Editorial Content for A Kids' Guide to America's First Ladies

Award-winning author Kathleen Krull gives kids a peek into the varied lives of America's first ladies. She provides short biographical sketches of all the first ladies, starting with Martha Washington and ending with Melania Trump.

Most chapters include at least one insert about important historical women-related events, such as the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920 when Edith Wilson was First Lady.

"This would make a great book for use in the classroom...it also just makes for plain good reading for anyone who simply likes good stories."

There are also inserts about other important historical female figures and important events that took place while each First Lady was in the White House. For instance, Harriett Tubman published her book, UNCLE TOM'S CABIN in 1852 when Abigail Fillmore was First Lady, and Frances Perkins became the first female to serve as a member of a presidential candidate for FDR when Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady.

Nearly every chapter also includes some extra interesting tidbits and/or trivia about a First Lady. For instance, did you know that Jacqueline Kennedy was an accomplished equestrian, Louisa Adams played the harp and Betty Ford was both a dancer and a fashion model before she became First Lady?

I must say that I often find these types of books a bit dry and encyclopedic in nature. But, I am happy to report that such is not the case with this book. Its pages are filled with interesting stories and lively writing that make the oft-forgotten First Ladies memorable.

This would make a great book for use in the classroom when doing units on historical female figures in general, or concentrating on the First Ladies in particular. It also just makes for plain good reading for anyone who simply likes good stories.