Franklin Delano Roosevelt for Kids

October 1, 2007
Gr 4-8-In conducting his research, Panchyk interviewed people who knew Roosevelt personally; statements from these individuals appear in sidebars throughout. There are many interesting photos, some full page, and they are all sufficiently captioned. Scarlet fever, which killed Eleanor Roosevelt's brother, is unfortunately described as a "virus," when, in fact, it is caused by a bacterial infection. The book does not go into Eleanor's stormy relationship with Franklin's mother, but does mention Franklin's affair with Lucy Mercer. The activities can be used as school projects or for home fun. They include compiling a genealogy, running for class president, building a ship model, stamp collecting, participating in a political debate, and performing an Abbott and Costello-style routine. The suggestions are not described in great detail, but there is enough information to inspire youngsters to try them and to conduct further research. A time-line spread at the beginning and a "Places to Visit" section at the end help to orient readers. The real value of this book lies in its information about the Roosevelts presented in a lively, engaging manner. A worthy addition."Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, NJ"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2007
This sturdy, large-format paperback presents a clearly written account of Roosevelts life within the context of national and world events, including the Depression and two world wars. Similar in concept and format to Brandon Marie Millers George Washington for Kids (2007), this informative, readable book also offers instructions for 21 activities related to Roosevelts era (Stage a Radio Show); his career (Give a Fireside Chat); and his personal interests (Start a Stamp Collection). In addition to traditional sidebars explaining matters mentioned in the text, there are insets called Memories of FDR, in which people who knew Roosevelt contribute anecdotes and provide intriguing sidelights on the man. Designed with a spacious, horizontal format, the volume includes many period photos, a time line, a bibliography, and an annotated list of virtual and actual sites where readers can find out more.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)