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Lincoln: A Newbery Award Winner
1988 Newbery Medal Winner
Abraham Lincoln stood out in a crowd as much for his wit and rollicking humor as for his height. This Newbery Medal-winning biography of our Civil War president is warm, appealing, and illustrated with dozens of carefully chosen photographs and prints.
Russell Freedman begins with a lively account of Abraham Lincoln's boyhood, his career as a country lawyer, and his courtship and marriage to Mary Todd. Then the author focuses on the presidential years (1861 to 1865), skillfullly explaining the many complex issues Lincoln grappled with as he led a deeply divided nation through the Civil War. The book's final chapter is a moving account of that tragic evening in Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865. Concludes with a sampling of Lincoln writings and a detailed list of Lincoln historical sites.
This title has been selected as a Common Core Text Exemplar (Grades 2-3, Read Aloud Informational Text).
Abraham Lincoln stood out in a crowd as much for his wit and rollicking humor as for his height. This Newbery Medal-winning biography of our Civil War president is warm, appealing, and illustrated with dozens of carefully chosen photographs and prints.
Russell Freedman begins with a lively account of Abraham Lincoln's boyhood, his career as a country lawyer, and his courtship and marriage to Mary Todd. Then the author focuses on the presidential years (1861 to 1865), skillfullly explaining the many complex issues Lincoln grappled with as he led a deeply divided nation through the Civil War. The book's final chapter is a moving account of that tragic evening in Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865. Concludes with a sampling of Lincoln writings and a detailed list of Lincoln historical sites.
This title has been selected as a Common Core Text Exemplar (Grades 2-3, Read Aloud Informational Text).
150 pages, Hardcover
First published November 16, 1987
About the author
Russell Freedman
103 books124 followersRussell A. Freedman was an American biographer and the author of nearly 50 books for young people. He may be known best for winning the 1988 Newbery Medal with his work Lincoln: A Photobiography.
He grew up in San Francisco and attended the University of California, Berkeley, and then worked as a reporter and editor for the Associated Press and as a publicity writer. His nonfiction books ranged in subject from the lives and behaviors of animals to people in history. Freeedman's work has earned him several awards, including a Newbery Honor each for Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery in 1994 and The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane in 1992, and a Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal.
Freedman traveled extensively throughout the world to gather information and inspiration for his books. His book, Confucius: The Golden Rule was inspired by his extensive travels through Mainland China, where he visited Confucius' hometown in modern day QuFu, in the Shantung Province.
He grew up in San Francisco and attended the University of California, Berkeley, and then worked as a reporter and editor for the Associated Press and as a publicity writer. His nonfiction books ranged in subject from the lives and behaviors of animals to people in history. Freeedman's work has earned him several awards, including a Newbery Honor each for Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery in 1994 and The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane in 1992, and a Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal.
Freedman traveled extensively throughout the world to gather information and inspiration for his books. His book, Confucius: The Golden Rule was inspired by his extensive travels through Mainland China, where he visited Confucius' hometown in modern day QuFu, in the Shantung Province.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 904 reviews
April 18, 2017
If you ask an American if they have a favorite U.S. President and they answer "Abraham Lincoln," then you have probably learned two quick things about that person: they hold social justice as a higher ideal above all others, and they believe that THEY love President Lincoln more than anyone else has before them.
Lovers of Abraham Lincoln are possessive and defiant. They KNOW that their relationship with him is deeper, stronger and more intimate than yours. The day he died, he became our communal property; he has, ever since, belonged to all of us who love him.
The writer of this Newberry-winning biography, Russell Freedman, is no exception, and neither am I.
Mr. Freedman reminds us that Lincoln was a man of humble beginnings; he knew poverty through most of his early life. But he also lets his readers know many other tidbits that they may or may not have known.
Some examples:
Did you know that Lincoln had buried his mother by the age of 9 and his only sibling by the age of 18?
Did you know that he was crazy in love with his wife?
Did you know that he had a vibrant energy about him, a combination of a warm, playful sense of humor and a deep, intense ability to empathize with human suffering?
Did you know he was famous for his story-telling and a friend observed that "He relied on his yarns to whistle down sadness?"
Did you know that he buried 2 out of 4 of his sons?
Did you know that, when he was assassinated, he was wearing "a pair of gold-rimmed eyeglasses he had mended with a string?"
