Books in Close-ups series

Two-term president. Nobel Peace Prize winner. Commander of the Rough Riders. Avid conservationist. Adventurer. All of these and more, Theodore Roosevelt lived his long life to the fullest and left a legacy still remembered more than ninety years after his death. He started his long, successful political career at just twenty-three in New York State, and continued working in the public arena until well after his second term as president. Up Close biographer Michael C. Cooper takes readers beyond T.R.'s bold-faced achievements and explores the driving forces behind one of this country's greatest leaders.

Ronald Reagan was a Hollywood actor turned Republican politician known for his sunny optimism and gifted salesmanship. He entered the White House in 1981, a time when many Americans were wondering if their country's best days were behind them. But things had changed by the time he left office--the economy was thriving and the Cold War was coming to a close.The child of an alcoholic, he was an intensely private man, yet he was so charming that he routinely befriended even his enemies. Reagan was both a complex man and political figure, and his legacy strongly influences politics today.

Johnny Cash is a legend, known for his edgy, no-frills style, and is the only person ever to be inducted into three halls of fame (Country Music, Rock and Roll, and Songwriters). His unique voice and his rebel spirit have influenced numerous musicians, from Bob Dylan to Nine Inch Nails. Anee E. Neimark's richly detailed biography traces his life from his boyhood in Arkansas to his addiction to drugs as an adult and finally to redeption and success as one of the most legendary musicians of our time. This is one of the titles in Up Close, a riveting, all-access biography series that celebrates the leaders, artists, and legends of twentieth-century America—and the impact they had on the world. * "Will foster readers' appreciation of the singer-songwriter's fierce individualism and his outlaw spirit." —Booklist, starred review "This biography reads like an adventure story, and the action moves swiftly and captures readers' interest. . . What the author eloquently conveys, though, is her subject's ability to remain true to his faith and spirit and to harness his pain into songwriting and music." —School Library Journal

Elvis Presley made a sound so different it ushered in a new kind of music: rock and roll. He was able to combine gospel, honky-tonk, country and rhythm and blues to create a unique sound that crossed racial and cultural divides. Though he was incredibly popular, at heart, Elvis was a shy and polite man, and the demands of fame began to take a toll. While his dependence on prescription drugs cut short his life, Elvis’s influence on music and popular culture endures to this day.

Masterpieces Up Close will send readers on a journey through the world's most famous paintings from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century. They will see some familiar faces, like Leonardo's Mona Lisa and Warhol's Marilyn, and meet some that may be new to them, like the princess in Vel zquez's Las Meninas and the mysterious little girl in Rembrandt's Night Watch. Full-color reproductions of over 20 paintings provide the perfect hunting ground for over a hundred details. Lift-the-flap keys at the end of the book provide the answers. Informative text helps children learn why these paintings have intrigued us for centuries and discover just what makes each work a masterpiece.