Rappaport, Doreen. Abe’s Honest Words. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-42310408-7
Author Website: http://www.doreenrappaport.com/
Illustrator Website: http://www.kadirnelson.com/
Media: Oil Paint
Use of Sophisticated Language:
"It is for us the living, rather
that we here highly resolve
that these dead
shall not have died in vain--
that this nation, under God,
shall have a new birth of freedom--
and that government of the people,
by the people,
for the people,
shall not perish from the earth."
Curricular Connection: California History / Social Science, Grade 8, California Standards: 8.9: Students analyze the early and steady attempts to abolish slavery and to realize the ideals of the Declaration of Independence, 8.10: Students analyze the multiple causes, key events, and complex consequences of the Civil War.
Annotation: Abe's Honest Words tells the story of Abraham Lincoln, from his childhood in Kentucky to his role as Commander in Chief of the United States, to his untimely death. Artwork and portions of Lincoln’s speeches accompany the narrative.
Personal Reaction: Rappaport's text is interspersed with historical facts that combine with Nelson's beautiful artwork and make Lincoln a more human character. We see Lincoln age; see him run for office and lose, try and fail. We see him persevere and make his toughest decision that changed the direction of the entire country forever: the freeing of slaves. Rapport opts to include Lincoln's original words on the pages, sharing that Lincoln was eloquent, as well as honest.
I enjoyed this book on Lincoln and think it would make a great introduction for students studying the Civil War. Rapport’s work would pair well with Mr. Lincoln's High Tech War, which discusses the technology approved for use by Lincoln; it's fascinating to read about how forward-thinking Lincoln was for his time.
