Abraham Lincoln (1939) by Ingri and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire is a beloved children’s biography that brings the life of America’s 16th president to vivid, larger-than-life proportions through the couple’s signature lithographic illustrations and engaging storytelling. This Caldecott Medal-winning book chronicles Lincoln’s journey from his humble log-cabin childhood in Kentucky to the halls of the White House, capturing his humor, honesty, and steadfast leadership during the Civil War.
The d’Aulaires’ artwork—richly colored and brimming with folkloric charm—depicts young Lincoln reading by firelight, wrestling frontier bullies, and standing tall against the storm of slavery. Their prose balances warmth with historical gravity, introducing children to complex themes like justice and unity without oversimplifying Lincoln’s legacy.
A cornerstone of American children’s literature, praised for making history feel both heroic and deeply human.
“The d’Aulaires didn’t just write history—they carved it into the American imagination with pictures as enduring as Lincoln’s own monument.” — The Horn Book
