Simply Superlative
Come read about a legend—
the greatest of the greats;
from a poor boy in the backwoods
to a president, first-rate.
Just how was he outstanding?
How did he top the rest?
What was it that inspired this man
to do his very best?
Come get to know Abe Lincoln.
You’ll find new stories here.
You’ll see that he’s SUPERLATIVE
in many ways—it’s clear!
Abraham Lincoln was born in a one-room log cabin on February 12, 1809. Rising from the humblest beginnings, he became one of the
most celebrated leaders in our nation’s history. As one of our
greatest presidents, he strove to reach lofty goals. What challenges did he face? What made him so remarkable? These stories just might surprise you.
Most Studious: Yearning to Learn Abe’s schools weren’t open
through the year—
a few weeks there or one month here.
So he kept learnin’
on his own.
No internet. No telephone.
He borrowed books.
He farmed and read—
and pondered stories in his head.
He read the same
books every night.
He scribbled notes by candlelight.
No private school.
No framed degree.
Self-learning was Abe’s pedigree!
Amazingly, Abraham Lincoln had less than one year of formal schooling during his entire childhood. As Lincoln put it, his school attendance was “by littles”—a month one year, a few weeks another year. Many years there was no school offered at all in the part of rural Indiana where he grew up. His thirst for knowledge and his curiosity about the world drove him to learn all he could. Lincoln was truly a self-educated man.
Copyright © 2019 by Eileen R. Meyer (Author); Dave Szalay (Illustrator). All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