I swore I wasn't going to cry again at the end of another book about Lincoln, so instead I spread it out by crying in jags throughout the book.
I cried at the image of Lincoln, sitting alone before a debate with the great orator, Stephen Douglas. Stephen Douglas, who seemed the natural and predetermined winner of the upcoming competition. Douglas had his success, his entourage, his brandy and cigars, and "Lincoln, tall and gangly, seemed plain in his rumpled suit, carrying his notes and speeches in an old carpetbag, sitting on the platform with his bony knees jutting into the air."
I cried that Frederick Douglass, the most influential black leader at the time, who originally criticized Lincoln for not doing enough, ultimately changed his mind and said of him, "He was the first great man that I talked with in the United States freely, who in no single instance reminded me of the difference between himself and myself, of the difference of color."
Lincoln wasn't just the Great Emancipator, he was a man who was tasked with a nightmare: to break apart a nation to make it whole again.
And here we are again. . . in a position of breaking bad. It was lovely to be reminded that great people, great leaders have walked all over this earth, at different times.
Turns out, you can later identify them by their early deaths. The old bastards live forever.
Lovers of Abraham Lincoln are possessive and defiant. They KNOW that their relationship with him is deeper, stronger and more intimate than yours. The day he died, he became our communal property; he has, ever since, belonged to all of us who love him.
The writer of this Newberry-winning biography, Russell Freedman, is no exception, and neither am I.
Mr. Freedman reminds us that Lincoln was a man of humble beginnings; he knew poverty through most of his early life. But he also lets his readers know many other tidbits that they may or may not have known.
Some examples:
Did you know that Lincoln had buried his mother by the age of 9 and his only sibling by the age of 18?
Did you know that he was crazy in love with his wife?
Did you know that he had a vibrant energy about him, a combination of a warm, playful sense of humor and a deep, intense ability to empathize with human suffering?
Did you know he was famous for his story-telling and a friend observed that "He relied on his yarns to whistle down sadness?"
Did you know that he buried 2 out of 4 of his sons?
Did you know that, when he was assassinated, he was wearing "a pair of gold-rimmed eyeglasses he had mended with a string?"
I swore I wasn't going to cry again at the end of another book about Lincoln, so instead I spread it out by crying in jags throughout the book.
I cried at the image of Lincoln, sitting alone before a debate with the great orator, Stephen Douglas. Stephen Douglas, who seemed the natural and predetermined winner of the upcoming competition. Douglas had his success, his entourage, his brandy and cigars, and "Lincoln, tall and gangly, seemed plain in his rumpled suit, carrying his notes and speeches in an old carpetbag, sitting on the platform with his bony knees jutting into the air."
I cried that Frederick Douglass, the most influential black leader at the time, who originally criticized Lincoln for not doing enough, ultimately changed his mind and said of him, "He was the first great man that I talked with in the United States freely, who in no single instance reminded me of the difference between himself and myself, of the difference of color."
Lincoln wasn't just the Great Emancipator, he was a man who was tasked with a nightmare: to break apart a nation to make it whole again.
And here we are again. . . in a position of breaking bad. It was lovely to be reminded that great people, great leaders have walked all over this earth, at different times.
Turns out, you can later identify them by their early deaths. The old bastards live forever.
July 14, 2021
Great book for all but especially, middle school aged.
It has lots of pictures and is well researched and referenced.
Good book overall. I recommend
It has lots of pictures and is well researched and referenced.
Good book overall. I recommend
September 22, 2018
This book helped me so much with my course on the Civil War. This book made everything so clear and it was so easy to read. Before I was confused on what the Civil War was actually over. But this book has it explained so clearly that I know precisely what to write about in my assignment due in a few weeks.
Besides from the Civil War, I got to know a great deal more than I did before about Lincoln. The way the author wrote about him made me really appreciate and care for Lincoln a lot more than I did (and I'm British) and I felt heartbroken when , but now I want to know what happened to his wife after that because that would have been traumatising.
This is a great photobiography, really recommend it for people learning about the Civil War.
Besides from the Civil War, I got to know a great deal more than I did before about Lincoln. The way the author wrote about him made me really appreciate and care for Lincoln a lot more than I did (and I'm British) and I felt heartbroken when , but now I want to know what happened to his wife after that because that would have been traumatising.
This is a great photobiography, really recommend it for people learning about the Civil War.
November 2, 2010
This book was absolutely fantastic. It's for middle grade readers and the tone and vocabulary is perfect - it's not dumbed down but kids still get it. As an adult I was fascinated. I loved getting such a conscise summary of his life but I felt like I know him so much more. So many personal comments and stories were interwoven among his public accomplishments and outings. What a true American hero. It did start tugging at my heartstrings to read about the Civil War and see the effects it had on him as this book had 5 portraits taken within the first 6 months of the war -- the man aged two decades! There were funny parts and I was so sad when his two little boys died. Even worse was his assassination - I cried! And I'm not a crier! Now I really have to make a DC trip even more than I wanted to before!
I would recommend this book for everyone!
p.s. Just bought this off of Amazon Marketplace for $4 (freeship). This is one I'm glad to own!
I would recommend this book for everyone!
p.s. Just bought this off of Amazon Marketplace for $4 (freeship). This is one I'm glad to own!
July 14, 2021
Well done photobiography; it won the 1988 Newbery. Before Smartboards, LCD projectors, etc; I enjoyed sharing the photos in this one with elementary students. No matter the age, they could appreciate the photos.
October 22, 2018
I've always want to read Abraham Lincoln biography and at last, I did it! Before this, all I know that he was one of the U.S president and that's it. As I grew older, I get to know that he was the one that abolished slavery, saw a movie about his assassination (the Spielberg's) and watched one documentary a few years back.
This book tells the story about Lincoln from the day he was born to the day he died. I'd want to say that it deserved the Newbery award that it got as this is very accessible to children since the writing is very simple and it does not goes into detail about the assassination (and all the other adult stuff). Plus, the author also provided a list of books for further reading about Abraham Lincoln and I'm sure do want to read more!
December 30, 2021
Excellent choice, Newberry! I know this book was meant for kids, but I enjoyed it very much and learned a lot.
June 29, 2015
Is there anything better than a children's book that doesn't dumb down for children? This is such a book. Although relatively simple in its writing style, it left nothing of importance out in terms of "oh, a child couldn't possibly understand!"
As an adult who studied history as any other student throughout school, I never really paid attention to Lincoln in any way other than knowing that he is on the penny and the five dollar bill and abolished slavery. Freedman's account opened up whole new worlds of understanding that brilliantly blazed the simple but amazing life of a man who loved books and what they taught him and vowed to do good in the world until he couldn't anymore.
This was a wonderful blend of history and storytelling that cleverly unveiled a human being and the fear and pain and struggle that he must have encountered that failed to be recorded in any history book I have read. I can't WAIT to share this with my kids for their upcoming history week in summer school ( http://www.bluegrassprincesses.com/le...)
More than that, I felt the underlying message that if a simple farm boy who was born into poverty in a crude backwoods could go on to influence the world, why not anyone else?
As an adult who studied history as any other student throughout school, I never really paid attention to Lincoln in any way other than knowing that he is on the penny and the five dollar bill and abolished slavery. Freedman's account opened up whole new worlds of understanding that brilliantly blazed the simple but amazing life of a man who loved books and what they taught him and vowed to do good in the world until he couldn't anymore.
This was a wonderful blend of history and storytelling that cleverly unveiled a human being and the fear and pain and struggle that he must have encountered that failed to be recorded in any history book I have read. I can't WAIT to share this with my kids for their upcoming history week in summer school ( http://www.bluegrassprincesses.com/le...)
More than that, I felt the underlying message that if a simple farm boy who was born into poverty in a crude backwoods could go on to influence the world, why not anyone else?
July 22, 2016
Now this is what I think of what I think "good biography". Unlike Daniel Boone (the dreadfully racist and worshipful 1940 Newbery Medal winner), Freedman treats Lincoln as a real person and a true hero. He writes very well for his intended young audience, although all ages will learn a thing or two about Lincoln (did you know he hated to be called Abe?) and be fascinated by this completely different view of him. The huge collection of pictures promote wider appeal and enhance the experience greatly. They range from newspaper articles, black and white photos, illustrations, and several others. I love the "Lincoln Sampler" in the end, which features a collection of both well and lesser known quotes. An extremely recommended biography, and one of solid deservedness for the Newbery, even though it may be nonfiction.
February 5, 2020
rating: 4.5
The words flow smoothly making this easy to read, and the many images (illustrations and documents as well as photographs), anchor the descriptions. Freedman did an admirable job of distilling the Civil War down to a couple of chapters. Older readers will appreciate historical names (of politicians and Generals), while younger readers will probably skim right over them.
The liberal use of relevant quotes adds to the reading experience. For example, on the loss of his race for Senate in 1858, Lincoln is quoted as having said:
I feel like the boy who stumped his toe, I'm too big to cry and too badly hurt to laugh.
The words flow smoothly making this easy to read, and the many images (illustrations and documents as well as photographs), anchor the descriptions. Freedman did an admirable job of distilling the Civil War down to a couple of chapters. Older readers will appreciate historical names (of politicians and Generals), while younger readers will probably skim right over them.
The liberal use of relevant quotes adds to the reading experience. For example, on the loss of his race for Senate in 1858, Lincoln is quoted as having said:
I feel like the boy who stumped his toe, I'm too big to cry and too badly hurt to laugh.
December 15, 2021
I am giving this 4.5, but I think it would be closer to 4 than to 5 stars.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I think it did a great job of combining the character of Lincoln with the history, times, and politics that were surrounding him during this time. I think this would be better for upper middle grade. It was a little more in-depth than I think many younger kids could fully grasp. The photographs told a story in and of themselves, and it really brought to fullness just how the Civil War affected us.
I also appreciate that the book didn't glorify Lincoln, but just presented his strengths and weaknesses. So many books go one way or the other and I think this one balanced it very well.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I think it did a great job of combining the character of Lincoln with the history, times, and politics that were surrounding him during this time. I think this would be better for upper middle grade. It was a little more in-depth than I think many younger kids could fully grasp. The photographs told a story in and of themselves, and it really brought to fullness just how the Civil War affected us.
I also appreciate that the book didn't glorify Lincoln, but just presented his strengths and weaknesses. So many books go one way or the other and I think this one balanced it very well.
January 21, 2023
A Newbery book, worthy. I've read several other children's books about Lincoln but I learned a lot more from this one. Do note that there are photos of carnage. Not a book for the youngest children.
July 5, 2020
Abraham Lincoln is a fascinating man and this book told his life story with text and pictures. I enjoyed learning more about him and finished the book still believing him to be a man of integrity and wisdom. I was fortunate enough to visit Ford Theater in Washington DC, where he was shot, a few years ago. I thouroughly enjoyed the museum in the basement about his life, his presidency and his assassination. It was at this museum that I had the epiphany that the more you learn the more you realize how little you know. I continue to read and travel to try to learn but my thirst for knowledge will never be satiated. That said, it is a satisfying feeling to continue to learn.
I liked these quotes by Abraham Lincoln, found at the end of the book:
"Writing, the art of communicating thoughts to the mind through the eye, is the great invention of the world. . . enabling us to converse with the dead, the absent, and the unborn, at all distances of time and space."
"Common-looking people are the best in the world; that is the reason the Lord made so many of them."
2020 Popsugar challenge #24 A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader
I liked these quotes by Abraham Lincoln, found at the end of the book:
"Writing, the art of communicating thoughts to the mind through the eye, is the great invention of the world. . . enabling us to converse with the dead, the absent, and the unborn, at all distances of time and space."
"Common-looking people are the best in the world; that is the reason the Lord made so many of them."
2020 Popsugar challenge #24 A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader
May 23, 2017
I have definitely learn a whole bunch of facts about Abraham Lincoln that totally blew my mind. For example, did you know that his sister died when he was just eighteen years old. You know how devastating that could have been for Abraham but somehow that tall man stuck with it and stayed stong.
At the point of me reading this photo biography, I had been learning about the Civil War and Abe Lincoln's presidency which was one of the reasons I picked this book up; to learn more about the character I had previously been learning about.
This book secured a lot of the facts that I had misconceived about, while learning about Abraham Lincoln. His life is just truly extraordinary and you will be amazed too if you read this mindbogglingly book. It is shocking to read about the life of a human that was born in the 19th century not just Abraham. There life is so much more different then we may have comprehended.
Well, I hope that you enjoy this book as much as I did and that you will read it too.
At the point of me reading this photo biography, I had been learning about the Civil War and Abe Lincoln's presidency which was one of the reasons I picked this book up; to learn more about the character I had previously been learning about.
This book secured a lot of the facts that I had misconceived about, while learning about Abraham Lincoln. His life is just truly extraordinary and you will be amazed too if you read this mindbogglingly book. It is shocking to read about the life of a human that was born in the 19th century not just Abraham. There life is so much more different then we may have comprehended.
