Abigail Adams

by Alexandra Wallner

A biography of Abigail Adams, wife of second United States President John Adams, and a dedicated wife and mother who spoke up against slavery and for women's rights.

Genres: Biography, History, Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 2000

About the author

Alexandra Wallner was born in Germany. Not able to speak English when she immigrated to the United States, she almost flunked first grade. But with the help of comic books--Uncle Scrooge, Donald Duck, Katy Keene, Little Lulu--she learned her new language. Words and pictures together lit the spark for her future career.

After graduating from Pratt Institute’s Fine Art Program with an MFA and enjoying a brief stint in magazine design, she started collaborating with her husband John in creating children’s books.

Not limited to a love for children's books, Alex and John have a passion for renovating and working in old houses. In Woodstock, N. Y. they renovated an 1850’s farmhouse. They restored an 1865 townhouse in Philadelphia and remodeled a 1920's Maine island cottage.

During the long Maine winters, Alex started taking notes for a story about Sylvia and Max Saltwater and their encounters with island folk. The notes evolved into PINOCCHIO ISLAND.

They started thinking about warmer places to live when Alex became weary of slipping on ice. Breaking precedence, they moved to a warm climate into a newly built Florida house. Unfortunately soon after, they experienced three hurricanes in six weeks.

Continuing their gypsy ways, they moved to Merida, Yucatan, Mexico where they restored a mid-nineteenth century casa and added two studios in the back of the garden.

They care for an elderly Jack Russell, a family of cats, a rambunctious iguana, and a sprinkling of geckos.

Alex threw out the moving boxes and swears this is her final home.

Reviews

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abigail Adams by Alexandra Wallner- Hindi language translation by Vidushak- Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- The book narrates of Abigail Adams, John Adams’ wife, and John Quincy Adams’ mother. The story begins with Abigail who begged to go to school like her brother, but was told she was not allowed to. This was the first time she realized that girls did not have equal rights. That did not stop her, however. She would sit in her father’s library for hours and teach herself. When Abigail was seventeen, she met John Adams. She liked him because he was different. He liked to learn and wanted to know the mysteries of the world, just like she did. Abgail started writing letters to Adams and to her lady friends about her thoughts political subjects- equal rights for men and women and abolition of slavery. When her husband became a spokesman against the British, he was away from home most of the time and that made her very lonely. She had to run the household all on her own. The only thing that got her through the days were her daughter and newborn son, John Quincy. As the years went on, John and Abigail kept working towards liberty for their colonies. After the Boston Tea Party, Abigail was afraid of what the British might do in return so she took her kids and fled to a farm for safety. As other families did the same, she took in those that had no place to stay. During these times, Abigail got the courage to write her husband letters about changing women’s rights so they were equal to that of men’s rights, somehow hoping her husband would include them in the laws he was writing. However, all he did was laugh at her silly propositions. As time went on, Abigail would throw parties and was always by her husband’s side because she felt that encouraging her husband was the most important job she had to do. When Abigail did not travel with John, she stayed on their farm to educate an Afro-American servant who were not allowed to go to school. Her husband was not elected to the post of President of USA for second term. She had saved money thus, they could lead a happy retired life. Coloured illustrations help the reader to relate to the story. I have read the Hindi language translation of this book.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.4

Frustrating. This doesn't say what kids need/want to hear. Here's a woman who had kids and no job. But how is her life different from that of their own mothers? Her clothes are a different style, but I doubt that the time period comes alive for young readers. How many children did Abigail have all together? (lots of names and dates, none of which seem necessary -- they could have been summarized in an illustrated chart) Did Abigail drive to the store for groceries? Did she have hired help? Yes, she wanted equal rights for women ... but what does that mean? That she should have been allowed to go to school like her brothers?

A week after a child has read/heard the story, talk to the child about what he/she remembers. That's the best way to evaluate a book such as this.

Abigail Adams story deserves to be told, but this version isn't going to do the job.

[Alyssa Galip · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like how this book discussed womans rights a little because it was set back in a time where women's rights were not a thing. The book itself was a bit slow though but other than that the book was good.

