Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books [Paperback]

Kay Winters (Author), Nancy Carpenter (Illustrator)

Book Description

In a tiny log cabin a boy listened with delight to the storytelling of his ma and pa. He traced letters in sand, snow, and dust. He borrowed books and walked miles to bring them back.

When he grew up, he became the sixteenth president of the United States. His name was Abraham Lincoln.

He loved books.

They changed his life.

he changed the world.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Carpenter's (Fannie in the Kitchen) expressive oil paintings lend an appropriately sturdy air to this picture book biography of the 16th president. Winters (Wolf Watch) traces Lincoln's path "from the wilderness to the White House," beginning in the one-room cabin where he first spoke and progressing to his later career as a self-taught lawyer and politician who "aimed his words at wrongs he'd like to right." With an eye for details of particular interest to a young audience (such as the fact that as a boy, Lincoln plowed with a book in his back pocket for reading during frequent breaks), the author highlights the main points of Lincoln's life. Her free-verse narrative takes on a suitably homespun directness ("His ideas stretched./ His questions rose./ His dreams stirred," she writes as young Abe watches people pass by on the Cumberland Trail), a quality echoed in Carpenter's choice of oils on rough-textured canvas, in a style reminiscent of Grandma Moses's work. Frontier life unfolds in warm earth-toned shades, and the artist sets a brisk pace by interspersing smaller vignettes with full-bleed vistas. The pages bustle with spry figures, including Lincoln himself, a wiry lad with a shock of unruly hair, big ears and highwater pants. An author's note fleshes out more of the important events of Lincoln's life. This fine introduction to a president over whom, from boyhood, "letters cast a magic spell" points up a valuable message-that of the importance of words in shaping ideas and lives. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 2. Using simple language, bare-bones details, and uncluttered illustrations, Winters introduces America's sixteenth president. She recounts events from Lincoln's childhood in Kentucky and Indiana and his young adulthood in New Salem, Illinois. The engaging narrative emphasizes Lincoln's love of books and reading, which flourished despite his lack of formal education. Carpenter's oil-on-canvas illustrations include many details of pioneer life and focus on Lincoln's humble beginnings. An author's note filling in some information omitted from the story is appended. This will be a good choice for reading aloud, although many children will want to follow up with a more complete biography, such as Cheryl Harness' Young Abe Lincoln: The Frontier Days: 1809-1837 (1996) or Abe Lincoln Goes to Washington: 1837-1865 (1997). Kay Weisman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (January 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416912681
• ISBN-13: 978-1416912682
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.3 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,068 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( L ) > Lincoln, Abraham
  • #6 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > United States > Other
  • #8 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > United States > General

More About the Author

Did you ever wonder what would happen if you took the road less traveled by?
This was a question I often asked myself.
In 1992, I decided to head down a new highway.
I left my lovely job in education and became a children's book author.
Did I miss the children, teacher friends, Blue Cross and Blue Shield? You bet!
But I wrote every day ( well almost), collected reams of rejections, and kept sending out manuscripts
In August of 94, the first contract call came.
Now 12 books later, the days flash by with writing, researching, revising, submitting, rejections (Yes, published authors still get them), email, school visits, conference presentations, and book signings.
My husband Earl encourages, edits, advises, takes pictures, helps with research , updates my website which he designed,and prints out maps to schools and bookstores.
I love meeting my readers. And I look forward to hearing from you.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fresh Perspective on Abe Lincoln, March 21, 2003

By 

Karen Bashkirew (Emmaus, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Abe Lincoln : The Boy Who Loved Books (Hardcover)

ABE LINCOLN: THE BOY WHO LOVED BOOKS is a delightful biography and a welcome addition to the body of children's books about our 16th President! With colorful, lyrical language, author Kay Winters tells the story of young Abe's boyhood from an important perspective, emphasizing at every turn his love of books, his passion for reading, and his eagerness to learn. Winters' narrative, beautifully supported by Nancy Carpenter's appealing illustrations, describes Abe as a "bookish boy" who practiced writing his letters in the dust, who loved spelling bees and spinning yarns, who carried a book in his back pocket even as he plowed, stopping at the end of each row to read a page. And at the end of the story, we find President Abraham Lincoln sitting by the fire in the White House...reading a book. As the book jacket says:
He loved books.
They changed his life.
He changed the world.
What I value most about this biography is that it gives young readers the opportunity to identify with a hero who is "bookish" and makes the connection between a love of reading and the empowerment of one person to change the world.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Abe Lincoln, reading books moved him to excel, November 3, 2003

By 

Rita Marquez (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Abe Lincoln : The Boy Who Loved Books (Hardcover)

The first thing I noticed when looking for a children's biography book on Abraham Lincoln was Kay Winter's Abe Lincoln, The Boy who loved books. This book has wonderful pictures with vivid colors and kid-friendly portraits of Abe Lincoln as a boy. The illustrator, Nancy Carpenter, does a magnificent job bringing the book to life. Children of all ages will enjoy reading this book and realizing that a love of books, as Abraham Lincoln did, can change a persons life and move him or her to become a great person...maybe even the President of the United States.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Abe Lincoln, May 12, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Abe Lincoln : The Boy Who Loved Books (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful biography written by Kay Winters about the United States 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. The vocabulary is kid-friendly, especially for children in grades kindergarten through second. In addition, the oil paintings on pastel can really enhance the reader's interest. Most importantly, the emphasis of how Abe Lincoln enjoyed reading, and used it to his advantage is a great encouragement for young readers!