The US Congress for Kids: Over 200 Years of Lawmaking, Deal-Breaking, and Compromising

Gr 5–8—In exploring more than two centuries of American legislation, Reis provides an array of intriguing, challenging, and controversial episodes, but an unwieldy structure and unappealing DIY activities limit the value of this muddled introduction to the U.S. Congress. Writing with brief assists from Representatives Henry A. Waxman and Kristi Noem, Reis fails to settle on a fluent organizing principle to present the intricate, evolving history of the House and Senate. Frequent interruptions to discuss uninviting crafts, online search activities, and short bios further complicate the readability. The vastness of this subject also prevents the author from offering sufficient context for some individual stories, particularly with regard to government treatment of minority populations, resulting in some problematic passages. Coupled with the author's tendency to editorialize on potentially contentious topics, these worrisome exclusions and narrative stumbles overpower the virtue of a dedicated look at Congress past and present.—Robbin E. Friedman, Chappaqua Library, NY