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The Presidents Decoded: A Guide to the Leaders Who Shaped Our Nation
Ever wonder what the President does? Meet the 45* people who have held the job in this important book that showcases how they each led the country in their time—and features their own thoughts and words through their documents, letters, diaries, speeches and so much more.
Some call it the most important job in the world. It's certainly the most powerful. And it's one that every citizen needs to know about because we're the ones who vote to put a president in office. Lively, informative, filled with firsts and facts, big ideas and compelling anecdotes, The Presidents Decoded, is a richly layered guide to the leaders who have shaped our nation.
Featuring over 125 primary sources--including documents, speeches, letters, executive orders and diaries--each leader's time in office is broken down and explained to show the what, how and why of our leaders' thoughts, decisions and policies. Familiar documents like the preamble of the Declaration of Independence, The Emancipation Proclamation, and The Fugitive Slave Act — the part of the Compromise of 1850 that set the country on a path to Civil War — are included. But there's also George Washington’s letter to Martha as he learns that he’s been chosen to be the General of the Continental Army, a letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt from a desperate family during the Great Depression, a letter from baseball legend Jackie Robinson urging John F. Kennedy to do more for civil rights, and the Executive Order limiting the hours of the federal work day, and so many more. Full-color illustrations bring each president and their time in office to life on the page in their career-defining moments as history marches forward and changes the job — and our way of life — through inventions like the camera, the telephone, the first metal detector, services like the Navy and the Red Cross, and the rise of social media platforms like Twitter.
As she did in The Constitution Decoded, Katie Kennedy shines a light on American History, this time through the lens of the leaders who shaped our nation.
(*Very clever of you to catch this! the number is off by 1 because Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and the 24th president!)
Some call it the most important job in the world. It's certainly the most powerful. And it's one that every citizen needs to know about because we're the ones who vote to put a president in office. Lively, informative, filled with firsts and facts, big ideas and compelling anecdotes, The Presidents Decoded, is a richly layered guide to the leaders who have shaped our nation.
Featuring over 125 primary sources--including documents, speeches, letters, executive orders and diaries--each leader's time in office is broken down and explained to show the what, how and why of our leaders' thoughts, decisions and policies. Familiar documents like the preamble of the Declaration of Independence, The Emancipation Proclamation, and The Fugitive Slave Act — the part of the Compromise of 1850 that set the country on a path to Civil War — are included. But there's also George Washington’s letter to Martha as he learns that he’s been chosen to be the General of the Continental Army, a letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt from a desperate family during the Great Depression, a letter from baseball legend Jackie Robinson urging John F. Kennedy to do more for civil rights, and the Executive Order limiting the hours of the federal work day, and so many more. Full-color illustrations bring each president and their time in office to life on the page in their career-defining moments as history marches forward and changes the job — and our way of life — through inventions like the camera, the telephone, the first metal detector, services like the Navy and the Red Cross, and the rise of social media platforms like Twitter.
As she did in The Constitution Decoded, Katie Kennedy shines a light on American History, this time through the lens of the leaders who shaped our nation.
(*Very clever of you to catch this! the number is off by 1 because Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and the 24th president!)
248 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2023
3 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 1, 2023
An excellent book on the presidents presented in a kid-friendly format with chunks of info & sidebars so readers can dip in and out of it to learn lots of info and fun facts. It's targeted to ages 10 and up (yes, adults will learn lots too), but I think it has appeal to younger kids too who are interested in presidents (such as my 8-year-old grandson who knows more details about presidents than I ever will & best of all, it's a book that will grow with him and he can revisit it for many years). Well done & a great resource for classrooms and homeschoolers.
January 19, 2024
I'd like to memorize (at least) the order of the American presidents, but found that I had little knowledge about quite a few of them. This book gave me just the right level of info -- biography, challenges and successes, and legacy for each president. I like the idea of using of primary texts (with interpretations), even if they didn't make for a significant portion of the info presented. This is shelved in YA in my library, and I could imagine it also being accessible for older middle grades -- but it definitely fit the bill as a refresher course for this adult.
October 17, 2023
Great tool to teach kids about the Presidents of the United States within an histori cal context
January 14, 2024
There was good information even though it did slant left at times. This book also put me to sleep at times.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews