Abraham Lincoln

Who doesn't like 'Honest Abe'?

 

 

I was so very excited when I heard that there would be a motion picture released about my favorite US President, Abraham Lincoln. I have yet to see the film but I will definitely be doing so; as soon as my schedule becomes less hectic. Until then, I decided to take a gander at the biography for children written by Wil Mara,

Abraham Lincoln.  

 

Mara's book covers Lincoln's life, starting at his upbringing on a farm in Kentucky, to his career as a lawyer, to his untimely death in the Ford Theater in 1865. The book includes both illustrations, prints, lithographs and photographs that help tell the story of one the U.S. greatest Presidents.  The various pictures that are used are like those you'd find in a History text book. My favorite is that of a portrait of Lincoln's wife, Mary Todd.

 

The text in the book is simple enough for all ages to understand yet comprehensive enough to give a lot of important information about President Lincoln's various accomplishments. Although it does not into great detail about those accomplishments, the book is a great step in the right direction to introducing President Lincoln to children who may otherwise not have any idea of what a great man he was.

 

Reflective Reading

• By reading this biography, what have you learned about Abraham Lincoln that you did not know before?
• Who is your favorite US President and why?
• What do you think was Abraham Lincoln's greatest accomplishment?
 

Active Reading

• Have you ever seen a picture of President Lincoln in his famous stovepipe top hat?
• If not, do some research on the Internet or at your local library about what a stovepipe top hat looks like then try making one of your own!
• For directions on how to make your hat, just click this link (http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/presidentsday/a/bltophat.htm ). Make sure you have the help of an adult.
• This would be a great President's Day craft!   

Resources

Mara, W. (2002.) Abraham Lincoln. New York: Children's Press.