Gr 1-3-The brief biography of President Bush covers the basics adequately for report writers. The format is inviting, and includes many clear, color and black-and-white photographs and charts. Election 2000 is more problematic. Divided into two sections, it first describes the election and the legal wrangling that followed. Care was taken to maintain an objective tone in describing all of the various lawsuits. Part II, "A Lesson in Civics," explains many terms children will have heard in election coverage. It offers a simple description of the electoral college; the role of primaries and caucuses; and how a bill becomes a law, highlighting the role of the president. Admittedly, the whole process involving various state and federal courts is complicated, but the narrative is just too cumbersome for the intended audience. Throughout the text, words in red refer readers to Part II; words in blue are defined in a glossary in the back. Primary-grade students are unlikely to have the sophistication to do all of the flipping back and forth to grasp the concepts. Diagrams, charts, and full-color photos appear on almost every page. Many libraries will own World Book Encyclopedia's special Election 2000 volume, which is geared to an older audience. With adult help, it's more than enough. Children will be able to read Italia's title on their own, but will still need adult assistance to understand much of the information presented.
Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA
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