Smithsonian Presidents and First Ladies [Paperback]

DK Publishing (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2002 | Grade Level: P and up

A fascinating look at the president and first lady for children 8 and older. Meet the extraordinary men and women who inspire, amaze, and enthrall us. The people who have lived in the White House -- and those who were presidents and first ladies before the great home was built -- are a chain of personalities who embody the peaceful succession of power which defines the United States system of government. Did you know... James Buchanan was a bachelor, so Harriet Lane, his niece, served as the nation's official hostess? John Tyler had two first ladies? Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt were distant cousins? Both Barbara Bush and Laura Bush chose literacy as a focus of their work as first ladies? A concise history. The clearly presented Key Events section on every page of Smithsonian Presidents and First Ladies shows what happened and when during the time of each president's administration. Biography boxes report data on important dates, places, and people in the lives of our leaders. Finding out about the complex, colorful story of the powerful couples in American history has never been simpler -- or more fun -- with this fact-packed instant reference.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

From George and Martha Washington to George W. and Laura Bush, America's leading couples have intrigued, pleased, and angered the people of the nation for more than two centuries. In this easy-to-use, concise guide to presidents and first ladies, readers discover all sorts of essential information and little-known facts about some of the most powerful people in the world. Did you know that Andrew Johnson received no formal education? His wife, Eliza, taught him to read and write. And John Adams--by his own admission, "puffy, vain, conceited"--was called "His Rotundity" by his enemies!

A brief overview of each featured personage is accompanied by trivia boxes and biographical sidebars with such details as the dates of birth, death, and marriage, party affiliation, and years as president and first lady. A bar with key events during each presidency runs along the bottom of the page. Young readers will find this a valuable tool packed with nitty-gritty particulars about the many fascinating residents of the White House. (Ages 8 and older) --Emilie Coulter

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-This breezy, entertaining survey provides basic information. Most presidential pairs are covered on double-page spreads; a few, notably George and Martha Washington, Thomas and Martha Jefferson, Abraham and Mary Lincoln, and Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, are given four pages. Each entry has a brief biographical chart for both the president and the first lady, a paragraph about each of them, key events in a chronological table, a portrait of each individual, and often an interesting sidebar. Religious affiliations, a map showing birthplaces by state, and election statistics are provided in the appendix. Illustrations, mainly in color and including photographs, portraits, and reproductions largely from the Smithsonian's collection, are attractive and interesting. Youngsters will enjoy browsing through this book but would need to turn to Elaine Pascoe's First Facts about the Presidents (Blackbirch, 1996), Pastan's First Ladies (2001), or Barber's Presidents (2000, both DK) to find enough information for a simple report. S. A. Kramer's The Look-It-Up Book of First Ladies and Wyatt Blassingame's The Look-It-Up Book of Presidents (both Random, 2000) provide even more in-depth coverage. Some text from Pastan's First Ladies is repeated verbatim in Presidents and First Ladies. A supplemental choice.
Peg Glisson, Mendon Center Elementary School, Pittsford, NY
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: DK CHILDREN (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789484536
• ISBN-13: 978-0789484536
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #677,277 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Meet the Presidents...and First Ladies, June 14, 2002

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smithsonian Presidents and First Ladies (Library Binding)

Do you know which president was nicknamed "Little Magician", which first lady, with no formal schooling, secretly ran the government single-handedly while her husband was seriously ill, or which president won his election for only one vote, causing him to bear the nickname "Your Fraudulency"? James Barber and Amy Pastan have outdone themselves with this intriguing and well organized introduction to both the men who've led our country, the women they married, and sometimes their official hostesses. Each entry includes a short biographical paragraph of the president and first lady, sidebars of important dates and facts (birth, marriage, party affiliation, inauguration, death...), portraits or photographs, a marvelous timeline of key events in their lives, and also highlights an important episode or event that occurred during the presidency. The text is easy to read, entertaining, and engaging and filled with history, trivia, informative fun facts, anecdotes, and drama, that's sure to whet the appetites of youngsters 9 and older, and send them looking for more. Smithsonian Presidents And First Ladies is a fascinating and compelling little reference book, and a slice of history that shouldn't be missed. So read on and find out which president never lost an election during his entire political career, and enjoy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy reference full of facts, September 21, 2005

By 

A. Shelton (Baltimore, MD United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Smithsonian Presidents and First Ladies (Paperback)

For no particular reason other than curiosity, I was looking for a good quick reference on the presidents. This book does the trick. It is a great way to brush up on the history of our country's leadership, and much of the info on presidents was new for me. Plus, there is all the bonus info that I never knew about the first ladies. I imagine it would be a good supplement for students who are learning about American history.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vintage photos, drawings, and a boxed timeline, May 17, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smithsonian Presidents and First Ladies (Paperback)

Presidents And First Ladies differs from other titles on presidents in that it provides heavily illustrated short biographies of America's presidents and their wives. Vintage photos, drawings, and a boxed timeline of events add interest and make it quick and easy to browse achievements, lending to possible leisure reading as well as study.