ShareThisHere's a look at some new children's books focused on Abraham Lincoln:
--- Much like Curious George, Lincoln's two young sons, Willie and Tad, loved to make mischief. And, like Curious George, their pranks usually had happy endings, thanks to their father's indulgent attitude. In "Mr. Lincoln's Boys" (Viking, $16.99), author Staton Rabin tells stories of how Tad and Willie turned the White House into their personal playground, bringing pleasure to their war-weary father but irritating his staff. Among other stories, Rabin details how Tad and Willie won a presidential pardon for their doll Jack. The high spirits of these two troublemakers are perfectly captured in the illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline. (Ages 5-8).
-- Following the model of their award-winning picture book biography of Martin Luther King ("Martin's Big Words), author Doreen Rappaport and artist Kadir Nelson team up again to tell Lincoln's story in "Abe's Honest Words," (Hyperion, $16.99). Rappaport's clear, compelling text smoothly integrates Lincoln's own words, which are highlighted in a different font and color. As usual, Nelson's artwork is magnificent as he emphasizes Lincoln's humanity as well as his status as an American icon. The book concludes with a timeline, bibliography, list of research sources and the text of the Gettysburg Address. There's one blemish in this otherwise excellent biography: there are no specific source notes for the quotations, an all-too-common problem in children's non-fiction. (Ages 7-10).
-- It's an idea sure to attract young readers' attention: tell the story of Lincoln's life through an oversized set of bound "newspaper" pages. That's just what author Barry Denenberg and illustrator Christopher Bing do in "Lincoln Shot" (Feiwel and Friends, $24.95). Denenberg's text is fast-paced and engaging, while Bing's illustrations highlight the drama of Lincoln's life. Readers will find themselves captivated by both the substance and the packaging of this unique Lincoln biography. (Ages 10 up).
-- It reads like a thriller, but "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" (Scholastic, $16.99), is non-fiction. Piecing together letters, trial transcripts, newspapers and other sources, author James Swanson tells a riveting tale of intrigue tinged with death. Adapted from Swanson's adult book, "Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase For Lincoln's Killer," this version for young readers will have them racing through its pages to see how the law catches up with Lincoln's assassin and his accomplices. Sepia-toned illustrations and photographs add to the period flavor. (One flaw: unlike the adult version, this book lacks information on the author's sources. Kids won't care, but this kind of information should be required in children's books, just as in adult books.) (Ages 10 up).
-- Author Jim Aylesworth gives young readers a rollicking portrait of Lincoln in "Our Abe Lincoln" (Scholastic, $16.99). Aylesworth took a song popular in Lincoln's time called "Our Abe Lincoln" (sung to the tune of "The Old Gray Mare") and revamped it to create this highly entertaining and accessible biography. Barbara McClintock's cheerful watercolor and ink illustrations add another layer of interest to the book, showing elementary school children acting out the song in a school pageant. If you're looking for a simple introduction to Lincoln, this is a great place to start. (Ages 4-8).
-- Father-son author team Thomas Allen and Roger MacBride Allen offer readers a novel take on Lincoln in "Mr. Lincoln's High-Tech War" (National Geographic, $18.95). Young readers will be fascinated by this well-written and carefully researched book, which, as the subtitle indicates, explores "How the North Used the Telegraph, Railroads, Surveillance Balloons, Ironclads, High-Powered Weapons and More to Win the Civil War." In particular, the authors highlight how Lincoln understood the importance of technology in modern warfare. Copious line drawings and photographs offer even more information. The book concludes with a stellar section of research sources, including a very useful index. (Ages 10 up -- even adults will enjoy reading this book).
-- In "Lincoln Through the Lens" (Walker, $19.99), author Martin Sandler shows how Lincoln embraced photography as a way to win elections and further his goals for the nation. Sandler takes readers through Lincoln's life, illustrating his text with numerous period photographs of Lincoln, his family and his contemporaries. Sandler writes about Lincoln's decision to grow his now-iconic beard as well as how noted photographer Mathew Brady helped craft an image of Lincoln that boosted his chances of winning the presidency. Sandler's book concludes with extensive sources and an index. (Ages 10 up).
-- Three other Lincoln books to look for: "My Brother Abe" (Simon & Schuster, $15.99), a fictionalized biography of Sally Lincoln by Harry Mazer (Ages 8-12); "Abe's Fish: A Boyhood Tale of Abraham Lincoln" (Sterling, $15.95), written by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Amy June Bates (ages 4-8); and "Gettysburg: The Graphic Novel" (Collins, $16.99) by C.M. Butzer (Ages 10-14).
(Karen MacPherson, the children's/teen librarian at the Takoma Park, Md., Library, can be reached at Kam.Macpherson(at)gmail.com. For more stories visit scrippsnews.com)
CHILDREN'S CORNER
