Module 7 The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary

Title of Book: The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary: Author: Candace Fleming; ISBN: 978-0375836183; Published by: Schwartz & Wade 2008; Available in Spanish

Summary:

In a delicious scrapbook form with newspaper clippings, articles, photographs and sketches, Fleming presented the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln. Although there were many presidential facts (such as Lincoln and his first vice president didn’t even meet until three days after the election!), most of the facts were about Abraham and Mary the people. Did you know Abraham Lincoln died without a will and Mary would often hold séances to contact her dead sons and husband? The book ended with Robert at his mother funeral while his wife and children stayed home.

My Impressions:

I see the folly now of presenting only the “good” about someone when doing biographies for children. I was blown away by this real look at our 16th president and his “first lady.” (The first to be called such by the way) I was so ignorant about him! Although the information about President Lincoln was an amazing treasure trove, the eccentricities and pitiful behavior of Mary Lincoln eclipsed all those tidbits. There is no need to read this book in page sequence, for each article or picture is its own little story. Luckily for us, she has done a book about Eleanor Roosevelt (Our Eleanor; A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt’s Amazing Life) and Benjamin Franklin (Ben Franklin’s Almanac: Being a True Account of the Good Gentleman’s Life). This book is truly for children and adults! If you buy just one book on Abraham Lincoln this year, this book is worth much more than the $25.00 you’ll shell out.

Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5

Reviews and Awards:
Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards 2009
ALA Notable Books for Children 2009

School Library Journal (Taken from Bowker’s Books in Print)Gr 6 Up-What did this backwoods boy and this bluegrass girl have in common? Using her signature scrapbook approach, Fleming lays out the answer in a biography that gives equal emphasis to Abraham and Mary Lincoln for an insightful portrait of their lives. Her scholarship over five years pays off with a rich account that is personal and concrete. She recounts Mary's early life as a privileged-but motherless-child, her ambitions for her husband, and her role as "first lady" (a term originally coined for her). Large and small details are juxtaposed with specifics about Lincoln and broadened by Mary's significance. For example, a political decision was made regarding her attendance at the debates; Lincoln wanted to preserve his "common man" image rather than show off his refined and educated wife. Unlike most biographies, which conclude with Lincoln's death, this one follows Mary's story to the end, detailing Robert Todd's role in her commitment to an insane asylum, Tad's death, and her own demise. Presented in period typefaces, the boxed bits of text, sidebars, and numerous running heads and subheads add detail. From portraits to pets, the book contains a wide variety of graphics, including written and visual primary documents that enrich every spread. Notes, resources, and source notes are exemplary. It's hard to imagine a more engaging or well-told biography of the Lincolns.-Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library Copyright October 2008 Reed Business Information.

Suggestions for Use in a Library:
Have a scrapbook day! Invite children to bring in photos (or copies of photos) along with other memorabilia to make a mini scrapbook. (Hobby Lobby often has a 50 %sale on their scrapbooking supplies.)