Audio of the Week--Abraham Lincoln and the Heart of America
RSSFrom SLJ March 2005
David Bilmes, Schaghticoke Middle School, New Milford, CT -- School Library Journal, 03/07/2005
1 CD. approx. 70 min. Greathall Prods. (www.greathall.com). 2004. ISBN 2-882513-84-3. $14.95.
Gr 3-6–Abraham Lincoln comes to life in this entertaining and informative CD produced and narrated by storyteller Jim Weiss. Characters who played important roles in Lincoln’s life, including Frederick Douglass, Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, Stephen Douglas, and George MacClellan, each leave their mark on Lincoln’s story as Weiss masterfully changes voices to fit the different personalities. While Lincoln’s life story is well-known, Weiss does a good job of uncovering lesser-known facts and anecdotes about our 16th president. He masterfully describes Lincoln’s first meeting with Mary Todd, who later became his wife. He also tells wonderful stories of an encounter between Lincoln and Peter Cartwright, Lincoln’s opponent in his first race for Congress, and of Lincoln’s surprise appearance at a committee that was accusing his wife of being a Confederate spy. We learn that in 1858, when Lincoln defeated Stephen Douglas in the campaign for U.S. Senate from Illinois, senators were chosen by the state legislator, not directly by voters. It is also interesting to note that, due to the length of the opening remarks by Edward Everett, most of the spectators had left the Gettysburg battlefield by the time Lincoln made his memorable Gettysburg Address, which is read in its entirety. An informative and entertaining story told by a master storyteller.
