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  • Abe’s Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln
  • Elizabeth Bush
Rappaport, Doreen; Abe’s Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln; illus. by Kadir Nelson. Hyperion, 2008; [44p] ISBN 978-1-4231-0408-7 $16.99 Reviewed from galleys R 6–9 yrs

In time for the Lincoln bicentennial, Rappaport reprises the successful format of Martin’s Big Words (BCCB 1/02), which introduced the life and eloquence of the civil rights activist to elementary grade children. Able storytelling, informal but never folksy, lays out the essential Lincoln biography in one fluid sweep, interrupted only by the subject’s own words, aptly selected to showcase both better- and lesser-known speech excerpts and observations. For instance, when the narration simply notes, “He became a lawyer. His clients praised ‘Honest Old Abe. . . .” Lincoln adds, “Resolve to be honest at all events, and if you cannot be an honest lawyer, resolve to be honest without being a lawyer. Choose some other occupation.” Nelson’s paintings, often three-quarter-spread images, are equally capable of presenting Lincoln as a national icon and as a small-town guy made good. Much of the power of the compositions comes from attention to the responses of citizens who listen to his speeches with expressions of intense interest, trust, or outright skepticism. A timeline, a copy of the Gettysburg Address, and a bibliography are appended, as well as a list of children’s books for further reading. Expect this title to see plenty of circulation well beyond February 12th, 2009.

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