Well, I hope that you enjoy this book as much as I did and that you will read it too.
January 15, 2021
I really enjoyed this book, it’s packed with details about Lincoln’s life in a very readable way. I admire Lincoln even more after reading it. The pictures are fascinating and heartbreaking.
A couple of my favorite quotes,
“Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.”
“Common-looking people are the best in the world, that is the reason the Lord makes so many of them.” 😃
A couple of my favorite quotes,
“Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.”
“Common-looking people are the best in the world, that is the reason the Lord makes so many of them.” 😃
February 18, 2009
Well-written, informative, and fascinating. I loved seeing pictures of Lincoln's life. It gave me a whole new perspective on Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. This book won the Newbery Award so I know it was written for teens, but I thoroughly enjoyed it as an adult who is not a big history buff. I can handle 130 pages riddled with photographs. This is my kind of history.
August 8, 2018
Really great, wonderful photographs I hadn't seen before. I've read books about this period of history, but, always with so much detail that I found it all pretty muddled by the time I got through. This is written for children, so it sticks to the big stuff.
I had never realized that the Emancipation Proclamation would have allowed any states that rejoined the union to keep their slaves. I think a lot of people think that this was when all the slaves were freed, when, really it just freed the slaves of the states who had left the union. It even only did that if they refused to come back. The 13th amendment was what really ended slavery.
I keep hearing people say that the civil war wasn't about slavery when the entire reason for the war was that the north was trying to prevent the spread of slavery into the western territory and the south was fighting to spread slavery. Before that, the plan was to let slavery slowly die, but, the south wanted to expand it. The entire thing was entirely about slavery. I've also heard that Lincoln didn't care about slavery, well, he was talking about it and opposed to it way before his presidency and it's all clearly documented. So, that's a lie too.
My brother considers himself a civil war expert, but, he also leans Republican and believes all the current conspiracy theories. He has told me the war wasn't about slavery so many times I started to actually believe it.
This book is very well-cited and clear. It has a wonderful overall tone, I definitely recommend it. While it is written for kids, it has enough information to be perfect for an adult who doesn't want a 500 page book filled with every detail. This felt like just the right amount of information.
I had never realized that the Emancipation Proclamation would have allowed any states that rejoined the union to keep their slaves. I think a lot of people think that this was when all the slaves were freed, when, really it just freed the slaves of the states who had left the union. It even only did that if they refused to come back. The 13th amendment was what really ended slavery.
I keep hearing people say that the civil war wasn't about slavery when the entire reason for the war was that the north was trying to prevent the spread of slavery into the western territory and the south was fighting to spread slavery. Before that, the plan was to let slavery slowly die, but, the south wanted to expand it. The entire thing was entirely about slavery. I've also heard that Lincoln didn't care about slavery, well, he was talking about it and opposed to it way before his presidency and it's all clearly documented. So, that's a lie too.
My brother considers himself a civil war expert, but, he also leans Republican and believes all the current conspiracy theories. He has told me the war wasn't about slavery so many times I started to actually believe it.
This book is very well-cited and clear. It has a wonderful overall tone, I definitely recommend it. While it is written for kids, it has enough information to be perfect for an adult who doesn't want a 500 page book filled with every detail. This felt like just the right amount of information.
August 10, 2022
generally speaking, i do not find children's historical non-fiction very exciting, or inviting, but c'mon, it's good ol' Abraham Lincoln Logs! AND it's a PHOTOBIOGRAPHY. how could i say no? i couldn't, of course i couldn't...i didn't even try. duh.
if you are already familiar with lincoln, and have read other books about him, then i daresay you will find this book has very little to offer you in terms of gaining a deeper understanding of lincoln. if you are looking for new information, go read something else.
i, personally, enjoyed it quite a lot. it was a quick, and easy read, sometimes feeling TOO quick and easy, but again, this is a kids book, and i have tried to adjust my opinions accordingly. (i have nothing to complain about the pictures. every biography should have as many photos. that would be happiness.)
whether you are old or young, i think this would be a grand book to serve as an introduction to lincoln, and would hopefully foster excitement to do research of your own into the life and times of our first bearded president. 🧔🏻
.
