Lincoln and His Boys [Hardcover]

Rosemary Wells (Author), P.J. Lynch (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

A warm, moving portrait of Abraham Lincoln told through the eyes of his children and captured in exquisite full-color illustrations.

Historians claim him as one of America’s most revered presidents. But to his rambunctious sons, Abraham Lincoln was above all a playful and loving father. Here is Lincoln as seen by two of his boys: Willie, thrilled to be on his first train trip when Lincoln was deciding to run for president; Willie and Tad barging into Cabinet meetings to lift Lincoln’s spirits in the early days of the Civil War, Tad accompanying him to Richmond just after the South’s defeat. With the war raging and the Union under siege, we see history unfolding through Willie’s eyes and then through Tad’s -- and we see Lincoln rising above his own inborn sadness and personal tragedy through his devotion to his sons. With evocative and engaging illustrations by P.J. Lynch, Rosemary Wells offers a carefully researched biography that gives us a Lincoln not frozen in time but accessible and utterly real.

Celebrate the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth, February 2009

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Inspired by a 200-word fragment written by one of Lincoln's sons, Wells (Mary on Horseback) introduces the legendary president through the perspectives of his youngest children, Willie and Tad. Nine years old when the book opens, in Springfield, Ill., Willie accompanies his father to Chicago, where, as Willie puts it, "spiffed-up men with soft hands" decide that Lincoln should run for president: "It's a derby race, and I've got a plow horse's chance," Lincoln tells his son. The family vernacular will win readers quickly, as will Lincoln's readiness to indulge his boys and let them see him at work. Darkness enters gradually: on the train to Washington, Pinkerton agents whisk Lincoln off, in disguise ("a lot of shicoonery," he tells the boys), to foil an assassination plot; the outbreak of war grieves Lincoln; and then the death of Willie in 1862 devastates Mary Lincoln. Wells ends as Lincoln and Tad return from a trip to Richmond, Va., at the close of the Civil War, and Lincoln orders the Union band to play "Dixie." Rarely does a biography so robustly engage the audience's emotions. Final art, in color, not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3–6—Inspired by a 200-word essay by Willie Lincoln, Wells offers a fictional account of Lincoln and his boys. Written first from Willie's point of view, then Tad's after Willie dies, it's a touching account of Lincoln as a patient and loving father, ready with a story, and in possession of infinite tolerance where his sons are concerned. Conversations between him and his boys shed light on what's happening at the time and on Lincoln's straightforward manner. "There are a hundred reasons why things happen, Willie. Those reasons fan out like circles around a stone thrown into a pond. The stone in the center of those reason rings is called truth. Truth is the very hardest thing on earth to see clear." Occasional colloquialisms like "four-flusher," "shicoonery," and "haberdasher" might challenge young readers, but in context the ideas are clear. Lynch captures the people and the warmth of their interactions in carefully researched oil paintings that reflect his mastery with light, perspective, and portraiture. The story closes with Lincoln's last speech, Tad at his side, while he instructs the band to play "Dixie." Presenting the president from his children's viewpoint brings both the family and the times to life.—Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick; Library Binding edition (December 9, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763637238
• ISBN-13: 978-0763637231
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 0.5 x 8.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 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: #631,007 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fifth grade book review, February 25, 2010

By 

B. Baldwin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lincoln and His Boys (Hardcover)

Lincoln and his boys is a book about Abraham Lincoln before and after he was president of the United States. My favorite part in the book is at the end when all the freed slaves come together thanking Abraham Lincoln.I would totally recommend this book! (Haley)

I just finished reading Lincoln and His Boys.It was about Lincoln running for the president.The book had lots of detail.Lincoln took Tad almost everywhere he went.Then they moved to Washington D.C..Then Willy and Tad got the fever after being there for a while.Willy died and he was the youngest brother to. Everybody was sad mostly his mom she always wore black once he died she would always cry to.Then they won the Civil War.It is a very good book and I think everybody should read it. (Sabrina)

The book Lincoln and His Boys is a dramatic,funny book.One of my favorite parts was when the Civil War ended.The reason i liked that part is because everyone was happy and celebrating the end of the Civil War.One of my least favorite parts was when Willie died.Willie is one of Abraham Lincoln's son.Taddie is the other son,and Bon is the oldest son.Another one of my least favorite parts was when the Civil War began.The reason that was one of my least favorite part is because Abraham Lincoln seemed so depressed.I think that this book was probably one of my favorite books.It was a great book ! (Christina)

I think Lincoln And His Boys is a very heart warming story. The plot of the book is that Abraham Lincoln started out as running for President against a man named Mr. Douglas. Lincoln has a wife and a couple of kids. They start out as a farm family and then Lincoln runs again as President. Abraham Lincoln wins the election. Now his family and himself was very happy and knew their life was bound to change.The Civil War started right when Lincoln became President. Then Lincoln has to be a great ruler and great dad. Tad and Willie find friends, Bud and Holly, and build a fort. Lincoln wants to have General Robert E. Lee on as a general on his side and not the South. ( General Lee is on the South side of the war.) Tad gets a fever and dies of it. Mother cries for days , weeks, and even months. After a while Mother gets a hold.The war ends and Lincoln has a speech. Everything ends out well.I think you should check this book out and read it because it is a very good book. (Jodie)

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clearly the Best..., January 6, 2010

By 

Portianay "portianay" (KY, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Lincoln and His Boys (Hardcover)

.. .choice for demonstrating to the young reader of either gender the toll that the heartache and pressures of the Civil War took on Lincoln. To the reviewer who complains that this is somehow so fictionalized it is "not fair" to the young reader--huh? The author even includes a note at the end explaining her documentation. Nitpicking away at the sterling quality of this book is what is not fair, in my opinion.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, February 10, 2009

By 

C. DaBell (Utah USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lincoln and His Boys (Hardcover)

This is a beautiful book. I knew Lincoln was cool, but I had no idea how cool. I loved the voice and the way Wells fleshed out real facts to tell such a wonderful story.