RAPPAPORT, Doreen. Abe’s Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln. 1 CD w tr book. 13 min. Weston Woods. Mar. 2016. $29.95. ISBN 9780545932677.

Gr 1-4 –Rappaport paints a human and inspiring portrait of Abraham Lincoln. The text in this biography is uplifting, accessible, powerful, and tender. The author captures Lincoln’s influence on modern society in a way that young children can understand and appreciate, and Kadir Nelson’s illustrations are simply breathtaking. Narrators Nicol Zanzarella and Trevor Murphy deliver commanding performances as they alternate between the author’s text and Lincoln’s words. Rappaport and Nelson narrate their own additional notes. Murphy offers a stirring reading of the Gettysburg Address following the story. The accompanying music and sound effects successfully support the text. VERDICT This read-along deserves a prominent place in every collection. [“This is one Lincoln book that all libraries will want to have”: SLJ 10/08 review of the Hyperion book.]–Terri Perper, Olney Elementary School, MD

This review was published in the School Library Journal September 2016 issue.