The award-winning author of Ben Franklin’s Almanac and Our Eleanor has created an enthralling joint biography of our greatest ...
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reviews
May 18, 2008
Monica
rated it: 
First of all, I admit that I've become friendly with the author. (She wrote me one of my very few fan letters for my book about teaching with primary sources: Seeking History.) But I'd known and admired her Ben Franklin's Almanac before she ever wrote me and some of her other picture books as well. (Her book, also in scrapbook style, about Eleanor Roosevelt, is also terrific.)
But back to The Lincolns. This is a fantastic way to learn about this particular iconic First Couple. I l More...
But back to The Lincolns. This is a fantastic way to learn about this particular iconic First Couple. I l More...
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Nov 17, 2010
Esther
rated it: 
Published in 2008 by Schwartz & Wade
Interest Level: 7-12th Grade
This is a great informational text about the complete biography of Abraham and Mary Lincoln. The extensive research that Candace Fleming did about the Lincolns and her passion for the Lincolns pours through the book. There is a clear table of contents, the bibliography, index, many subheadings, and use of archival photographs throughout the book are some of the many great features of this text. Additionally, this t More...
Interest Level: 7-12th Grade
This is a great informational text about the complete biography of Abraham and Mary Lincoln. The extensive research that Candace Fleming did about the Lincolns and her passion for the Lincolns pours through the book. There is a clear table of contents, the bibliography, index, many subheadings, and use of archival photographs throughout the book are some of the many great features of this text. Additionally, this t More...
Oct 04, 2009
Duone
rated it: 
I chose this book in an effort to branch out. First of all, even though I live in the "Land of Lincoln" and know the basic outlines of Honest Abe's life, I don't know much about the details. Also, I have almost zero experience with history books designed for children and adolescents.
I liked that this book isn't a typical history book. As the title implies, the book is laid out like a series of articles about Abe and Mary that were clipped and added to a scrapbook. The b More...
I liked that this book isn't a typical history book. As the title implies, the book is laid out like a series of articles about Abe and Mary that were clipped and added to a scrapbook. The b More...
Nov 17, 2009
Katy
rated it:
From Booklist
*Starred Review* Using the same innovative scrapbook format employed in Ben Franklin’s Almanac (2003) and Our Eleanor (2005), Fleming offers another standout biographical title, this time twining accounts of two lives—Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln—into one fascinating whole. On spreads that combine well-chosen visuals with blocks of headlined text, Fleming gives a full, birth-to-death view of the “inextricably bound” Lincolns. Once again, Fleming humanizes her subjects and off More...
*Starred Review* Using the same innovative scrapbook format employed in Ben Franklin’s Almanac (2003) and Our Eleanor (2005), Fleming offers another standout biographical title, this time twining accounts of two lives—Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln—into one fascinating whole. On spreads that combine well-chosen visuals with blocks of headlined text, Fleming gives a full, birth-to-death view of the “inextricably bound” Lincolns. Once again, Fleming humanizes her subjects and off More...
Dec 11, 2008
Amy
rated it:
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The book is done in a scrapbook fashion. There are drawings, photographs, maps and cartoons all done in b & w, which would be appropriate for the time. There are stories that are 1/4, 1/2 or a page long and than other little snippets of info. scattered in between.
Some info. that I really appreciated:
"Man's Best Friend" (pg. 8)
Abraham borrowed, read, and returned every book he could get his hands on. Over and over he t More...
Some info. that I really appreciated:
"Man's Best Friend" (pg. 8)
Abraham borrowed, read, and returned every book he could get his hands on. Over and over he t More...
May 18, 2010
Al_ryanleagre
rated it:
This book allows teenagers to understand the Lincoln's in ways which most books can't for young readers. It follows both Abraham and Mary throughout their incredible journey to the White House and beyond, with all the little twists and turns that students usually don't hear about. One of the nicest things about it is that its broken into small excerpts rather than chapters, and there is almost always a picture that accompanies each section. Another great aspect of this book is that it reveals
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Sep 13, 2009
Jane
rated it:
After reading this book I feel as if I have spent some time with the Lincolns. Through photographs, articles, letters, etc. this book gives a more personal look at Abraham and Mary. For Mary especially I gained a deeper sense of compassion for all of the struggles that followed mulitple tragedies in her personal life. Rather than the way that she is frequently dismissed in popular history as a shallow, somewhat crazy consumer this portrayal helps to flesh out some of her complexities, her sha
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Mar 04, 2009
Toby
rated it:
I'm liking this book very much - lots of photos, personal information, i.e. Mary Lincoln's wedding ring was inscribed 'Love is Eternal', primary source documents and an old-fashioned typeface - but for kids, it may be TMI.
