The American Presidents, Washington to Tyler

April 1, 2013

Gr 7 Up-A readable, detailed account of each of the first 10 men who held the highest office in the United States. Within each chapter is a thorough account of the man's term, including major events in foreign affairs, primary-source documents by and about him, and, in some cases, how he was viewed by his contemporaries and other presidents. The book is thoroughly researched and contains a wealth of additional resources, grouped by president. Of particular note is the extensive collection of illustrations, which includes images of the men as well as major events from their presidencies. It should be noted, however, that Wikipedia is cited as a resource for some of the images.-Wayne R. Cherry, Jr., First Baptist Academy Library, Houston, TX

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2013
This bookthe first volume in what the author states will be a multivolume set on all the American presidentscovers the life of the first 10 presidents. Author Nowlan also states that his coverage of the presidents is more factual than analytical, more objective than judgmental, and he does not disappoint on this score. The work provides an interesting compendium of each president's life, from his ancestors to his own final days. This minute attention to detail of each aspect of the president's life and work makes the book a bit didactic in tone, and therefore, it can be hard to read through. However, it makes for an excellent reference source. The introduction offers a brief history of how the office was developed, its role as set out in the Constitution, and the evolution of the president's role from the beginning to the present day. Also included in the introduction is the role of the cabinet, how the president is elected by the popular vote and the Electoral College, and the president's relationship with Congress and the courts. Each chapter is devoted to a president, covering his time in office, domestic policy and foreign policy, family background, family life, religious beliefs, his life before and after the presidency, and a Miscellanea section featuring trivia and interesting facts.Black-and-white illustrations are included. The chapter notes and the reference section at the end of the book provide exhaustive and comprehensive sources that the reader can use to find out more about each president. This book is suitable for advanced high-school students, academic libraries, and history buffs.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)