The Brothers Kennedy: John, Robert, Edward

The creators of Hillary Rodham Clinton: Dreams Taking Flight celebrate the lives of these political icons, spotlighting their personal and professional interactions and underscoring their mutual affection. Short chapters describe the brothers (including oldest sibling Joe) as children and young men: bookworm and aspiring leader John; serious, compassionate Robert; and loyal Edward, who, as the youngest, felt the weight of his brothers' expectations as a child: "With each brother putting pressure on the next, Edward got the most." Krull offers streamlined accounts of the trio's careers and, somewhat prosaically, emphasizes the importance to each of "hope, compassion, and loyalty." Rendered in watercolor, gouache, and pencil, Bates's art features lifelike depictions of the siblings and convincingly captures the emotion and drama inherent in their stories. In perhaps the most poignant picture, Robert and Edward embrace on a seaside dune after John's assassination ("And then there were two brothers"). Supplementary notes, more accessible to those on the older edge of the targeted age range, round out this admiring portrait. Ages 4-8. (Jan.)