Speaking of America

July 1, 2024
From George Washington to Joe Biden, Cohen unpacks a pithy quote from each U.S. president in succession. Some of the author's choices resound down the years--"We hold these truths to be self-evident..." "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself"--and most still carry some relevance even when they focus on issues more of the day than of all time. Some, such as Andrew Jackson's crowing over the "happy consummation" of the Indian Removal Act and Donald Trump's "Make America great again," are enduringly wince-worthy, and in his accompanying commentary for each selection, Cohen tersely but clearly explains why. Other selections point to historical achievements or failures that the author likewise analyzes with a reasonably even hand. His broader, context-setting notes for each entry are less well considered, though; despite them all being titled "The World in [date]," most focus on events in the United States. Some of Shih's digitally rendered images are somewhat off the mark, such as a misleading picture of breaking chains representing the ineffectual Millard Fillmore's anti-slavery views. Still, if the woodenly posed figures in her group scenes aren't individualized, they are generally racially diverse. Overall, Cohen's chosen quotes offer useful perspectives on the tumultuous history of the United States. A perceptive, if occasionally parochial, overview. (speechwriting tips, timeline, speeches the presidents never gave) (Informational picture book. 9-12)

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July 1, 2024
Grades 3-7 Cohen's inviting and informative book of short quotes, excerpted from longer speeches from all 46 U.S. presidents, showcases the power words have to shape and reflect history. Examples of selected quotes include Franklin D. Roosevelt's "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself" from his First Inaugural Address, Abraham Lincoln's first line of The Gettysburg Address, and James Madison's "If men were angels, no government would be necessary" from the Federalist Papers. Each president's quote also includes background on what was happening in the U.S. and/or world at the time the quote was spoken, what the quote means, its intended audience, and why these particular words were chosen. Some of the most interesting information in the "Did You Know?" sidebars concerns less well-known presidents. Three speeches that presidents were prepared to give, but didn't, are also included. Shih's appealing color illustrations support these carefully chosen quotes and the thoughtful explanations on their impact and why they still matter. Useful for debating and speech writing, thanks to the included writing tips.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 6, 2024

Gr 4-8-This book offers a unique and fresh perspective on presidential biographies. Cohen goes beyond simple facts to explore the presidents' words, the context in which they lived, and their impact on the world. The author achieves this by describing a quote that the president was famous for, what the president meant by the quote, the consequences of the words, and an interesting fact about each president. For example, the author uses John Quincy Adams's quote, "Am I gagged or am I not?" to explain his anger regarding a law passed specifically for him that forbade him from speaking out about the immorality of slavery. The quote captures the country's mood in 1886, when the debate over slavery began to capture the new country's discourse. Concise, informative, and exciting passages are consistent and easy to follow and capture the dueling thoughts of the time, the mood of the people who lived then, and the impact the president's words and actions had on them. Diversity in ethnicity and gender is reflected in colorful illustrations accompanying each page, helping to bring the story of each president alive. VERDICT Great and engaging nonfiction.-Margaret Auguste

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