yay for educational kids books that are still interesting when you are old and sad like me! ✌️
if you are already familiar with lincoln, and have read other books about him, then i daresay you will find this book has very little to offer you in terms of gaining a deeper understanding of lincoln. if you are looking for new information, go read something else.
i, personally, enjoyed it quite a lot. it was a quick, and easy read, sometimes feeling TOO quick and easy, but again, this is a kids book, and i have tried to adjust my opinions accordingly. (i have nothing to complain about the pictures. every biography should have as many photos. that would be happiness.)
whether you are old or young, i think this would be a grand book to serve as an introduction to lincoln, and would hopefully foster excitement to do research of your own into the life and times of our first bearded president. 🧔🏻
.
yay for educational kids books that are still interesting when you are old and sad like me! ✌️
September 24, 2017
I recommend this book to Social Studies teachers who teach seventh through 12th grade. Especially Social Studies teachers who teach United States History and the Civil War. This books follows the life of President Lincoln. There is a great focus on the Civil War, and his roles during the Civil War. With primary quotes and photographs and loaded with information and content, students can learn a great deal about President Lincoln. At the end of the book are additional resources like "A Lincoln Sampler" which are some of his famous quotes, list and descriptions of Lincoln memorials, monuments, and museums, and more books about Lincoln.
February 28, 2023
This was another book that I read in order to chase the impossible task of reading all Newbery Award winners.
It might be the history nerd in me, but this book was awesome! I felt much more connected to Lincoln and America's history at that time after reading this book. I don't think I've ever experienced such a great characterization of Lincoln as I have in this book. Having an interesting photograph on every other page helped make this book fly by.
I'm really glad I read this book.
It might be the history nerd in me, but this book was awesome! I felt much more connected to Lincoln and America's history at that time after reading this book. I don't think I've ever experienced such a great characterization of Lincoln as I have in this book. Having an interesting photograph on every other page helped make this book fly by.
I'm really glad I read this book.
June 21, 2017
For a photobiography, this audiobook was very good. I'll page through my hard copy at some point to enjoy the pictures. The Civil War is covered at enough distance to make sense as an overview- not every battle, not every decision, just the generals and the big names. A final section of selected quotes is OK, but it might have been improved with a complete version of the Gettysburg Address. There is no discussion of Lincoln's legacy or anything like that, which is fine.
February 14, 2021
This was fine, but I don't understand how it won the Newbery in 1988. Very little of Lincoln's personality shines through. Every now and again you get a true sense of him, but it's mostly just a by-the-numbers skip from big event to big event. Maybe if I hadn't read other books about Lincoln I would have been more impressed by this one.
April 10, 2024
I read this with my 5th grader and it kept both our attentions. It read more like an interesting story than a lifeless list of historical facts. And of course the pictures helped a ton. I don't think she could have read it on her own because she asked me a lot of questions throughout the book of what this or that meant. We both learned a lot and were inspired by Abraham Lincoln in so many ways.
December 28, 2020
This is an awesome resource for young readers between perhaps 4th-8th grade. Wonderful, concise information on the life and policies of a beloved president. It is full of useful photos and documents pertaining to his life. It was a great refresh for my old brain too!
September 7, 2020
This is a good book, full of photos and interesting information about Lincoln. It is a 5th grade level, I would think.
July 29, 2022
I loved this biography of Lincoln. It's another Newberry award winner.
February 25, 2020
I especially enjoyed reading some details that I did not know or had forgotten.
April 28, 2020
Lincoln: A Photobiography tells the life story of President Abraham Lincoln from his childhood in Illinois until his assassination in Ford's Theater. The text is accompanied by photographs which provide context and insight into various aspects of Lincoln's life, including his career as the owner of a general store, his early days as a prairie lawyer, his inauguration day at the unfinished U.S. Capitol, his role in the Civil War, and his funeral procession. This book won the Newbery Medal in 1988.
I listened to this book on audio, but also followed along with my physical copy so as to fully appreciate the photographs. Though the photos might seem to be the main attraction in a book which calls itself a "photobiography" I was pleased to note that the text is equally as distinctive as the many fascinating images Freedman includes in his book. Lincoln really comes to life in these pages, and the reader comes to know him not just as the stoic face on the five dollar bill, but as a flesh-and-blood man with flaws and fears, interests and ideals, loves and losses just like anyone else. This book sympathizes with Lincoln in a way that makes it easier to understand the decisions he made at various points in his presidency and to appreciate the ways being the president of the United States was a real challenge for him.
