Wonder Teller
Cover of Franklin D. Roosevelt: Helping in Hard Times
BiographyPicture bookLevel 5Ages 6–8

Franklin D. Roosevelt: Helping in Hard Times

English · 25 pages · 1,633 words · 13 min read

An illustrated biography for ages 6–8: Franklin D. Roosevelt, living with polio, steadies the banks, creates paid public jobs and Social Security, and leads during World War II through aid to Britain, the Four Freedoms speech, and planning for the United Nations. The book also shows the workers Social Security first left out, Black workers’ push for fair defense jobs, and the order he signed that imprisoned Japanese American families.

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Written by
Wonder Teller
Illustrated by
Wonder Teller illustration studio

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The opening of Franklin D. Roosevelt: Helping in Hard Times, free to read.

  1. Illustration from page 2 of Franklin D. Roosevelt: Helping in Hard Times

    In 1933, people hurried to banks to take out their savings. Many feared the banks might run out of money. Some banks had already closed. Franklin D. Roosevelt was about to become president. What would he do?

  2. Illustration from page 3 of Franklin D. Roosevelt: Helping in Hard Times

    Soon after taking office, Franklin made a hard first move. He temporarily closed the nation's banks so inspectors could check which ones could reopen safely. Franklin spoke by radio and explained why the check was needed. When banks that passed the checks reopened, many people brought money back instead of taking it out.

  3. Illustration from page 4 of Franklin D. Roosevelt: Helping in Hard Times

    Years before that bank decision, Franklin grew up in a wealthy family in New York. Workers cared for the family’s large home and farm. Tutors taught him at home, and he collected stamps from many places. His childhood gave him comforts many other children did not have. He would later lead a country where many people had none of these comforts.

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