Books About Abe Lincoln During the Civil War for Kids

General Abraham Lincoln Books

• Read books to your kids that introduce them to Abraham Lincoln and give an overview of the civil war. For kids ages 5 and older, check out "The Story of Abraham Lincoln," by Patricia A. Pingy, which uses illustrations and simple text to discuss Lincoln and his most memorable moments. For kids ages 8 and older, "Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War," by Dan Abnett, provides a more detailed look at Lincoln's life and the decisions he made during the Civil War that had a profound effect on the outcome. It comes in a comic book format.

Gettysburg Address Books

• Read books with your kids that teach kids about Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, delivered at a critical time during the Civil War. For kids ages 6 and older "Lincoln's Gettysburg Address," arranged by Gary S. Boritt, sets the text of his speech to artistic illustrations that will help children understand the meaning behind the words. Another book to check out, for kids ages 8 and older, is "The Gettysburg Address in Translation: What It Really Means," by Kay M. Olson. The book breaks down the lines of the speech and uses modern context, photographs and word definitions to help children understand the speech.

Emancipation Proclamation

• Read books to your kids that tell the story behind Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the slaves toward the end of the Civil War. For kids ages 8 and older, "The Emancipation Proclamation: Would You Do What Lincoln Did?" by Elaine Landau, provides kids with different perspectives surrounding the Civil War and slavery, and encourages them to think about what decisions they would have made had they been in Lincoln's position. For kids ages 10 and older, "What Were the First Slaves Set Free During the Civil War?" by Shannon Knudsen, answers common questions related to the Emancipation Proclamation.

Books from Slave Perspective

• Read age-appropriate books that give a perspective of Lincoln, the Civil War and the end of slavery, from slaves. For kids ages 6 and older, "Hope's Gift," by Kelly Starling Lyons, tells the fictional story of a young slave girl whose father joins the Union Army. She waits for more than a year until Lincoln delivers the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the slaves, to be able to reunite her family. Another fictional story to consider, for children ages 9 and older, is "Abraham Lincoln: Letters From a Slave Girl," by Andrea Davis Pinkney, about a slave girl who corresponds with Lincoln, imploring him to end slavery.