Abe's Fish: A Boyhood Tale of Abraham Lincoln [Hardcover]

Jen Bryant (Author), Amy June Bates (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Here is the perfect book for celebrating Lincoln’s 200th birthday—and a unique way to illuminate our 16th president for today’s young readers. Based on an actual incident that occurred when Lincoln was just a boy, it shows that he, like so many children, wished he were taller (and it came true!); that he had a mischievous streak; that he loved words; and—most important—that even as a small child he puzzled deeply over the concept of freedom. Amy June Bates’s superb illustrations capture young Abe’s personality, the warmth of his home life, and the enduring power of his one-time chance meeting with a soldier from the War of 1812.

 

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

President Lincoln was once asked what he remembered about the War of 1812 and answered that what he recalled was having fished all day, catching a small fish and then giving it away to a hungry soldier returning home from the war. From this small anecdote, Bryant (River of Words) paints a picture of a boy who, while interested in playing pranks on his older sister, spends time considering the meaning of freedom and teaching himself to spell; he's a little too good to be likable. Bates (Hillary Rodham Clinton: Dreams Taking Flight) humanizes Abe somewhat, giving him the occasionally puckish expression and letting him look petulant when dealing with his sister. The unusually tall format emphasizes Abe's stature, the moral dimension of which comes across clearly. Back-matter includes information on Lincoln's childhood, frontier childhood in general and the Lincoln presidency. Ages 4–up. (Feb.)
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From Booklist

Inspired by four lines in an early biography about Lincoln, Bryant frames one day’s incident from a young boy’s perspective. When his mom sends him fishing as a respite from picking berries with his sister, Abe hooks a perch and can almost smell it cooking over the fire when he encounters a weary, shabby soldier. Remembering his mom’s words about being good to soldiers, Abe offers the man his fish. Dinner that night is the same old turnips and berries, but Abe’s fascination with words has grown by the soldier’s use of the word “freedom,” a word Abe correlates with his remembrance of caging a cricket. The last page reads: “Someday, Abe thought, it might be a good word to know.” A roughly hewn style using pencil and watercolor illustrations provides just the right rustic feeling and visual perspective, while blocks of text boxed with wooden sticks echo the setting. A doff of top hat to a stellar presentation that lends context to the significance of principle in a famous man’s life. Grades 2-4. --Julie Cummins

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (February 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402762526
• ISBN-13: 978-1402762529
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 7.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,404,728 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jen Bryant writes picture books, novels and poems for readers of all ages. Her biographical picture book: A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams, illustrated by Melissa Sweet,received a Caldecott Honor award and her historical novel in verse Ringside 1925: Views from the Scopes Trial is an Oprah Recommended Book for ages 12 & up. Other titles include Pieces of Georgia (IRA Young Adult Choices Pick), The Trial (about the 1935 Lindbergh baby kidnapping trial), a 1960's-era novel Kaleidoscope Eyes (a Jr. Library Guild selection), Georgia's Bones, celebrating the creative vision of artist Georgia O'Keeffe, Music for the End of Time, based on a true story about WWII, and Abe's Fish: A Boyhood Tale of Abraham Lincoln.

Jen has taught writing and Children's Literature at West Chester University and Bryn Mawr College and gives lectures, workshops and school presentations throughout the year. She lives with her family in Chester County, PA.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars This appealing book on Abe Lincoln, the boy, can easily spark an interest in history . . . the painless way!, June 19, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Abe's Fish: A Boyhood Tale of Abraham Lincoln (Hardcover)

Abe was snuggled comfortably in bed when he heard the cabin door open and shut. He got dressed and rushed outside to see if he could go with his father, who was probably going to chop down some trees. His pa put the axe down encouraged Abe to lift it. It was very heavy, but he was going to try. "He pulled up-up-up until his wrists burned," but he couldn't lift it. He tried hard, but if he couldn't lift the axe he couldn't go into the woods with his father and would be stuck picking berries with his sister, Sarah. He got a big surprise when his mother asked him if he'd like to go catch a fish for dinner. Now that beats the heck out of picking berries!

Fishing was "grown-up work" and he was more than anxious to comply with his mother's wishes. "Fish-fish-fish . . . Abe loved words." He loved everything about them and would often practice writing and reading them. After a while he had a tug on the line and listening to his father's instructions in the back of his head, he caught it. On the way home the thought of how everyone would be proud of him, but his thoughts were interrupted when he saw a soldier approaching. He knew the Americans had been heading north to fight the British. When he asked the teacher why they fought, she answered simply, "For Freedom." The soldier looked weary, bedraggled and hungry. If he offered him his fish . . . well, should he?

This book and its illustrations present a seldom seen portrait of Abraham Lincoln as a boy. The watercolors were exceptionally appealing and quite well done and the storyline simply grabs and draws the reader in. In the back of the book under the author's note, there is an expanded section on Lincoln and his early family life, environment, the war of 1812 and Abe as president. This is an excellent introductory picture book for the younger child. This type of appealing work can easily spark an interest in history . . . the painless way!

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Story, April 27, 2009

By 

Shannon M. Mcgee "Confuzzled Books" (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Abe's Fish: A Boyhood Tale of Abraham Lincoln (Hardcover)

Interesting little story. I don't know if it's based on any truth, but young Abe Lincoln goes fishing, and on his way home with dinner, he runs into a solider. Out of the kindness of his heart, Abe gives the hungry solider his family's dinner, knowing his family will be proud of him. This tale talks a lot about freedom, and foreshadows Abe's own future with freedom as president. It is a nice story, and I could see it possibly happening in Lincoln's lifetime.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Enjoyable Book, March 9, 2009

By 

Ann B. Hibbard "anbee" (Almyra, AR) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Abe's Fish: A Boyhood Tale of Abraham Lincoln (Hardcover)

As a homeschooling mom, I'm always on the lookout for books that will supplement our learning experience. My girls love biographies, so when I had the opportunity to review Abe's Fish: A Boyhood Tale of Abraham Lincoln, I jumped at it!

As I read Abe's Fish for myself before reading it to the kids, I discovered it to be a book that I greatly enjoyed. But, the true test of a children's book is not how much a mom or teacher enjoys it. The true test is how much the child enjoys and gleans from it. References to Abraham Lincoln's position as President and his role in the Civil War were a bit veiled, and I was curious to see whether or not the girls would pick up on the inferences in the story and illustrations.

When we snuggled down to read the book together, the girls were enthralled! They both loved to learn that Abe did the right thing, despite his own hunger or the teasing from his older sister. They were delighted when I read about young Abe learning about freedom, and they did, in fact, pick up on the references to how lessons in his young life prepared him for his adult role as President. The girls devoured the illustrations, taking in each detail, and greatly enjoying the pictorial foreshadowing of President Lincoln's adult life. They were also very excited about the historical commentary in the Author's Notes at the end of the book.

Although this is a fictional story built around a single statement made by President Lincoln, much rich history is worked into the storyline. The one thing I would say is that this book requires a prior understanding of who Abraham Lincoln was and what he accomplished during his presidency. If your little ones haven't quite learned about President Lincoln yet, I would encourage a bit of discussion about our sixteenth president before reading the book.