After three weeks, I've picked The Lincolns up again and read through to the end. It's not that I don't like the scrapbook style of the joint biography of Abraham and Mary Lincoln. It's just that it lends itself to browsing, rather than reading cover to cover. More...
After three weeks, I've picked The Lincolns up again and read through to the end. It's not that I don't like the scrapbook style of the joint biography of Abraham and Mary Lincoln. It's just that it lends itself to browsing, rather than reading cover to cover. More...
Nov 07, 2010
Ci546_lynetteshabana
rated it:
This is an amazing collection of photographed artifacts interwoven in chronological order with concise, but interesting expository narrative. The layout attempts to honor the "old courthouse" style with the book being on legal size paper with thin margins. The font and clip art also emulates the graphics of the Lincoln era. The book is not only provides valuable historical documentation; it is also a work of achival art. Lincoln is always a subject of awe and seems to inspire never
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May 15, 2010
Erin
rated it:
This book is a nice resource for anyone looking to learn about the full lives of Mary Todd and Abraham Lincoln. For the student who isn’t interested in picking up a more subsentive biography this is a nice alternative that is rich with information, great primary sources, and pictures. The pages are sometimes hard to follow, as there is so much information packed onto one page that the eye tends to wander around. I think it is a lovely book for any Lincoln enthusiast and someone curious to lea
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Feb 28, 2011
Angie
rated it:
This is a really fascinating biography of the Lincolns. I love the style of the book. The scrapbook style with the small chunks of information made it so much easier to absorb the information that long chapters of just text. And Fleming packed the book with primary sources. This is a great way to learn for younger readers who would get bored easily - this way they can read as much or as little as they want or they can jump around through the newspaper style of the book. I really appreciated the
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Dec 06, 2011
Jeremy
rated it:
non-fiction - 2008
This is just an incredibly in depth (almost invasion of privacy deep) look at the life of both Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary. I even learned that Abe didn't like spanking his kids. He would rather hug than spank. I was also horrified to learn that Mary was declared insane in court because her own son paid off witnesses. (Although, now that I think of it, I think I learned that once upon a time.)
This book is full of newspaper clippings, photos, paintin More...
This is just an incredibly in depth (almost invasion of privacy deep) look at the life of both Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary. I even learned that Abe didn't like spanking his kids. He would rather hug than spank. I was also horrified to learn that Mary was declared insane in court because her own son paid off witnesses. (Although, now that I think of it, I think I learned that once upon a time.)
This book is full of newspaper clippings, photos, paintin More...
Dec 05, 2008
Anne
rated it:
This beautiful and comprehensive "scrapbook look at Abraham and Mary" is filled with fascinating trivia, fun facts, photos and memorabilia that bring alive the lives of the Lincolns. At the same time as the reader learns their personal stories, s/he gets an excellent overview of the nation and its troubled history before,during and after the Civil War. Fleming has done incredible scholarship to provide this resource which should give readers a wider window into the man who may have bee
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Sep 24, 2009
Jess
rated it:
Looking through this book is like looking through old family photos and letters - only with excellent research, stories, anecdotes, and ephemera. Oh, and if your ancestors happened to be the Lincolns. While Abraham often takes the spotlight, especially during the chapters dealing with the Civil War, Fleming never neglects Mary and we get an excellent sense of both her early life, before marriage and as a young wife, and her life after the assassination. The format allows Fleming to both tell
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Jan 01, 2009
Jill
rated it:
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 storie More...
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 storie More...
Jun 03, 2008
Lynn
rated it:
Another marvelous book from Candace Fleming. I truly enjoy her "scrapbook" approach and started the book by dipping in and reading here and there. Within several pages though I was so engaged that I settled down to read it straight through. Fleming's writing is lively and immediate yet completely respectful of her audience. She always provides the essential historical background but I never felt that she was writing down to her audience. The pivotal information about the Civil Wa
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Feb 12, 2011
Jeanette
rated it:
What I loved most about this book is that it was not just another book about Abraham Lincoln but as the title implies was about both Abraham and Mary. It was very interesting to get a look at Mary along side her husband.
I also loved the scrapbook format of this book. It is absolutely full of interesting photographs, paintings, newspaper clippings and images of documents. Have a gander at Grant's hand written terms of surrender from Appomattox Court House or a copy of a draft from the Getty More...
