Module 12/SLIS5420
The
Lincolns: a scrapbook look at Abraham and Mary
By
Deborah Hopkinson
Summary:
The Lincolns is
a beautiful pictorial and essay focused biography of Abraham and Mary Lincoln. The format is like a scrapbook broken up
between pictures, stories, and newspaper like articles following the Lincoln’s
life and relationship as a couple.
Citation:
Fleming, C.
(2008). The Lincolns: A scrapbook look at Abraham and Mary. New York: Schwartz
& Wade Books.
Beyond and Between:
Once again the
book industry has found a way to convey historical information in an engaging
and accurate fomart. The Lincolns,
chronologically and thematically follows Abraham and Mary through their life,
Abraham’s career, United States war, and so forth. The reader easily can just browse where
interested or get in depth and follow the book as if reading a school
text. At the back of the book the reader
can follow the author’s research through the end notes and or look for specific
information from the index. However,
because of the nature of the written text, long paragraphs, more text then
pictures, and a higher level reading level this text would be more
appropriately fit for high school aged readers.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews
The Lincolns was
five years in the making and it shows. Candace Fleming's book exudes an easy
familiarity with Abraham and Mary's lives and times due to her choices of
telling details and the merry pleasure of its design. "The scrapbook
technique…remains fresh and lively," wrote Kirkus, "a great way to
provide a huge amount of information in a format that invites both browsing and
in-depth study." The sweep of graphic material is impressive and
beguiling--photographs, engravings, documents, posters--while antique typefaces
lend a period quality to the proceedings, which extend to Mary's death.
Fleming's comfort with the material comes from more than pure research.
"This summer I returned to central Illinois and my hometown fair,"
she says. "As I strolled along the midway, I glanced down, and there lay a
stone marker, reading 'The spot where Lincoln debated Douglas, September 18,
1858.' I grinned. As a child, I played in his parents' log cabin, slept in his
bedroom and lived in a house on the Lincoln Heritage trail. Mr. Lincoln had
simply been a natural part of my everyday life. So, I wasn't surprised to bump
into him at the fair. I was, however, delighted. I felt as if I'd just run into
an old friend."
The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at
Abraham and Mary. (2008). Kirkus Reviews, 76(23), 6.
School Library Journal
Gr 6 Up-- Through sound
scholarship and engaging storytelling, Fleming presents side-by-side portraits
of the famous first couple, combining telling anecdotes and large and small
details to reveal aspects of the Lincolns' personalities and temperaments.
Primary sources and high-quality archival photos and reproductions add
significantly to this impressive American scrapbook. BOOK
The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at
Abraham and Mary. (2009). School Library Journal, 5527.
Suggested
Uses:
This book would be a good book to
use for a school library session about research and information, because of its
visual appeal and unique way of writing the book would be good to present to a
class of 15- 20 to show elements to look for in a research project. If this type of opportunity is not
available, having a display with other
biographies marked with sticky notes to point out key information and sources
for research would be a neat way to use it in the library. Maybe even tie in the online
databases/journals for the students to find more information.
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