Written by Louise Borden Illustrated by Ted Lewin Presented by Jesilyn Bergmann

n dropped out of grade school n ran a country store n went broke n took 15 years to pay off his bills n took a wife and had an unhappy marriage n ran for House, lost twice n ran for Senate, lost twice

n had an audience indifferent n was attacked daily by the press and despised by half the country

n Is this man really capable of becoming someone?

n This man was Abraham Lincoln, and he did become someone...

n He was a man with “a big heart” (Borden 1999), and the will to succeed... n and he did just that!

n Lincoln’s story is told through this warm and inviting children’s book, A. Lincoln and Me. n The character of the teacher shares the story of Abraham Lincoln to comfort a young boy in her class, Ben.

n Ben, a boy “skinny as a beanpole and tall for his age” (Borden 1999), is often laughed at and picked on by those around him. n Mrs. Giff, Ben’s teacher, shares with her class the heart-felt story of Abraham Lincoln-who once was laughed at himself. n Everybody laughed at Lincoln when he said he would be president...

n but nobody laughed at him when he led the country out of the Civil War. n Similar to Lincoln, Ben is laughed at and made fun of, but there are times when everybody realizes Ben’s size can come in useful. n Ben begins to wonder if he will amount to anything...

n Will he? n Will others begin to accept Ben for who he is, and who he may become? n Will Ben see he can do anything he puts his mind to, even if he is discouraged by others?

n Read A. Lincoln and Me, to find out if Ben rises above and beyond the laughter of his peers. n Perhaps Ben will be the next “A. Lincoln!”

n “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other thing.” n ~Abraham Lincoln

n Borden, L. (1999). A. Lincoln and me. New York: Scholastic Press. n Himes, J.C. (1996). The wit and wisdom of Abraham Lincoln. New York: Gramercy Books.