George Washington

Library Journal

Gr 5-7-These well-organized biographies focus on each man's childhood environment, young adult experiences, education, and leadership roles in his respective era of American history. Information is divided into eight chapters that are arranged into clearly marked subsections, making research easy. Highlighted boxes point out intriguing details about the time periods or aspects of each president's life. Lincoln includes a piece about his writing, along with a poem he wrote in 1846 and an explanation of the controversial biography written by his law partner, William Herndon, after the assassination. Washington features a segment on myths, dispelling the cherry-tree scenario and its origin and verifying the wooden-teeth tidbit. Numerous photos, facsimiles, maps, political cartoons, and drawings enhance the handsome presentations. The author documents facts with source notes and a bibliography. Good solid additions.-Rita Soltan, Oakland University, Rochester, MI Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.