Gr 2-5-With a breezy conversational style, thick lines, and vivid bulky colors, Kalman provides a unique introduction to our 16th president. She begins by drawing attention to Lincoln's tall stovepipe hat, the appearance of his face on the $5 bill, and the many (more than 16,000) books written about him. As the narrative continues, the author integrates information about Lincoln's impoverished childhood, study of law, election as president, Gettysburg address, Emancipation Proclamation, and murder in 1865, while also addressing fascinating lesser-known facts-his run-in with a donkey, favorite kind of cake, and the name of his dog. With each spread, readers will discover unusual and varying visuals: splashy pinks during cherry-blossom season in Washington DC, solemn portraits of Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglass, a bullet-ridden uniform of a Civil War soldier, the boy Abe reading by the fire, and a riderless horse with boots on backward signaling Lincoln's death. In an effective and memorable ending, Kalman closes with a Lincoln quote: ".With malice toward none, with charity for all," setting the words against a view of the Lincoln Memorial. A list of sources and appended notes add breadth to the presentation. This is a great read-aloud for younger children with lots of possibilities for discussion and a jumping-off point for older readers to motivate their research. Regardless of the number of Lincoln books already on the shelves, librarians will want to add this captivating book to their collections.-Barbara Elleman, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MA (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Just what is Abraham Lincoln's legacy? In this intimate portrait, a young girl walking in the park passes a man who looks like Lincoln, heads to the library, and dives into research so compelling that she has to share it with us. What follows is an account that hits the familiar notes, embellished with circular, childlike wonderings. We all know about Lincoln's wife and family. But our narrator wonders if they had nicknames for one another. We know he was consumed with the fight for freedom and justice. But our narrator wonders if he thought about what to get his little son for his birthday, too. The facts are laid out in an austere black typeface and the wonderings in loose, hand-lettered script, with certain words in color for emphasis. Kalman's primitive polychrome illustrations marry the two narratives into a meaningful whole, combining unexpected color choice and sophisticated composition for powerful emotional impact. Comprehensive endnotes fill in more facts and cite sources, but this is as much a personal impression of Lincoln's legacy as an informational biography.--Barthelmess, Thom Copyright 2010 Booklist
As she did in The Principles of Uncertainty, Kalman transforms digital material-in this case, her New York Times illustrated column "In Love with A. Lincoln"-into analogue format. Kalman's fond and bittersweet account of our lanky 16th president evokes both a schoolgirl crush ("I got lost in photos of his unusual face.... I could look at him forever") and a Yankee's steely, sorrowful perspective on the price of freedom (still lifes include a bullet-torn Civil War uniform and John Wilkes Booth's pistol). Abstract gouaches-ranging from tangy colors to dolorous grays-put a contemporary spin on the iconic log cabin, Springfield house, stovepipe hat, and "his favorite vanilla cake" with ribbons of red icing. Portraits include a pensive Lincoln, seated alone or with family ("He was thinking about... doing good for mankind. And maybe he was also thinking about getting a birthday present for his little son"); Sojourner Truth; and Lincoln's pale-eyed stepmother, wearing a severe bonnet and black dress a la Picasso's portrait of Gertrude Stein. Rather than pen a textbook profile, Kalman portrays heartfelt admiration through poignant imagery. Ages 5-8. Agent: Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
