Abe's Fish: A Boyhood Tale of Abraham Lincoln by Jen Bryant

With 2009 being the 200th celebration of President Lincoln's Birthday, it's nice to find some kid-friendly books about Lincoln coming to market. Abe's Fish is one of those. It's a beautifully illustrated book done in a lovely, warm palette.

The story centers on one of the few stories the president told of his childhood: a chance meeting he had with a soldier returning from a battle in the War of 1812. [The war, if you don't remember, was fought by the United States and Britain. It lasted 3 years and if you follow that link it will take you to Wikipedia.]

Jen Bryant fleshes out this story and begins it on a day on which young Abe is hurrying after his father. He's only a boy, but he's eager to prove his usefulness. On this day though, he's too small to wield his father's ax and so his father sends him off to see what his ma has for him to do. Perhaps sensing (the way we mom's do) that Abe didn't want to spend another day picking berries with his little sister, she sends him off to catch fish for their dinner.

It's an important job and Abe tries hard. When he manages to catch a big one, he thinks ahead to dinner and how proud his mom and dad will be. How he'll show off to his pesky sister.

But Abe doesn't get to bask in the anticipated praise for as he is walking home he runs across a soldier who is returning home from a battle. Abe can see that the tired soldier is hungry so after thinking about what he has been taught, he decides to forgo praise and he gives the fish to someone he realizes is even needier than he and his family.

Considerations:::
I love the artwork. Amy June Bates does a wonderful job with expressions, and her watercolors are lovely.

I also like that Abe's Fish provides adults and children with a lot to talk about. Besides the background events of the War of 1812, Jen and Amy give us examples of what life was like in the early 1800s, not only for the Lincoln's but for all families on the edges of our growing country. Through both the story and the artwork, children will learn about how hard families worked and how they struggled to keep from being hungry. They will also see how much freedom and education was valued and how the Bible was an integral part of our nation's character.

The dilemma that Abe faced with the fish and the soldier provides an opportunity to discuss charity and pride and the story of the Good Samaritan.

There is a very nice bibliography that's included, as well as some kid-friendly answers to questions that might arise from reading this book. Questions like:

• What was Abe's mother like?
• What sort of man was Thomas Lincoln?
• Other than his older sister Sarah, did Abe have other siblings?
• Where is Knob Creek? How long did Abe and his family live there?
• Did Abe ever see slaves when he lived at Knob Creek?
• What was Abe's school like?
• In the story, who was the soldier Abe met on the road? Why was he fighting?
• and more...

Accelerated Reading Level::: No AR level is available for Abe's Fish at the present time.

For 4th Graders and up. [I say that because some of the content went over my children's head. They are just turning 7 and 9.]