Cannarella, Deborah. Harry S. Truman. Minneapolis, MN.: Compass Point Books, 2003.
ISBN: 0-7565-0278-0. $18.95.
Deborah Cannarella discusses the aspects of Harry S. Truman’s life and accomplishments
in Profiles of the Presidents: Harry S. Truman. Chapters include a brief introduction of
Truman’s childhood and formative years leading up to his eventual leadership roles, his
adult life, his jobs, and his administration. The events are incorporated into a historical
perspective. Canneralla includes a wonderfully illustrated timeline depicting Truman’s
life and world events. The texts are enhanced with photographs of Truman’s life and
times.
The photographs add a great deal to the book by taking the reader back into a time filled
with historical events. Students will appreciate the large number of photographs and
informative captions. The timeline provided adds punch to the biography by including
the historical events occurring during Harry S. Truman’s life. The book offers several
enhancing elements: a well-written glossary, a “life at a glance” and “life and times
section, a listing of all the presidents, and a inclusive index add to the quality of the book.
Moreover in the well-designed “Understanding Harry S. Truman and His Presidency”
chapter, students are given other book titles, websites, and Truman Landmarks to lead
them to other research. The Profiles of the Presidents set published by Compass Point
Books has 42 titles.
I recommend Harry S. Truman for an elementary (K-5) school. The pages are appealing,
and the text is informational and vibrant. The “Understanding Harry S. Truman and His
Presidency” chapter will provide older students a pathway for further research.
Recommended
Possible Standards of Learning Uses:
K.8
The student will demonstrate comprehension of fiction and nonfiction.
*Identify the topics of nonfiction selections
1.9
The student will read and demonstrate comprehension of a variety of fiction and
nonfiction.
2.8
The student will read and demonstrate comprehension of fiction and nonfiction.
*Ask and answer questions about what is read.
*Locate information to answer questions.
2.9
The student will demonstrate comprehension of information in reference materials.
*Use a table of contents.
*Use pictures and charts.
*Use dictionaries and indices.
3.6
The student will continue to read and demonstrate comprehension of nonfiction.
*Ask and answer questions about what is read.
*Draw conclusions.
*Organize information and events logically.
*Summarize major points found in nonfiction materials.
*Identify the characteristics of biographies and autobiographies.
* Compare and contrast the lives of two persons as described in biographies
and/or autobiographies.
3.7
The student will demonstrate comprehension of information from a variety of print
resources.
*Use dictionary, glossary, thesaurus, encyclopedia, and other reference books,
including online reference materials.
4.5
The student will read and demonstrate comprehension of nonfiction.
*Use text organizers, such as type, headings, and graphics, to predict and
categorize information.
*Formulate questions that might be answered in the selection.
*Explain the author’s purpose.
*Make simple inferences, using information from texts.
*Draw conclusions, using information from texts.
*Summarize content of selection, identifying important ideas and providing
details for each important idea.
*Describe relationship between content and previously learned concepts or skills.
*Distinguish between cause and effect and between fact and opinion.
*Identify new information gained from reading.
4.6
The student will demonstrate comprehension of information resources to research a topic.
*Construct questions about a topic.
*Collect information, using the resources of the media center, including online,
print, and media resources.
* Evaluate and synthesize information.
5.6
The student will read and demonstrate comprehension of nonfiction.
*Use text organizers, such as type, headings, and graphics, to predict and
categorize information.
*Locate information to support opinions, predictions, and conclusions.
*Identify cause-and-effect relationships.
*Skim materials to develop a general overview of content and to locate specific
information.
* Identify new information gained from reading.
Reviewed by Martha Scott Ross, October 2007