[Jacqueline Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a biography about Abigail Adams, John Adams’ wife, and John Quincy Adams’ mother. The story starts off telling about Abigail, where she was born, who her parents were, and how when she was little, she begged to go to school like her brother, but was told she was not allowed to. This was the first time she realized that girls did not have equal rights. That did not stop her, however. She would sit in her father’s library for hours and teach herself. When Abigail was seventeen, she met John Adams. She liked him because he was different. He liked to learn and wanted to know the mysteries of the world, just like she did. When her husband became a spokesman against the British, he was away from home most of the time and that made her very lonely. She had to run the household all on her own. The only thing that got her through the days were her daughter and newborn son, John Quincy. As the years went on, John and Abigail kept working towards liberty for their colonies. After the Boston Tea Party, Abigail was afraid of what the British might do in return so she took her kids and fled to a farm for safety. As other families did the same, she took in those that had no place to stay. During these times, Abigail got the courage to write her husband letters about changing women’s rights so they were equal to that of men’s rights, somehow hoping her husband would include them in the laws he was writing. However, all he did was laugh at her silly propositions. As time went on, Abigail would throw parties and was always by her husband’s side because she felt that encouraging her husband was the most important job she had to do. When Abigail did not travel with John, she stayed on their farm and educated those who were not allowed to go to school.

This biography told the story of Abigail Adams in a traditional story format, which makes it easier for younger readers to understand as they learn about our country’s history. While this story was about Abigail, it did include many events that happened throughout her life, such as the Boston Tea Party, the battles of Lexington and Concord, and the Declaration of Independence. While these events were not told in depth, they still showed how it affected Abigail’s life. The center of focus, however, was on the fact that, ever since the start of the colonies, women have fought for equal rights. It gives insight to young readers just how far this country has come on the matter and how far it still needs to go. This story focuses more on the change Abigail wanted and hoped for, how she always helped those in need, and how she believed that everyone deserved the right to be educated. It is very interesting to see how so long ago, many people were already thinking of how this country could be and needed to be better. They were not just living life accepting and agreeing to everything that was expected of them.

[997997 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abigail Adams, this book is a biography, it mainly introduced the the woman, named Abigail Adams, her experiences. When she was kids, she learned that the right of women cannot be treated as a men, they cannot get the equal education, and when she grown up, she started to fight for women's right, but the situation was really hard because of in that time, her country became a colony. When she met John, and they married, and they have a several kids, John Adams educated her son, living a happy life. Her husband has a power right, at that time, she wanted to change women's position, and she helped his husband to finished the selection, but for a while, she is tired living in the public, and when John was not reelected, they return home, and live a happy life.

In this book, Abigail Adams' experiences are really inspired to kids. It is really hard for her, especially as a woman, at that time, the woman's right depend on men, it is really hard to change this situation, but she never gave up, even if there are lots of difficulties that she had to face. She is really brave to fight for the right and help women gain more positions.

This book is not like other genre, it is the true story about the author introduces the others famous person in this world, and in this whole book, it talks about the character's life, and how she overcome and gain what she want. This book's story is not about others, it just focus on the character, and about the drawing style, readers can see this pictures and know about her life, and the story can inspire the kids gain positive energy and find their model

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lack of good solid biographies on famous women for younger readers has probably caused me to over rate this book, however this biography on Abigail Adams does a good job presenting her life, the challenges she faced, and her accomplishments. The inclusion of actual facts elevates this to a book that can be used to teach children in the classroom. I wish the author had not limited herself to her own artwork in illustrating this volume as it would have benefited from maps and photographs of historical documents and places. Likewise a prologue that included a time line and additional resources would have greatly added to the book.

[Monica A · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book is about the life of Abigail Adams, wife of President John Adams and mother of President John Quincy Adams. The story shows her beliefs that women should have equal rights and slavery should be abolished especially in a country that is fighting for it's independence. What a great opener this story is for kids to learn some history about Abigail adams, how she came to be and what she stood for.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've gotten into the habit of reading children's picture books as an introduction of topics i enjoy. the richness of illustrations provides an added dimention, and in an hour or so, i know if this is a subject i want to persue.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written and informative picture book biography about our second First Lady, Abigail Adams. The author did nice job of painting the time and Abigail's feeling about the views of women, slavery and married life to such a busy important political figure.

[Barkshire Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it with my first grader. Good information in an easy to understand format for 2-3rd graders. Not too difficult for the first grader as long as we reviewed as we went along. I enjoyed the book also.

[Colleen]

Bodies in Motion - unit 4
Theme Library

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a strong informational text with few frills. It read like a very traditional biographical picture book. Not bad, but a bit dry.

[Jenne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book 4 stars because the author did not quote the "remember the ladies" letter that became one of history's most famous letters.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with tons of detail on Abigail and the historical events of the time.

[Dionne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice, short biography of Abigail Adams.