Kids Meet a Famous President

There have been myriad books written about America’s 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. 

In fact, there’ve been 16,000 thus far, according to noted historian and author Jonathan W. White, who’s chosen, in his most recent literary effort, a novel approach to addressing the Great Emancipator’s life: an illustrated children’s book. He is the author of “My Day with Abe Lincoln,” which is geared toward children six to 10 years old. 

The book transports modern-day schoolgirl Lucy Millaway back to the 1820s and backwoods Indiana, where she attends school with young Abe and his sister Sarah and spends a day with him. As the hours unfold, Abe shares captivating stories about his life, tales that show the future icon when he was just a regular boy of his day. 

White discussed the book recently at Marco Island’s Rose History Auditorium during the children’s themed “My Day with Abe Lincoln Storytime,” which included a Q-and-A and a book signing. The event attracted children, parents, and adults for whom history and Lincoln are a passion.

Imagine Honest Abe as a lifelong poor speller or being teased on his first day of school for wearing a sunbonnet. How many people know that on several occasions, he almost died during childhood? These snippets are among the revelations found in “My Day with Abe Lincoln.” 

Lincoln and the Civil War are areas of expertise for White, a professor of American studies at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia. He’s written and edited books covering such disparate topics as civil liberties during the Civil War, the USS Monitor and the Battle of Hampton Roads and the presidential election of 1864. His book, “A House Built by Slaves: African American Visitors to the Lincoln White House,” was co-winner of the 2023 Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize, an honor he shared with historian and Pulitzer Prize winning author Jon Meacham. 

Released Feb. 1, “My Day with Abe Lincoln” is his first children’s book. 

“I've done 16 books for adults, but I wanted to do something for kids now that I have some of my own,” said White after the event. He was accompanied by his daughters Charlotte, who turns 11 in May, and Clara, eight, as well as his parents, Bill and Eileen White, who spend winters on Marco.

During his roughly one-hour presentation, he regaled the audience with humorous stories about Lincoln, including some about his love life leading up to his marriage to his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. White also provided examples of Lincoln’s sharp, self-deprecating wit. 

Elizabeth Swanson, eight, was there with her grandmother, Barbara Thompson. She came away with a copy of the book and a favorable impression.

“I liked all his stories that he told,” she said. “Those are interesting.”

Thompson shared Elizabeth’s opinion. 

“I'm a former teacher, and so I think anything that draws children in and gets them interested in history is great,” she said. “We all like to read in our family.”

Larry and Gretchen Birk were also in attendance. 

“We are enthused about Lincoln works of any type and I enjoy history, as the professor does, so this fits in very well,” he said. My wife's from Illinois and we've been to his (Lincoln’s) home and the (Postville, Illinois) courthouse (where Lincoln tried cases) and everything that he was involved in. I just have had a lifetime interest in the Lincoln stories.”

White said the book has been well-received thus far. 

“The Amazon reviews have been wonderful,” he said. “One of the fun things about those is that a lot of parents are quoting their kids in the reviews, so we're getting to see how kids are engaging with it, and they seem to really be enjoying it.”

He views demystifying historical figures, such as Lincoln, as important. 

“I think I do that as a college professor, and I try to do it in my writing just to get students to realize that these are real human beings who experience life in ways that aren't always so different from how we do,” explained White. When you do that, I think kids then gain a new appreciation for history.” 

Marco Island Historical Society CEO Patricia Rutledge said White may return next tourist season with a presentation aimed at adults. 

Copies of “My Day with Abe Lincoln” can be purchased at the Marco Island Historical Museum, located at 180 S. Heathwood Drive, as well as through Amazon and other online retailers. 

For more information about Jonathan W. White, please visit jonathanwhite.org. For more information about the Marco Island Historical Society, please visit. https://themihs.info/.