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DK Biography
DK Biography: John F. Kennedy: A Photographic Story of a Life
Tells the story of an incredible leader and legend, John F. Kennedy. In this groundbreaking new series, DK brings together fresh voices and DK design values to give readers the most information-packed, visually exciting biographies on the market today. Full-color photographs of people, places, and artifacts, definitions of key words, and sidebars on related subjects add dimension and relevance to stories of famous lives that students will love to read. Supports the Common Core State Standards.
128 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2004
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107 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 9, 2018
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This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2017
I hadn't known what all he had accomplished. His death and Cuba is all I had really understood. Creating the Peace Corps and writing some successful books, including getting a Pulitzer, wow. I understood he had back issues but I really did not understand he was always so sickly. That impresses me, he did so much while in pain and ill.
February 2, 2018
I’ve rated this book theee stars, as it is a short book covering the life of JFK.
It’s a broad look at JFK’s life and those people who played an important part- from his family, fiends and other political figures including Truman and Nixon.
An enjoyable light read.
It’s a broad look at JFK’s life and those people who played an important part- from his family, fiends and other political figures including Truman and Nixon.
An enjoyable light read.
900-999-geography-history
November 5, 2019973.922092
December 6, 2023
Excellent synopsis of JFK’s life. I learned many new facts about our former President . Excellent writing!
November 22, 2013
This review is posted in my blog at: http://kidlitaboutpolitics.wordpress....
This book is adequate. It's full of solid information about Kennedy. He wasn't healthy, he competed with his older brother throughout their childhood and adolescence, he was smart but not a great student, he was a hero in the second world war when his PT boat was fired on and fell to pieces, he started in the House of Representatives, then moved to the Senate, and finally to the White House. Along the way he married Jacqueline Bouvier and they had two children.
These are all facts. I'm impressed with the amount of information in this 128 page book. I was surprised to find facts I didn't know. For example, I didn't realize that Jack Kennedy abstained from voting when the Senate voted to censure Joseph McCarthy. I wish the author had addressed allegations that Kennedy's father bought the Chicago vote for Kennedy and thus the presidential race.
The book doesn't read as if it's crammed with facts. It's more like a narrative and less like a textbook.
Kennedy was killed when I was five years old. My parents cried as they watched his funeral. Why? His death was a loss beyond words, because in life he had an inexpressible greatness. I wish the book conveyed Kennedy's place in the American pantheon.
This book is written almost entirely in the present tense. I found the use of present tense confusing when the author wanted to write about events to come and events that had happened already. The present tense, plus the use of “Jack” instead of “Kennedy” or “President Kennedy” serve to make Kennedy seem like a buddy.
The book is full of black and white and color photographs. Each photograph is accompanied by a short paragraph. In addition, short side paragraphs are scattered throughout the book. I sometimes have trouble with DK books because it’s hard to follow the main text with so many distractions. In this book, the distractions are kept to a minimum.
Shortly after Kennedy was killed, I thought it made sense that just as Jesus was resurrected, so Kennedy would be resurrected. If the book spent more time on Kennedy as a human being instead of focusing on the facts of his life, I suspect a reader of the book wouldn’t be surprised that I expected I might see Kennedy on the subway weeks after his death.
This book is adequate. It's full of solid information about Kennedy. He wasn't healthy, he competed with his older brother throughout their childhood and adolescence, he was smart but not a great student, he was a hero in the second world war when his PT boat was fired on and fell to pieces, he started in the House of Representatives, then moved to the Senate, and finally to the White House. Along the way he married Jacqueline Bouvier and they had two children.
These are all facts. I'm impressed with the amount of information in this 128 page book. I was surprised to find facts I didn't know. For example, I didn't realize that Jack Kennedy abstained from voting when the Senate voted to censure Joseph McCarthy. I wish the author had addressed allegations that Kennedy's father bought the Chicago vote for Kennedy and thus the presidential race.
The book doesn't read as if it's crammed with facts. It's more like a narrative and less like a textbook.
