The Superlative A. Lincoln
Poems About Our 16th President

By: Eileen R. Meyer/ Illustrated by:Dave Szalay

Tallest, wisest, most studiousLincoln was simply superlative!

Get to know the personal side of Honest Abe (his LEAST FAVORITE nickname) through fresh and funny poems expressing his superlative nature.

Abraham Lincoln is famous for many extremes: he was the TALLEST president, who gave the GREATEST SPEECH and had the STRONGEST conviction. But did you know that he was also the MOST DISTRACTED farmer, the MOST TALENTED wrestler and inventor, and the CRAFTIEST storyteller?

Dave Szalays charming illustrations are the best, most expressive illustrations of all, championing the tallest, skinniest, smartest, and nicest United States president ever.

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Look Inside

Author & Illustrator

Eileen R. Meyer, author

Eileen R. Meyeris the author of several books for young readers, including Sweet Dreams, Wild Animals: A Story of Sleep; Ballpark; and Whos Faster? Animals on the Move. Eileen splits her time between Chicago, Illinois and Jacksonville, Florida.

Dave Szalay, illustrator

Dave Szalayis an illustrator, teacher, and graphic designer with a deep interest in history. He has an MFA in illustration and teaches at the Myers School of Art at the University of Akron, where he is a tenured Associate Professor. Dave lives in Akron, Ohio.

Awards & Honors

• A 2020 Illinois Reads selection

Editorial Reviews

Kirkus Reviews

Telling Abraham Lincoln’s story in poetry is a tall order, but Meyer pulls it off. “Come read about a legend / the greatest of the greats; / from a poor boy in the backwoods / to a president, first-rate.” The title of each celebratory poem offers a yearbook-style superlative about our 16th president: “Best Wrestler,” “Best Lumberjack,” “Who’s Tallest?” Each poem is accompanied by a brief paragraph providing context for the poem. The rhyming poems are mostly in third person, though one is in the voice of Lincoln’s stovepipe hat, and there’s another from Grace Bedell, who wrote to the president encouraging him to grow a beard. The upbeat poems and string of superlatives, however, leave little room for more nuanced explanations, as in “Strongest Conviction: Signing the Emancipation,” from which readers learn that Lincoln freed the slaves but not that they weren’t really free yet nor that his commitment to abolition was limited. The portrait orientation of the volume is the right choice for our tall president, and Szalay’s attractive, folksy art manages to capture the homespun spirit of the poems. Brown faces appear in the crowd at the Lincoln Memorial, and President Barack Obama and Frederick Douglass make appearances. The collection will make excellent reading aloud in the classroom, a few a day. A tip of the stovepipe hat for making a poetry biography so much fun.

School Library Journal

These 19 poems demythologize Abraham Lincoln. Amusing tidbits of information, like why Abe wore such a tall hat, are combined with historical footnotes. Illustrations are fun and educational. Illustrations rendered in a soft, natural palette convey a sense of Lincolns humanity by including examples of behavior people do when they think no one is watching. An excellent use of language and recognizable rhyme schemes make this title a wonderful teaching tool for the classroom. These well-researched poems hold readers attention and could encourage them to explore additional questions. VERDICT A good example of how poetry can also inform. Highly recommended for elementary schools and public libraries.

Publishers Weekly

Meyer offers a sprightly, lilting poem for every milestone and legendary quality associated with the 16th president, building each tribute around a superlative title. Best Use of an Accessory details the presidents famous hat, Strongest Conviction salutes the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, while Best Advice recalls a letter that an 11-year-old wrote him during his presidential campaign: Youre very tall and awful thin./ You need some whiskers on your chin./ Just keep in mind the time youll save/ when you no longer need to shave. (A short paragraph contextualizes each poem, and a concluding time line provide additional background.) Szalays digital illustration have folk art style that fully captures the Rail Splitters homespun charisma, while the books portrait orientation provides plenty of opportunities to salute Lincolns lanky stature. Ages 69.

Downloadables

Download the CoverDownload the Lesson GuideDownload the Acrostic ActivityDownload the Venn Diagram Activity Download How to Draw Abraham Lincoln instructions

Details

Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-58089-937-6

E-book
ISBN:978-1-63289-793-0 EPUB

ISBN:978-1-63289-794-7 PDF

Ages: 6-9
Page count:48
7 x 11

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