I also loved the scrapbook format of this book. It is absolutely full of interesting photographs, paintings, newspaper clippings and images of documents. Have a gander at Grant's hand written terms of surrender from Appomattox Court House or a copy of a draft from the Getty More...
Nov 16, 2010
CI_546 Octavia
rated it:
I truly enjoyed this book. I thought that is it was written in a very unique way with the documents from that era on the Lincoln family.I did enjoy the pictures especially the the picture of Mary with Abraham's spirit in the background. It was a very interesting book.
In the classroom, the students could do reports on the characters from the text. It could be used as a resource for an Abraham or Mary Lincoln biography.
I like informational text because they are easy to navigate More...
In the classroom, the students could do reports on the characters from the text. It could be used as a resource for an Abraham or Mary Lincoln biography.
I like informational text because they are easy to navigate More...
May 29, 2009
Erin
rated it:
An absolutely fascinating look into the lives of Abraham and Mary Lincoln. Alternately intriguing and heartbreaking, the words and images combine to sometimes leave you startled, annoyed, or even devastated for this well known pair. Though, after reading this, I feel like I had never really known anything about them. Several pictures (of people on gallows) also left me feeling sick. It's been awhile since I've had such a strong reaction to a book. I am all about reading more fiction i More...
Dec 07, 2008
The stories of their lives before the presidency are fascinating, mostly new to me, and illustrated with homely historical details through Fleming's careful selection of images. The scrapbook style is great for browsing. Until I read this book I had no idea that Lincoln had so little political experience before he was elected president, nor that Mary had come down so far in society when she married him. (The book does include the full story through the presidency, Civil War, assassination, and a
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Mar 31, 2009
Janis
rated it:
Children's author Fleming (of Muncha Muncha fame) tells the Lincoln story in sidebar-fashion. I enjoyed the fascinating and homey details of Lincoln's family life and also the period photos and paintings but wondered if the presentation would work for the book's intended juvenile audience.
Jan 12, 2009
Leigh
rated it:
Excellent non-fiction guide to both Abraham Lincoln and his wife. There are plenty of rare photographs, interesting stories and blunt first hand accounts of both the Lincoln's strengths and weaknesses. There are plenty of source notes, web links, and the writing style is interesting.
May 14, 2009
Carol Ann
rated it:
After reading numerous biographies of both Lincolns, this book was filled with little facts that I had never read about and there are photos that I have never seens. I love the format and the ease of reading. This is a Juvenile Biography, but there is nothing juvenile about the book.
May 11, 2009
Charlou
rated it:
The kid was a big fan of Lincoln at one time and we have visited Lincoln sites in Springfield and D.C. and I learned even more reading this book. The scrapbook format doesn't mean this is light, easy reading, there is depth here. As the title says, this is also Mary's tragic story.
Nov 08, 2010
The book is well written and formated so that the reader can reap the fruits of new knowledge through its inclusion of primary sources, referencing resources for future research, and relevant images. I would welcome this read to into today's classroom without hesitation.
Jun 07, 2010
Somona
rated it:
Author: Candace Fleming
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade
Genre: Information Book
Summary: Everything you could possibly want to know about Abraham and Mary Lincoln.
Response: I think this book provides a lot of great information. I’m also a fan of scrapbooks so I like the design of the book. However, I think that from a young students’ point of view the vast amount of information might be a bit overwhelming and the black/white photos and sketches boring to look at.
Theme, More...
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade
Genre: Information Book
Summary: Everything you could possibly want to know about Abraham and Mary Lincoln.
Response: I think this book provides a lot of great information. I’m also a fan of scrapbooks so I like the design of the book. However, I think that from a young students’ point of view the vast amount of information might be a bit overwhelming and the black/white photos and sketches boring to look at.
Theme, More...
May 09, 2011
Kate
rated it:
I loved the scrap book format of the book. The amount of research put into this book is phenomenal. What an amazing and fun non-fiction read! Candace Fleming is brilliant and one of the few authors that can get me to read non-fiction!
Jul 10, 2009
EL
rated it:
Well written. Candace Fleming has provided a well told human portrait of the Linclon family. Very accessible for young readers. Photographs and illustrations are fantastic. Highly recommended for young history enthusiasts.
Apr 04, 2009
Informational Book Bibliography: Civil War- This book includes pictures and narrative of Abraham Lincoln and his wife, Mary,through their triumphs and trials during the time of the Civil War and Lincoln's Presidency.
Aug 09, 2010
Ellen
rated it:
Borrowed this from the school library....great photos and fun facts. Maybe a slightly lower level than high school but I really did learn a lot about the Lincolns that I didn't know!
