A Boy Named FDR: How Franklin D. Roosevelt Grew Up to Change America

Krull, Kathleen

ISBN 10: 0375957162 ISBN 13: 9780375957161

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2010

Synopsis

Franklin D. Roosevelt was born into one of the wealthiest families in America, yet this ultimate rich kid grew up to do more for ordinary Americans than any other president. This appealing picture book biography shows how, from childhood on, FDR  was compassionate, cheerful, determined, and enormously likable. Though he had private tutors as a young boy and later attended an elite boys' school, he played pranks and had down-to-earth fun just like any boy today. 

Kathleen Krull's animated picture book biography focuses on FDR's childhood years through his entry as a young man into politics and his battle with polio. A summary of his achievements as president and a chronology of his life are included. The well-researched text and the evocative illustrations by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher provide an inspiring introduction to one of our greatest presidents.

About this title

About the Author

Kathleen Krull’s many award-winning books of nonfiction include two others that focus on the childhood influences of great men: The Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up to Become Dr. Seuss and The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth.

Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher, a husband-and-wife team, are the illustrators of The Boy on Fairfield Street by Kathleen Krull, My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss, and New York’s Bravest by Mary Pope Osborne, as well as many other picture books of note.

From School Library Journal

Gr 3-5-This handsome picture-book biography explains how a pampered, privileged child grew up to be our 32nd president, serving longer than any other president in U.S. history. Krull tells readers, "He had long blond curls and wore dresses with fancy lace collars till he was almost six." His parents indulged his every wish and were quick to forgive any mischief, yet instilled a social conscience in their golden boy from an early age, urging him to "Help the helpless!" After a sheltered childhood of homeschooling, Franklin left for boarding school at age 14. Despite his parents' plans for him to be a gentleman like his father, he was inspired to enter the world of politics by the headmaster at Groton; his cousin Teddy; and his future wife, Eleanor. Stricken with polio at 39, Franklin struggled to regain his strength, reentering the political arena three years later. An epilogue explains the stock market crash, Great Depression, New Deal, fireside chats, and World War II. Filled with anecdotes and quotes, the text is concise and engaging, working well as a read-aloud or for independent reading. The rich, impressionistic oil and ink illustrations capture the spirit of the man and his time. Less wordy and more attractive than Judith St. George and Britt Spencer's Make Your Mark, Franklin Roosevelt (Philomel. 2007), this offering also covers more of the subject's life. Famous quotations are appended.-Barbara Auerbach, PS 217, Brooklyn, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0375957162
• ISBN 13: 9780375957161
• Binding: Library Binding
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 48
• Illustrator: Johnson Steve, Fancher Lou