The Lincolns

A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary

by Candace Fleming

Reviewed August 17, 2009.
Schwartz & Wade Books (Random House), New York, 2008. 181 pages.
Starred Review
Sonderbooks Stand-out 2009: #4 Children's Nonfiction

Candace Fleming's scrapbook biographies are truly amazing. I reviewed her similar book Ben Franklin's Almanac back in 2004. This newer book, The Lincolns, is equally complete and enlightening.

Instead of just telling us about Abraham and Mary Lincoln, Candace Fleming has brought together photographs, letters, news articles, and things written about them by their contemporaries. It does take time and attention to get through this book, but it is never boring, and you will feel like you have special insight into the great man and his volatile but much-loved wife by the time you are done.

Clearly Candace Fleming put in tremendous amounts of time and research to produce this exceptional book. She has produced a wonderful resource, not merely for children doing reports, but for anyone wanting to know more about the Lincolns and the Civil War.