Kennedy was killed when I was five years old. My parents cried as they watched his funeral. Why? His death was a loss beyond words, because in life he had an inexpressible greatness. I wish the book conveyed Kennedy's place in the American pantheon.
This book is written almost entirely in the present tense. I found the use of present tense confusing when the author wanted to write about events to come and events that had happened already. The present tense, plus the use of “Jack” instead of “Kennedy” or “President Kennedy” serve to make Kennedy seem like a buddy.
The book is full of black and white and color photographs. Each photograph is accompanied by a short paragraph. In addition, short side paragraphs are scattered throughout the book. I sometimes have trouble with DK books because it’s hard to follow the main text with so many distractions. In this book, the distractions are kept to a minimum.
Shortly after Kennedy was killed, I thought it made sense that just as Jesus was resurrected, so Kennedy would be resurrected. If the book spent more time on Kennedy as a human being instead of focusing on the facts of his life, I suspect a reader of the book wouldn’t be surprised that I expected I might see Kennedy on the subway weeks after his death.
June 1, 2012
I read this book for fourth quarter
I thought the book was ok to me. I don't like reading biographies because I think that they are really boring. I chose the book because I like when John F. Kennedy talks, and I needed a genre that I didn't read. I thought it was a easy read because the pages were short, and there were pictures that had captions.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, known as JFK, was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on May 29, 1917. His father, Joseph Kennedy, Sr., was a wealthy investor and a demanding father who expected his sons to be politically ambitious. When JFK was ten, his family moved to New York, and when it came time to enter high school, he was sent to Choate, a prestigious Connecticut boarding school. He became very popular with his peers there, but managed only mediocre grades. He had a similar experience at Harvard, which he attended between 1936 and 1940, while his father was serving as Ambassador to Great Britain and the tensions in Europe that would eventually lead to World War II mounted. In correspondence to the U.S., Joe Sr. advocated support for the British policy of appeasing Hitler so as to avoid a second world war. On a personal level, JFK felt continuously overshadowed by his older brother, Joseph Kennedy, Jr., who was regarded as their father's favorite.
I can connect this book to any biography in the world. They all talk about the picture on the front. They also talk about how they are born, and what they do when they're young. This book can most relate to president biographies because they talk about politics, and what they did when they were president.
I thought the book was ok to me. I don't like reading biographies because I think that they are really boring. I chose the book because I like when John F. Kennedy talks, and I needed a genre that I didn't read. I thought it was a easy read because the pages were short, and there were pictures that had captions.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, known as JFK, was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on May 29, 1917. His father, Joseph Kennedy, Sr., was a wealthy investor and a demanding father who expected his sons to be politically ambitious. When JFK was ten, his family moved to New York, and when it came time to enter high school, he was sent to Choate, a prestigious Connecticut boarding school. He became very popular with his peers there, but managed only mediocre grades. He had a similar experience at Harvard, which he attended between 1936 and 1940, while his father was serving as Ambassador to Great Britain and the tensions in Europe that would eventually lead to World War II mounted. In correspondence to the U.S., Joe Sr. advocated support for the British policy of appeasing Hitler so as to avoid a second world war. On a personal level, JFK felt continuously overshadowed by his older brother, Joseph Kennedy, Jr., who was regarded as their father's favorite.
I can connect this book to any biography in the world. They all talk about the picture on the front. They also talk about how they are born, and what they do when they're young. This book can most relate to president biographies because they talk about politics, and what they did when they were president.
April 7, 2015
I believe that John F. Kennedy a Photographic Story of a Life was written because of Howard S. Kaplan's intention to teach a younger audience about one of our great presidents. This book teaches the reader about John Kennedy's life through the storytelling of the author's gathered facts. This biography includes what his childhood was like, what he did as he got older, his time as president, and his death. These are only some general ideas shared in this book, but many more engaging facts about John F. Kennedy are revealed too such as his birthplace, age when he died, and what his parents did for a living.
