Product Description

Ladies and Gentlemen: the next President of the United States will soon be included within the pages of one of our perennial favorites. National Geographic Children’s Books will publish this fully revised and updated edition of Our Country’s Presidents in time for the Inauguration of our 44th head of state—the first Presidents reference book on the market after the election.

This president will follow in the footsteps of 43 predecessors who have assumed America’s greatest responsibility: these men have faithfully executed their duties—they have signed treaties, addressed Congress, brokered peace, and waged war. Each has left his own indelible mark on the history of the United States and on the lives of the American people.

Find out why George Washington gave up his life as a Virginia planter to lead the nation; why John Taylor was deemed "His Accidency"; walk with the presidents through wars, depressions, civil rights movements, and the space race; romp with the Garfield children in a White House pillow fight; and mourn with a nation for John F. Kennedy.

This timely update will offer fascinating and comprehensive profiles of all the presidents, timelines of their administrations, historic images, and features on important aspects of their terms. A fresh cover design and informative insight about our new leader will make this volume stand apart from all other contenders, and confirm its place as the definitive family reference guide to the fascinating lives of our leaders past and present.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #89193 in Books
• Published on: 2009-01-13
• Released on: 2009-01-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 216 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 5–8—This update of the 2005 edition includes a large cover photo of Barack Obama, a foreword by him, revised coverage of George W. Bush's tenure, and a brief overview of Obama's political career and election. Four new two-page essays about topics related to the presidency—White House traditions, the relationship between presidents and the Supreme Court, the use of pollsters and polling in elections and governance, and campaigning—have been added. Two previous essays about campaigns and elections have been removed, leaving a total of 18 essays with subjects ranging from a history of the White House to the elder-statesman role played by former presidents. The remainder of the book is unchanged. The profiles range from one to six pages in length and are divided into six groups based upon broad historical eras. Each entry includes information and anecdotes about the man's family, education, political career and administration, and post-presidency. They all include a full-page reproduction of the president's official portrait and high-quality photos and illustrations. This book is attractive and readable and is a good choice for libraries that do not hold earlier editions and need material on the presidents. However, despite the inclusion of information about Obama, the revisions are not significant enough to warrant replacement by libraries that own the previous edition.—Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO
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From Booklist
It’s easy to see that this edition of the title has been updated: there’s a photo of Barack Obama on the cover, and he wrote the foreword. (In the 2005 volume, it was written by George Bush.) This exceedingly attractive offering is still chock-full of information, presented by veteran writer Bausum in such an inviting manner that children will enjoy paging through, even if there’s no school report looming. Each president is introduced with a full-page portrait, and the other historic images and photos are excellent. The book begins with an introduction to the presidency, followed by an initial time line (continued at intervals throughout the book) that explains what was happening in the U.S. The sketches of the presidents range from one page (Franklin Pierce) to five pages (Franklin Roosevelt). Full of interesting tidbits as well as solid information, the entries are supplemented by spreads on topics such as polling and the 2008 election. A thoughtfully prepared book. Grades 4-7. --Ilene Cooper

Review
"Lavish use of period and modern illustrations, quotes, solid research, and the kind of offbeat facts so dear to readers young and older are included..." — Booklist(Review of 2004 Edition)

Customer Reviews

Thoroughly enjoyable book, by George!
From the first George to the latest (wouldn't it just be easier if we voted for the one called George..?) each president is given a few pages of analysis and historical outline - just enough to set each apart for his own achievements, failures, characteristics and ultimate fate (and other, trivial stuff too..just as interesting - read about Gerald Ford. No, really...) in a fascinating setting. And our ultmate fate? To read more about our chosen subject, put the book down having found sufficient information or, as in my case, to keep reading the well structured and accessible text. In short, if you thought presidents, especially dead ones (not the greenback kind) were boring, oh you were wrong! A book every home should have! I love it!

Great Introduction to US Presidents for Children
This is exactly the kind of book that can introduce history and government to young readers.

Ann Bausum, for the National Geographic Society, has put together a first-rate book on our country's presidents through George W. Bush.

Each president has at least a page dedicated to their life and presidency as well as a portrait and illustrations of events current to their times. Presidents such as Lincoln and FDR and those who have served in the modern era have four to six page spreads describing their elections, the issues, their lives and the challenges they faced as president.

The write-ups are excellent summaries aimed at explaining the highlights to youth. The photos, paintings and other illustrations make this a very inviting book that some children will browse while others delve into the writing. Either way, older elementary school children have a very inviting and informative introduction into our presidents and history that should capture young imaginations.

A Complete book about the Presidents
This is a great complete book on the latest version of this book with all the great presidents, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, John F Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and my favorite Barack Obama. I had this book at school, only the first pressing with George W. Bush in it. This is a much more up-to-date version. It also shows the 2008 election in it too. I really have enjoyed this book since I purchased it 10 days ago. It is a must have for children who need good education about the United States.