My favorite passage in the book, unsurprisingly, describes Lincoln's reading life during his years as a farmer:
There are many stories about Lincoln's efforts to find enough books to satisfy him in that backwoods country. Those he liked he read again and again, losing himself in the adventures of Robinson Crusoe or the magical tales of The Arabian Nights. He was thrilled by a biography of George Washington, with its stirring account of the Revolutionary War. And he came to love the rhyme and rhythm of poetry, reciting passages from Shakespeare or the Scottish poet Robert Burns at the drop of a hat. He would carry a book out to the field with him, so he could read at the end of each plow furrow, while the horse was getting its breath. When noon came, he would sit under a tree and read while he ate.
Somehow this image of Lincoln pausing at the end of his plowing to read a favorite book makes him feel like a kindred spirit across the generations. It's hard not to feel a connection to a fellow reader, no matter his time period.
This is an excellent book for introducing young readers to Abraham Lincoln as a real person, not just a a name and date in a history book. Though it might be a bit much for my first grader, I imagine it will be just right by the time we hit American history in third or fourth grade. I'm also really interested in reading some more books by Russell Freedman; his writing really resonates with me, and I'm eager to learn more about the other historical figures he wrote about.
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
I listened to this book on audio, but also followed along with my physical copy so as to fully appreciate the photographs. Though the photos might seem to be the main attraction in a book which calls itself a "photobiography" I was pleased to note that the text is equally as distinctive as the many fascinating images Freedman includes in his book. Lincoln really comes to life in these pages, and the reader comes to know him not just as the stoic face on the five dollar bill, but as a flesh-and-blood man with flaws and fears, interests and ideals, loves and losses just like anyone else. This book sympathizes with Lincoln in a way that makes it easier to understand the decisions he made at various points in his presidency and to appreciate the ways being the president of the United States was a real challenge for him.
My favorite passage in the book, unsurprisingly, describes Lincoln's reading life during his years as a farmer:
There are many stories about Lincoln's efforts to find enough books to satisfy him in that backwoods country. Those he liked he read again and again, losing himself in the adventures of Robinson Crusoe or the magical tales of The Arabian Nights. He was thrilled by a biography of George Washington, with its stirring account of the Revolutionary War. And he came to love the rhyme and rhythm of poetry, reciting passages from Shakespeare or the Scottish poet Robert Burns at the drop of a hat. He would carry a book out to the field with him, so he could read at the end of each plow furrow, while the horse was getting its breath. When noon came, he would sit under a tree and read while he ate.
Somehow this image of Lincoln pausing at the end of his plowing to read a favorite book makes him feel like a kindred spirit across the generations. It's hard not to feel a connection to a fellow reader, no matter his time period.
This is an excellent book for introducing young readers to Abraham Lincoln as a real person, not just a a name and date in a history book. Though it might be a bit much for my first grader, I imagine it will be just right by the time we hit American history in third or fourth grade. I'm also really interested in reading some more books by Russell Freedman; his writing really resonates with me, and I'm eager to learn more about the other historical figures he wrote about.
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
September 5, 2017
I consider Abraham Lincoln to be the greatest leader in the history of the US. And I love history. So that makes it tougher to objectively judge this book. It’s much simpler to yield to my bias and say it’s a remarkably clear and inspirational written and visual portrait of the man.
There’s plenty of information I didn’t know or couldn’t remember before reading. Lincoln’s older sister was running the family home at 11, at least temporarily, and died giving birth to her first child. Two of Lincoln’s four boys died as children. Lincoln was considered wealthy by the time he ran for the Illinois Senate in 1858. Lincoln pardoned a lot of execution sentences during the Civil War, but even so a lot of men were executed for desertion and other war-time offenses. Those are among the thoughts that stick with me.
Then there are the omissions. Freedman oversimplifies the unique circumstances of Lincoln’s first Presidential campaign, and the election that followed. I would also like to know more about Lincoln’s role as commander-in-chief of the Union Army. And there’s more that could be said about Lincoln’s complicated view of race. Freedman makes Lincoln sound much more progressive than he may actually have been. Then again, it’s hard to take a progressive stand when leading a nation dominated by racist ideologies. There’s so much more that can and has been said about Lincoln. But there’s only so much space Freedman can devote to his text, when considering his school-age audience.
