Theodore
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Overview
His name was Theodore, but he is remembered as Teddy. As a young boy, he was a dreamer and a reader and had a curiosity about life he could never satisfy. As the youngest man to ever be president, he led a nation to greatness and he made every day count.
Frank Keating's telling of incidents in Roosevelt's rich and varied life reminds readers how one person can make a difference. Mike Wimmer's exuberant paintings make Roosevelt come to life a century after his presidency.
Synopsis
His name was Theodore, but he is remembered as Teddy. As a young boy, he was a dreamer and a reader and had a curiosity about life he could never satisfy. As the youngest man to ever be president, he led a nation to greatness and he made every day count.
Frank Keating's telling of incidents in Roosevelt's rich and varied life reminds readers how one person can make a difference. Mike Wimmer's exuberant paintings make Roosevelt come to life a century after his presidency.
Publishers Weekly
Pairing a lyrical narrative with oil paintings that capture landscapes as precisely as portraits, this distinctive volume provides an accessible overview of the life of Theodore Roosevelt from the team behind Will Rogers: An American Legend. Keating assumes the engaging first-person voice of the 26th president, shaping a personal profile that incorporates actual quotations from Roosevelt. The rich, composite portrait that emerges depicts Roosevelt as an inquisitive lover of nature and insatiable reader. From a rather sickly child, he grew into an enthusiastic participant in many family adventures around the world as an adolescent, a prolific writer as a young man and, in subsequent years, an energetic cattle rancher in the Dakota Territory. He was also a devoted and high-spirited father, a decorated soldier and a dedicated public servant who, at 42, became the youngest man ever to ascend to the office of president (at that time). Occasionally, it may be difficult for readers to distinguish which are actual quotes from Roosevelt and which are the author's interpretation (e.g., "I wrote thirty-five books in all, always celebrating `the joy of life and the duty of life' "). But Wimmer's (Home Run: The Story of Babe Ruth) artwork remains photographically clear. His remarkably lifelike artwork gives readers the sense of spying on the president in his most intimate moments, at his desk or with his children, and lends additional dimension to the many facets of Roosevelt's personality. Ages 6-9. (Jan.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
Pairing a lyrical narrative with oil paintings that capture landscapes as precisely as portraits, this distinctive volume provides an accessible overview of the life of Theodore Roosevelt from the team behind Will Rogers: An American Legend. Keating assumes the engaging first-person voice of the 26th president, shaping a personal profile that incorporates actual quotations from Roosevelt. The rich, composite portrait that emerges depicts Roosevelt as an inquisitive lover of nature and insatiable reader. From a rather sickly child, he grew into an enthusiastic participant in many family adventures around the world as an adolescent, a prolific writer as a young man and, in subsequent years, an energetic cattle rancher in the Dakota Territory. He was also a devoted and high-spirited father, a decorated soldier and a dedicated public servant who, at 42, became the youngest man ever to ascend to the office of president (at that time). Occasionally, it may be difficult for readers to distinguish which are actual quotes from Roosevelt and which are the author's interpretation (e.g., "I wrote thirty-five books in all, always celebrating `the joy of life and the duty of life' "). But Wimmer's (Home Run: The Story of Babe Ruth) artwork remains photographically clear. His remarkably lifelike artwork gives readers the sense of spying on the president in his most intimate moments, at his desk or with his children, and lends additional dimension to the many facets of Roosevelt's personality. Ages 6-9. (Jan.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.Children's Literature
Do you remember the faces of the presidents on Mount Rushmore? One of them is Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt and as you read about this man, you can understand why he was given this honor. He was not a strong, healthy, or particularly outgoing child, but his family and his own perseverance helped him strengthen his body and overcome the limitations of diseases such as asthma. His education was not formal but his inquiring mind led him to read voraciously and to study and question everything around him. His family had wealth and that helped because as a young boy, he could be taught at home and could travel the world. Most importantly, his family cared about him, and he was raised in a loving and supportive environment. In addition to entering politics and government service, he led an active and exciting life as a cowboy, hunter, and soldier. He lost his first wife and remarried and had a total of six children--all of whom he adored and spent much time with even while serving as the president of the US. If all that is not enough, he wrote books, oversaw the construction of the Panama Canal, and received the Nobel Peace Prize. This is a president worth studying and emulating. The paintings by Mike Wimmer are wonderful--no static portraits here. There are scenes that show Teddy's imagination, joy de vivre, and close relationship with his parents. They are so realistic that they almost look like photographs. My only quibble, as with most of the books about famous people, is the choice of image on the cover. It is probably one of the least flattering and appealing in the entire book and is not going to make kids run and open the pages--too bad because there is a lot to enjoy and learn andhopefully whet the appetites of those who would like to learn more about this president. 2006, Simon & Schuster, Ages 6 to 9.—Marilyn Courtot