Mr.+Lincoln's+Boys

//Mr. Lincoln's Boys// is the historically accurate fictional account of the antics of young Tad and Willie Lincoln while they were in residence at the White House. It is based on true events recalled by Julia Taft, a family friend of the Lincolns. Growing up in Washington, with the Civil War weighing heavy on the city and the president, this story centers on the mischievous Tad and Willie and the relief they provided their father with a welcome respite from the troubles of the nation. The boys witness the First Battle of Bull Run while playing on the White House lawn and later, they see the Northern soldiers returning from battle, defeated and wounded. As expected, the boys began to transfer to their play the events they witnessed around them. The boys dressed up in Zouave uniforms to play soldier, they ordered the White House staff about like generals, and their soldier doll named Jack was constantly getting into trouble – one day he was a spy, the next a deserter. In fact, Jack had been tried, executed, and buried dozens of times. One day, the boys found themselves in a difficult situation. Jack had been accused of desertion yet again, but as the boys were trying to bury him in the White House rose garden, they were caught by the gardener. He threatened them each with a hickory switch if he caught them in the garden again. Truly stumped by their dilemma, the boys did not know how to give Jack a proper burial without defying the gardener’s orders. Suddenly, Tad had an idea – why not try to get Jack pardoned, by the Commander-in-Chief of the army, who happened to be their father, Abraham Lincoln. The boys went before their father to make the case for Jack’s pardon. The rest of this story describes the intercession of President Lincoln, and the escape his boys provided him during this time of great national turmoil.
 * //Mr. Lincoln's Boys: Being the Mostly True Adventures of Abraham Lincoln's Trouble-Making Sons, Tad and Willie// by Staton Rabin**
 * Summary**

//Mr. Lncoln's Boys// is a wonderful book that really brings out the personal and //human// side of President Abraham Lincoln. We are able to witness his interactions with his family, as well as the impact the impending Civil War had on President Lincoln's psyche. This book gives us a glimpse of a different perspective - one that we would ordinarily not be able to witness - in regards to one of the most famous historical figures of the time.
 * Review**

This book would be an ideal shared reading text because the students could make many text to self connections. They could compare their own home life with that of Tad and Willie growing up in the White House while also connecting and/or comparing their own families with that of President Lincoln's family. //Mr. Lincoln's Boys// could also be used to illustrate making predictions and inferences from and about the text. I can also see this being very helpful in a reading comprehension lesson, especially helping to foster critical thinking skills while strengthening students' reading skills at the same time.
 * Connections to Components of Reading**

This book would be a wonderful trade book to incorporate in a social studies classroom. It would be particularly relevant to use in a fifth grade classroom, since the focus of social studies at this grade level in JCPS is American history. This book could be utilized during a Civil War unit or during a study of Abraham Lincoln.
 * Content Area Covered**

Staton Rabin is an author of children's books, as well as a screenwriter,public speaker, and frequent magazine contributor. She recieved her degree, a B.F.A. in film, from New York University and currently lives in Irvington, New York. []
 * Author Information**

The following teacher and student links are related to the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln, and the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry (First Fire Zouaves). These can be used to supplement discussion of this book in the classroom, or as a way for students to independently research topics of interest (i.e., for use in a webquest).
 * Links**

First Fire Zouaves: [] []

Civil War: [] []

Abraham Lincoln: [] []