The Look-It-Up Book of Presidents (Look-It-Up Books)
Gr 4-8-Throughout more than 15 years of revisions, this book, first published in 1968, has remained a reliable resource for reference and browsing, offering comprehensive, informative profiles of American presidents. The 1996 revision took readers only as far as Bill Clinton's election to a second term, but this latest edition offers a completely rewritten 10-page profile, including the scandals that led to his impeachment as well as the fiscal policies that led to the nation's economic boom and the president's consistently high approval ratings. This edition also has a 10-page profile of George W. Bush and a concluding chapter that discusses the controversial election of 2000. Ranging in length from two to five pages, the profiles of the first 41 presidents remain exactly as they were in previous editions. Except for the occasional broad generalization, such as the statement that "No President has ever worked harder than Cleveland," the writing is factual and unbiased, with insights about each man's intellectual and political prowess as well as his legacy as both a domestic and a world leader. Ann Bausum's Our Country's Presidents (National Geographic, 2001) and James Barber's Presidents (DK, 2000) offer glossier formats with full-color illustrations, but they don't diminish the appeal and usefulness of this book.William McLoughlin, Brookside School, Worthington, OHCopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.