When eight-year-old Franklin Roosevelt came back to his home at Hyde Park after a trip to Washington, he felt very grown-up. Hadn't he visited the White House and talked to the President of the United States, Mr. Cleveland? It was most disappointing now when Tom, the caretaker, treated Franklin like a baby and wouldn't believe that he could groom Joujou, the new little colt, just as well as any stableman.

Franklin wanted to show that he was old and responsible, because his father had promised to give him a pony when he proved himself. Suddenly his chance came. Tom got sick, and Joujou wouldn't allow any of the men to enter his stall. Franklin was the only one who could curry Joujou, exercise him, and keep his stall clean. For three weeks Franklin looked after the colt, and Joujou was the best-cared-for horse in the whole stable. When Tom was well again, Franklin could hardly wait to show him. They went down to the stable together—but Joujou wasn't in his stall. Instead, there stood the most beautiful pony in the world! Her name was Debby, and she was a reward for Franklin's faithful work.

Franklin's mother and father had enough money to buy their only son anything he needed, but they believed he should learn to work for the things he really wanted. They were careful not to spoil him. They encouraged him to learn about nature, history and geography, and to start interesting collections. They guided him in getting along with people, in developing a broad human sympathy.

Franklin Roosevelt might be thought the luckiest boy in the United States. He had almost everything a boy could wish for. But the things he enjoyed most, that he remembered best when he grew up, and that he tried to give other people everywhere else in the world, were four freedoms Hyde Park had given him as a boy: freedom from want, freedom from fear, freedom to worship as he pleased, freedom to say the things he thought were right.

He became, of course, one of the most famous Americans of our history, the man who served his country in many political positions and in two world wars. He was President of the United States longer than any other man. He was a hero to hundreds of little children who suffered from infantile paralyses, as he did when he was a man. He was a hero the whole world over for his valiant effort to bring peace and freedom. The happy, carefree childhood he had enjoyed made him want other people to be happy wherever they lived.

Franklin Roosevelt's public career is familiar to all Americans. This book is true to the known facts of his boyhood. A few incidents and characters have been added which, while improvised, in themselves are true to the time, the scene and the essential spirit of his youth. Franklin Roosevelt: Boy of the Four Freedoms is a historical story.

From the dust jacket