Mr. Lincoln's Boys [Hardcover]

Staton Rabin (Author), Bagram Ibatoulline (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

In celebration of Abraham Lincoln?s two hundredth birthday comes this breathtakingly illustrated picture book about the president and his two youngest sons. Tad and Willie Lincoln were mischievous pranksters who treated the White House as their personal playground. They tormented nearly everyone they encountered?except their doting father. Even when they demanded a full presidential pardon for their soldier doll, he was happy to oblige. For him, the boys were a welcome distraction from the looming Civil War. Based on true events, Mr. Lincoln?s Boys reveals a playful side of one of history?s greatest presidents.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 1–4—Tad and Willie, the mischievous sons of President Abraham Lincoln, scampered around the White House surprising and irritating almost everyone. Their pranks, however, delighted their father, who was faced with the grim realities of the Civil War. After an introductory few pages that will help children understand the historical context, Rabin strings several stories together. One time the boys rigged all the service bells in the attic to ring at once, causing both chaos and concern: "Servants rushed up and down the stairs, wondering who had called them," and Lincoln's secretaries feared a national crisis. Another time, they interrupted a serious war-planning meeting with a general, bouncing on their father's knees, pulling his nose and creating such a commotion that the frustrated general finally said, "Mr. President, can't you do something about those rascals?!" to which Lincoln replied, "Let the children have a good time." Rabin includes the story of the pardoning of Jack, the children's doll that, dressed like a flashy Zouave soldier, committed many military infractions. An extensive author's note explains that the incident was drawn from Tad Lincoln's Father, written by Julia Taft, a family friend who often served as the boys' nanny. Fictionalized dialogue throughout is believable. A large part of the appeal of this book can be credited to Ibatoulline's masterful illustrations. Evocative and detailed, they fill the pages with visual information and emotion. Readers will be intrigued by the antics of these famous children.—Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI
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From Booklist

Admitting to minor invention but in general sticking to historical records, Rabin portrays Lincoln’s rambunctious young sons Tad and Willie roaming freely about the early Civil War White House—irritating officials, playing pranks on the staff, and bursting in on their indulgent father for horseplay or, once, to request a “pardon” for an offending toy soldier. Drawing from contemporary photos and prints, Ibatoulline crafts finely detailed, sepia-tone period scenes, populated by excellent likenesses of Lincoln and other historical figures. Closing with notes on most of the people and incidents in the book, plus a digestible list of further sources, this glimpse of Lincoln as a family man makes a memorable entry in the upcoming rush of titles issued to celebrate next year’s 200th anniversary of his birth. Grades 2-4. --John Peters

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 36 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (October 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670061697
• ISBN-13: 978-0670061693
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #365,361 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll fall in love with the Abraham Lincoln's two michievous troublemakers!, July 18, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mr. Lincoln's Boys (Hardcover)

Tad and Willie were a couple of mischievous troublemakers and nobody could do anything about it because they were Abraham Lincoln's sons. He was very lenient with them and loved their naughty ways, much to the chagrin of others. For example, if he were consulting with an important general, the boys would jump in his lap, pinch their father's cheeks and pull his nose. "Mr. President, can't you do something about those rascals?" He would just laugh and say, "Let the children have a good time."

It wasn't an easy time for little boys to be growing up in 1861 soldiers were everywhere. The boys still were able to be boys and "loved to pull clever pranks." Willie was the oldest by two years, but Tad was the ringleader. Once they "rigged all the signal bells in the attic to ring at once." It must have been quite a sight to see all the servants running hither and thither! They played more serious games as well. They had a "soldier doll" named Jack. The doll was dressed up in a Zoauve uniform and that doll got into more trouble than those two boys ever thought of doing. Enough was enough and the doll soldier was destined to be executed (again). Would the president pardon him or would he shoo the boys away?

This is a very interesting story that reflects the personalities of not only Tad and Willie Lincoln, but also their indulgent, but loving father. The beautifully executed, slightly darkened art work gives the story that serious "period" feel of the Civil War. This story is based on factual material relayed by Julia Taft Bayne, a young girl who very close to the Lincoln family when the boys were mischievous pranksters. In the back of the book there is additional material about the characters, the history behind the story and additional recommended internet resources. This chipper story make history come alive for the young reader!