This lovely book tells the story of the relationship between Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The illustrations are lovely and the story is a wonderful gateway to a quest of learning more about their thoughts and interworkings.

The book opens in the year 1865 at a reception celebrating Lincoln's second inauguration as the United States president. Deep into the Civil War, Lincoln is steadfast in his belief that slavery needs to end. Frederick Douglass, a black man who is well respected, forges the relationship with Lincoln and attends this occasion celebration.

While Lincoln searches for Douglass, his wife notes that it isn't wise to invite a black person. When Lincoln finally notices Douglass it is mentioned that because of the color of his skin, Douglass experienced some difficulty in entering the gala.

Full of information I never knew, once again an illustrated book has pulled me into the content of the well-written and beautifully illustrated tale. Lincoln's eyes were opened on many occasions, but the first time he hauled farm produce down the Mississippi River to New Orleans he was made aware of the travesty of the way in which the black people were treated.

Frederick Douglass reached out to Lincoln when he was elected to the House of Representaitves. The book notes that Frederick wanted to teach Lincoln and he in turn wanted to learn. It is also noted that the two enjoyed each other's company and the ability to laugh amid the sorrow of what what happening in the country.

The fact that Lincoln invited Douglass to his inauguration party shows a lot about Lincoln's character.

Highly recommended! ( )

This book of Lincoln and Douglass's friendship is a great learning tool for youth. It will introduce them to topics such as the Civil War, slavery, emancipation, and Civil Rights.
The illustrations depict the perfect example of how different the life of a white boy was versus the life of a black boy, growing up during that era in history. Although Lincoln and Douglass were raised in two totally different ways, their beliefs remained the same. They both wanted equality for all. This belief, that Douglass and Lincoln shared, changed the course of American history as they joined one another in a fight to end slavery once and for all. ( )

Lincoln and Douglass: An American Friendship shows the story of how Lincoln and Douglas came to be the great influences that they are today. The book shows the two boys growing up, both eager to learn and teach others. Detailed illustrations in the book show the differences between Lincoln and Douglass's upbringings and backgrounds. The illustrations are also good tools to ask critical thinking questions to students. The pictures dig deeper than the text when it comes to showing the emotions of how these men were feeling during the Civil War. A good book to read to students about Lincoln and Douglass's contributions to the United States. ( )

1865 marked the start of Abraham Lincoln's second term as President. Racial tensions were high and equality was limited. Lincoln and Frederick Douglass shared many ideas and both resented slavery. Douglass was a slave and ran away from his "owners", trying to avoid being beaten. He was taken in by Quakers. Lincoln and Douglass both were avid learners and worked hard to better themselves. It was not until the journey down to New Orleans that Lincoln realized the brutal nature of slavery and segregation. Both men hated slavery. The focus of this picture book is the meeting between both men at the inaugural ball. Due to a misunderstanding, Douglass was asked to enter through the back door. Both men agreed that the country was going through tough times but their powerful friendship could improve the state of the country. It was not until after Lincoln was assassinated that the Thirteenth Amendment was ratified, signaling the end of slavery.

Friendship is a powerful teaching idea emphasized in this book. The theme of friendship shows that our individual differences should be appreciated. With the onset of the Civil War, the United States had a major ideological rift. This book is written in a poetic style and is appropriate for students in grades one to three. The book has colorful illustrations and allows students to have tactile experiences while reading. The interactive nature of this book makes learning enjoyable and memorable. ( )

This historical nonfiction picture book is a fun and easy read that compares the similarities and differences between two prominent American history figures. The underlying meaning of this book is that friendship comes in all colors and that what is right is not always popular. This story is enjoyable due to the brilliant illustrations. ( )