Bill Clinton

Children's Literature

In terms of first impressions, it would have been nice to see the author's name printed on the front of the book. Instead, Schlesinger, who wrote the two-page introduction, gets these honors, and our author must settle for inclusion on just the spine. Although the book is part of the "Childhoods of the Presidents" series, it does include a final chapter about Clinton's experience as President of the United States. The text is well written, and the author has added human interest to this biography by including interesting anecdotes and by quoting the reflections of many people involved with Bill Clinton during his younger years. This volume is available in library binding and seems appropriate for in-school research. It contains a number of pages of useful resource information—a chronology, glossary, further reading list, Internet resources, index, picture credits, and biographies of the contributors. There are some interesting black-and-white as well as color photographs interspersed throughout the book. Simple graphics, done appropriately in red, white, and blue, add visual interest to the pages and sidebars. 2003, Mason Crest Publishers, Ages 9 to 12.
— Susan Schott Karr

School Library Journal

Gr 4-8-These highly entertaining books rely heavily on anecdotes and reminiscences from the people who knew the subjects during their formative years. Marcovitz opens with a vivid description of the racism of postwar Arkansas and the way young Clinton's social conscience was stirred by it. He then recounts his subject's dysfunctional family life, his political activism during his high school and college years, his triumphs and defeats as a governor, and his remarkable run for president and terms in the Oval Office. The Thompsons open with the horrific events of September 11, 2001, and their immediate test of Bush's mettle, which had been questioned often during his candidacy and in the election of 2000. The authors go on to describe Bush's life of privilege in a patrician family, his boisterous humor, his spotty academic record, and his honing of political skills at the side of his powerful father. Fewer than half the pages in these volumes actually focus on the events of each president's childhood, and the authors only subtly infer a connection between each man's upbringing and his presidency. The easy-to-read texts and well-chosen, full-color and black-and-white photographs make these volumes good starting points for readers interested in these men.-William McLoughlin, Brookside School, Worthington, OH Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.