Abraham Lincoln (Bicentennial Edition)

Beautiful Feet Books is excited to announce the publication of Abraham Lincoln the beloved classic in a special hardback edition in celebration of the bicentennial anniversary of Lincoln's birth. This edition is published from the original 1940 printing and we were able to recreate the vivid colors originally intended by the d'Aulaires. This is a must have for any fan of the d'Aulaires'.

America was at a crossroads in 1939 as they debated whether to join the Allies in their battle against Hitler's relentless march across Europe. As European immigrants the d'Aulaires felt keenly the importance of standing against injustice, and saw in Lincoln the archetypal American hero as he stood against the injustice of slavery. It was this spirit they hoped to exemplify in their biography of young Abe as he grew into manhood against the backdrop of the wilderness of Kentucky, the deep woods of Indiana, and the prairies of Illinois. Camping for weeks in Lincoln country, the d'Aulaires imbibed the spirit of the man Lincoln as well as his humor and good will. From his days as a clerk, teaching himself law reading Blackstone, practicing law in Springfield, running unsuccessfully for office, debating Stephen Douglas over the issue of slavery, and ultimately becoming President of the United States, the d'Aulaires have written and beautifully illustrated the life of one of America's most remarkable citizens.

Abraham Lincoln continues to stand as America's most beloved President. The admiration felt by Americans for Lincoln's humble integrity, his noble statesmanship, and his keen sense of justice are beautifully captured in the d'Aulaires' art and prose. As our nation celebrates the Bicentennial of Lincoln's birth, the message of his life, and death, is as timely as ever. Of our nation's historic icons, Lincoln is the quintessential embodiment of American possibility in his mythic-like rise from rail-splitter to Chief Executive and Emancipator of the oppressed. May his story live on. Rea Berg, Beautiful Feet Books, 2008

In 1940 Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire won the Caldecott medal for their picture book, "Abraham Lincoln". Like many idealized versions of Mr. Lincoln, this book relied on a couple old standbys. Lincoln was born in a log cabin. Lincoln wore a stovepipe hat. Then it adds a couple new myths to the brew. Lincoln apparently was friends with furry woodland creatures. He fought pirates and carried a scar from a fight with them over his left eyebrow. Finally, the book disintegrates into absolute fabrications. Lincoln, according to this text, was rivals with Stephen A. Douglas for the hand of Mary Todd. Not true. He went to war without provocation specifically to free the slaves. Not true. But how much can you blame a story that was written in 1939? It's possible that back then children's non-fiction books weren't held to the high standards they are today.

Entirely aside from the inaccuracy of the text, the story is deeply offensive to African Americans and Native Americans. Here's a bit of what I mean. As justification for the destruction of the Sauk and Fox tribes (who merely wanted to raise corn on land that had been taken from the Native Americans thirty years earlier) the book says:

"His tribe had sold the land to the 'paleface,' but Black Hawk said: 'Man-ee-do, the great spirit, gave us the land, it couldn't be sold'."

Needless to say, the tribes aren't actually named in this book. They're simply referred to as "Indians".

And the African-Americans? Ecoute:

"The next day President Lincoln walked into the town, holding little Tad by the hand. An old Negro recognized the long, thin man with the tall stove-pipe hat. "Here is our saviour," he cried, and threw himself at Lincoln's feet. And suddenly Lincoln was surrounded by Negroes, weeping and rejoicing as they cried: 'Glory, glory hallelujah'."

Totally aside from whether or not that actually happened, it's the accompanying pictures that really drill this image home. The stereotypical African-American with the wide white eyes and big lips is everywhere in this book. From a slave auction, where a mammy-like woman stands on a podium to the vision of a group of happy former slaves praising their "saviour", there are repeated visions of stereotypical blacks not usually found in children's literature. In fact, many of the illustrations in this book suffer from a variety of ills. Some are offensive (don't even start me on the pictures of the Native Americans). Some are silly. There's a shot of Abraham and his sister standing in the woods, stylized tears stuck to their faces. The picture reminds you of nothing so much as one of those 1960s paintings on velvet of big-eyed children, once so popular. Some pictures are poorly constructed. The last shot of Lincoln suffers from such a lack of proper composition and perspective that you could spend hours trying to make it line up.

And what 20% of this book is worth reading? Well, it's hard to get around the fact that there are shockingly few worthwhile books about Abraham Lincoln written with little kids in mind. If you want a fabulous book for older children then run, don't walk, to your nearest independent bookstore and buy "Lincoln: A Photobiography" by Russell Freedman. But for the little ones? As far as I can determine, this is the best you're going to be able to do. It does get kids interested in the life of Lincoln. And it makes him an understandable human being, with hopes and fears of his own. If you don't mind inaccuracies, the occasional poor illustration, and a tendency towards offensive images then this really is your best bet.


Nicely Written/Easily Understood   March 29, 2001
Deborah Ava Esposito (NC, United States)
10 out of 14 found this review helpful

This book is in a word, charming. This book is a factual account of the life of Abraham Lincoln, from his birth to his presidency. This book is educational and informative, without being dry and boring as many history books tend to be. Children as young as 4 will be interested, as well as kids through upper elementary years. Simply worded, but not babyish, brilliantly illustrated, but not unreal. Youngsters will learn and retain much about the life of one of our most admired, courageous and beloved presidents. D'Aulaire's at their usual, expected, shining best! A Caldecott medal/honor book.


A biography of Lincoln for young children.   May 9, 1999
8 out of 11 found this review helpful

This is a children's book about the life of Abraham Lincoln. First written and illustrated in 1939, it was expanded in 1957. Most of the book focuses on Lincoln's early life. The illustrations resulted in the book being awarded the 1940 Caldecott Medal for best illustrations in a children's book. It is a book that helps children learn more about U.S. history and a great president. It is also a book that should be on the shelf of any serious student of children literature.