You've probably seen it. That caricature of a man with a massive, bobblehead-style cranium and a winning smile staring out from a bookshelf. It's the Who Was JFK book, part of the ubiquitous "Who Was?" series that has basically taken over every elementary school library in America. But here's the thing. Most people dismiss these as "just for kids." Honestly, that's a mistake. While the prose is simple, the way it distills the chaotic, Camelot-era mythology of John F. Kennedy into a digestible narrative is actually kind of brilliant. It’s a cultural touchstone that shapes how the next generation perceives one of the most complicated figures in American history.
The book, officially titled Who Was John F. Kennedy? and written by Yona Zeldis McDonough, has to do a lot of heavy lifting. It’s not just a biography. It’s a gatekeeper. It introduces children to the concepts of the Cold War, civil rights, and—perhaps most difficult—the idea of a national tragedy. Writing for kids is hard. Writing about a man whose life was defined by high-stakes nuclear standoffs and an assassination that changed the world is even harder.
Why the Who Was JFK Book Hits Differently Than Other Biographies
Most JFK biographies are doorstoppers. They are 800-page behemoths filled with footnotes about backroom political deals in West Virginia or deep dives into the Mafia. This isn't that. The Who Was JFK book focuses on the "why." Why did he care about the space race? Why was his family so competitive?
The book leans heavily into the Kennedy family dynamic. It paints a picture of "Joe Sr." as a demanding patriarch. You see Jack—as he was known—struggling with constant illnesses. It’s a humanizing look. He wasn't always the bronze statue we see today. He was a skinny kid with a bad back who loved to read. That resonates with kids. It makes the presidency feel like something achievable by a person, not just a character in a history book.
It also handles the darker stuff with a surprising amount of grace. It doesn't ignore the fact that JFK lived through World War II. It details the PT-109 incident where his boat was rammed by a Japanese destroyer. He saved his crew. He swam for miles with a life jacket strap between his teeth. This is the stuff of adventure novels, but it’s real. The book uses these moments to build the framework of his character before he ever stepped foot in the Oval Office.
The Camelot Image vs. Reality
We talk about Camelot a lot. It’s that polished, shimmering version of the Kennedy White House. The Who Was JFK book maintains some of that magic because, frankly, that’s what the "Who Was?" brand does. It focuses on the inspiration. However, it doesn't totally shy away from the tensions of the 1960s. It introduces the Civil Rights Movement and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
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It’s interesting to see how the author explains the threat of nuclear war to an eight-year-old. It’s simplified, sure. But it captures the tension. The "thirteen days" of the missile crisis are presented as a test of nerves. It’s a primer on leadership. If you’re a parent or a teacher, you’ve likely realized that this book is often the first time a child learns what a "Communist" is or why the Berlin Wall existed. That's a lot of power for a paperback that costs less than a latte.
What Most People Miss in the Narrative
People think these books are just lists of dates. They aren't. They are character studies. One thing the Who Was JFK book does well is highlighting Kennedy’s wit. He was funny. He was charming. He understood the power of television. The book touches on the 1960 debate against Richard Nixon. This is a crucial moment in history—the moment politics became a visual medium.
Jack looked cool. Nixon looked sweaty.
The book explains this in a way that makes sense to a generation raised on YouTube and TikTok. It shows that how you say something is often just as important as what you’re saying. It’s a lesson in media literacy hidden inside a history lesson.
Dealing with the Assassination
This is the part everyone asks about. How does a children's book handle November 22, 1963? Honestly, it’s handled with a lot of dignity. It doesn't get into the conspiracy theories. You won't find mentions of the "grassy knoll" or the CIA or Lee Harvey Oswald's various connections. Instead, it focuses on the grief.
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It describes the funeral. It mentions little John-John saluting the casket. That image is burned into the American psyche, and the book ensures it stays there for the next generation. It frames the end of his life not as a mystery to be solved, but as a loss to be felt. It’s about the "what if." What if he had lived? What would have happened with Vietnam? The book leaves those questions hanging in the air, which is exactly where they should be for a young reader starting to think critically about the world.
The Evolution of the "Who Was?" Style
If you look at the Who Was JFK book alongside newer entries in the series, you can see how the formula has been perfected. The illustrations by Jerry Hoare are iconic at this point. They have that "big head" style that makes the figures look approachable. They aren't intimidating. They look like characters you’d want to hang out with.
The maps and sidebars are the real MVPs here. They provide context without cluttering the main story. You get a little box explaining the Peace Corps. You get a map of the world during the Cold War. These are the tools that help a kid actually understand the "who" in the title. Without the context, JFK is just a guy in a suit. With the context, he’s a pivotal figure in a global struggle for the future of humanity.
Critiques and Limitations
No book is perfect. Some historians might argue that the Who Was JFK book is too soft on his record. It doesn't go deep into the Bay of Pigs failure. It doesn't talk about his personal flaws or the complexities of his private life. But you have to remember the audience. This is an entry point. It’s the "Level 1" of historical understanding.
You can't explain the nuances of 1960s geopolitical maneuvering to someone who hasn't mastered long division yet. The goal is to spark an interest. If a kid reads this and then wants to watch a documentary or read a more advanced book in middle school, the book has done its job. It’s a bridge.
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How to Use This Book for Learning
If you’re a parent or educator, don't just hand the book over and walk away. Use it as a springboard. The Who Was JFK book is perfect for starting conversations about:
- Public Service: JFK’s famous "Ask not what your country can do for you" quote is a great way to talk about volunteering and community.
- Space Exploration: Use the chapters on the Moon shot to talk about NASA and the future of Mars missions.
- Resilience: Talk about his physical struggles and how he didn't let them stop him from pursuing his goals.
It’s also fun to compare the book to other figures in the series. Read the Who Was? book about MLK Jr. alongside the JFK one. It gives a much fuller picture of the 1960s. You start to see how these lives intersected. You see the friction and the progress. It turns history from a series of isolated events into a giant, messy, beautiful web.
The Who Was JFK book isn't just a biography. It’s a piece of pedagogical engineering. It takes a massive, complicated life and shrinks it down so a child can hold it in their hands. It makes history feel alive. It makes it feel human. And in an age of digital distractions, there’s something really special about a kid getting lost in the story of a man who dreamed of the stars and changed the world from a desk in Washington D.C.
Next Steps for Deepening Your Knowledge
To get the most out of the Who Was JFK book, pair the reading with a virtual tour of the JFK Presidential Library and Museum website. They have incredible digital exhibits that show the actual artifacts mentioned in the book, like the coconut shell he used to scrawl a distress message during the war. Seeing the real object makes the "Who Was?" narrative jump off the page and into reality. Additionally, consider watching the original footage of his inaugural address together; hearing the cadence of his voice provides a layer of personality that even the best children's book can't fully capture. This turns a simple reading session into a multi-sensory history lesson that sticks.