Starred Review. Gr 1 4 This account of Lincoln's childhood is written in fast-paced, short sentences. St. George, author of So You Want to Be President? (Philomel, 2000), uses a folksy, conversational style and incorporates old-fashioned words such as "ignoramus" and "dunderheads" to add to the period feel. She chose incidents from Lincoln's life that will help children understand the man he became, demonstrating an early awareness of the feelings of others and a desire for fairness. She also emphasizes how family members, including his mother and stepmother, helped Lincoln to achieve his potential. Faulkner's humorous illustrations are a perfect match for the text. Children accustomed to typically staid photographs of Lincoln will laugh out loud seeing him depicted as a squalling baby and a young boy riding a pet pig. The expressive images are done in a caricature style, with slightly exaggerated hands, feet, and heads. Large and colorful, the visuals sprawl across the spreads as if the action cannot be easily contained. Although the narrative covers only Lincoln's younger years, his adult professional life is summarized in an endnote. Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

This large-format picture book begins with the birth of Abe Lincoln and shows him as a child attending school, making friends, and working on the family farm. After his mother's death devastated the family, Abe's father marries Sally, a widow with three children. Though illiterate, Sally brings books into the household and makes it her business to see that Abe had time for reading and for school, even when his father thought that farmwork should take precedence. Faulkner's gouache paintings dramatize scenes in an inviting manner, with a sense of high spirits and comic exaggeration barely restrained, and, occasionally, not quite restrained. The engaging text makes a narrative of Lincoln's childhood, emphasizing the pivotal role of Sally Lincoln, whose determination not only satisfied Abe's longing for learning but also gave him a path out of poverty. A note on Lincoln's later life and a bibliography are appended. From the Turning Point series, which presents the childhoods of presidents, this offers a vivid introduction to the young Lincoln. Phelan, Carolyn. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.