John F. Kennedy: The Making of a Leader (Time For Kids Biographies Series)

by Editors of TIME For Kids, Time for Kids Magazine, Ritu Upadhyay (With)

Overview

Young John F. Kennedywas a mischief maker, but he also had a serious side. He cared about people's problems and, with his words, could easily persuade others to go along with his ideas. As he grew up, Kennedy's family decided that he was meant for great things — the presidency of the United States.

TIME For Kids® Biographies help make a connection between the lives of past heroes and the events of today. Kennedy's desire to help Americans — and others around the world — is as important now as it was forty years ago.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780060576028
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	01/04/2005
Series:	Time For Kids Biographies Series
Edition description:	Ages 7-9
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.00(d)
Lexile:	830L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 10 Years

About the Author

The editors of TIME For Kids^® are committed to informing millions of kids about the world and their place in it. As part of a national news organization, they bring expert and age-appropriate reporting and photography from around the globe to books, classroom magazines, and a website.

The editors of TIME For Kids^® are frequent visitors to classrooms all over the country. And the TFK Kid Reporters have appeared on The Today Show, CBS Morning Show, CNN, and Fox News.

TFK editors also publish the TIME For Kids^® Science Scoops series, giving kids the inside scoop on the world’s most fascinating topics.

Read an Excerpt

Time For Kids: John F. Kennedy
The Making of a Leader

Chapter One

The Early Years

On a cold spring day in Brookline, Massachusetts, a baby was born in the big frame house at 83 Beals Street. It was just a little after 3 p.m. on May 29, 1917, when John Fitzgerald Kennedy came into the world. Jack, as his parents nicknamed him, was the second child of Joseph and Rose Kennedy. The baby was born into a rich and well-known family. His father was a successful businessman. His mother was the daughter of the mayor of Boston.

From the very beginning, little Jack was thin and sickly. When he was three, he almost died of an illness called scarlet fever. For a month his parents prayed by his bedside. He got better, but for the rest of his life he was always suffering from one sickness or another. His family used to tease him and say that if a mosquito were to bite Jack, the mosquito would die.

A Growing Family

Over the years, the Kennedy family grew to include nine children -- four boys and five girls. The brood moved to a house with twelve rooms. Rose had to be very strict with her children so things wouldn't get out of control. Meals were served only at set times. If any children arrived late, they would not be able to have the food that had already been served. Rose also wanted the children to look neat and clean. Young freckle-faced Jack didn't like this. His thick hair tumbled messily across his forehead. He hardly ever tucked in his shirt. His friend Lem Billings remembered that, as a kid, Jack was "usually tardy, forgetful, and often ... sloppy."

Since Jack had so many brothers and sisters, his childhood was full of fun and activity. The Kennedys spent their summers at a home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, a small town by the ocean. They learned to love the sea. Joseph wanted his children to do well at everything. "We want winners around here," he would say. That was a lesson the children would remember as they grew up.

There was a lot of friendly competition in the family. Jack used to get in many fistfights with Joe Jr., his older brother. Joe Jr. was bigger and stronger and could beat up Jack, who was small for his age. Outside the family, though, the Kennedy children were very loyal to one another. Joe Jr. became Jack's coach and protector.

Jack didn't like being bossed around all the time, but secretly he admired his big brother.

At dinner the family would talk about politics and current events. Joe Jr. took part in mealtime debates with their father. From an early age he stood out as the young star in the family. He even said that one day he would become President. Jack, on the other hand, would rather play tricks than talk politics.

Time For Kids: John F. Kennedy
The Making of a Leader. Copyright © by Gary Editors of TIME For Kids. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.

Editorial Reviews

This title in the "TIME for Kids Biography" series uses frequent photographs of the Kennedy family, and newspapers from John F. Kennedy's time in the White House to show young readers his legacy. The era of Civil Rights is dealt with, Jacqueline Kennedy's support of the arts, her personal style, and the substantial renovation of the White House are also included. The essential facts and influences of JFK on American history are covered in interesting prose accessible to the average reader. The lively text is echoed in the inviting format: well-captioned pictures, occasional sidebars, and an interview with Hugh Sidey which gives the reader one person's recollections and opinions as to Kennedy's legacy. A short timeline is included. 2005, HarperCollins, Ages 7 to 11.
—Susan Hepler, Ph.D.

Children's Literature

Gr 3-5-These beginning biographies have simple texts set upon beautifully arranged spreads with crisp full-color and black-and-white photographs. The first book introduces Kennedy's family and childhood, health problems, education, military service, literary pursuits, political campaigns, marriage, and fatherhood. The Bay of Pigs invasion, Cuban Missile Crisis, Cold War, civil rights movement, and his assassination are all discussed. Sidebars highlight the youngest presidents, Jackie's White House tours, Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation (a bit of a stretch), Rosa Parks (a "mystery person" inclusion), and "John, Jackie, & Caroline after the White House." The second book describes Roosevelt's childhood; health problems; and love for animals, nature, and learning. The untimely deaths of both his mother and first wife are described as is his subsequent marriage to Edith and their family. Roosevelt's efforts to reform local, state, and national politics are noted as is his military service with the Rough Riders, success in building the Panama Canal, and establishment of 230 million acres of national park land. Sidebars focus on Roosevelt's home museum, Mount Rushmore, his "Big Stick" policy, and the story of the Teddy bear. While the coverage is somewhat superficial, the eye-popping layout of these titles makes them serviceable additions for most collections.-Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MI Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal