By Brad Meltzer, Illustrated By Christopher Eliopoulos
Rocky Pond Books, 2014
Picture Book, 40 Pages, Ages 4-7
Written in first person present-tense, this biography of Abraham Lincoln begins with him as a child until he becomes President and emphasizes that leadership is doing what is right even though it may not be popular, or easy.
“In life, strength can take many forms. But there’s nothing quite as strong as standing up for someone who needs it.”
Abraham Lincoln loved to read, in fact he read so much that despite just one year of school, he became a very educated man and an eloquent orator. Though most children in that time period helped in the fields and worked hard, Abraham Lincoln spent most of his time reading and writing, even on the tree trunks and in the dirt because he was so determined to learn. He went on to become President after losing 4 elections and faced leading the nation through a civil-war.
In simple yet straightforward sentences the author is masterful at explaining why things are unjust, cruel, and wrong without being verbose, which helps children with concepts that we, as adults, have a difficult time simply explaining. Parts of Abraham Lincoln’s speeches are included such as “All men are created equal,” which all by itself, is an astounding piece of history.
The ‘asides’ in the dialog are sometimes funny – especially when Lincoln tells people that he will be on the penny – and nobody knows what a ‘penny’ is yet, and sometimes they’re factual. I had no idea one of Lincoln’s favorite books was one about George Washington. The illustrations will appeal to most children because of their cartoon style. Like every book in this series, it’s informative, educational, entertaining and sparks great conversations with kids.
I Am Abraham Lincoln by Brad Meltzer receives 5 stars from this reviewer.