Overall, this book is pretty interesting. One thing I like about it is lack of author's opinions and that it is just about facts. There are many examples of straightforward facts, "Jack wins the primary in one of the biggest victories the state has ever seen" is an example of one of those statements. This is not an arguable statement and I think that that is one of the most important qualities in a biography so the reader can learn as much as (s)he can. I would recommend this book to a friend because the reader may be able to relate to John's life as I did especially with his "sibling issues" such as fighting with his siblings. The one thing I would want to change is to have more funny, cool, or even more interesting facts about John F. Kennedy. His life story is already pretty intriguingly told alone, but a few more side facts would make this book even better. In general, I would recommend this book to someone who really enjoys biographies, but would definitely not recommend this book to someone gets bored with a biography easily.
Overall, this book is pretty interesting. One thing I like about it is lack of author's opinions and that it is just about facts. There are many examples of straightforward facts, "Jack wins the primary in one of the biggest victories the state has ever seen" is an example of one of those statements. This is not an arguable statement and I think that that is one of the most important qualities in a biography so the reader can learn as much as (s)he can. I would recommend this book to a friend because the reader may be able to relate to John's life as I did especially with his "sibling issues" such as fighting with his siblings. The one thing I would want to change is to have more funny, cool, or even more interesting facts about John F. Kennedy. His life story is already pretty intriguingly told alone, but a few more side facts would make this book even better. In general, I would recommend this book to someone who really enjoys biographies, but would definitely not recommend this book to someone gets bored with a biography easily.
March 3, 2016
The book I am reading is on John F Kennedy. It is an autobiography. In the first part of the book it says he was born on February 20, 1920. He grew in Poland Springs, Maine. He grew up in a rich neighborhood and then It talked about his parents and his aunts and uncles and his grandparents.
The next part of the story talks about when he went to college at Harvard and what was he studying and stuff he did while he was at college and who his friends were at the time.
Then the next part talked about what jobs he did around college and what jobs he did so he could afford college and the people he knew at the time and his teachers that where teaching him at the time. In 1945 he wrote for Hearst newspapers.
The next part of the book talked about the jobs he tried to do when he got out of college and him trying to find a girlfriend and his struggle with that. The next part is about his struggles with becoming a politician and how he was campaigning and rallying against other people to become president in 1960.
The next part of the story talks about him becoming president in 1961. the next part talks about what he was doing as president and what he was helping and about the wars he got into and what his family thought of him becoming president and it also talked about what people liked about him and what they thought about him.
The next part talks about his assassination in 1964 and how Lee Harvey Oswald did it.
The next part of the story talks about when he went to college at Harvard and what was he studying and stuff he did while he was at college and who his friends were at the time.
Then the next part talked about what jobs he did around college and what jobs he did so he could afford college and the people he knew at the time and his teachers that where teaching him at the time. In 1945 he wrote for Hearst newspapers.
The next part of the book talked about the jobs he tried to do when he got out of college and him trying to find a girlfriend and his struggle with that. The next part is about his struggles with becoming a politician and how he was campaigning and rallying against other people to become president in 1960.
The next part of the story talks about him becoming president in 1961. the next part talks about what he was doing as president and what he was helping and about the wars he got into and what his family thought of him becoming president and it also talked about what people liked about him and what they thought about him.
The next part talks about his assassination in 1964 and how Lee Harvey Oswald did it.
March 25, 2014
#1 use prior knowledge
John F. Kennedy was shot in the back of the neck and in the back of the head.The person sitting in front of him also has been shot. John is Dead at 1 P.M. “Mr. President, you certainly cannot say that Dallas doesn't love you.”
#2 Monitor
The president has been shot a few times and the driver rushed him to the hospital to see what they can do and maybe save him. After 20 minutes at the hospital john dies. “Oh, no,”
#3 Predict
i predicted that the person who shot the president was going to get caught. The killers name was lee Harvey Oswald. He also killed another guy the next night. “the lone gunman?”
#4 Set a purpose
John F Kennedy was a famous man. John was born in Brookline Massachusetts on may 29, 1917. Growing up he was always sick. He was one of the presidents of the united states. John was assassinated on November 22, 1963. He was shot multiple times. “very, very sick little boy”.
