Lincoln Tells a Joke: How Laughter Saved the President (and the Country) - Hardcover

Kathleen Krull is well known for her innovative, award-winning nonfiction for young people, including Lives of the Explorers, Lives of the Musicians, and all other books in this popular series illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt. She is also the author of Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez, illustrated by Yuyi Morales, as well as The Beatles Were Fab (and They Were Funny) and Lincoln Tells a Joke: How Laughter Saved the President (and the Country), both co-written with Paul Brewer and illustrated by Stacy Innerst. She lives in San Diego, California. Visit her online at kathleenkrull.com. 

Paul Brewer is known for bringing humorous, and well-researched nonfiction to young readers. With his wife, Kathleen Krull, he has co-written The Beatles Were Fab (and They Were Funny),Lincoln Tells a Joke: How Laughter Saved the President (and the Country), and others. He lives in San Diego, California.

Stacy Innerst is an award-winning editorial artist and the illustrator of several picture books, including Lincoln Tells a Joke, Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea, and The Beatles Were Fab (and They Were Funny). He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. You can visit his website at www.stacyinnerst.com.

Starred Review. Grade 1–4—The legends that endure about Lincoln are many: his log-cabin childhood, his honesty, his eloquence. What is less-often discussed is how he used humor to diffuse tense political situations, disarm critics, and undo the stresses of running the country. His love of words in general, and jokes and humor more specifically, helped him throughout his life when things were difficult, uncomfortable, and downright dire, as they often were during the Civil War. Krull is an expert at teasing out the fun, quirky sides of her subjects and sharing them in a way that is both genuine and engaging. This take on Lincoln is no exception. He is portrayed as an accessible, endearing, and sympathetic figure, not just another president. Children will be drawn in by the straightforward prose, and librarians will enjoy sharing the book aloud. Innerst's colorful and unconventional acrylic illustrations cover the entire page and are the perfect complement to both the text and the subject matter, making this a standout biography. Pair it with Deborah Chandra and Madeleine Comora's George Washington's Teeth (Farrar, 2003) for a unique look at two of our most famous leaders.—Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA
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