What Does the President Look Like? by Jane Hampton Cook, illustrated by Adam Ziskie Ages 5+ 22 pages Kane/Miller February 2011 Hardcover     This book is not about what our presidents looked like physically as much as it is about how people have been able to look at the president. What Does the President Look Like? gives children facts about some American presidents as well as the developments of technological advances in media. Each double-page spread introduces a US president and describes how the people would have seen the president – on a painted portrait, a stereograph or a photograph, or perhaps black-and-white television. Each section also includes a list of surprising facts about the president featured as well as trivia about other presidents. In the back of the book, you will find a beautifully illustrated chart of all the American presidents plus resource materials and a list of presidential libraries and museums. Adam Ziskie’s double-page illustrations are equally informative, showing the dress and environment of the time period for each of the presidents featured. For example, in the illustration for James Polk, there is a horse and buggy in the background of a scene; in the section for President Obama, the people are looking at a computer. The muted colors of the illustrations add a sepia-tone effect that enhances the nostalgic atmosphere of the illustrations. Though the book is somewhat slim, Author Jane Hampton Cook fills it with trivia, vital statistics and more about some of our American presidents and history that will appeal to children ages 6 years and up. An enticing read that will have you learning something new each time you open the book.     web reviews   Maya Fleischmann/2011 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)