Description
Book SynopsisFrom New York Times bestselling author and news anchor Raymond Arroyo comes a fun picture book biography of Tad Lincoln, his relationship with his father President Abraham Lincoln, and a story about a parent’s love for his son and the wisdom of a child. Full of humor, this romp through history will teach children about the power of curiosity, imagination, friendship, empathy, determination…and even a little mischief!
Tad Lincoln was forever getting into trouble. He bounced around the White House making mischief and annoying almost everyone but the president. Yet Tad was his father’s joy and comfort amidst a brutal war, a family tragedy, and the toll of holding the nation’s highest office. When Tad befriends a turkey meant to be holiday dinner, his plea for the pet to be spared teaches Abe a lesson about mercy. It also starts the tradition of the presidential turkey pardon, a tradition that presidents carry on to this day.
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Trade ReviewA biography of Abraham Lincoln's son, Tad, that introduces the lesser-known historical figure to young readers. Action-filled vignettes from Tad's childhood, brought to expressive life through Davis's artwork, illustrate lessons of emotional complexity and eventually mature into more somber moments, like the death of Tad's brother, Willie, and the moral struggles of leadership Tad witnessed his father go through during the Civil War. The author gracefully uses these anecdotes to make Tad feel relatable to modern readers while grounding him in the necessary context of the boy's life. While the story is limited to Tad's childhood, there's plenty of material for meaty discussion. Plainspoken language will appeal to confident young readers, while evocative word choices, such as 'helpless, neighing laughter,' add a little literary flair. An explanatory note at the end describes how Arroyo was especially moved by Abraham Lincoln's sensitivity and mercy, especially in the granting of pardons, and how he believes Tad's influence was responsible. This is a heady topic well worth exploring and successfully sets up the story of Tad as an organic launching point for conversations about the humanity of political leadership and what qualities a leader should exemplify. VERDICT: A fun, well-paced, highly readable biography that provides a sophisticated entry point for more nuanced discussions about the complexities of leadership. Recommended. * Kate Stadt, School Library Journal *
