Our Country’s Presidents: A Complete Encyclopedia of the U. S. Presidency, written by Ann Bausum

 

The job of president of the United States of America has to be one of the most difficult jobs in the world. Forty-five individuals have held this important position since George Washington was elected, in 1789, to lead our fledgling country. The requirements of the position have increased over time as our country grew, in both population and complexity. Our country’s democracy rests, at the national level, on three branches of government: the executive, the judicial and the legislative. The president heads the executive branch, undertaking responsibilities stated in our Constitution, but the impact of the president’s work extends even further--as an influential leader and advocate for the health and general welfare of our country. Our Country’s Presidents: A Complete Encyclopedia of the U. S. Presidency, by history author Ann Bausum, is an excellent compendium of information about each of our presidents, up through the national election of Joe Biden in November 2020. Bausum explores the milestones, challenges and leadership approach of each president, placing each president’s term of office in the context of our history. Readers learn, for example, that Abraham Lincoln led the country during the critical years of the Civil War, how Dwight D. Eisenhower served our country during World War II, the response of George W. Bush to terrorist attacks in September 2001, that Barack Obama faced the demands of the financial crisis of 2008 and beyond. Richly illustrated with primary sources, timelines, presidential portraits, fact boxes and helpful topical essays that describe a variety of themes related to the office of the presidency, this volume is both informative and engaging. It could be a wonderful resource for family conversation as we move into a national election year in 2024. What do you, as a reader, care about as you consider the qualifications of a potential president? What is most important to you? What hopes do you have regarding our country's leadership? Ages 7-12. National Geographic, 2021.

 

Read more about the responsibilities of the President and Executive Branch!

ENOUGH! 20+ Protesters Who Changed America, written by Emily Easton, illustrated by Ziyue Chen

 

When was the United States of America established? Officially when the Declaration of Independence was ratified on July 4, 1776. But that date was preceded by years of unrest as people in the British colonies began to protest laws, issued by the King of England, which they considered unfair—such as tax levies on goods needed for building strong lives and communities independent of the King's control. Yes, our country began with protests—the actions of individuals declaring their beliefs. Soon, the First Amendment of the U. S. Constitution clearly articulated our right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press...and the “right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

 

The book ENOUGH! 20+ Protesters Who Changed America, by author Emily Easton, highlights courageous individuals who have used the right to speak their beliefs in pursuit of justice and fair play in our country. Readers may not recognize all the people featured but they will appreciate the causes for which, in the author’s words, “protesters have stood, marched, sat or knelt for change”—change in the way our society thinks and acts as we, together, seek to be a better nation. Each double-page spread of this bold picture book has a single sentence capturing an individual’s protest, such as “Samuel threw a tea party”, “Rachel wrote a book” and "Colin took a knee." The rich illustrations by Ziyue Chen draw readers into the immediacy of each protester’s action. Ending the book are six pages detailing the time, place and purpose of each person’s protest. We learn more about Samuel Adams, Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, Woody Guthrie, Rosa Parks, Ruby Bridges, Rachel Carson, Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, Muhammad Ali, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Gilbert Baker, Jazz Jennings, Colin Kaepernick, America Ferrera, Parkland students, and Black Lives Matter supporters. This slim, well-crafted book is an excellent way to begin discussions about speaking and acting on one’s beliefs in constructive ways. Ages 5-8. Dragonfly Books / Penguin Random House, 2021.