Freedman, Russell. 1989. Lincoln: A Photobiography. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 0395518482
This well-written and well-organized biography of Abraham Lincoln is full of fascinating photographs, important quotes from the president and his contemporaries, as well as a clear delineation between the true Lincoln and the "legendary" Lincoln. The text is clearly written, and for once I really understood why the Civil War took so long for the North to win, when they had more people, more weapons, more factories, more everything. The book is organized chronologically, following Lincoln through his childhood, early years as a lawyer, his failures as an aspiring politician and his journey to the White House. Of course, the majority of the book focuses on his time as president and commander-in-chief. This book shows what an extraordinary leader Lincoln was, but it also shows that in many ways, that he was also an ordinary man with concerns as a father, husband and friend.
AWARDS & REVIEWS:
1988 Newbery Medal Winner
Jefferson Cup Award Winner
"Few, if any, of the many books written for children about Lincoln can compare with Freedman's contribution. More than 80 photographs and prints illustrate the crisp and informative text. The pictures have been well-placed to coordinate with the text; captions have been written with care as well. While many of the photographs are well-known, many less familiar pictures are also included." --School Library Journal
CONNECTIONS:
Other biographies by Russell Freedman include: Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery, The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane, Out of Darkness: The Story of Louis Braille, and so many others!
There's also a biography of Russell Freedman that students could read (Russell Freedman by Susan P. Bloom) if they are interested in what motivates his choices of who he writes about and why.
This biography would also be a great companion piece to portions of The Civil War: A Film by Ken Burns.
