Saturday's Review

Delightful children’s story highlights Abe Lincoln’s love of learning and respect for all people

History buff Robert Bloch has given children whole new perspective on the early life of one of America’s best known Presidents.

My Best Friend, Abe Lincoln, looks at the early life of Abraham Lincoln (11-14 years old, 1820-1823) through the eyes of a fictional best friend, as he grows up in southwestern Indiana and changes from a young country boy with pants always too short to the sixteenth President of the United States!

The two boys share a love for the outdoors and adventure. They attend a “blab school,” where a dozen children aged six to twelve repeat their lessons aloud until they have memorized them by heart—a practice that makes for a noisy classroom.

Sam is fond of Abe, who is tall and skinny and grows so fast that his pants always seem to be too short. He admires his friend’s amazing memory for new words and thoughts, saying he was “…just about as smart as our teacher.”

Bloch said “The story shows how if one puts their mind to working hard and treating people fairly and honestly, you can become anything you want to become in life—friendships and relationships are a very important factor.”

His inspiration for the book came in part from a family legacy. His great-great-grandfather, Jonas Wollman, a distinguished abolitionist who was one of fifty two Leavenworth, Kansas merchants and business people, who signed a letter asking Mr. Lincoln to come and visit Leavenworth, Kansas. Leavenworth became the site of Lincoln’s first campaign speech in December 1859.

This heart-warming story of two childhood friends and growing up will capture both your interest and imagination. This beautifully done book is colorfully illustrated by former Walt Disney Studios animation artist, John Ewing who is known for working on many Disney films including Winnie the Pooh and Jungle Book.

My Best Friend, Abe Lincoln

A Tale of Two Boys From Indiana

Robert L. Bloch

Illustrated by John W. Ewing

List $13.95

Hardcover $13.95 (32pp)

ISBN 978-1-60131-074-3

Published by Big Tent Books

Official date of publication is June 1, 2011

Available in bookstores online and wherever books are sold.

For more information visit www.mybestfriendabelincoln.com

About the Author

Robert L. Bloch has worked at the H&R Block Foundation since 1989. His passions are Art History and American History. Bob graduated from Menlo College in Menlo Park, California, (1974) and the University of Missouri at Kansas City (1979).

He lives in Mission Hills, Kansas, and has four sons and a wonderful wife.

About the Illustrator

John Ewing attended Chouinard Art School in Los Angeles before joining the team at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. In his eleven years there, he worked on many projects, including Winnie the Pooh and The Jungle Book. In addition to John's illustration work with Dragonpencil, he is also an art professor and an avid flight enthusiast.

What People Are Saying

A delightful tale for youngsters and their parents and grandparents, too—reminding us of Abraham Lincoln’s roots in pioneer America, a story that still inspires.

Harold Holzer

Highly recommended

Boyu Huang, Allbooks Review.

Highly recommended! Bob Bloch has reignited the story of an American legend.

Jerry Seltzer, Author, "Afford or Reward".