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When Jack and Annie got back from their adventure in Magic Tree House #47: Abe Lincoln at Last!, they had lots of questions. What was it like to grow up in a log cabin? How did Lincoln become president? What was his family like? Why did the US fight the Civil War? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Jack and Annie track the facts. Filled with up-to-date information, photos, illustrations, and fun tidbits from Jack and Annie, the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers are the perfect way for kids to find out more about the topics they discovered in their favorite Magic Tree House adventures.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

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About the author

Mary Pope Osborne

539 books2,673 followers
Mary Pope Osborne is an American author of children's books and audiobook narrator. She is best known as the author of the Magic Tree House series, which as of 2017 sold more than 134 million copies worldwide. Both the series and Osborne have won awards, including for Osborne's charitable efforts at promoting children's literacy. One of four children, Osborne moved around in her childhood before attending the University of North Carolina. Following college, Osborne traveled before moving to New York City. She somewhat spontaneously began to write, and her first book was published in 1982. She went on to write a variety of other children's and young adult books before starting the Magic Tree House series in 1992. Osborne's sister Natalie Pope Boyce has written several compendium books to the Magic Tree House series, sometimes with Osborne's husband Will Osborne.

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5 stars
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80 (17%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
Profile Image for Melissa Pedersen.
6 reviews1 follower
July 20, 2019
Greatest history book ever

I loved this book it was amazing so cool loved reading it just a great book best best book ever
-Erik
Profile Image for Dolly.
Author 1 book670 followers
July 2, 2012
This is another informative book in the series of Research Guides (now known as Fact Trackers), companion books to the Magic Tree House stories. This book is the companion book to Abe Lincoln At Last!. We have loved these books and read as many as we can get at our local library.

This book offers an in-depth look at the life of Abraham Lincoln. We learn about his humble beginnings, his love for reading and learning, his family and the interesting, fortunate and tragic events of his life. We thought it was quite ironic that one of the most revered Presidents of our nation was considered not worthy to marry his wife by his in-laws. Overall, we found this book interesting and educational.

I think these books are great for elementary school-age children, especially if they are doing a report or want to learn more about a topic. It's a bit long to read all at one time, but we were fascinated by the topic. We really enjoyed reading it together - it was a fun library ebook read on our iPad.
Profile Image for Lisa Ard.
Author 5 books95 followers
May 16, 2012
Young readers will enjoy all the basic facts about Abraham Lincoln plus interesting stories that convey the temperament and character of one of our most famous presidents.

What was Lincoln's experience with slavery? What type of father was he? What jobs did he have before becoming US President? And what's up with the beard?

Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce provide short, interesting segments covering Lincoln's life. Elaborate illustrations and photographs complement the passages. For more information on Lincoln, the authors include in the back of the book listings of books, dvds, museums and landmarks and recommended internet sites.
Profile Image for Joey.
7 reviews
June 29, 2012
It was amazing. I recommend it to Nate and Ben.
Profile Image for Kristen Griffis.
120 reviews
August 29, 2024
Fantastic book and one of JJ’s favorites so far. A few difficult topics to end up having to discuss with him as a result, but he’s better informed because of it.
Profile Image for Peter.
884 reviews4 followers
October 25, 2023
In 2011, Mary Pope Osborne and her sister Natalie Pope Boyce published the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers entitled Abraham Lincoln. This book is a nonfiction research guide to the book entitled Abe Lincoln At Last! by Mary Pope Osborne which was published in 2011. The book is an introduction to the life of Abraham Lincoln for young people. Hopefully, this book allows the reader to do more research into the life of Abraham Lincoln. The illustrator for this book was Sal Murdocca. Similar to the other books in the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers series, the book has a section on how to do more research for young readers about Abraham Lincoln. The book has an index and includes photo credits. The book had a historical consultant and an educational consultant. Osborne and Boyce seem to really enjoy researching the life of Lincoln. The black and white photographs of the places where Lincoln lived. I enjoyed that part of the book. The historical consultant is the curator of Lincoln’s collection at Abraham Lincoln’s Presidential Library and Museum. I believe Osborne’s and Boyce’s Abraham Lincoln is a good introduction to the life of Abraham Lincoln for young people, that hopefully inspires the reader to do more research into the life of Lincoln.
Profile Image for Grace  =^_^=.
224 reviews29 followers
July 1, 2025
For younger readers, but provides a sufficient introduction for adults who know little about this famous American president and American history too. I'm a Canadian reader who seems to be going through a U.S. Presidents phase.

The book includes illustrations AND actual photographs, which I appreciated. Photos of his wife Mary, sons, his home in Springfield, Illinois, etc.

One of the big surprises for me was learning about how some Southern states seceded to form a separate nation called the Confederate States of America! They feared the impact of ending slavery on their livelihoods. Soon after the Civil War began. Of course I had heard of the American Civil War but didn't know the who, what, why, etc.

