Abraham Lincoln

Marion Dane Bauer is one of the most trusted names in American children's literature, and this 2012 Scholastic entry in the 'My First Biography' series reflects that. Lincoln's log-cabin childhood, his self-taught education, his presidency, the Civil War, and the abolition of slavery are all present in language lyrical and plain enough for kindergarteners to follow. Liz Goulet Dubois's bold illustrations carry the visual weight. Lincoln's assassination is handled with age-appropriate brevity — not avoided, not dwelt upon. For young children beginning to understand American history and what leadership can look like, this is a reliable first introduction. The limitation is inherent to the format: a first biography for five-year-olds cannot go deep, and parents or teachers will want to follow it with richer material as children grow.