#5 Connect
John was one of the presidents of the united states. When he was shot he was the president. There has been other presidents that have been shot while they have been the president. Johns brother cried “Why, God, why?”
John F. Kennedy was shot in the back of the neck and in the back of the head.The person sitting in front of him also has been shot. John is Dead at 1 P.M. “Mr. President, you certainly cannot say that Dallas doesn't love you.”
#2 Monitor
The president has been shot a few times and the driver rushed him to the hospital to see what they can do and maybe save him. After 20 minutes at the hospital john dies. “Oh, no,”
#3 Predict
i predicted that the person who shot the president was going to get caught. The killers name was lee Harvey Oswald. He also killed another guy the next night. “the lone gunman?”
#4 Set a purpose
John F Kennedy was a famous man. John was born in Brookline Massachusetts on may 29, 1917. Growing up he was always sick. He was one of the presidents of the united states. John was assassinated on November 22, 1963. He was shot multiple times. “very, very sick little boy”.
#5 Connect
John was one of the presidents of the united states. When he was shot he was the president. There has been other presidents that have been shot while they have been the president. Johns brother cried “Why, God, why?”
July 23, 2013
John F. Kennedy
7/12 60 minutes
7 words summary
1 Kennedy 2 Weak 3 Sick 4 Boy 5 Joins
6 Military 7 Force
Discussion Question
Have you ever practiced very hard for something?
My Answer
I have been practiced basketball very hard for 10 years.
Comment
I did not know about Kennedy at all. I was very surprised, because he was always in sick!
7/19 20 minutes 7/21 30 minutes 7/22 15 minutes
7 words summary
1 Became 2 President 3 Speech 4 Open car
5 Kennedy 6 Killed 7 Gun
Discussion Question
Kennedy was a politician. Are you interested in politic ? Did you go the election?
My Answer
I am not interested in politic at all. However, I am already 21 years old, so I should be interested in it.
Comment
The end of this story is very sad. I cannot understand why people kill other pardon.
7/12 60 minutes
7 words summary
1 Kennedy 2 Weak 3 Sick 4 Boy 5 Joins
6 Military 7 Force
Discussion Question
Have you ever practiced very hard for something?
My Answer
I have been practiced basketball very hard for 10 years.
Comment
I did not know about Kennedy at all. I was very surprised, because he was always in sick!
7/19 20 minutes 7/21 30 minutes 7/22 15 minutes
7 words summary
1 Became 2 President 3 Speech 4 Open car
5 Kennedy 6 Killed 7 Gun
Discussion Question
Kennedy was a politician. Are you interested in politic ? Did you go the election?
My Answer
I am not interested in politic at all. However, I am already 21 years old, so I should be interested in it.
Comment
The end of this story is very sad. I cannot understand why people kill other pardon.
Read
April 19, 2016When I read this book, I learned that JFK was the youngest president ever elected into the Oval Office. He was unsuccessful in his attempts to foil the plans of the Cubans in the Bay of Pigs invasion, but was successful in his plans to stop the Russians planting missiles in Cuba during the Cuban missile crisis.
July 22, 2011
I thought this book was a very inspiring book because John F. Kennedy's life was full of mixed emotions.This was the first book I read from the DK series and it is the best biography I have ever read.
Read
July 16, 2010Just finished it earlier today it was great i love the dk books
May 15, 2011
this book presents a man or president who was going to make a difference in america and put an end to its racial tensions,he died prematurely but he left a vision of what america could be.
January 29, 2012
tHIS BOOK TELLS YOU ALL ABOT JFK AND HS CHILD LIFE
November 6, 2014
Gives a lot of info. I think it gave to much info about his family and i wish it gave more info about him. At times it was extremely boring.
October 13, 2016
Very informative book. Would recommend to people who want to know more about JFK.
Read
February 28, 2014Monday- 60 minutes
Tuesday- 60 minutes
Thursday- 90 minutes
Tuesday- 60 minutes
Thursday- 90 minutes
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews