This book gives a really good take on informational books for children. It's funny and full of facts. While reading it, it's hard to realize one's even reading an informational book because it's so touching. It tells about ol' Abe as a person and some of the things in his Presidency that bothered him, rather than drowning the reading with fact and hard fact about Abe Lincoln and his presidency. The illustrations make children giggle, and the story makes adults giggle. ( )

Laughter is not only good medicine. It can also be a political tool, human motivator, and saving grace, as the authors show in this upbeat overview of Lincoln’s life. Moving through the sixteenth president’s many challenges, from family deaths to lost elections to fighting slavery, the text emphasizes how Lincoln coped with a joke on his tongue and a smile on his lips. Many direct quotes are interwoven in a contrasting font within the spreads that delve into subjects such as his military service, when he faced “a good many bloody battles—with mosquitoes,” and marriage: “Here I am, and here is Mrs. Lincoln. And that’s the long and short of it.” Innerst’s acrylic artwork feels homey and humorous, very much in the style of his previous work with Krull, M is for Music (2003), and while not every word or picture is necessarily a hoot and a holler, they do present a positive portrait that humanizes the lionized man for whom it was “a love of laughter that kept him going.

There are so many books about Lincoln, but this one really was great. It was very touching and would be great to share with kids to show how humor can be so important in life. The exaggerated illustrations are perfect for the topic. ( )

This book takes an interesting slant on Abraham Lincoln's life, focusing on his sense of humor. I enjoyed learning more about this lighter side of Lincoln, and the illustrations were appropriate and good too. ( )

Lincoln lived a very rough life. He enjoyed reading,learning, and also telling jokes. Lincolon was an odd looking guy compared to the rest of the boys his age. He was very tall and had a big nose. He actually made fun of himself. Later on in life Lincoln became the sixteenth presidents. He was president when the war broke out. He got through it all thanks to his love of laughter. ( )