My curiosity has definitely been whetted, but I think I'm ready for an "adult" biography with more details and nuance. Although I am curious to compare this book to the Who Was...? nonfiction children's book on Abraham Lincoln.
622 reviews
April 14, 2019
Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce have managed to make an overworked historical biography more interesting in their biographical version in Magic Tree House Fact Tracker Abraham Lincoln. This little book contains seven short chapters with wonderful, delightful and insightful accounts of the 16th president of the United States from before his birth to the times of his various moves within the states which eventually led to the White House. No book about Lincoln, however, would be complete if it didn't sadden you to think that his greatest accomplishment in keeping the union together cost him his life.
2 reviews
August 28, 2020
It took me just about one and a half hour to read this brief biography about Abraham Lincoln. It’s attractive and easy to understand. Lincoln was kind, brave and honest when he was a child, even though he was poor. What touch me most is the mild narrative throughout the book that the author didn’t modeled him as an over exaggerated generalissimo, which is quite common in the textbook of some Eastern Asia countries.
Profile Image for Joan.
524 reviews9 followers
February 28, 2019
I’ve read many Lincoln biographies and autobiographies, but this children’s fact book is very good. Reiterates the circumstances of Lincoln’s road to the presidency without overwhelming children with unnecessary facts.
Profile Image for Shadoe Hare.
48 reviews
September 14, 2019
While it's intended as a teen book, I thought it was very informative and had lots of stuff about Lincoln I didn't know myself.
Profile Image for Laurel Pate.
576 reviews2 followers
December 27, 2019
Hate that President Lincoln was shot terrible way to go. He gave us lots of lessons and got the United States united again.
Profile Image for Zaraj.
26 reviews
February 3, 2020
This was an amazing book. The life of Abraham Lincoln really shown through the book and he was a real hero to the United States. Great book.
1,207 reviews
November 14, 2021
I love these books. I say it every time but they are really brilliantly done. I learned a lot about Abraham Lincoln.
Profile Image for Spinster.
486 reviews
February 4, 2023
One of the better fact trackers. This is a decent little bio of Abe Lincoln.
58 reviews6 followers
January 4, 2026
Quick, easy, accurate. Copies of actual photographs and famous paintings embellish the text. great for teaching about Lincoln and his life.
17 reviews
July 22, 2013
Audience: Primary
Genre: Historical Non-fiction (e-Book available from OPL eBooks)

Twin Text:Lincoln and Grace: Why Abraham Lincoln Grew a Beard
By Steve Metzger, Ann Kronheimer
Synopsis from Goodreads):
Abraham Lincoln is one of the most recognizable people, let alone presidents, in the history of the United States. Perhaps it's because his face can be seen everywhere from the $5 bill in your wallet and the penny in your pocket to national monuments across the country. Or maybe it's simply because of his signature beard. Could you ever picture Lincoln without it? I bet you would never guess that there is one little girl in particular to thank for Lincoln's beard.
LINCOLN AND GRACE is the story of Grace Bedell--the eleven-year-old who got a President to listen to her advice. In addition to learning the fascinating true story behind Lincoln's beard, children will love it because it shows that one voice--even one as small as their own--can matter.

How this book enhances my non-fiction selection:
I chose Lincoln and Grace: Why Abraham Lincoln Grew a Beard because it is a great way to introduce Abraham Lincoln to students. It is a historical fiction book, but, there are many facts in it as well. I looked up reviews and some say it is fiction and others say it is non-fiction. I'm leaning towards fiction. The story about Grace asking Lincoln to grow a beard is factual, but the letters she wrote and the dialogue with her parents was not factual.

In my non-fiction eBook (Abraham Lincoln (Magic Tree House Fact Tracker, #25), Osborne writes about how this same exact event took place. Right before the election, Grace wrote to Lincoln asking him to grow a beard because no other president had one. He wrote her back and after the election, he had a beard. Lincoln and Grace: Why Abraham Lincoln Grew a Beard could be intended for grades 1-3 and could be used as a great activity for the classroom. This is where I think it would influence teachers to have students write a letter to President Obama about concerns they have or asking him to grow a beard as well. This activity would go over well with teachers because there would be millions of different questions looming from students. It would be fun activity.
9 reviews1 follower
March 26, 2015
Biography

As a kid I had every single Magic Tree House book available to me at the time so I was pleased to see that there are these new nonfiction fact tracker companion books to go along with the traditional MTH books. Children will love reading about the life of the little, weak baby who grew up to become one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States. Children will be amazed to learn that Abraham Lincoln (whose own father didn’t care much for a proper education) would walk 4.5 miles each way just to go to school and that before he became president Lincoln worked at a general store, delivered mail and even had a patent for an invention. This book provides children with an in-depth look at Abraham Lincoln’s entire life not just the life he had as a United States president.

I think that this book would be a great resource for a child writing a report about Abraham Lincoln. The information is introduced in a way that will keep the child interested in reading about the facts especially if the child is not used to reading non-fiction materials.
13 reviews
October 1, 2013
This is the companion book to the Jack and Annie Book – Abe Lincoln At Last.

