U.S. Presidents

June 1, 2014

Gr 3-5-One of several titles in Jeopardy! champion Jennings's new series, this book introduces readers to the ever bizarre and entertaining world of U.S. presidents. Jennings clearly knows his subjects well, cramming in fun facts, such as that Calvin Coolidge enjoyed having Vaseline rubbed on his head while eating breakfast in bed or that a young Bill Clinton shook hands with then-President John F. Kennedy at the White House. Serious topics, such as assassinations, are also discussed, but this is overall a light and upbeat read. Readers, particularly reluctant ones, will savor Lowery's doodlelike illustrations and will enjoy reading about the man who never finished high school (Andrew Johnson) and the President who taught himself to practice law (Abraham Lincoln). Fans of Mike Townsend's Where Do Presidents Come From (Dial, 2012) will reach for this one in a heartbeat, but where the draw of Townsend's graphic novel-style title was its illustrations, Jennings's work contains much more text. There are a few points where readers may become overwhelmed by the mid-page captions or graphics, but the writing style is extremely concise. Reader participation is encouraged throughout, as Jennings urges children to look up words and answer quiz questions. Those who are seemingly indifferent to nonfiction will devour this one. Don't expect to see it sit on the shelf for long.-Keith Klang, Port Washington Public Library, NY

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2014
Former Jeopardy! champ Jennings offers a collection of random facts and anecdotes on the topic. The lively presentation and humorous tone will appeal to a broad audience, but lack of an index or informative chapter titles ("Third Period"; "Recess") makes navigation difficult. Cartoony black-and-white drawings add to the lightheartedness (and busyness); sidebars provide supplemental information.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)