Broad overviews of each president’s early life, aspirations, political challenges, and triumphs are packed into these brief, easy-to-read texts augmented with sidebars, illustrations, and photographs. Highlights of each administration are placed within the context of American and world history. Each volume concludes with the same general information about the presidency, branches of government, and the electoral college.

Showing our nation’s leaders as people and not just iconic historical figures, this series brings authenticity to the individual featured in each volume. Although certainly not the only presidential biography series students will find, those writing reports or who are interested in national leaders will learn valuable information here.

The profusion of color and black-and-white pictures will give students a leg up on the old “dress up as a president and give a short report” assignment, and the brief declarative sentences keep the books within the reach of most first chapter-book readers. . . .The strong layout keeps each title interesting. That’s saying something, especially when it comes to those hard-to-remember 19th-century presidents like Tyler, Taylor, Polk, and Pierce. . .

A. . .simple, approachable entry in the United States Presidents series. Wheeler gives an overall glimpse of Obama’s life from childhood to the presidency, beginning with a brief introduction, a time line of major events, and a quick “Did You Know?” page. Following are two-page chapters with photographs that guide the reader through Obama’s life. The end piece of the book gives information about the three branches of the U.S. Government, the office of the president, the line of succession to the presidency, and benefits to holding the office. Included is a list of all the U.S. presidents, their political affiliations, dates of their service, and the names of the vice-presidents who served with each.