Product Description

Illus. in full color. Abraham Lincoln, one of our greatest presidents,

started out in life as an absent-minded frontier lawyer. How did he nudge his

memory? He stuck letters, court notes, contracts, and even his checkbook in his

trademark top hat. When he took off his hat, it was all there!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35655 in Books
• Published on: 1994-04-12
• Released on: 1994-04-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 48 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780679849773
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-As a young lawyer, Abe Lincoln found that his stovepipe hat came in handy for more than just covering his head. It also served as a good place to keep important papers. Brenner weaves this and other anecdotes about our 16th president into this easy-to-read selection. Watercolor illustrations highlight the sometimes choppy but informative text. Pair with David Adler's A Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln (Holiday, 1989) where beginning biographies are in demand.
Lesley McKinstry, Findlay-Hancock County Public Library, OH
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 1-3. A far cry from the reverent tone of most children's books on Lincoln, this short, anecdotal biography actually humanizes him. Lincoln is shown as a struggling and somewhat disorganized lawyer who makes his way through goodwill and good sense. The book begins with his purchase of a tall black hat. Later, a group of boys rig up a high wire and knock it off his head, scattering the important papers he kept inside. Courtroom stories include Lincoln proving which man owned a young horse by letting the colt loose to go to its mother and his defense of a slave's right to be granted freedom in Illinois, a free state. Although Brenner includes no source notes, she states that all the stories she relates are true. The humor, lively lines, and soft, shaded colors of Cook's illustrations add to the book's appeal. Carolyn Phelan

From the Inside Flap
Illus. in full color. Abraham Lincoln, one of our greatest presidents, started out in life as an absent-minded frontier lawyer. How did he nudge his memory? He stuck letters, court notes, contracts, and even his checkbook in his trademark top hat. When he took off his hat, it was all there!

Customer Reviews

An appealing light-hearted, but true, biography for kids
"Abe Lincoln's Hat" is a light-hearted, but true-to-the-facts, biography for young readers written at a 2.9 reading level. Unlike most biographies about Lincoln, it does not end with his assassination, which allows children to focus on his humanity. While Martha Brenner's book is written for kids to "step into reading," it works just as well as a read-aloud for primary grades.

This 48 page title could have easily been arranged into chapters for students wanting to read a "chapter book," however it still meets a need for engaging non-fiction titles, notably biographies, for emerging readers.

This title is much more appealing to kids than a similar book by Jean Fritz, "George Washington's Mother."

Recommended.

Excellent Book for the Beginning Reader
From the "Step into Reading" series comes this humorous, well-illustrated, and engaging book, appropriately described as suitable for young readers in grades 1-3. And, with all the bad-mouthing of lawyers, it's nice to show kids that the legal system can be a powerful tool for justice, personified here in Abe Lincoln.

That's the adult perspective. Kids will enjoy the humorous stories, evocative pictures, and Abe Lincoln's witty, winning ways in court. The book touches on the slavery issue, perhaps too briefly, but this can be a good starting point for further discussion. It also illustrates how Lincoln got along with his competitors (e.g., opposing lawyers, opponent Stephen Douglas). Presenting values without preaching, this is sure to delight the young reader.

Fantastic!
This step into reading book is a must for any elementary student's study of Abraham Lincoln. Our copy had been worn out from use. This book portrays Lincoln as fun-loving, compassionate and a little forgetful. He discovers that keeping important papers tucked inside his hat helps remind him of things to do. Illustrations are plentiful and appealing. The last page has photos of four people mentioned in the book. The photos were taken around 1860. The stories in the book are said to be true.