Abe Lincoln and the Muddy Pig ANNOTATION
A young Abe Lincoln stumbles across a pig in trouble and decides he must help, even though it will mean arriving late and muddy for the important speech he is scheduled to make.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Abe Lincoln is on his way to give an important speech when he comes across a pig stuck in the mud. If he stops to help the pig, he'll get his brand-new suit dirty. But young Abe can't stand to see an animal in trouble. What should he do?
Level 2Reading Independently
More complex storiesVaried sentence structure Paragraphs and short chapters
FROM THE CRITICS
Children's Literature
Based on a story passed down, one afternoon a young Mr. Lincoln is walking to town to give a speech. Wearing his new store-bought suit for the first time, Mr. Lincoln rescues a doomed pig stuck in a mud hole. During his efforts, the suit becomes muddy. Unable to change, he continues to town. Although concerned about his appearance, he begins his speech and notices that the town's people are listening to his words, not staring at his muddy suit. Mr. Lincoln continues his speech with an easy-to-listen to speaking style that is non-threatening and compassionate. When his ideas and foresight for the future of the people and the country are enthusiastically received, Mr. Lincoln realizes that people care more about what he said than his looks. Emphasized are Mr. Lincoln's perseverance of his education, service to the people and compassion for all living creatures. Although the author does not mention the source of this story, it is an insight into Mr. Lincoln's character. The soft watercolors support this short text, making it a very accessible transitional book for young readers. Included in the afterward is a timeline of Mr. Lincoln's life. A Ready-to-Read, Level 2 book in the "Childhood of Famous Americans" series. 2002, Aladdin Paperbacks/Simon & Schuster, $11.89 and $3.99. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: David F. Harvey
School Library Journal
Gr 1-2-These beginning readers relate a single anecdote about each of their subjects. Krensky tells a great deal about the character of our 16th president in this humorous account of when, wearing a new suit, Lincoln rescued a pig stuck in a mudhole. The colorful illustrations flow across the pages and complement the text. In relating one incident, Lakin reveals many facts about Keller and Annie Sullivan. In this story, Helen is caught in a tree during a storm and is rescued by her teacher. It is then that the child learned of "the power of Nature" and "the power of friendship." The cartoon illustrations are dominated by blues, greens, and pinks; those in Keller are somewhat amateurish. The texts are straightforward; however, Lincoln contains undocumented dialogue. Both books include short chronologies.-Kate Kohlbeck, Randall School, Waukesha, WI Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
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