Don't Call Him Abe.

Abraham Lincoln has long been a personal hero of mine. He served the country during arguably the most difficult period in American history. He was clever, compassionate, and honest. Over the last several weeks, I've read nearly all of our library's 30 books on President Lincoln to learn more about him. Here are my top 4 favorites, plus an honorable mention.

#1

St. George, Judith. Stand Tall, Abe Lincoln. New York: Philomel, 2008.

Booklist recommends this book for grades 2-4.

Judith St. George is known for her series of books that includes So You Want to be a President?, and I'm really enjoying this series of hers called Turning Point Books. It's about the moment or event that leads a young person down an extraordinary path. For a young Abraham Lincoln, Judith St. George believes that it was his stepmother, Sally, that encouraged his education and independent way of thinking. This story begins with Lincoln's birth and the love he received from his biological mother Nancy and continues until Lincoln left home to pursue his destiny as a young man. Illustrations by Matt Faulkner are down in gouache and help the book seem woodsy and cozy.

#2

Bowler, Sarah. Abraham Lincoln: Our Sixteenth President. Chanhassen, MN: The Child's World, 2002.

Booklist recommends this book for grades 3-6.

This book was almost my number one pick. It has the most information of any book I picked, and the nonfiction reads easily. The best parts are the photographs and the interesting facts set into the margins. For example, did you know that President Lincoln did not liked to be called Abe? His close friends knew that and never called him by that nickname. This book also explains how much the Lincoln family grieved during the Civil War, both over the state of the nation and from personal tragedy.

#3

Harness, Cheryl. Young Abe Lincoln: The Frontier Days, 1809-1837. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 1996.

Booklist recommends this book for grades 1-4.

If you'd like to read stories about President Lincoln's childhood, this is a great book to read first. It also has neat pages of maps and facts, perhaps those are part of the book because National Geographic published it. This book begins with Lincoln's birth and ends with his move to Springfield, Illinois with a license to practice law.

#4

Turner, Ann. Abe Lincoln Remembers. New York: HarperCollins, 2001.

Booklist recommends this book for grades 1-3.

This is a unique biography. In the words of the author, it is "intended to explore how Lincoln might have thought and felt about the events that shaped him into one of our greatest presidents." Written in poetic narrative, Lincoln speaks about his life in first person, with the last verse ending as Lincoln prepares to visit the theater on April 14, 1865.

Honorable Mention:

David Adler's biography picture books are always good and A Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln is no exception. Booklist recommends this book for grades K-3.

Find these books and more about Abraham Lincoln in the Bledsoe library.