Gary Hines

I thought this book was really cute. It was cute, and also informative at the back of the book. In the back of the book there's a section about the story (telling readers what actually happened and what did not), about the Civil War (putting the important facts so kids can learn about it), and about Abraham Lincoln (his life, death, and children). What I found incredibly interesting is that I had no idea that Abraham Lincoln had any kids, much less four of them. I feel as though my history teachers didn't tell my class that, and while it seems like such a trivial fact I was surprised by it. I really enjoyed this book because it's a cute holiday book, and you can learn new things from it.… (plus d'informations)

This book is simply a grandpa telling his grandson a story of the time he rode on a locomotive. Grandpa's memory was triggered by his grandson's reaction to the new sleek and shiny train they were about to board, which was the same reaction grandpa had to his old-time train. It was a very mild, uneventful story. The highlights of the story for me were their lunch (fried chicken, biscuits, and pickles) and learning what a crummy was, which was in the title. A crummy is a slang term used by railroad workers to refer to the caboose. Since it's at the end and receives all the soot and grime, it makes for a dirty, crummy ride. I like the banner painting at the top of the pages because it gives more context for the story since it matches the plot. Anna Hines did a great job on these pictures.… (plus d'informations)

Thanksgiving in the White House is a precious story about Tad, Abraham Lincoln's son, and the celebration of the first declared Thanksgiving holiday. Right of the bat, the setting in this story is extremely important to the characters, and the way that the story develops. The setting of the story is not said in words, but can be inferred through different aspects of the story. The illustrations of the clothes that each character is wearing shows the time in which the story takes place. The text and dialogue in the story also provides information that Abraham Lincoln is President, and the reader can infer that the story takes place sometime during the 1860s. With all of this inferred information, it is obvious as to why the setting is very crucial for the development of this story.… (plus d'informations)