It is filled with facts related to Abe Lincoln. Unlike other non-fiction books, it is narrated by the characters of the fiction book. This ties in emergent readers. It contains new words in a "non-threatening" and fun way for our new readers.

The facts are checked. It is a reliable source. Children enjoy reading it - as well as parents. It will stretch new readers and is appropriate for any age group that can read the book. It also sparks discover and builds upon prior knowledge - two areas key for reading for content. It is appropriate for elementary school and remedial reading in middle school.

This is an excellent way to develop a non-fiction reader from a fiction reader. For those students that only like fiction, you can introduce the fiction book and follow up with this non-fiction book. It is a great tie-in for research.
Profile Image for Jenn M.
187 reviews17 followers
January 15, 2015
This book is a companion Fact Tracker book for the Magic Tree House series. My kids love the Magic Tree House fictional stories, but they love to "check the facts" in the accompanying fact trackers. We recently completed a holiday road trip to Illinois, driving from St. Louis to the Wisconsin border, and traveled directly through the heart of Abraham Lincoln's "land." The kids got interested in our 16th President from seeing the many road signs advertising attractions highlighting Lincoln's life and accomplishments.

I read the book to ensure that the treatment of more mature subjects (slavery, emancipation, civil rights, assassination) were handled in a kid-friendly manner, and was pleased with Osborne's presentation. I even learned a couple of tidbits that I had not known before. I am particularly pleased that the author emphasized Lincoln's family man status along with several of his presidential accomplishments.
Profile Image for Jenevieve.
936 reviews13 followers
December 18, 2015
Review first published on My Blogs.

First, I love that Magic Tree House comes out with these accompanying factual books about subjects in their fictional stories. They are written to appeal to children which is always wonderful. This book was no exception. The focus of the book was much more on Lincoln before he became president, his early life and his journey to the White House than on the Civil War. Even the Civil War part was more about its toll on him and what he was hoping to accomplish although they did mention a few battles and death tolls. They didn't shy away from the horror and how many were killed but they approached it gently enough to not scare a young child and didn't dwell on it but did show how it affected the president. In all, it was a more personal look at Lincoln's life than you usually see in history curriculum type things and was much enjoyed.
9 reviews
March 1, 2016
I chose the biography about Abraham Lincoln because he was a popular person in United States history. Abe Lincoln grew up in a very poor family. One thing that surprised me was that Abe Lincoln's dad did not believe in education and would only let the kids go to school for a short while. One thing about Lincoln was that he really loved to read books, and sometimes he would walk for miles just to gets books from people since he wanted to continue to learn. In 1837 he became a lawyer and that led him to run for the U.S. House of Representatives, and he moved his family to Washington D.C. Lincoln was very well liked and he became the 16th president in 1860 and led his country through the Civil War. In April of 1865 President Lincoln was shot and killed at Ford's Theatre by John Wilkes Booth. A very interesting fact that I learned is that two weeks before Lincoln went to Ford's Theatre, he dreamed that he would be assassinated. Abe Lincoln had a very successful and instresting life.
6 reviews
November 30, 2016
When Lincoln has to handle the Civil War, and and keep the United States together, things don't go well. Abraham Lincoln, is a book written by Mary Pope Osborne. This book can attract a lot of readers because of how they describe Lincoln's life, on the book it explains exactly how Abraham looked like, skinny, big, big eared, most of the times without shoes on, etc. A way that book is attractive is that it has a lot of facts and details about Lincoln's day-to-day life that most people don't know about. It showed us the place he used to live before he was president, some of his parents last words, and a lot more. Some readers may like the book because it tells even before Abraham Lincoln was born, it talks about his parents, cousins, where they lived, and what they used to do. Readers that may like this is readers who like, non-fiction, and adventure
Profile Image for Laura Sims.
81 reviews
June 13, 2013
This is the non-fiction companion to the book “Abraham Lincoln At Last!,” which is #47 in the Magic Tree House Merlin adventure series (reviewed above). It is filled with information about the life of Abraham Lincoln – from childhood to his assassination. Also discussed were things about what life was like back then, information about slavery, the Civil War, etc. In the back of the book are many resources providing websites, books for further reading, and videos. There is a combination of drawings by Sal Murdocca as well as photographs of Lincoln, his family, various locations, etc. It is a very good, easy to read / use resource for factual information regarding our 16th president.
Profile Image for Shelli.
5,172 reviews56 followers
April 25, 2013
This was the first Non-Fiction Magic Tree House companion book that I have read, and I will be sure to check out more in the future. Mary Pope Osborne did a wonderful job writing and informative book about Abraham Lincoln for young readers. The illustrations that readers have loved in the Magic Tree House Books will make this non-fiction book feel more like another exciting adventure; and this one was! Abraham Lincoln's life was one fascinating, all-be-it sad journey for sure.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews

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