Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Abe Lincoln: The boy who loved books



Abe Lincoln: The boy who loved books
Written by Kay Winters
Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter
Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2003
40 pages

            What do you know about Abraham Lincoln?  Many people know that he was the sixteenth president of the United States, but not many know the events that led him to occupy the highest office in the land.  Did you know that he loved to read?  Who inspired him to love books?  What challenges did he face growing up?  All of these questions are answered in a poetic form in the book Abe Lincoln: The boy who loved to read written by Kay Winters!
            Nancy Carpenter created these beautiful illustrations using oil on canvas.  The illustrations are displayed throughout the book in a variety of ways.  Some of the llustrations are doublespreads, some occupy a single page, and others only take up a portion of a page.  These paintings fit the time period of this book (the 1800s) very well.  They also go along well with the soft tone that is set by the text.  I really enjoyed looking at these pictures while reading this book, and I believe students will enjoy them as well.
            This book could be used in any classroom ranging from second to fifth grade.  First of all, a teacher could read it aloud to students when they are studying about Abraham Lincoln.  There are a lot of facts about his life that students could glean from listening to and discussing this story.  This book could also be used to inspire students to follow their dreams.  Abraham Lincoln did not have a lot growing up, but he dreamed of getting an education and doing more with his life.  He worked hard and reached his goal, and students can do the very same.   This book could also be used to initiate a compare and contrast activity.  The students could compare and contrast their lives with the life of Abraham Lincoln.  I enjoyed reading this easy-going story about Abraham Lincoln, and it would be a great addition to any elementary teacher’s collection.

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