amysutton's review
3.0
I always enjoy learning more about Lincoln. He is a fascinating man in history. This book was equally interesting, and I learned something new about Lincoln (I didn't realize he started land grant colleges for agriculture!). However, the facts and historical events were very spread out and explained sparingly. The ending historical information felt much better researched and explained than the major content of the picture book. Nonetheless, this would still be a great addition to picture books about Lincoln's life.
ljrinaldi's review
3.0
I'm a bit torn on this book. While it is a very good introduction to the good that Lincoln did, it glosses over the bad that resulted from the same acts. What the author was showing in this very interesting, well researched book was that Lincoln carried very much about farmers and farm life, and felt that there should be more help for them, and so set out to make it easier for them. He started land grand colleges to teach agriculture. And he started the homestead act to give Native people's land to white settlers, and he started the USDA to help farmers find the best seeds and equipment to use.
Oh, did I mention how he gave land that was being used by the indigenous people's to white settlers? How generous of him. While this problem isn't mentioned in the picture book text, it is brought up in the longer text at the back, that goes into more depth. My problem is that most chiclren won't read the more dense text at the back.
So, while I like how the book brought up the good that Lincoln did, and how he got where he was and why he wanted to help the farmers, I just have a hard time with this white washing.
So, I would support giving this to children with a grain of salt, or at least having the discussion come up as to what all of the actions did.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Oh, did I mention how he gave land that was being used by the indigenous people's to white settlers? How generous of him. While this problem isn't mentioned in the picture book text, it is brought up in the longer text at the back, that goes into more depth. My problem is that most chiclren won't read the more dense text at the back.
So, while I like how the book brought up the good that Lincoln did, and how he got where he was and why he wanted to help the farmers, I just have a hard time with this white washing.
So, I would support giving this to children with a grain of salt, or at least having the discussion come up as to what all of the actions did.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
panda_incognito's review
4.0
This unconventional picture book biography of Abraham Lincoln focuses on his agricultural background, civic engagement, and work to improve life for farmers throughout the United States. As other reviewers have mentioned, the book does not address the negative consequences of the Homestead Act until the author's note, which some children may not read at all. However, even though I wish that the author had mentioned the negative impact for indigenous people in the book's main text, this is a very engaging and educational source that provides a different perspective on a familiar figure.
The book addresses the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation as well, including this as part of its metaphor of Lincoln "clearing a path," but the book's primary focus is on his connection to agriculture. The main text explains how he supported farmers during the presidency, and the author's note in the back includes additional context and details about groundbreaking changes that he made. Because Lincoln is often singularly associated with the Civil War, and understandably so, I am glad that this book provides additional information about his life and presidential legacy.
I would recommend this to classrooms and families who are interested in Lincoln's life and in this era of American history. This would tie in well with reading Little House on the Prairie or other books about pioneers, and can also open discussions about how governmental policy can support some while marginalizing others. This book can be a great jumping off point for discussing a variety of different historical issues.
I received a temporary digital copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book addresses the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation as well, including this as part of its metaphor of Lincoln "clearing a path," but the book's primary focus is on his connection to agriculture. The main text explains how he supported farmers during the presidency, and the author's note in the back includes additional context and details about groundbreaking changes that he made. Because Lincoln is often singularly associated with the Civil War, and understandably so, I am glad that this book provides additional information about his life and presidential legacy.
I would recommend this to classrooms and families who are interested in Lincoln's life and in this era of American history. This would tie in well with reading Little House on the Prairie or other books about pioneers, and can also open discussions about how governmental policy can support some while marginalizing others. This book can be a great jumping off point for discussing a variety of different historical issues.
I received a temporary digital copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
libraryrobin's review
4.0
"... Lincoln lifted his pen and as surely as if he held an ax, he cleared a path for America's future."
librarianryan's review
informative
slow-paced
2.0
The art work in this book is great, and unusual for a children’s book. But that is the best part. This is a basic history of Abe Lincoln. The subtitle is “Abraham Lincoln’s Agricultural Legacy” but much of this is not about agriculture. Plus the author has added in these action works like “Twack”, “swish”, “thwump” that seem very out of place. This reader who lives in the “Land of Lincoln” would not add this book to their collection.
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