One of my favorite questions to ask school librarians is, “What book do you wish you had for your library?” Surprisingly often the answer is, “More books about US presidents.” Hard Work But It’s Worth It: The Life of Jimmy Carter by Bethany Hegedus answers that need.
Carrying through the theme of Carter’s belief in hard work, we see him as a child working on the farm, as an adult working in politics, and as an ex-president, working toward “waging peace, fighting disease, building hope.”
The book doesn’t shy away from the difficulty of telling the story of the roots a president from Georgia had in the Jim Crow South. We see how Carter’s family wasn’t typical of their neighbors but the book acknowledges the privilege that came to Carter because of his whiteness.
The back matter has an extensive timeline as well as an author’s note that concludes, “Jimmy Carter is a hero of mine. I hope he is now one of yours.”
The digital illustrations by Kyung Eun Han use a muted, soft palette. She ably manages to capture the likeness of Carter from childhood right through old age.
This book is a great addition to any library’s US Presidents collection. My copy is going straight to my brother who, like Hegedus, is a big fan of Jimmy Carter.
