This large-format picture book begins with the birth of Abe Lincoln and shows him as a child attending school, making friends, and working on the family farm. After his mother's death devastated the family, Abe's father marries Sally, a widow with three children. Though illiterate, Sally brings books into the household and makes it her business to see that Abe had time for reading and for school, even when his father thought that farmwork should take precedence. Faulkner's gouache paintings dramatize scenes in an inviting manner, with a sense of high spirits and comic exaggeration barely restrained, and, occasionally, not quite restrained. The engaging text makes a narrative of Lincoln's childhood, emphasizing the pivotal role of Sally Lincoln, whose determination not only satisfied Abe's longing for learning but also gave him a path out of poverty. A note on Lincoln's later life and a bibliography are appended. From the Turning Point series, which presents the childhoods of presidents, this offers a vivid introduction to the young Lincoln.

The latest in St. George's presidential Turning Points series follows young Abe from birth to leaving home, with special focus on the influence of his quiet mother and bustling, big-hearted stepmother. Aiming at readers who consider the presidents remote, Olympian figures, she selects vivid incidents from Lincoln's childhood and introduces each member of his extended family—also pointing out how his thoughtful nature reflected that of his mother Nancy, and then how his stepmother Sally both brought books into his life. Faulkner pushes faces to the forefront in his illustrations, capturing the distinct character of each member of the hardworking pioneer family, as well as that family's closeness both before and after Nancy's early death. Closing with a more complete capsule biography and a substantial bibliography, this puts Lincoln in proper historical perspective, but more unusually, provides probing insight into the personal qualities that made him one of our greatest chief executives. (Picture book/biography. 7-9)

Gr 1-4-This account of Lincoln's childhood is written in fast-paced, short sentences. St. George, author of So You Want to Be President? (Philomel, 2000), uses a folksy, conversational style and incorporates old-fashioned words such as "ignoramus" and "dunderheads" to add to the period feel. She chose incidents from Lincoln's life that will help children understand the man he became, demonstrating an early awareness of the feelings of others and a desire for fairness. She also emphasizes how family members, including his mother and stepmother, helped Lincoln to achieve his potential. Faulkner's humorous illustrations are a perfect match for the text. Children accustomed to typically staid photographs of Lincoln will laugh out loud seeing him depicted as a squalling baby and a young boy riding a pet pig. The expressive images are done in a caricature style, with slightly exaggerated hands, feet, and heads. Large and colorful, the visuals sprawl across the spreads as if the action cannot be easily contained. Although the narrative covers only Lincoln's younger years, his adult professional life is summarized in an endnote.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.