Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman
Winner, 1988 Newbery Award
Quick Summary
A biography of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) with numerous period photos.
Favorite Quote
That morning dozens of politicians and their wives, newspapermen, and other spectators drove down from Washington in buggies and carriages to watch their army defeat the rebels. None of these people had ever seen a battle, and they had little idea of what to expect. They brought along picnic baskets, champagne, and opera glasses, camped on a hillside, and waited for the action to begin.
About the Author
Russell Freedman is the author of nearly 50 books for children, including biographies of the Wright brothers, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Crazy Horse. He traveled extensively to research and find inspiration for his works. According to one source, he tries "to make sure each photograph tells something the text does not while the text may say something the photographs do not say, making each equally important."
My Project
For my project I wanted to do a piece inspired by the U.S. flag. For the stars portion, I created a mini book with a star-studded cover and gold-trimmed pages. Lincoln came across in the biography as a bookish president, always reading and studying. For the stripes, I used some of the words of his famous "Four score and seven years ago ..." speech on torn paper. (One of the surprises from the book is that at the time that speech was considered a major failure by newspapers and Lincoln himself.) I added red and brown ink to color the stripes and used ivory instead of white for an old-fashioned look. I wanted the stripes to look worn, as well as to represent all the bloodshed of the Civil War.
Final Thoughts
When I read The Giver, I mentioned feeling like I'd read that book out of time. This historical book, in contrast, felt like it couldn't have been more eerily timed with the recent shootings and conflicts with police and protestors in Dallas. I'm positive that it colored my reading of this biography, particularly the chapters on the Civil War. We think of Lincoln now as one of our most popular presidents, but at the time he was so hated by many. (So many threatening letters arrived in the mail that he had a special envelope marked "ASSASSINATION" that he kept them in.) Overall, I did learn some new facts about Abraham Lincoln and enjoyed the many photos scattered throughout. I was surprised that his childhood takes up only a few pages of the book, given that it's a book aimed at children. There also aren't any footnotes, glossaries, or other items that you might expect to find in an educational text. (There is a list of historical sites, a few quotes,and a list of additional books on Lincoln.)
If you read this book, I'd love to hear what you think in the comments.