The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary

by Candace Fleming

Book Overview

The award-winning author of Ben Franklin's Almanac and Our Eleanor has created an enthralling joint biography of our greatest president, Abraham Lincoln, and his complex wife--a scrapbook history that uses photographs, letters, engravings, and even cartoons, along with a fascinating text, to form an enthralling museum on the page. The Lincolns received four starred reviews and won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Non-Fiction,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375836187
• ISBN13: 9780375836183
• Release Date: October 2008
• Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books
• Length: 181 Pages
• Weight: 3.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 9.4" x 11.8"
• Age Range: 10 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 5 and higher

Customer Reviews

terrific Lincoln book for young and old alike

While this scrapbook life of Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd is designed for young readers, the fascinating tidbits about their lives, courtships, time in the White House, their parenting, the Civil War, and Mary's life after Lincoln's assassination, are just as intriguing for adults. I loved the layout of the book, filled with photographs, newspaper clippings, and other period articles, and the brief articles peppering the text never allow the reader to become bored. I had read an adult biography of Lincoln but found this briefer version to be much more readable! The contrasts between the upbringings of Lincoln and his much wealthier Southern wife are well drawn, and we are also treated to how their native intelligence and political ambitions drew them together. A great read for young and old alike, and a wonderful gift for teachers to use in their classrooms.

Thoroughly-researched account, fabulously layed out

Full of photos, clippings, letters, political cartoons, and more, this book offers a comprehensive look at the lives of Abraham Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln in an impressive and thoroughly researched scrapbook-style format. It tells the story of both Abraham and Mary's very different upbringings, their courtship and marriage, Abraham's ascent into politics and his presidency, and much much more. Along the way, Candace Fleming presents many interesting and captivating stories about the Lincolns including Mary's spending habits, Lincoln's love interests before he met Mary, and the tragic deaths of three of their children. What's most impressive is that the writing is not dry. I found myself wanting to read more and enjoyed the fact that the information was presented in chunks and not long, boring, chapters. While some readers may initially be put off by the book's size, they can control how much they want to read, whether it be just browsing or reading the book from cover to cover. While the reading level is for a young audience, it would definitely make a great choice for older history buffs, especially Civil War enthusiasts. I also think it would make an excellent addition to a social studies classroom. Fleming has given us a book that puts a human touch to the lives of the legendary couple in an approachable, entertaining manner.

Outstanding book for Lincoln's 200th Birthday

Candace Fleming brings new insights and a depth of research to create in a beautiful scrapbook design the extraordinary story of Abraham and Mary Lincoln. The books brings to life their story with the benefit of primary resources. Rare photos and illustrations leap out from the pages. It will appeal to all ages and join Our Eleanor in my collection. This book will make a treasured gift as well as a meaningful addition to the Lincoln story. An outstanding book for the Lincoln 200th Anniversary and beyond. This is a well written

Richie's Picks: THE LINCOLNS

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that 'all men are created equal.'" -- Lincoln, from the Gettysburg Address "One February afternoon in 1817, while Abraham's father was away, a flock of turkeys strutted into a clearing outside his cabin. Inside, Abraham grabbed his father's rifle, 'shot through a crack and killed one of them.' Proud of his marksmanship, he raced to collect his prize...then stopped short. The turkey, he saw, was beautiful! Guilt washed over him. How could he have killed something so majestic? 'My early start as a hunter,' he later recalled, 'was never much improved afterward.' In fact, he never again 'pulled a trigger on any larger game.'" Early in the morning, one hundred and forty-three years ago today (April 15), Abraham Lincoln, having been shot the previous evening by John Wilkes Booth in Ford's Theater, died across the street from the theater in Petersen's Boarding House. Mary Lincoln, his wife of thirty-two years, never really recovered from that night. Mary, in contrast to Abraham's oft-told humble beginnings, was brought up with "piano lessons, Persian rugs, and slaves to wait on her." Mary was an unusual young woman for her time because she was exceptionally well-educated: "After reading Wollstonecraft's book [A Vindication of the Rights of Woman], Mary's father was convinced Mary should receive 'a substantial rather than ornamental education.' While his other daughters were also given formal educations, it was Mary -- with her sharp mind -- who studied mathematics and philosophy. Of course, Mr.Todd didn't expect his daughter to use this education; she wasn't going to take up a profession. He believed its purpose was to attract a better husband." And who did she attract? "Tall and gawky, wearing a swallowtail coat that was too short, shabbily patched trousers, and mismatched socks, Abraham made his way to Mary's side. 'Miss Todd,' he said, 'I want to dance with you in the worst way.' And, as Mary remembered it, 'he certainly did.'" As with Candace Flemings previous scrapbook-style biographies on Ben Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, THE LINCOLNS is a must-have for anyone serving ten- through fourteen-year-olds. What more could one hope for from a biography than accuracy, readability, excellent timelines and source notes, rarely-if-ever-seen images, and relevance to the Twenty-first Century lives of readers? But unlike the Ben Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt stories, which feel so triumphant because their subjects succeed in living long, satisfying, and productive lives, THE LINCOLNS is a true story that seems to begin with great potential and hope and eventually becomes an incredibly tragic tale: Hundreds of thousands die in the War Between the States. Abraham and Mary repeatedly lose their children at terribly young ages. Abraham is assassinated. Mary is swallowed up in embarrassing financial a

Fantastic Layout of Fascinating Lives

Candace Fleming had already won me over with her biography, Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt's Remarkable Life, so I was excited to read The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary. Fleming not only did not disappoint, she exceeded my expectations with this rich and impressive peek into the lives of Abraham and Mary Lincoln. I read every page and every caption that explained the history from birth to death of these amazing individuals. Everyone knows the basic history of Abraham Lincoln, but the author went far beyond log cabins and Ford's Theatre. She delved into the individual relationships between Abraham and the many people who were a part of his life, most importantly, his relationship with his wife. Mary had such a fascinating background that much of the book discussed her own upbringing and her role in making Abraham who and what he was. No stone was left unturned in this biography. A balanced view of the positive and negative aspects of each personality trait and action was presented, giving readers the scoop on subjects often skimmed by in general American history. Aside from engaging, storytelling-style writing, readers can look forward to accompanying illustrations that don't frequent other Lincoln biographies. Dozens and dozens of photographs of the Lincolns, their children, their homes, and their companions fill the pages, along with copies of letters written in their own hands, receipts for purchases, ledgers, and famous speeches. I came away from this biography feeling well-informed and satisfied. The book will have a permanent place on my bookshelf, right next to Our Eleanor, with future space left for Ms. Fleming's next brilliant creation. This review is cross posted from YA ( & Kids) Books Central: www.yabookscentral.com