Abe Lincoln's Hat

Was Abe Lincoln absent-minded? Indeed! President Lincoln came up with a trick involving his stovepipe hat to nudge his memory! Fascinating anecdotes and historical context enrich this expanded biographical picture book that brings to life one of our nation's most revered presidents.

Long before he became the 16th president, Abe Lincoln started out as a frontier lawyer. He resorted to sticking letters and notes deep inside his hat so they stayed handy. Adapted from the Step into Reading leveled reader of the same name, author Martha Brenner has revised and enriched her original text to include more historical material and resources for those who want to explore this captivating figure further. Illustrator Brooke Smart's clever art makes history more appealing than ever. Including both humor and painful, hard-hitting American history, this new edition traces Lincoln's evolution into a compelling commander-in-chief during a contentious time in our nation's history. Young readers will be intrigued!

MARTHA F. BRENNER is the author of four books for children. Years after writing the beginning reader edition of Abe Lincoln's Hat (Step 3 Step Into Reading), she visited Lincoln's home in Illinois. A tall "stovepipe" hat hung in the front hall, as if the great man had returned to be her guide. She and her husband live in Charlotte, North Carolina.

BROOKE SMART received her BFA in illustration from Brigham Young University and started her artistic career as a fine artist. She loves working with traditional media, especially with watercolor, gouache, and on occasion, acrylic paint. Her work appears in children's magazines, children's books, but also on cards and other learning materials. She lives in Utah with her husband and three children. Visit her at brooke-smart.com.