Kirkus Reviews

A striking cover close-up of Kennedy (with the title information on the back of the jacket, a la the author's Martin's Big Words , illustrated by Bryan Collier, 2001) introduces the reader to this biography of the 35th president of the United States. It follows his trajectory from childhood, when he struggled to compete with his brother Joe, to his adult life as a writer, war hero, senator and, finally, president. Quotes (primarily from Kennedy's speeches and writings) are interwoven with the text and appear on each double-page spread. These are printed in an enlarged display type and in some instances they dominate the illustrations, but in other spreads the handsome and vivid illustrations pop. This brief but inspiring portrait includes the establishment of the Peace Corps and the Cuban Missile Crisis as well as his physical ailments and his sense of humor. The concluding page credits Kennedy for the sweeping laws and programs that his successor Johnson carried out. Acknowledgement is made that the quotes have been shortened and punctuation has been simplified, and their sources are included. (author's and illustrator's notes, timeline, bibliography, further reading) (Picture book/biography. 7-10)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

As with these collaborators' Lady Liberty, the striking cover of this picture-book biography features a closeup portrait of the subject, all the more compelling in this instance with the omission of any type. In her signature succinct style, Rappaport fuses facts about Kennedy's personal and public lives with quotations from his writings and speeches. The author credits the 35th president for such achievements as establishing the Peace Corps and negotiating the first major weapons test-ban treaty with the Soviet Union, yet asserts, ""not all of Kennedy's decisions were wise."" She calls the U.S.'s 1961 invasion of Cuba ""a disaster"" and notes that, while violence erupted in the South as blacks protested for equal rights, Kennedy worried that he would alienate white Southern lawmakers. ""For two years he hesitated,"" before ""he took a firm stand and called for new laws protecting black Americans."" Tavares's light- and shadow-infused paintings balance lifelike portrayals of Kennedy with renderings of dramatic events, notably a Japanese destroyer ramming Kennedy's PT boat during WWII and the planting of the American flag on the moon. An evenhanded, graphically stirring biography. Ages 5%E2%80%938. (Oct.)

Horn Book

A smiling Jack Kennedy greets readers on the jacket of Rappaport's latest picture-book biography. Following a familiar pattern, she intersperses quotes from her subject with basic biographical information, here stressing Kennedy's bravery and devotion to duty. In Tavares's varied watercolor and pencil illustrations, a soft palette depicts idyllic settings while more dramatic incidents are shown in bright, bold colors. Reading list, timeline. Bib.

ALA Booklist

Rappaport, whose credits include Abe's Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln (2008) and Eleanor, Quiet No More (2009), now offers a picture-book biography of John F. Kennedy. Moving quickly through his youth and education, the book tells of his heroism during WWII and the family pressure he felt to succeed in politics, both factors in his becoming president. Besides detailing several challenges of his presidency, the clearly written text offers a sense of his personality and charisma as well. An author's note, an illustrator's note, a chronology, a selected source bibliography, and a recommended-reading list are appended. Though the figures of people sometimes look static, the well-composed, large-scale illustrations are often stately and, at their best, capture some essential quality of the people portrayed. The simple endpapers carry two inspirational quotes from Kennedy, giving him the first and last words in this handsome volume.

School Library Journal

Gr 2-5 This biographical sketch thoughtfully and respectfully highlights Kennedy's life from his young adulthood through his presidency. He is first seen as a teenager reading at his family's oceanfront home in Hyannis Port, MA. While his father encouraged competition among his children, young JFK couldn't help but feel he was constantly in the shadow of his older brother, Joe. But when Joe tragically died in a plane explosion, pressure was put on Jack to follow in his shoes. Through lyrical prose, Rappaport has created a moving portrait of a beloved political figure in the same vein as Eleanor, Quiet No More (2009) and Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (2001, both Hyperion). Her descriptive narration is spiced with memorable quotations and Tavares's larger-than-life illustrations. The realistic paintings portray the different periods in JFK's life with depth and detail, capturing his emotions, courage, and sovereignty while remaining true to this unique time in history. The book concludes with author and illustrator notes. This beautifully illustrated and gracefully told story serves as a superior introduction to our 35th president. Janet Weber, Tigard Public Library, OR