Children's Books for Presidents Day
Many Chicago literacy coaches are still on a post-inaugural high, and decided that they were going to celebrate Presidents Day in a big way this year. Since they are literacy coaches, the first order of business was to put together good text sets. They combed school and classroom libraries, cashed in their book club bonus points, and even spent some cold, hard cash to acquire books. Here are the sets that they put together:
Barack Obama - The 44th President of the United States Text Set
Amazon lists 80 children's books under the search descriptor "Barack Obama"! Plowing through the list revealed that many of them were rushed to the press as soon as the election results were final. Others turned out to be coloring books and paper dolls. There were some good choices. The coaches cast their votes for these gems:
Biographies
Roberta Edwards (2009). Barack Obama: United States President
Beatrice Gormley (2008). Barack Obama: Our 44th President
David Mendell (2008). Obama: A Promise of Change
Garen Thomas (2008). Yes We Can: A Biography of President Barack Obama
Picture Book Biographies
Nikki Grimes (2008). Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope
This is the must-have book of the text set. It is illustrated by award-winning illustrator Bryan Collier.
Jonah Winter (2008). Barack
Collection of Quotes
Kadir Nelson (2008). Change Has Come: An Artist Celebrates Our American Spirit
Award winning illustrator Kadir Nelson selects quotes from Barack Obama's speeches, and pairs them with his simple yet powerful drawings.
Lincoln's Bicentennial Birthday
This year is the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. Our 16th president is a hero and role model of the current president. Lincoln is one of those presidents that everyone writes about, so look for other books about him in the authors' text sets. Books in the Lincoln text set includes:
Martha Brenner (1994). Abe Lincoln's Hat
Amy Cohn and Suzy Schmidt (2002). Abraham Lincoln
Barry Denenberg (2008). Lincoln Shot: A President's Life Remembered
This is the must-have book of this text set. The book features a newspaper style account of Lincoln's assassination on pages resembling old newspapers. There are reproductions of photographs and articles, pen and ink drawings, and interesting details of Lincoln's life.
Candance Fleming (2008). The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary
Nikki Giovanni (2008). Lincoln and Douglass: An American Friendship
Doreen Rappaport (2008). Abe's Honest Words
Loyd Uglow (1997). Abraham Lincoln Will You Ever Give Up
There is a great website with additional information, references, and resources. Visit it at:
http://www.lincolnbicentennial.gov/
Author Sets
Several children's authors specialize in writing biographies of the presidents. Here are some of our favorites:
David A. Adler
David Adler's books are perfect for second and third grade students or struggling older readers. Almost every second and third grade teacher had copies of some of Adler's books in their classroom libraries. These books have a predictable structure, making them very supportive to transitional readers. Each book starts with the subject's childhood, moves on to his young adulthood, and ends with his significant contributions as president:
A Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln
A Picture Book of George Washington
A Picture Book of Thomas Jefferson
A Picture Book of John F. Kennedy
A Picture Book of Dwight David Eisenhower
Russell Freedman
Newbery Award winning author Russell Freedman is renowned for the careful research that he does for his biographies and nonfiction books. He often uncovers new facts and details about the subject's life. His books are appropriate for older students:
Lincoln: A Photobiography
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Washington at Valley Forge
Jean Fritz
Fritz is an accomplished and prolific author, known for her cleverly titled, engaging books. She has written many books on American history topics, including these books about the presidents:
Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt!
The Great Little Madison
George Washington's Breakfast
Just a Few Words, Mr. Lincoln
Cheryl Harness
Harness specializes in picture book biographies. Her books have large, fill-the-page, boldly colored illustrations with limited text. They are accessible, informative, and appealing. These books are must-haves for struggling readers:
Young Abe Lincoln: The Frontier Days
Revolutionary John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
George Washington
The Remarkable Rough-Riding Life of Theodore Roosevelt and the Rise of Empire America
Abe Lincoln Goes to Washington: 1837-1865
Judith St. George
Everyone knows and loves St. George's Caldecott winning book, So You Want to be President?
You're On Your Way, Teddy Roosevelt
Take the Lead, George Washington.
Make Your Mark, Franklin Roosevelt
Stand Tall, Abe Lincoln
Didn't Make It to Mount Rushmore
Have you noticed that if a president didn't get carved into Mount Rushmore, he hardly gets any attention in children's literature? A good way to give those presidents the respect that they deserve is through a compilation book. The trouble with compilation books is they have to be updated every four years. Anyway, here are our favorites:
Will Cleveland (1997). Yo, Millard Fillmore! (And All Those Other Presidents You Don't Know)
Katherine Gibb Davis (2004). Wackiest White House Pets
Judith Greenburg (1998). Young People's Letters to the President
Katherine Krull (1998). Lives of the Presidents: Fame, Shame (and What the Neighbors Thought)
Jane O'Connor (2004). If the Walls Could Talk: Family Life at the White House
Hanoch Piven (2004). What Presidents Are Made Of
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