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Abe Lincoln's Hat
Illustrated in full color. Abraham Lincoln, one of our greatest presidents, started out in life as an absent-minded frontier lawyer. How did he nudge his memory? He stuck letters, court notes, contracts, and even his checkbook in his trademark top hat. When he took off his hat, it was all there!
48 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
Want to read
March 4, 2016Obligatory reading for every four-year-old who likes to follow the news! Astonish your playschool pals when you tell them that the Republican Party didn't used to be synonymous with prejudice, bigotry and racism, and see them stare as you explain that a Republican President actually fought a war to give black people more rights! Incredible but true.
February 1, 2019
A good read through or read-aloud for children with some funny stories to keep them entertained. Pictures on each page spread.
Ages: 4 - 8
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Ages: 4 - 8
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!
Visit my website!
November 15, 2022
Over the years, I have read this book with countless students. It is a great, little biography. Filled with silly, true stories, this is an exciting and informative read for everyone about Abraham Lincoln.
September 12, 2024
While this is an early reader book and very easy to read, it's a great story about Abraham Lincoln that incorporates enough information that I was able to answer a question on Jeopardy because of reading this book today! So I think it would be a great addition to an elementary classroom, giving kids not only an informative book, but a fun, and funny, story!
January 28, 2022
Gift from Harper's grandmother
May 13, 2016
Personal Response:
I liked this book because it talked about how Abe Lincoln helped other people. He always liked to help people and he always was trying to solve people's problems.
Plot:
In the beginning of this book, there was a poor man named Abe Lincoln. He was the lawyer of his town. The first time that he had some money, he went to the store and he bought his first big hat.
Even though he was a really good lawyer, he had one problem, he never had his paperwork organized. He used to put all his important papers in his hat. He decided to travel to different towns to help people. He traveled long distances to get to those towns. The people of the town said Abe Lincoln could make a cat laugh. He was very funny, and he was always making people feel good. Abe took care of a lot of cases, but one day he received a call from his best friend asking his for help. Duff, the son of Abe's friend, was in jail. Abe went to his friend's town and he solved the case. Abe Lincoln ran for president, but he lost the first time. He tried to run for president again and the second time won. He was the 16th president. He abolished slavery.
Characterization:
Abe Lincoln was the main character. He was a really poor man but he was really smart. He worked hard and became a lawyer. He also became the president of the U.S. He was an honest man. He was known in the towns as funny and kind. He loved to help people and everyone loved him a lot.
Impacts Of Setting:
Abe Lincoln was born in Illinois, but in the end of this book, he moved his family to Washington. The book doesn't tell us what specific year he was born, but we know he was born in 1809. This book took place over several years. The setting of this book is important, because it took place during the Civil War.
Thematic Connection:
The theme of this book is that you have to standup for your beliefs and fight for what you think is right. Abe Lincoln believed slavery was wrong, he worked hard to become the president and to change the law.
Recommendation:
I recommend this book to all people who like to hear funny jokes, because Abe Lincoln was very funny in this book. I recommend this book to 10 year old boys and girls.
I liked this book because it talked about how Abe Lincoln helped other people. He always liked to help people and he always was trying to solve people's problems.
Plot:
In the beginning of this book, there was a poor man named Abe Lincoln. He was the lawyer of his town. The first time that he had some money, he went to the store and he bought his first big hat.
Even though he was a really good lawyer, he had one problem, he never had his paperwork organized. He used to put all his important papers in his hat. He decided to travel to different towns to help people. He traveled long distances to get to those towns. The people of the town said Abe Lincoln could make a cat laugh. He was very funny, and he was always making people feel good. Abe took care of a lot of cases, but one day he received a call from his best friend asking his for help. Duff, the son of Abe's friend, was in jail. Abe went to his friend's town and he solved the case. Abe Lincoln ran for president, but he lost the first time. He tried to run for president again and the second time won. He was the 16th president. He abolished slavery.
Characterization:
Abe Lincoln was the main character. He was a really poor man but he was really smart. He worked hard and became a lawyer. He also became the president of the U.S. He was an honest man. He was known in the towns as funny and kind. He loved to help people and everyone loved him a lot.
Impacts Of Setting:
Abe Lincoln was born in Illinois, but in the end of this book, he moved his family to Washington. The book doesn't tell us what specific year he was born, but we know he was born in 1809. This book took place over several years. The setting of this book is important, because it took place during the Civil War.
Thematic Connection:
The theme of this book is that you have to standup for your beliefs and fight for what you think is right. Abe Lincoln believed slavery was wrong, he worked hard to become the president and to change the law.
