a single-mindedness others lack. Krull’s text has a lofty tone befitting the book’s subtitle, while Bates’ pictures, with a stylish retro look, keep the focus on Clinton, capturing her in all her incarnations. Readers follow along as Hillary develops from a young girl who writes NASA that she wants to be an astronaut (NASA writes back that she can’t), to a teen inspired by an introduction to Martin Luther King Jr., to a woman involved in both career and causes. Bolstering the text is an effective five-page author’s note that divides the book by spreads and provides supplemental information. With inspiring messages sweeping across the pages (“Take the lead role in your own life”), this book champions both Clinton and hard work. Grades 1-3. --Ilene Cooper
