US Presidents Fun Facts and Word Search
Neal Finkelstein, PhD
Copyright: © 2008
$13.95 Paperback
$6.25 E-Book
100 Pages
ISBN: 9781435710610
With tomorrow being Presidents Day and with a new leader in the White House this year, I felt the need to search Lulu for a good book devoted to our presidents, and I actually found several. However, Neal Finkelstein’s book held my attention the most. Despite the lackluster book cover which resembles a photo album or guest book for a baby shower, US Presidents Fun Facts proves you can’t judge a book by its cover.
Finkelstein himself gives a very unique reason for publishing a book about a historical subject that has already been covered quite thoroughly:
I believe there are three times in our lives that we search for the same knowledge (1) going through school, (2) trying to remember what we once knew (for example, to aid our children with their school homework) and (3) when we can help ourselves, family, or friends struggling after an accident or with a disease. For the latter, this book is an attempt to take their minds of their temporary struggle and to re-engage them during a temporarily difficult time.
I have to admit that I agree with him. While it’s probably not the first book I’d pick up if I was in a grieving situation, I would indeed enjoy it immensely if I was stuck in a hospital waiting room for a lengthy bit of time. As a child, a trip to the dentist meant getting my hands on a few copies of Highlights magazine while Sis went in first for her check-up. If I found this book there, I would have definitely picked it up too.
A picture of each president is accompanied by his birth date and place, his vice president’s name, his wife’s name, and his years spent in office. Next, four to five interesting (and sometimes odd) facts are given about the president. Then, there is a crossword search for each president utilizing a few key words to help you remember the facts that have been presented.
I think that adults would enjoy and benefit from the book just as much as children. I know I did. Parents could use the book as a teaching tool if you want your kid to learn the presidents in order, while also learning some facts about them yourself which you might not have already known. The crossword puzzle for each leader makes for a fun activity both of you can do together. And the book could even be used to impress a history teacher come essay time.
For someone like me who didn’t care much for American history back in the day, I found Finkelstein’s book to be just the right amount of historical facts mixed with rare oddities my teachers never taught me. US Presidents Fun Facts is a true treasure which can be enjoyed by the whole family – during good times or bad.
Happy Presidents Day!
