Jimmy Carter

Children's Literature

This informative biography highlights the history and accomplishments of our nation's 39th President. The book begins with a comprehensive list of Web sites related to Jimmy Carter, each one's purpose briefly summarized. In chronological order, the rest of the book describes Jimmy Carter's childhood in Georgia, his rise to Presidency, the issues he faced as President in the late 1970's, and the charitable works in which he and his wife have since been involved. Highlighting the qualities that made Carter unique—his belief in racial equality, his ambition, his religious values, his desire to make peace—the author paints an interesting and sympathetic portrait of the former President. As well, the author does a fine job of simplifying the complex political, economic, and global issues, such as inflation and the Middle East peace process, that dominated national and world affairs during Carter's presidency. Overall, this balanced and well-organized book is highly recommended for readers interested in researching or learning about this important American. One of the "MyReportLinks.com" books. 2002, Enslow Publishers,
— Michele Coulombe

VOYA

This is a multi-book review of several volumes in the "MyReportLinks.com: Presidents" series. This new series on U.S. presidents accomplishes two things. It gives a credible account of the lives and administrations of the presidents for students who only need a brief overview, and it offers Internet links to thirty Web sites relating to each president. The sites are described individually and range from biographical information and original source documents such as speeches to major events associated with that particular presidency. The authors include a password for each president to his selected sites and a statement promising efforts to offer only active and appropriate links. These books on John Adams, Andrew Jackson, and Jimmy Carter make for easy but interesting reading. Each relates events of their early lives, their careers before public office, their presidencies, and their later years. Included are major conflicts, scandals, and successes. Students will enjoy the well-written texts and selected anecdotes. Most illustrations are taken directly from the Web sites listed at the front of the books and are framed by a computer screen window. These books will be excellent for high interest/easy reading materials and for students looking for good Web sites on the presidents. Index. Photos. Source Notes. Further Reading. Chronology. 2002, Enslow, 48p. PLB
— Leslie Carter

School Library Journal

Gr 5-9-Each of these concise, well-researched, and accessible titles explores the life of a U.S. president. The first two chapters are devoted to the subject's childhood and early adult years, while the next three focus on the men's political careers and presidency. Chapter six concludes with a look at the individual's accomplishments in his post-White House years. With endnotes for each chapter, these books present much worthwhile information. The emphasis on Web sites makes them real time-savers for students. Five pages of editor-evaluated, annotated Web links precede the text. These sites, accessed by going to www.myreportlinks. com, offer both primary and secondary sources. Web-site screens illustrate and complement the text. In fact, each spread resembles a computer screen with text framed with a tool bar at the top and scrolling arrows at the sides and bottom. Three solid examples of the creativity and usefulness of a collaboration between text and Internet resources.- Pamela K. Bomboy, Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Jimmy Carter's life story presented specifically for the reader who has a report to write for school. The print story is a straightforward, complete one for the young reader and researcher. However, the reader can find much more information at the My Reports Web site. This is what the publisher hopes the young researcher will do: read the book and then connect to the links provided from the Web. With frequent color photographs and brief, easy-to-understand chapters and sentences, the author allows the young reader to get to know the public life of the former president. He briefly highlights the important events of Carter's presidency: the backlash from the Nixon pardon, daughter Amy's struggles with the spotlight, Roslyn's speech to Congress, the energy crisis, the difficult and demanding peace process in the Middle East, the capture of the American hostages in Iran, and their eventual release. He paints an admirable picture of Carter: hard-working and caring, someone who lives from his heart. He spares the young reader the infamous Playboy "lust in my heart" episode but tells much about Carter as an involved ex-president who is active with peace and justice causes. There is little new information here, just the bare facts that can be easily found in any resource about the presidents. Certain elementary-school assignments have been around forever and the presidential report is one of them. This series and the accompanying easy-to-navigate Web site will make this predictable assignment less daunting and a little more interesting for the writer. (index, chapter notes, annotated Web addresses, bibliography.) (Nonfiction. 7-12)