The American Presidents 1945–2010

Gr 3–8—The final segment in this four-part series on the American presidents begins with "The Presidency and the Economy" and is followed by overviews of what life was like in both the post-World War II recovery period (Harry Truman through Lyndon Johnson) and the dawn of the 21st century (Richard Nixon through Barack Obama). Presidential segments feature video clips, animated graphics, and commentary from political experts like Sam Donaldson, Wesley Clark, Mary Frances Berry, and many others. These short biographies include defining characteristics of each president as well as their challenges and accomplishments, which are summarized at the end of each segment. Major issues like civil rights, the environment, and terrorism are addressed in successive presidencies as are conflicts in Korea, Viet Nam, and the Middle East. Balanced presentations assess each president, noting how similar problems were addressed by previous administrations. By bringing the presidents and their times to life, students will certainly appreciate the enormity of the job with its impact both on our country and the world. This visually compelling, insightful, and information-rich presentation is highly recommended for elementary collections.—Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN