Abraham Lincoln's ascent to the presidency is recounted in a fluid, easy-to-read biography for early readers.Simple, direct sentences stress Lincoln's humble upbringing, his honesty, and his devotion to acting with moral conviction. "Lincoln didn't seem like a man who would be president one day. But he studied hard and became a lawyer. He cared about people and about justice." Slavery and Lincoln's signature achievement of emancipation are explained in broad yet defined, understandable analogies. "At that time, in the South, the law let white people own black people, just as they owned a house or a horse." Readers are clearly given the president's perspective through some documented memorable quotes from his own letters. "Lincoln did not like slavery. ‘If slavery is not wrong,' he wrote to a friend ‘nothing is wrong.' " (The text does not clarify that this letter was written in 1865 and not before he ascended to the presidency, as implied by the book.) As the war goes on and Lincoln makes his decision to free the slaves in the "Southern states"—"a bold move"—Lincoln's own words describe his thinking: " ‘If my name ever goes into history,' Lincoln said, ‘it will be for this act.' " A very basic timeline, which mentions the assassination unaddressed in the text, is followed by backmatter providing photographs, slightly more detailed historical information, and legacy. It's a pity that the text is accompanied by unremarkable, rudimentary opaque paintings. A succinct, edifying read, but don't buy it for the pictures. (Informational early reader. 6-8)

According to this colorful book for beginning readers, Abraham Lincoln wasn't rich like other presidents, nor did he look or act like previous presidents, but he "acted the right way for the country." In short sentences and simple words, Dussling traces Lincoln's life from childhood to the end of the Civil War. Well-chosen anecdotes and quotes support the narrative. While the simplification of complex ideas and events can be problematic, particularly for kids with little knowledge of history, the text provides an informative introduction to Lincoln. Ko's nicely composed digital artwork illustrates the narrative with warmth and verve. Short paragraphs in the appended Q&A section, accompanied by photos, comment upon the causes of the Civil War; Lincoln's views on slavery; and his death, and his legacy. A concise, lively presidential biography.

This easy-reader biography spans President Lincoln's life, concluding just before his assassination. Beginning with a humorous physical description ("Abraham Lincoln said it himself: He was not a pretty man"), Dussling writes engagingly, incorporating direct quotes. While the format is inviting, the slick, cartoonlike illustrations seem out of place. Additional facts and archival photographs are appended. Timeline. Bib.