Kennedy Through the Lens: How Photography and Television Revealed and Shaped an Extraordinary Leader by Martin W. Sandler Ages 11+ 96 pages Walker Books January 2011 Hardcover     Essentially a photo-biography of John F. Kennedy, Kennedy Through the Lens approaches the life of this young president through the perspective of how photography and television shaped his life, popularity and leadership. Each two-page spread stands alone with text opposite a photograph. Not only does Sandler focus on visual media; he also incorporates numerous quotations highlighting Kennedy’s talent for rhetoric as an equally critical element to his success. The book begins with Kennedy’s inaugural address highlighting his dreams for America. A brilliant statesman, Kennedy embraced the media and used it to his advantage. As he allowed photographers and television interviews into his private life, photography contributed to his popularity and effectiveness in gaining the support of the American people. Each section focuses on one key element of Kennedy’s life: his family background, election, focus on service, World War II heroism, the space program, Bay of Pigs, the Cuban Missile Crisis, his physical ailments, and finally his assassination. There is a two-fold brilliance to Sandler’s book – vivid, high quality photographs together with a succinct narrative focused on the subject at hand. Organized so as to not only center on the aspect of photography and television, the book also provides a comprehensive overview of the important events that shaped Kennedy’s life and the impact he made on America. By and large a positive portrayal JFK’s life, Sandler just briefly touches on his marital infidelity and other failures. For children of today, John F. Kennedy is a man to be admired for his intelligence, popularity and courage to overcome overwhelming physical pain and strive to achieve the very best for himself, his family and his country. The book concludes with places to visit, books for further reading, websites, sources, quotation sources and an index. Highly recommended for all school and public libraries.     web reviews   Kristine Wildner/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)