Change Has Come: An Artist Celebrates Our American Spirit
by Kadir Nelson
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, January 2009
Ages 9-12
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review
Kadir Nelson’s amazing artistic talent is the perfect backdrop to President Obama’s words. The drawing in this book are so simple—black ink on white paper—yet they dance off the page, capture the moment and bring tears to the eye. I wasn’t familiar with Kadir before I read this book but he managed to imprint his stunning, powerful images in my mind and in my heart.

Publisher’s Description
The black and white images throughout are personal reflections, uniquely felt and rendered by award winning artist Kadir Nelson. They are accompanied by the uplifting words of Barack Obama and commemorate the movement and the moment that have changed our history. It’s a celebration of the power of inspiration. It’s a celebration of how far we have come and how determined we are to look ahead. It’s a celebration of pride, hope and joy personally felt and publically shared.

Most of all it’s a celebration of the 44th president - a new president and a new chapter in the American story.

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Chasing Lincoln’s Killer - (Audio CD) by James L. Swanson
Reading level: Ages 9-18
Scholastic Audio Books - February 2009
Cautions: Murder

Kiwi Magazine Review:
History need not be boring or rely on rote memorization. If all history lessons read like exciting novels full of intrigue, espionage and human vulnerabilities, kids would devour it. Thank you, James Swanson, for creating Chasing Lincoln’s Killer as the exciting event that it was. Not a series of dates and names, but real action and real people. Reluctant and avid readers will love this audio book format.

Product Description
Based on rare archival material, obscure trial manuscripts, and interviews with relatives of the conspirators and the manhunters, CHASING LINCOLN’S KILLER is a fast-paced thriller about the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth: a wild twelve-day chase through the streets of Washington, D.C., across the swamps of Maryland, and into the forests of Virginia.
EXCLUSIVE BONUS MATERIAL: Features fascinating facts from this time in history!

“This story is true. All the characters are real and were alive during the great manhunt of April 1865. Their words are authentic and come from original sources: letters, manuscripts, trial transcripts, newspapers, government reports, pamphlets, books and other documents. What happened in Washington, D.C., that spring, and in the swamps and rivers, forests and fields of Maryland and Virginia during the next twelve days, is far too incredible to have been made up.”

So begins this fast-paced thriller that tells the story of the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth and gives a day-by-day account of the wild chase to find this killer and his accomplices. Based on James Swanson’s bestselling adult book MANHUNT: THE 12-DAY CHASE FOR LINCOLN’S KILLER, this young people’s version is an accessible look at the assassination of a president, and shows readers Abraham Lincoln the man, the father, the husband, the friend, and how his death impacted those closest to him.

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The Look It up Book of Presidents Written by Wyatt Blassingame
andom House 2008
Readers: Ages 10-13
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:

This book gives a glimpse into each president’s life, beliefs, policies and presidential performance. It is up to date, with information about President Barack Obama’s biography with photos through election night 2008. Although the publisher lists this book for kids 10-13, it is written to be more inclusive (I would go as young as 6 and as old as 17).

Publisher Description
The Look-It-Up Book of Presidents features a short, lively biography of every President from George Washington through the winner of the 2008 presidential election, plus a chapter on Election 2000-the “year of the chad.” It includes concise descriptions of the major events, issues, and achievements of each administration, and its eye-catching two-color interior is fully illustrated with engravings, cartoons, and photographs.

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Yes, We Can! A Salute To Children From President Obama’s Victory Speech (Paperback) by Barack Obama
Orchard Books (January 1, 2009)
Ages 4-8
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Description:
This picture book is a simple and colorful way to introduce children to President Barack Obama. The book illustrates the President’s words with photographs of him interacting with children.

Product Description
Beautiful photographs of children throughout the country accompany pictures of President Obama’s monumental campaign and acceptance speech.
Yes, We Can!
A Salute to Children from President Obama’s Victory Speech
Change has come to America.
The road ahead will be long.
Our climb will be steep.
We as a people will get there.
I will be honest with you.
I will listen to you.
I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation.
Block by block, brick by brick.
We are not enemies, but friends.
I need your help.
It cannot happen without you.
Yes, we can.
Yes, we can.
Yes, we can.
This is our moment. This is our time….
(Please note: “We are not enemies, but friends.” is a quote from President Lincoln and will be cited.)

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Madame President by Lane Smith
Hyperion 2008
Readers: Ages 4-8
Cautions: All clear

Kiwi Magazine Review:
What would it be like if a girl held the highest office in the U.S.? Baby kissing, photo ops and many responsibilities. And, the President must lead by example by cleaning her room, but she also has the power of veto for atrocities like tuna casserole. As Madame President races through all of her duties, she finally has to call it quits and let the vice president handle a visitor, finally giving her time to go off to sleep with her dolls and kitty cat. It’s a very sweet story with charming illustrations.

Publisher Description
A little girl imagines what her day would be like if she were Madam President. There would be executive orders to give, babies to kiss, tuna casseroles to veto (or VETO!)…and so much more! Not to mention that recess would definitely require more security. 

With deadpan wit and hilarious illustrations, best-selling picture book creator Lane Smith introduces readers to an unforgettable new character.

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Gettysburg: The Graphic Novel by C. M. Butzer

HarperCollins 2008

Readers: Ages 9-14

Cautions: None

 Kiwi Magazine Review:

I never enjoyed studying history unless the information was presented in an interesting or humanized way.  Graphic novels are the new format for presenting history and this format really speaks to tweens and teens because they can better visualize the events as they happen.  Whether you have a reluctant reader or an avid history buff, graphic novels add a dimension to history which is often absent in school text books.

 Publisher Description

 Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address is familiar to all Americans. But never has his most famous speech—his 271 indelible words—been presented in such a visual and accessible format.

Graphic artist and Civil War aficionado C. M. Butzer deftly uses a detailed, comic-book style to depict the Battle of Gettysburg; the national movement to create a memorial there; and the quiet day in 1863 when Lincoln delivered his galvanizing speech. Butzer uses only primary sources for the text, drawing from first-person letters and diaries, speeches, and Lincoln’s own writing to unpack this series of historical events. The address itself is played out over eighteen pages, with every phrase given a visual interpretation that will resonate with young readers.

Kiwi Magazine Review:

Well, we were reluctant that this book and, indeed, the whole series couldn’t possibly live up to all of the hype but we were un-dead wrong. This book was impossible to put down and we walked around like zombies as we stayed up all night in a marathon reading session of all four books. We’re adding a longer review of all four books shortly and then, and only then, will we go see the movie!

Buy this book on Amazon.com

Buy this book on Amazon.com