The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary by Candace Fleming

Bibliographical citation:  Fleming, C. (2008). The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. 181 pages. ISBN: 9780375836183.

Awards: ALA Notable Children's Books (2009), SLJ Best Books for Children (2008), Orbis Pictus Honor (2009).

Author's website: http://www.candacefleming.com/

Annotation:  This unique and intimate portrait of the lives of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd gives readers a fresh perspective of this famous couple.  Using a scrapbook format, along with historical documents and photos, this narrative provides great history and entertainment.

Personal Reaction:  I thoroughly enjoyed and learned from this title by Candace Fleming.  Fleming gives readers a comprehensive and intimate look into the lives of both Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln.  Two people that came from very different backgrounds, Abraham and Mary had a very strong relationship due to the enormous love and respect they had for one another.  Lincoln never forgot his beginnings as a poor and hardworking laborer who was self taught and who educated himself by extensive reading and writing.  Abraham was known for  reading anything that he could get his hands on.  When Mary and Abraham first married, it was a difficult adjustment for Mary, since she had come from a wealthy family who owned slaves.  In the early days of their marriage, Mary had to learn to do all of the household chores.  Despite their great differences, they seemed to have a meeting of the minds as well as the hearts.  Mary loved to talk about politics and Lincoln often looked to her for advice.  Mary saw the greatness in Lincoln before anyone else did, and her love and faith are what helped to propel him along, making him more politically ambitious.  The Lincolns enjoyed their role as parents, bestowing much love and affection onto their children.  Lincoln himself appeared to be a laid back father who allowed his kids to be rowdy, thereby giving their children the label of "brats."

The Lincolns were both beaten down by grief from their devastating personal losses and the strain of the Civil War.  Mary's fragile state after losing children only worsened after enduring the shooting and assassination of her beloved husband.  Fleming looks at all of these events from Mary's perspective, giving readers an understanding of Mary Todd Lincoln that otherwise is not depicted.  The general idea that Mary was an unhappy and mean woman who browbeat her husband seems very far from the truth after reading this book.  Instead, it is a more realistic view of a marriage and family that persevered despite the many challenges and obstacles that they encountered.

This narrative shares all of the ups and downs of their lives together, and readers are given unique insight into both Mary and Lincoln's political lives and personal lives.  The authentic photographs and copies of articles and letters lend themselves to really making this narrative feel like a historical family scrapbook. 

Front/Back Matter: Acknowledgements, Table of Contents, Introduction, The Lincoln Years, More About the Lincolns, Notes, Picture Credits, Index.

*Bibliographical citation information, award information, as well as image retrieved from www.bwibooks.com (Titletales).