Customer Reviews

Finding Lincoln

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Loved this book. Can be used across different grade levels, possibly 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Great way to teach about segregation during the 1950s from the perspective of a black boy who just wants a chance to learn like the white boys and girls can at their library.

Louis stood at the bottom of the library steps glancing longingly at the books inside. It would be nice if he could count them, but that would be impossible because there was a little sign in the entrance way that said, "WHITES ONLY." He decided he'd better move along. He had his lunch pail and a notebook in hand and he thought about that essay he was going to have to write on President Lincoln. It was 1951 and a boy should be able to borrow a book from any library in Alabama, but that wasn't going to happen any time soon. All the good stuff was reserved for white people. Heck, he couldn't even have "strawberry milkshakes at the drugstore lunch counter!"

When he got home, his Mama knew he was out of sorts, but he wouldn't say anything. He didn't even want a glass of lemonade. At school the next day Mrs. Yates was teaching them about the Civil War. She was talking about Lincoln and stated that "He dared to stand up for what he believed in, and that made a lot of people mad." Louis wanted to know more about Abe, the boy, but the book he had didn't answer any of his questions. There were no books about him at the church library either. There was only one thing left for Louis to do. Would he be brave enough to walk up those library steps?

This is a marvelous book about a young boy who finds the courage to defy a "whites only" sign and stand up for what he believed in. The storyline was heartwarming and had just the right amount of tension to make me race to the end to find out how Louis fared on his courageous venture. The sweeping artwork, needless to say, was gorgeous and very inspiring. In the back of the book there is an excellent, but brief overview of segregation, a short blurb on President Lincoln and additional recommended book resources. This is a touching tale about courage you won't want to pass up!

Recently shared this book with my third grade class as a mentor text. We discussed the setting and its significance to understanding the characters and their actions. The children truly enjoyed the book and have referred to it in other discussions. We will revisit when we explore the genre of historical fiction.

At school during a class about the Civil War, Louis asked his teacher if President Lincoln shook things up when he was a child. She suggested he find the answer himself. This simple suggestion proved to be the catalyst of an important step toward equal rights in Louis's local community. Restrictive Jim Crow laws in the early 1950s meant that the Alabama town in which Louis lived was racially segregated, so Louis could only use a small library for colored people in the church basement, which had no books on Lincoln. Louis stood firm and bravely entered the "whites only" public library to research his question, ultimately finding the right book and obtaining a temporary library card in the process.

Based loosely on events in the life of congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis, this book offers young learners a clear account of the oppression and injustice that African Americans experienced before the U.S. Supreme Court abolished racial segregation. Engaging text and dramatic illustrations make the book an excellent choice for teachers and parents seeking new picture books about black history and social justice.