Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
A. Lincoln And Me
Illustrator: Ted Lewin
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 8
Scholastic , 2009 ISBN: 978-0439862776
Every year in the first part of February a boy and his school class study the life and achievements of Abraham Lincoln in honor of the president's birthday. The boy cannot help feeling that he is rather like the great president. Like Lincoln he is tall and "as skinny as a beanpole." Like Lincoln the boy's hands and feet are large and he is clumsy. Like Lincoln too the boy is teased and he is called unflattering names such as "Big Butterfingers."
And so the boy learns a good deal about Abraham Lincoln, and he comes to feel a special connection with the great man. Perhaps he too will be able to be do something meaningful one day.
In this beautifully written and lyrical story readers get to see how one boy identifies with a great person from the past. In this case the great person is Abraham Lincoln and not a famous sports or music star. Written with flowing and image-rich language, this is a book that shows readers that there are many ways to be connected to people who lived long ago.
