What was the first book that you ever read? Those first books – our childhood favorites – shaped not only our reading interests of the future, but also our entire life. As we browse the library or bookstore shelves today – perhaps we’re buying books for our own children, or a child in our life – we may encounter our old favorites. And, as we loved those books, our children will love the books of this and past generations.
Two new books that are attempting to target a younger audience will certainly shape children’s ideas for the future. After two movies about Abraham Lincoln’s life, these two books talk about Abraham Lincoln’s death. When I was younger, I read many books that combined history and fantasy. Perhaps you remember the genre as ‘historical fiction.’ These books sparked an interest in history that remains today. The first book, written by Lane Smith, is called Abe Lincoln’s Dream. In it, a young girl named Quincy explains to Lincoln’s ghost what has happened since his assassination. Another book about Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln’s Grave Robbers, takes an even more historical twist; exploring the period right after Lincoln’s death and taking readers through an adventure with a group of desperate counterfeiters. Books like these are sure not only to be a delight for an older reader as they bring us into both the history of our country and our own pasts, but also to the lives of children.