Author: Russell Freedman
Title: Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery Publisher: Clarion Books, 1993.

Grade Level: 3-5

Summary: A biography of the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Strengths: This book is full of important biographical information about Eleanor Roosevelt. It includes information about her childhood, relationship with Franklin Roosevelt and her own public career as First Lady. Another strength is certainly the photos included. Some have coined this book a photobiography, which is certainly true considering the entire section of the book dedicated to photographs. The organization of the book into chapters also makes it easier for students to find the information they need or are interested in. I think this would be a great resource for research.

Concerns: My only concern is with the length of the book and chapters. I think some students might find this book overwhelming since the majority of the book is text and Frredman has opted to place most of the pictures towards the end of the book in a “photo album.” To ameliorate this concern for students, teachers may want to mark certain areas to help students focus and prevent them from feeling overwhelmed.

Classroom Use: This book would be ideal for students who are interested in learning about Eleanor Roosevelt or who are conducting a project on her. Another extension project may be a study of the First Ladies and their role in the White House. Supplemental resources such as the Smithsonian’s exhibit on the First Ladies may be of interest, especially for a field trip.

(image from Amazon.com)