Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Our Country's Presidents: A Complete Encyclopedia of the U.S. Presidency (January 2017 Edition, National Geographic) by Ann Bausum


ISBN: 9781426326851
Hardcover 
My thoughts: This is an amazing book! Designed to present each of the 43 individuals who have been elected to serve as America's President, it far surpasses a book of mini-biographies of people. It is a compilation of factual information relating to the Office of President of the United States of America, how the Presidency came to be, how the Electoral College works, voting rights, etc. 

Sequenced chronologically, the reader can follow through how the country developed under the leadership of each of these Presidents. From our Country's inception and formative leadership, through years of discovery and expansion and on into the atomic age, America has grown guided by our governing principals and leaders who strove for America's best

The January 2017 edition of Our Country's Presidents: A Complete Encyclopedia of the U.S. Presidency was designed for the inclusion of the most recently elected President, Donald Trump, and released just days prior to his inauguration.

Packed with lots of pictures that aid in understanding and focus on the points being addressed on each page, the book is a storehouse of information that children and adults alike will pour over for many hours returning to the book time and time again. Designed for ages 10 and up, I can actually see it being used also with younger children as one explains to them the election process and the inauguration of a new president.

What an educational treasure this book is with it's short biographies of each President and other facts relative to the presidency. I highly recommend this for every school and public library, home libraries, and homeschool libraries.

 About the book: National Geographic presents the 43 individuals who have led the U.S., plus America's newest commander-in-chief, in this up-to-date, authoritative, and lavishly illustrated family, school, and library reference. It features comprehensive profiles of the 43 former presidents along with timelines and descriptions of crucial events during their terms. Information about the 2016 president-elect is also included. 

Thematic spreads cover a variety of topics from the history of voting rights to writing a presidential letter. Full-page portraits, famous quotes, and fascinating facts help kids get to know each leader. This new volume is a fascinating read and excellent reference for students and kids of all ages.
(image from AnnBausum.com)
Nearly two-dozen thematic spreads introduce concepts related to elections,
the presidency, and the First Family. (image & caption from AnnBausum.com)
GIVEAWAY
A Copy to 1 of Chat With Vera's Readers
Begins January 17
ENDS February 8 @ 12:01 a.m. EST
Open to USA Addresses Only
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate this review from Media Masters Publicity on behalf of National Geographic and the author. Opinions are my own and are freely given. I was not compensated.

17 comments:

  1. 1. The office of the American president: it is interesting that its powers have increased under all of the presidents for at least the last 50 years or so.

    2. National Geographic Kids website: (i) It is interesting that they are debating whether pufferfish or porcupines look "friendlier." (Porcupines, obviously.), and (ii) They have a section on space with an illustration of a cool orange planet.

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  2. I like that they have great information on each set of animals. And second that you have very specific information on each species.

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  3. I am just amazed at how smart they all are. There is so you have to know and understand about the whole world. It is a good thing they have assistants.

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  4. I also love the Hello World Memory Game, and 5 reasons brain is mind blowing. They are so interesting :)
    Thank You for the chance!

    Fiona N

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  5. I'd love to win this for my grandson. We are considering a trip to DC for his birthday!

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  6. Two things I thought were interesting were the U.S. States page and the National Parks page.

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  7. I loved learning about the Presidency as a kid and I love teaching my own kids about it. I've always been especially fascinated by the peaceful change of power. NatGeo's kids website is so great. They have so many resources! Thanks so much for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com this week. I'm always so encouraged by what you share!
    Tina

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  8. I find it fascinating that our founders had the foresight not to put too much power in the president's branch of government, the executive, and instead created three co-equal branches. The genius behind this system of checks and balances is to keep a president from grabbing power that is not his --- at the expense of the people, who, after all, are who the government serves

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  9. what I find facinating is that obama is a cousin to Bush...and that all presidents are related..except trump.

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  10. what I find facinating is that obama is a cousin to Bush...and that all presidents are related..except trump.

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  11. Two things they found really interesting: the dinosaur page (they're still so interested in dinosaurs!) and the Hawaiian National Park volcano page.

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  12. I am from GA and I found these two things interesting:

    Cherokee Indians grew peaches in Georgia in the mid-1700s, and today the state produces about 2.6 million bushels a year, making it the third biggest producer of peaches in the United States, behind California and South Carolina.
    And Lookout Mountain is 2,393-foot-tall. I have lived near and visited it all my life and didn't know that!

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  13. I find executive orders, and how they've expanded the power of the presidency gradually over the years, interesting.

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  14. I find it fascinating that each President has a choice in decorating the Oval Office with items that the previous Presidents used - curtains, rug, desk, etc.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  15. People often think that executive orders are a new thing, but they're not. George Washington signed them too. FDR issued 3522 executive orders.

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