Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books by Kay Winters and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter is a great introduction of this great President to children. I love this book because it tells the story of a little boy who learned to love reading. It points out that his mother instilled in him the importance of reading. In very simple prose Kay Winters explains how even after his mother's death he still yearned to learn. I love how she explains how thrilled he was because when his step mother came into the family she brought books. He loved books and would borrow them whenever he could. Always going out of his way to bring bring them back, which is every librarians dream. I loved the illustrations too. They are simple and engaging. This makes a great read aloud for President's Day and beyond.
by Ann Malaspina and illusrated beautifully by Colin Bootman takes place in Alabama in 1951. It is the story of a boy who wants to find out more about Abraham Lincoln but is not allowed in the "whites only" library because he is African American. The kind librarian helps him after hours to find the information he needs. It is a sweetly told story that is not preachy. It is a great way to teach children about this time in our recent history that explains about segregation. I was also drawn to this books for two other reasons....the main character is named Louis---like my Dad and it has to do with Abraham Lincoln---who my Mother loved.
by Barbara Bottner and illus by Michael Emberley is the perfect book to read now because Sunday April 11th is the start of National Library Week. As there has been so much talk about cuts to funding for libraries this is the perfect time to support one. We also need to support our teachers~this book shows us what kinds of educators we need in our schools. If schools lay off teachers than the teachers who are left will be so stressed that they cannot give an individual child the attention they may need to succeed. This would be a shame....we need librarians and teachers plain and simple.
