Lincoln...the jokester?

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Krull, Kathleen, and Paul Brewer. 2010. Lincoln Tells a Joke: How Laughter Saved the President (and the Country). Ill. by Stacy Innerst. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 09780152066390

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Lincoln Tells a Joke: How Laughter Saved the President (and the Country) tells the life story of America's 16th president from the perspective of his sense of humor.  This juvenile biography provides a humorous look at a man who was president during a serious and trying time in American history.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Lincoln Tells a Joke: How Laughter Saved the President (and the Country) is a juvenile biography of the 16th president of the United States.  The life of Lincoln is told by the authors using humor as the driving force.  This beginner biography is full of commonly known information about Lincoln scattered with quotes and jokes which the authors note are second-hand and further removed. 

This basic biography does provide initial information about Lincoln and would make an excellent choice to read aloud to young children as an introduction to Abraham Lincoln.

Stacy Innerst's illustrations were done in acrylics on illustration board.  The book is one large illustration which complements the text and provides a much needed visual.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Children will be drawn in by the straightforward prose, and librarians will enjoy sharing the book aloud. - starred review - School Library Journal

...a positive portrait that humanizes the lionized man for whom it was “a love of laughter that kept him going.” - Booklist

"Readers will smile, too, at this lighthearted look at Lincoln and the many droll quotations attributed to him."
-Publishers Weekly, starred review 

Smithsonian's 2010 Notable Books for Children


5. CONNECTIONS
* Have children share their favorite jokes. 
www.kathleenkrull.com
www.palbrewer.com
www.stacyinnerst.com

* Watch the illustrator talk about the book:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm1RwIHMiKM&noredirect=1

*Explore other famous presidents
*Read the book aloud with a partner who will "be" Lincoln by reading all of his quotes.