Grover Cleveland, Again!: A Treasury Of American Presidents

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The instant New York Times bestseller!A gorgeous collection of American presidents filled with fun facts and sparkling with personality, from nonfiction master Ken Burns.   This special treasury from America's beloved documentarian Ken Burns brings the presidents to life for our nation's children. Each president is given a lushly illustrated spread with curated stories and information to give readers of all ages a comprehensive view of the varied and fascinating characters who have led our nation (with the exception of Grover Cleveland--the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms--who gets two spreads!). A must-have for Ken's many fans, classrooms, and anyone who wishes to gain a greater understanding and appreciation for our country.  "A buoyant gallery, up to date, handsomely framed, and, in this particular election year, timely too."--Kirkus Reviews

Hardcover: 96 pages

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (July 12, 2016)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0385392095

ISBN-13: 978-0385392099

Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 0.6 x 12.2 inches

Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (77 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #7,382 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #7 in Books > Children's Books > Biographies > U. S. Presidents & First Ladies #20 in Books > Children's Books > Geography & Cultures > Explore the World > United States #21 in Books > Children's Books > Education & Reference > History > United States

Age Range: 10 and up

Grade Level: 5 and up

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Much like our 11th president James K. Polk, legendary documentarian Ken Burns is a man who keeps his promises. He used to help his four daughters fall asleep at night by listing all of the US presidents with them in chronological order, and they were delighted whenever they returned to two-time president Grover Cleveland’s second occurrence on the list and would call out “Grover Cleveland, again!” He promised his oldest daughter he would someday write a book by that title, and he made good on that promise by writing the equally informative and entertaining GROVER CLEVELAND, AGAIN!, which is a mini-encyclopedia meant to give young readers an introduction to the history behind each of the 44 presidencies.Each president is discussed over two pages (except Grover Cleveland, who gets four pages): one page containing a short summary of the president’s life and times along with some fast facts, and a second page containing an illustration. The illustrations, all by Gerald Kelley, are a highlight of the book and help readers understand the personalities of the presidents to better contextualize their biographies.Burns does two things in GROVER CLEVELAND, AGAIN! that make it stand out from most children’s history books. First, he uses the presidents’ stories to sprinkle in basic lessons in big-picture political issues. For example, he succinctly explains why gas prices matter to the economy in his one-paragraph explanation of the energy crisis during the Carter administration and how banks work --- both on the macro and micro level --- on James Monroe’s page. Second, Burns highlights inspirational aspects of the presidents’ lives to prove to his young audience that disadvantages can be overcome with hard work and confidence. While most presidential histories for children like to joke about President Taft’s weight and his difficulty getting out of bathtubs, Burns uses the story as a teachable moment. He writes, “It doesn’t matter if you weigh as much as William Howard Taft (332 pounds) or as little as James Madison (100 pounds)... tall or short; fat or skinny; a man or a woman. You can grow up to be president.” He makes similar motivational points when discussing FDR’s physical disability and Woodrow Wilson overcoming dyslexia to become one of the top academics in the world before his presidency.GROVER CLEVELAND, AGAIN! is an excellent choice to give to a child with a developing interest in history, politics or the presidents. A drawback worth noting is that Burns’ liberal political leanings do find their way into the text, such as in his very complimentary bio of President Obama and a number of criticisms directed at the idea of “small government” ideals throughout the book. However, his bias is far from egregious and does not interfere with him providing historically accurate and complete accounts of the presidents. Overall, GROVER CLEVELAND, AGAIN! is a book young history fans could thumb through for months and still find captivating. As previously mentioned, James Polk is remembered as a man of his word because he fulfilled his campaign promise to only serve one term in the White House, and Ken Burns stayed true to his word by turning GROVER CLEVELAND, AGAIN! from a bedtime story into an enjoyable historical piece that is accessible to any young reader.Reviewed by Rob Bentlyewski

Honestly, what do you really know about President Grover Cleveland? I know this sounds a little old-fashioned, but I really think it's important to understand great events and people in American history. In GROVER CLEVELAND, AGAIN!, Ken Burns gives kids (and adults!) a convenient, fun way to learn about great figures in U.S. history.I confess I don't know much about our presidents--other than the most recent presidents, and perhaps Lincoln. I really like the concise, direct approach of this short book. In just a few minutes, one can get the gist of the important features of any given president.There is a concise narrative given for each president, covering the highlights of the term. I found the descriptions to be fair and free of any bias. There are also a few "sidebars" covering important topics or achievements for each president. For example, for JFK, a bright red section starts off, "IT'S NOT ABOUT RELIGION." Then, the authors explain the controversy of the day about JFK being Catholic. Another red section talks about, THE POWER OF TELEVISION, and the importance of the debate between JFK and Richard Nixon.Again, Ken Burns does a nice job of summarizing the issues, without trying to spin any of the facts. Both the good and bad parts of a president's term are discussed.All in all, I found GROVER CLEVELAND, AGAIN! to be an oustanding book. Concise, informative--and just plain fun to read. I really liked the artwork by Gerald Kelley. Although one can read this on a monochrome device, don't miss the beautiful artwork (see photos here.)

As a retired elementary school teacher, I am always looking for non fiction books that can teach in a reasonable amount of text. I was thrilled when I received this book. It's oversized, with great illustrations that draw a child into wondering what it's all about. Each page has a strip with the essential details about the president,including other jobs he had, and even any pets they had- just the kind of things kids like to know. My students always want to know how someone died, and that is included in many stories. The artwork is just what I had hoped for- Gerald Kelley leaves enough for our imagination, and lots of emotions on faces of long ago. This is a unique, lovely book. I'm amazed to be able to have it for a reasonable price!

Ken Burns was promoting this book on CBS Good Morning in how he taught his daughters the Presidents from George Washington to the present President and I thought what a great way to get young readers involved in the Presidents than with this book. I bought two, one for my coffee table and one to give as a gift. The book is very interesting and informative.

This is a fantastic book for kids of all ages. Our four year old became interested in the presidents and this book is perfect. There are so many interesting facts and details included about each president. Lots of great stories and information! The illustrations are very well done too. This book would also make a great gift for any child with an interest in history.

I love Ken Burns and have long thought he is a genius. This book is a fantastic book with lots of interesting details about the different presidents. The illustrations are beautifully done. Definitely a great purchase.

Purchased this book for our grandson knowing that if Ken Burns wrote it it would be great and it is. Actually when not being read it will be in a bookcase for years for revisiting and help with reports.

I bought this for my 7 year old grandson who loves learning about the Presidents. He loves this book. Ther a lot of fun facts, plus good general information about the presidents. He often tells me little facts he has learned about the Presidents. I would recommend this book

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