And there’s the space needed for the photos that make this book so successful. I counted 87 photos and illustrations across 150 pages. I would love for that number to be double. Even so, Freedman has selected a wide variety of portraits and broader scenes; personal family treasures as well as historical signposts of the country before and during the war. Some of the battlefield shots may be disturbing, especially for younger readers. But there’s nothing here that’s out of place.
The overall result is a fantastic insight into Lincoln for school-age readers, and a welcome reminder for anyone who appreciates a great life story.
There’s plenty of information I didn’t know or couldn’t remember before reading. Lincoln’s older sister was running the family home at 11, at least temporarily, and died giving birth to her first child. Two of Lincoln’s four boys died as children. Lincoln was considered wealthy by the time he ran for the Illinois Senate in 1858. Lincoln pardoned a lot of execution sentences during the Civil War, but even so a lot of men were executed for desertion and other war-time offenses. Those are among the thoughts that stick with me.
Then there are the omissions. Freedman oversimplifies the unique circumstances of Lincoln’s first Presidential campaign, and the election that followed. I would also like to know more about Lincoln’s role as commander-in-chief of the Union Army. And there’s more that could be said about Lincoln’s complicated view of race. Freedman makes Lincoln sound much more progressive than he may actually have been. Then again, it’s hard to take a progressive stand when leading a nation dominated by racist ideologies. There’s so much more that can and has been said about Lincoln. But there’s only so much space Freedman can devote to his text, when considering his school-age audience.
And there’s the space needed for the photos that make this book so successful. I counted 87 photos and illustrations across 150 pages. I would love for that number to be double. Even so, Freedman has selected a wide variety of portraits and broader scenes; personal family treasures as well as historical signposts of the country before and during the war. Some of the battlefield shots may be disturbing, especially for younger readers. But there’s nothing here that’s out of place.
The overall result is a fantastic insight into Lincoln for school-age readers, and a welcome reminder for anyone who appreciates a great life story.
March 6, 2011
I haven’t read the other non-fiction Newbery medalists. But from some comments on these volumes: The Story of Mankind, Invincible Louisa, Daniel Boone – they were often found lacking. My guess is that when Russell Freedman came along the committee was all kinds of giggles and gusto to have such a concise, accurate, and readable biography to add to the Newbery cannon. Lincoln: A Photobiography maintains a formal narrative distance from the reader, yet manages to string out a captivating life, up to the point where I was sobbing at the death I knew from the beginning would end the tale.
Russell is to be commended at maintaining a persistent pace. He never focuses overly long on one subject to the point where the reader grows weary of it. He also, without overtly stating it makes the case that this one person, Abraham Lincoln, held in his hands the directional destiny of our country. Left in other hands we may be living in an entirely different county today. This is never clearer than in the coverage Russell gives Lincoln’s reelection. I came away with a certainty that the war would have had an entirely different outcome if another had usurped the presidency.
Like myself, I find many children shy away from non-fiction, unless sports or hubcaps are involved. When I do find that rare child who chomps through the 900 section I am in not a little awe. In fact, it was a little dicey that I would get a chance to read my own library’s copy. As at the moment, I have an awe-inspiring 5th grader who is gobbling up biographies and US history books like they were M&Ms. She got her hands on the book before I had a chance to pull it, and I needed to beg to get it back. My hope is that - any child who gives this book a chance will be rewarded with a sense of pride and gratitude that such an intelligent and empathetic man was willing to give himself to our country.
Russell is to be commended at maintaining a persistent pace. He never focuses overly long on one subject to the point where the reader grows weary of it. He also, without overtly stating it makes the case that this one person, Abraham Lincoln, held in his hands the directional destiny of our country. Left in other hands we may be living in an entirely different county today. This is never clearer than in the coverage Russell gives Lincoln’s reelection. I came away with a certainty that the war would have had an entirely different outcome if another had usurped the presidency.
Like myself, I find many children shy away from non-fiction, unless sports or hubcaps are involved. When I do find that rare child who chomps through the 900 section I am in not a little awe. In fact, it was a little dicey that I would get a chance to read my own library’s copy. As at the moment, I have an awe-inspiring 5th grader who is gobbling up biographies and US history books like they were M&Ms. She got her hands on the book before I had a chance to pull it, and I needed to beg to get it back. My hope is that - any child who gives this book a chance will be rewarded with a sense of pride and gratitude that such an intelligent and empathetic man was willing to give himself to our country.
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