What's the Big Deal About First Ladies

Starred review from November 1, 2016
A gathering of spirited, intelligent women who accompanied--and, sometimes, shepherded--our country's presidents into the White House.A former staffer in the first lady's office at the White House, Shamir takes a thematic approach, adding specific anecdotes and instances to general observations. She adopts a question-and-answer format to show how "first ladies"--mostly wives but in at least 13 cases a daughter, niece, or other relative--defined their roles as both White House hostesses and presidential advisers while coping with new responsibilities, often leveraging their positions to promote women's rights or other causes. Answering the question "Do first ladies really make a difference," Shamir explores Martha Washington's efforts with veterans and Eleanor Roosevelt's outreach during the Great Depression and World War II, for instance. In Faulkner's collective portraits, many of these women, all recognizably depicted, gaze straight out at viewers with public smiles or private expressions of exasperation or amusement as they pose with spouses, politicians, animals, and children. Following notes about post-White House endeavors ("Hillary Clinton was the first first lady to be elected to the U.S. Senate"), review copies leave a blank page for a one-page post-election update. A breezy way to, as Abigail Adams urged, "remember the ladies." (list of presidents and first ladies, source notes) (Picture book/biography. 7-9)

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December 1, 2016

K-Gr 3-Past and recent first ladies are brought to light in this informative picture book. Each spread is dedicated to a general question about the first ladies and their accomplishments or challenges. The main text answers and explains, for instance, the evolution of the role of the first lady, while smaller inserts provide specific examples or bits of trivia. (Lucy Hayes was nicknamed "Lemonade Lucy" because she didn't serve alcohol at the White House. Frances Cleveland hosted special receptions for working women.) Watercolor and pencil illustrations are finely rendered, hinting at humor but nicely avoiding caricature. The text is friendly, chatty, and inviting and often addresses readers directly ("Close your eyes...imagine if one of your parents became president of the United States."). This title does an excellent job of highlighting the important roles that these women played throughout history, whether it was enacting innovative initiatives (at home or abroad) or simply expanding the presence of women in U.S. culture. A chronological list of the presidents and the first ladies can be found in the back matter. A final page will be included with the 2016 election results. VERDICT A delightful introduction to America's first ladies for elementary U.S. history collections.-Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2016
Grades 2-4 Think you know your First Ladies? Think again, as this colorful book looks at their varied roles and experiences. Arranged thematically rather than chronologically, the text includes anecdotes from the women's White House days, acknowledgments of their accomplishments, and information that gives broader social or historical context to their stories. The double-page spreads use a Q&A structure. After discussing the basics, such as the nature of the First Lady's job, Shamir answers questions such as, But it's cool to live in the White House, right? and Do First Ladies really make a difference? Answers might take a single sentence or several paragraphs, surrounded by large, imaginative illustrations showing particular First Ladies in action. Created with watercolor and pencil, the artwork helps create the book's buoyant atmosphere. Faulkner takes full advantage of the large pages with multiple images, some set off by white space, some imaginatively layered, and others grouping several First Ladies or events. Packed with interesting facts and illustrated with style, this upbeat overview of America's First Ladies will entertain kids intrigued by history.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)