Make your mark, Franklin Roosevelt!

St. George continues her spirited accounts of important influences in the lives of young presidents-to-be with this picture-book profile of a lad for whom the phrase born with a silver spoon in his mouth could not be more apt. The only child of doting parents, Franklin grows up in extreme luxury, but rather than turning into an idle country gentleman as his strong-minded mother wishes, he finds outlets for his energy--first in outdoor pursuits learned from his jolly father, and later, having absorbed a sense of social and civic responsibility from both a governess and the admired headmaster of his boarding school, by following his cousin Teddy into politics. Conveying Franklin's intense personality by portraying him throughout with wide open eyes and mouth, Spencer debuts with scenes of cleanly drawn figures reminiscent of David Small's, sporting slightly oversize heads and distinct facial features. Readers will come away with both a better sense of FDR's character and an appreciation for the experiences and encounters that shaped it. A source list and a note from the author are appended. --John Peters Copyright 2006 Booklist

Gr 2-5-Joining the author's You're on Your Way, Teddy Roosevelt (2004) and Take the Lead, George Washington (2005, both Philomel), this illustrated biography also explores the childhood life of a president, examining the influences that shaped Roosevelt's life with stories that will delight young readers. Born into a wealthy family, Franklin was doted on by his mother who called him "Baby," dressed him in dresses, and kept his long hair in curls. "But Franklin was definite about what he wanted-and by six he wanted the curls off. Off they came!" "He was never spanked. (Once, when he was naughty, his father said, `Franklin, consider yourself spanked')." When he was 14 and attending boarding school for the first time, he heard the strong message "go out and serve the world" from the Rector, Reverend Endicott Peabody. Later he met his fifth cousin, Theodore, whose energetic tales of public service influenced him greatly. Throughout, Spencer's spirited watercolor, gouache, and ink illustrations bring to life the culture and background of this American icon. This peek into history has great child appeal.-Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

This picture book biography focuses on FDR's boyhood. It describes how specific people and events in early life helped shape his presidency, particularly his commitment to social programs. Though the text's focus on Roosevelt's bourgeois hobbies (sailing, horseback riding) may alienate some readers, the story gives a human face to this historical figure. Lively caricatures don't go over the top. Bib. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

Young Franklin Roosevelt moves beyond his spoiled childhood to a more mature resolve to pursue a life of service and action, like his cousin Theodore in this, the third of the "Turning Point" biographies. The breezy text depicts a boy secure in the knowledge that he is the center of the universe, cosseted by his doting mother. Although raised as a gentleman never to sully himself with politics, young Franklin's contacts with President Grover Cleveland, his thrilling cousin and the public-minded headmaster of Groton School, which he entered at age 14, convince him that politics represent excitement, power and, most important, an opportunity to serve. Spencer's ink-and-watercolor illustrations borrow, appropriately enough, from the conventions of political cartooning, oversized heads and exaggerated perspectives adding humor and movement to the narrative. St. George sketches her character deftly, adding quotations from Roosevelt's own writings to allow the boy to speak for himself. An author's note fills in the 32nd president's career after high school, emphasizing his commitment to the betterment of all Americans. All in all, it's an engaging entry in a pleasingly child-friendly series. (author's note, bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 6-10) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.