Book Review: Abraham Lincoln'c Gettysburg Address Illustrated

Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address Illustrated by Jack E. Levin preface: Mark Levine, Threshold editions, New York, 2010.

This is just what the title says.  An illustrated version of the Gettysburg address with line by line illustrations.  It shows the men who gave the ultimate sacrifice, and reminds us to not let their deaths be in vain.  In the preface Mark Levin tells about his father, and how he came to produce such a book.  How fighting for freedom is important, and without being vigilant then freedom can be lost.  The last page of the book is a signed and dated version of the address.

Book Review: Gettysburg

Gettysburg: Bringing History to Life by Josh Gregory, Children’s Press, Sholastic, New York, 2012.

This appears to be a book published for children for the sesquicentennial of the Civil War.  It is actually quite well done.  It explains succinctly Joshua Chamberlains heroics, Lee’s failure with Pickett’s Charge, and Meade’s failure with not following up after the battle was over.  However, it does relate this battle to future events including the Gettysburg Address and the end of the war.

It has one factually inaccuracy which is makes twice.  It says the Confederacy never sent troops into Union territory after this.  They forget Jubal Early and the Calvary invasion which almost made it to Washington through Maryland (a northern state) in 1864.  

Book Review: Gettysburg Address: in Translation

The Gettysburg Address: in Translation; What It Really Means, by: Kay Melchisedech Olson, Fact Finders, Kids’ Translations, Capstone Press, Mankato, MN, 2009.

http://whilhelmsthoughts.blogspot.com/2014/03/word-i-like-lincolns-gettysburg-address.html 

Gettysburg Address

This is again a children’s book, so only expect an overview.  I don’t like the idea of translating the words.  It is not a true translation, and appears manipulated so the author can express opinion or information he/she wants to without regards for the original document.  However this does include the original words, which sound so much better than the translation, almost poetic. 

There is also a glaring factual error, which is repeated twice.  The author says the battle at Gettysburg was the first in the North of the war.  Antietam was in Maryland the year prior.  Maybe the author thought Maryland was in the South, but her own map and list of states has it in the North.  I don’t know how this could have been missed. 

This is something I need to check out.  The book suggests www.facthound.com.  You choose your grade level, and then put in the book code, 1429619309 and it will give you links for age appropriate information.