Presidents (Library of Congress) - Hardcover

Martin W. Sandler is the author of many books and has twice been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. He is also an acclaimed television writer and producer, with five Emmy awards to his credit. He lives in New Hampshire.

Grade 4-8-Through archival black-and-white photographs and full-color lithographs, paintings, posters, drawings, and other illustrative material, these books offer indelible glimpses of their subjects. Immigrants concentrates on the millions of newcomers who came to America between 1870-1920. Images of the journey itself, the ordeal of Ellis Island, life in the cities and in rural communities, and children at play and in school have been selected to capture this complex experience. Brief first-person commentaries by immigrants are highlighted on many pages. Sandler's text is written in the present tense, which gives the photos the effect of being part of a newsreel and provides a "you are there" impression. This title would be a great companion to Russell Freedman's Immigrant Kids (Dutton, 1980). Presidents sparkles with vignettes that reveal the uniqueness of the men to hold the office, as political figures and as private citizens. Pictures of them at leisure, campaigning, and with their families and pets offer a fascinating record of this "profoundly human institution." Brief facts, such as the first president to ride in an automobile (Teddy Roosevelt) and the only one to have a patent issued in his name (Abraham Lincoln), make this book as entertaining as it is informative. Some of the photos are not captioned, and their subjects are not identified in the text. Nonetheless, both of these series entries combine excellent-quality visuals with intriguing sketches, reminiscences, and anecdotes to make history come alive.
Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA
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