Abe Lincoln Goes to Washington 1837 - 1863 [Paperback]

Cheryl Harness (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2003 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

From Lincoln’s early practice of law in Springfield, Illinois, through his election to the Presidency of the eve of the Civil War, to his untimely assassination, Harness weaves an enormous amount of information into this compelling picture of our 16th President’s public and private life. Readers see Lincoln happy and gangly during his first dance with Mary Todd, playful with his young sons, and strong under pressure as he drafts the Emancipation Proclamation and delivers the Gettysburg Address.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Ages 6^-9. The sequel to Harness' Young Abe Lincoln , this lively picture-biography covers a lot of territory in its 48 pages. Beginning with Lincoln's arrival in Springfield, the story includes his courtship and marriage and active role as a father, the segue from law into politics, the slavery issue, and the Lincoln-Douglas debates. The book goes on to discuss Lincoln's presidency, focusing on the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address as well as his second inaugural address, and finally, Lincoln's assassination and funeral train. The text gallops through years of history, with sudden stops for surprisingly vivid little scenes in which Lincoln laughs and slaps "his bony knees," sits at the bedside of his dying son Willie, or dreams a prophetic dream of his own death. Filled with color and action, Harness' paintings and maps dominate the pages and provide a wealth of historical detail as well as a humanizing view of the Lincolns Carolyn Phelan --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Kirkus Reviews

To the growing number of picture-book biographies add this sequel to Young Abe Lincoln (1996) that covers the latter half of Lincoln's life. From the tall, lanky new lawyer who tucked his papers inside his stovepipe hat to the president who led a divided country through civil war, Harness profiles a personal and political Lincoln in a variety of settings and states of mind. Her informal style lends a familiarity to the narrative, interspersing quotes, excerpts, anecdotes, and speeches into the straightforward story line. Without romanticizing Lincoln's role in history, the author allows this larger-than-life president to be human by presenting the anguish and torment he suffered at home as well as in his role as president during a time of civil war. Illustrated maps rife with captions and dates outline the chronology of events and provide a jumping-off point for more serious war buffs. An enormous amount of information and a number of complex issues are pared down to an approachable, satisfying sketch of the simple country lawyer who became ``Father Abraham, the Emancipator.'' (Picture book/biography. 8+) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books; 1st Pbk. Ed edition (February 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792269063
• ISBN-13: 978-0792269069
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 0.2 x 10.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,492,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #100 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Biographies > U. S. Presidents & First Ladies

More About the Author

Cheryl Harness makes her home in Independence, Missouri, the "Queen City of the Trails," a couple of blocks away from the big white house where Harry and Bess Truman used to live. She lives with Mimi (a black and white Shih Tsu)), and Merrie Emma (a cross-eyed scaredy-cat). As an author, illustrator, public speaker, and presenter in many an elementary school, Cheryl is known for her engaging, entertaining approach to history, her detailed watercolors, and the way she plays her harmonica.