{"id":33222,"date":"2018-09-24T23:01:05","date_gmt":"2018-09-25T03:01:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=33222"},"modified":"2018-09-24T23:01:05","modified_gmt":"2018-09-25T03:01:05","slug":"review-of-grover-cleveland-again-by-ken-burns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=33222","title":{"rendered":"Review of Grover Cleveland, Again! by Ken Burns"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Grover Cleveland, Again!<\/p>\n

A Treasury of American Presidents<\/em><\/p>\n

by Ken Burns
\nillustrated by Gerald Kelley<\/p>\n

Alfred A. Knopf, 2016. 94 pages.<\/p>\n

This is a big, beautiful book packed with facts about all the presidents up to Obama (since it was published before the 2016 election). Here\u2019s where Ken Burns explains the title:<\/p>\n

I have four daughters \u2013 Sarah, Lilly, Olivia, and Willa. When they were little and had trouble falling asleep, I would recite the names of the presidents to them. (Yes, that\u2019s a historian\u2019s idea of a lullaby!) After a while, they knew the names so well, we turned it into a memory game. We\u2019d start with our first president and work our way up. I\u2019d say \u201cGeorge\u201d and they\u2019d say \u201cWashington\u201d; I\u2019d say \u201cJohn\u201d and they\u2019d say \u201cAdams.\u201d Their favorite part was when we got to Grover Cleveland, the only president who had two non<\/em>-consecutive terms. I\u2019d say \u201cGrover\u201d and they\u2019d say \u201cCleveland\u201d; I\u2019d say \u201cBenjamin\u201d and they\u2019d say \u201cHarrison\u201d; then I\u2019d repeat \u201cGrover\u201d and they would giggle and say \u201cGrover Cleveland, again!\u201d I vowed to my oldest, now a mama of her own, that one day I\u2019d do a children\u2019s book on the presidents called Grover Cleveland, Again!<\/em> It\u2019s been almost thirty years, but I\u2019ve kept my promise.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I read this book alongside Your Presidential Fantasy Dream Team<\/a><\/em>, by Daniel O\u2019Brien. I\u2019d read about one president at a time, from both books. This one has much nicer, full-color pictures. It gives the basic facts and many insights into the times of each president. It would be great for reports, and draws you into browsing its oversize, inviting pages. It doesn\u2019t compare the presidents to superheroes like that one does, but one book can\u2019t have everything.<\/p>\n

Ken Burns takes a more positive approach, leaving out things like Ulysses Grant\u2019s drunkenness. He doesn\u2019t draw decisive judgments about the presidents\u2019 actions. But Ken Burns is trying to inspire kids by telling about our history. He also says in the introduction:<\/p>\n

How could someone who had never voted in an election become president? How could someone who had hardly ever gone to school keep the country from being torn in two? How could a man with dyslexia lead the country through a world war, and one with a serious physical disability guide us through another? How could the son of a peanut farmer bring together two countries whose people had been ancient enemies? This is amazing stuff!<\/p>\n

Learning about American history might not teach a child how to become a famous scientist or the CEO of a major corporation. But it can make a huge difference in their lives. It certainly has in mine.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

kenburns.com<\/a>
\ngeraldkelley.com<\/a>
\nrandomhousekids.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Nonfiction\/grover_cleveland_again.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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