A. Lincoln and Me

A nameless young narrator explores the parallels between himself and our nation's penny-adorning 16th president in this iconographic animated program based on the 1999 picture book written by Louise Borden and illustrated by Ted Lewin. Focusing on the similarities between the boy and Honest Abe (we're told that Lincoln hated to be called Abe, and our protagonist refers to him here as “A"), the story touches on shared facets between the two, including the same February 12th birthday, beanpole-like skinniness, and big hands and feet (other kids call the narrator “butterfingers and butterfeet,” but teacher Mrs. Giff praises Lincoln's big hands for being strong enough to split rails for a fence, wrestle two guys at once, and “pull 36 states back together”). Featuring rough background sketches of Lincoln, the story touches on the conflict between the North and South that erupted into the Civil War that would become the central feature of Lincoln's presidency, and also visits the Lincoln Memorial. A tad dry overall (this is history-lite, presented in plain, unadorned fashion, backed by an unmemorable soundtrack), A. Lincoln and Me nevertheless does take a different tack by introducing viewers to the Great Emancipator through the viewpoint of a contemporary youngster. A strong optional purchase. Aud: E, P. (J. Williams-Wood)