Abe's Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln

“I do the very best I know how—the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end.” An iconographic-animated adaptation of the 2008 historical biography by author Doreen Rappaport and illustrator Kadir Nelson, Abe's Honest Words features some lesser known quotes from the 16th American president, whose memorable lines—such as “a house divided against itself cannot stand”—are legion. The boy with “just a mite of schooling” had a legendary love of reading, professing “the things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who'll git me a book I ain't read.” The profile covers Lincoln's many jobs, political struggles, and experiences during the Civil War (Lincoln's assassination is only briefly addressed), backed by Nelson's trademark lush oil paintings, including a photorealistic look at the Kentucky boy wandering through a light-filled forest grove with a simple fishing pole balanced on one shoulder. Narrated by Nicol Zanzarella, with Trevor Murphy as the voice of Lincoln, and featuring music by Michael Bacon, extras include a read-along option and a guide to important dates (with archival photos and maps). Highly recommended. Aud: E, P. (J. Williams-Wood)