Abraham

by Frank Keating, Mike Wimmer (Illustrator)

Overview

Frank Keating takes you on an ultimate tour of Abraham Lincoln’s life from boyhood to presidency in this biography, which includes stunning paintings by award-winning artist Mike Wimmer that bring the sixteenth President of the United States to vivid life.

To say Abraham Lincoln came from humble beginnings is an understatement. He was born in a Kentucky log cabin with a packed-dirt floor, rough slab roof, and leather-hinged door. He went barefoot for most of the year and wasn’t expected to amount to much. But reading was everything to him and his free time was consumed by books. Abraham Lincoln read furiously, studied law, and knew that hard work was his only path to making a change in the world. When he ran for the presidency, he stood for unity—one people and one land. He brought freedom to all citizens, ended slavery, and made the country whole again.

This visual tour de force is based on historical documents and chronicles Honest Abe’s life from boyhood to his extraordinary leadership position as the sixteenth President of the United States of America.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442493209
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Publication date:	01/03/2017
Series:	Mount Rushmore Presidential Series
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
Lexile:	630L (what's this?)
File size:	63 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Frank Keating has held many positions in public office, including Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Treasury and Associate Attorney General of the United States. He was elected Governor of Oklahoma in 1995 and completed his term in January of 2003. He lives in Oklahoma.

Mike Wimmer has illustrated many books for children, including Home Run: The Story of Babe Ruth by Robert Burleigh, which was named an ALA Notable Children’s Book and was called a “grand slam” in a starred review in Publishers Weekly. He also illustrated Flight: The Journey of Charles Lindbergh by Robert Burleigh, which received the Orbis Pictus Award for nonfiction. He lives in Georgia with his family.

Editorial Reviews

"Following Theodore (2006) and George (2012), Keating adds a new face to the Mount Rushmore series.In a first-person narrative that incorporates many quotations of his own words, the 16th president looks back on his life and accomplishments ... Wimmer's oil-on-canvas paintings are the star." — Kirkus

10/1/16 - Kirkus Reviews

"This tribute would serve as a good introduction to our sixteenth president ... A worthy addition to children’s collections, the book’s oversize format and vivid illustrations make this a natural choice for February displays and read-alouds."
— Booklist

November 1, 2016 - Booklist

"This attractive biography is sure to please presidential fact finders. The text is written in the first person, with actual quotes from Lincoln interspersed throughout. A copy of the Gettysburg Address is included in the back matter. Wimmer’s paintings are gorgeously detailed and elevate the text while providing context, especially for young ones. VERDICT Libraries that own the other installments of this series as well as anyone looking for a great presidential biography will want this addition for primary grade collections." - School Library Journal

November 2016 - School Library Journal

"This tribute would serve as a good introduction to our sixteenth president ... A worthy addition to children’s collections, the book’s oversize format and vivid illustrations make this a natural choice for February displays and read-alouds."
— Booklist

November 1, 2016 - Booklist

2016-09-19
Following Theodore (2006) and George (2012), Keating adds a new face to the Mount Rushmore series.In a first-person narrative that incorporates many quotations of his own words, the 16th president looks back on his life and accomplishments and presents himself glowingly in the process. Hes Honest Abe, liberator of slaves, savior of the union, protector of the Constitution. Theres no room here for or even a hint at complex issues and moral decisions; the icon is paramount. Wimmers oil-on-canvas paintings are the star, with stately full-page images complementing the text, though they too elide complexity. A slave-auction image feels rather like an exercise in illustrating period dress (fashionable white men and auctioneer), with only a dangling shackle to indicate the enslaved human foregrounded but placed discreetly to the side, back to readers. The dramatic Civil War image is reminiscent of Mort Kunstlers famous war scenes in drama and palette. The narrative and the many quotations are an uneasy mix, the sometimes-stately tone of speech excerpts jarring with Keatings straightforward narrative voice, and quotations sometimes overwhelm the text. Backmatter includes the text of The Gettysburg Address and a brief bibliography of scholarly works but no guide to the many fine works on the subject for young readers. Like the faces on Mount Rushmore, this entry in the series provides a face but falls short on substance. (Picture book/biography. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews