Abraham Lincoln: A Man for All the People : A Ballad [Library Binding]

Myra Cohn Livingston (Author), Samuel Byrd (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1993 | Age Level: 5 and up

A narrative poem chronicling the life of the Civil War president.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Abraham Lincoln is an ideal subject for a folk ballad as demonstrated in this simple and moving narrative. The identical beginning and final quatrains almost beg to be set to music. "A man for all the people,/A man who stood up tall,/Abe Lincoln spoke of justice/And liberty for all." Some stanzas incorporate well-known details of his life, and others integrate quotations from famous speeches. Each double-page spread has one or two stanzas on the right (there are 18 all together) and a full-color painting on the left. On every page, the text is placed against the painting of a saw-cut end of a log. The illustrations realistically portray famous scenes from Lincoln's life, such as the delivery of the Gettysburg Address. They are majestic and reverential, very much in keeping with the inspirational tone of the poetry. Unlike Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire's homey, anecdotal Abraham Lincoln (Doubleday, 1957), Livingston and Byrd's vision is lofty and done in broad strokes. A fine introduction for children who crave a genuine American hero.
Judy Greenfield, Rye Free Reading Room, NY
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 1-4. Using a picture-book format, Livingston relates the life of Abraham Lincoln in quatrains, and Byrd uses full-page watercolors to depict the boy who grew up to become a lawyer, was elected president, lived through the Civil War, and then was assassinated. At her best, Livingston uses Lincoln's own words to weave her story. At her worst, she descends to something close to doggerel: "Born in a log cabin / Work was what he knew, / Helped chop trees, plant corn, split logs. / Abe just grew and grew." Still, the simply told story and the large, detailed illustrations provide an age-appropriate introduction to Lincoln for primary students. The misleading jacket blurb tells us that Livingston uses several quotes, including the following "from the Gettysburg Address": "Fervently do we pray / That this mighty scourge of war / May speedily pass away." The words actually came from the second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865, a fact Livingston supplies in her careful source notes. Sheilamae O'Hara

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House; 1st edition (September 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823410498
• ISBN-13: 978-0823410491
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,303,869 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Poetry that makes learning history fun, September 28, 2000

By 

Kristina Porteous (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Abraham Lincoln: A Man for All the People : A Ballad (Library Binding)

I spend a lot of time looking for quality literature about historical events that is appropriate for the younger reader. Mrs. Livingston is a celebrated poet who has really found her niche. Her style of poetry is just right for this subject.