Module 4:  Lincoln: a Photobiography

Summary

Lincoln: a photobiography shares with us the life story of Abraham Lincoln. It is presented in a format that makes it easy for young readers to understand, and delivers it in a way that is intriguing as well as informational. There are quotes throughout that provide insight into his opinions and beliefs, and a timeline told through events, pictures and illustrations.  The biography begins with his childhood and takes readers through every significant stage of his life, giving us the entirety of the person.  Freedman carefully constructs the book so that the readers see how his actions fit within the context of his life experiences.  The book informs the reader about Lincoln, the President, but perhaps more importantly, gives them a factual, anecdotal, and visual look at him as a person.

Freedman, R. (1987). Lincoln. New York: Clarion.

Impressions
You can tell that Freedman wanted to create an honest portrayal of Lincoln and that he wanted to give us information that would allow us to "know" Lincoln as a person, not just as President.  I read this book several years ago, and I remember enjoying it and sharing it with others.  But, I found myself absolutely captured back into it after Chapter One.  Freedman brings Lincoln back to life in his description of his life events and the recollections others have of him.  The combination of text, captions, photos, and illustrations gives you the feeling of watching a movie, like you are watching this character develop and grow.  It's important to know that this book is not short.  It is 246 pages long, so this is appropriate for upper elementary students and beyond.  The book has an additional 50 pages after the biography that lists sources of the information.  It is a treasure trove of references for any one wanting to know more about Lincoln.  This photobiography was done with meticulous care and great respect for Lincoln and is a book that readers of many ages would be fascinated by.

Review 

Relying on the recent scholarly biographies that have argued that many famous Abraham Lincoln stories are myths, Freedman carefully introduces a more realistic portrait than is usually found in the juvenile biographies.  The well-loved tales of Abe (a nickname he hated) courting Anne Rutledge, splitting rails in New Salem, or walking miles to obtain books are put into perspective with a few sentences.  Lincoln comes alive as a conscientious lawyer who put clients at ease with stories but was a hopeless slob with files and papers. Freedman also offers a concise but excellent picture of Lincoln's struggle with the ethics and the politics of slavery, as well as his frustrating search for the right general to lead the Union troops.  the 90 black-and-white photographs are highlighted by fine book design and by Freedman's comments about the nature of photography in the mid-1800's.  While the photographs contribute much, it is Freedman's talent for putting the right details in uncomplicated prose that provides a very sharp focus for this Lincoln portrait.  Appendices include Lincoln quotes from 1832-1865, a description of Lincoln sites, notes on materials consulted, and an index.  This is a necessary purchase for all collections--and an opportunity for librarians to scrutinize earlier biographies on Lincoln that have long occupied their shelves.

Kirkus. (1987). [Review of the book Lincoln: a photobiography, by R. Freedman]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/russell-freedman/lincoln-photobiography/

Library Uses

This book lends itself well to many curriculum areas. In language arts, librarians can help students compare and contrast author's approaches to biographies, list character traits of leaders, study the language and meaning of some of his speeches and quotations, compare life in the North and South or as a free man or slave, and study first/second/third person accounts.  Geography and social studies lessons are plentiful.  Geography plays an important role in Lincoln's childhood, adolescence, and adult experiences.  Studying the role of geography is vital to understanding the politics and economics of that time, as well as the nature of communication and transportation.  Social studies lessons can be built around understanding the social and political climate during this period, as well as Lincoln's impact on it. Students could study the branches of the government and determine it's functions and processes and determine how this affected decision making at the national and state levels.