First Kids: The True Stories of All the Presidents' Children

by Noah McCullough

Paperback, 2008

Status

Check shelf

Call number

J 973.099 McC

Publication

Scholastic Reference (2008), Paperback, 192 pages

Description

Presents biographical information and trivia about the children of U.S. presidents, from John and Martha Parke Custis, George Washington's stepchildren, to George W. Bush's daughters, Barbara and Jenna.

Local notes

1012-63

User reviews

LibraryThing member kaulsu
Interesting compilation of presidential offspring factoids. Though the author was 13-14 years-old when he wrote this book, I was torn by the quantity of research put into the book and the immaturity of the writing. Often it seemed to me that he was dumbing down his writing to make it appear it was
Show More
being written by a 4th grader. And just as often, I would forget he was anything except a writer of interesting presidential trivia.

I thought this would be a fun book to put in my guest room book case. I hope some great-nieces and great-nephews will enjoy it some on some future visit.

Complete through the Obama administration.
Show Less
LibraryThing member shelf-employed
First Kids' cover is a real eye-catcher with a glossy, bright cover with full-color photos of young JFK, Jr., the Bush twins, and the White House. The interior, however, is a different story. First Kids has the potential to be a real kid-pleaser, but its black-and-white color scheme (even the
Show More
recent photos) and voluminous, small text make it a rather plodding look at the lives of the presidents' children. The Fast Facts pages with their interesting presidential tidbits, along with photos, would probably have been sufficient. The lengthy entries on each presidential child (including those who died in infancy and those who became "first kids" as adults) can be boring at times. Additionally, while it's certainly commendable that a 13-year-old would author a book, the writing style is definitely that of a 13-year-old,

"Franklin Robert Pierce came along on August 27, 1839. He was a happy boy but contracted typhus along with his younger brother and died at age four on November 14, 1843. Benjamin "Bennie" Pierce was born on April 13, 1841. As a two-year-old, he caught typhus but lived."

Still, young readers should be able to find something entertaining in this inside look at the lives of the presidents' children; and the mere fact that the book was authored by a teenager may add a dash of interest and inspiration to other teens.
Show Less

Language

Physical description

192 p.; 8.46 inches

ISBN

0545033691 / 9780545033695
Page: 0.152 seconds