Recommendation:
I recommend this book to all people who like to hear funny jokes, because Abe Lincoln was very funny in this book. I recommend this book to 10 year old boys and girls.
November 11, 2013
A book my 5 yr old loved, a little old for my preschoolers. A solid reading level 3 book, this reader has a good amount of advanced vocabulary words, but not so long that it discourages a new reader. Used it for his read out loud book, which was perfect. It took about 20 mins for him to read and had just enough new vocabulary words to make it challenging. Also, it was a fun and interesting story he could get into. He liked it so much, he asked for more by this author. Great reading book!
November 29, 2021
This historical fiction tells a tale of a young lawyer’s daily life and struggles in the early days of the American government. The story begins once Abe Lincoln becomes a lawyer and fast forwards through many interesting stories about his career. One detail that was woven throughout the book was that Abe Lincoln stored important information - letters, calendar dates, speeches - in his top hat. We learn that he was a good lawyer and was able to help many people settle arguments with his problem solving skills. We learn that he traveled with a group of lawyers, settling problems in many towns. The book details many of the important cases in Abe Lincoln’s career, including the case of a black woman in Illinois who had been illegally sold by her employer. This led Abe Lincoln into politics, and his eventual presidency.
I think this book does a wonderful job making a famous “character” in American history relatable to elementary school students. Since the book only touches on the big accomplishments of Abe Lincoln’s career, it might be helpful to first discuss what the children already know about him. The teacher could add any detail needed to provide background knowledge prior to reading the book. After reading the book, students could write important facts they learned about Abe Lincoln on pieces of paper, and then store them inside a craft hat. Many renditions of Abe Lincoln’s hat (both one dimensional and 3 dimensional) and corresponding instructions can be found online.
The author succeeds in showcasing a different side of Abe Lincoln’s life that may not be as well known as his major accomplishments, and she does so using early elementary friendly vocabulary which would make the book a good independent read for strong 1st through 3rd grade readers. This book could also be a good addition to a teacher’s Presidents Day read aloud book list.
I think this book does a wonderful job making a famous “character” in American history relatable to elementary school students. Since the book only touches on the big accomplishments of Abe Lincoln’s career, it might be helpful to first discuss what the children already know about him. The teacher could add any detail needed to provide background knowledge prior to reading the book. After reading the book, students could write important facts they learned about Abe Lincoln on pieces of paper, and then store them inside a craft hat. Many renditions of Abe Lincoln’s hat (both one dimensional and 3 dimensional) and corresponding instructions can be found online.
The author succeeds in showcasing a different side of Abe Lincoln’s life that may not be as well known as his major accomplishments, and she does so using early elementary friendly vocabulary which would make the book a good independent read for strong 1st through 3rd grade readers. This book could also be a good addition to a teacher’s Presidents Day read aloud book list.
February 19, 2013
Summary:
Abe Lincoln grew up in the mostly wilderness state of Illinois, a place where many people disputed over animals, land, and money. Despite not ever having much money in his family, when it came time for Abe to begin his occupation as a lawyer, he wanted to make sure he had a respectable, notable image, and so he bought a black coat and matching tall black hat. Abe’s hat sure did help get him noticed and build up his clientele, but his lack of organization surely wasn’t helping him in the least. He decided that he could use his hat for more than just a fashion statement, but also a place of storage for all of his acquired important documents. His new paper-keeping method and smart and friendly personality combined to make Lincoln a successful lawyer, until he eventually wanted to pursue his career further into becoming a politician, because there were some laws pertaining to slavery that Abe wanted to emphasize and make more clear. Abe’s first election run against Stephen Douglas for U.S. Senate proved to be unsuccessful, but it did make him more known to the public, which helped him win the presidential election in 1860. As president, he “freed the slaves, worked for fairer laws, and helped unite the nation after a long war” (p.46). Nonetheless, even as president he never waivered from his paper-keeping strategy of keeping everything of importance in his tall black hat that helped in making him famous in the first place.
Response:
I found Abe Lincoln’s Hat to be a very enjoyable and easy read. I really liked the vivid and concrete language that was used throughout the book, which is one of the qualities for outstanding children’s literature (TMY, 2010, p. 9). The text was simple and not overly complex, perfect for young readers to be able to comprehend and relate to. For example, when Brenner described Abe’s motives for running for U.S. Senate (p.40) she said, ‘If Abe won, he could make laws to stop slavery.’ I found this to be an appropriate sentence that children could understand, using the phrase “stop slavery” instead of something along the lines of abolishing slavery or Abe wanting to terminate the racial discrimination that was taking place. On another note, I also really found the accompanying page at the end of the book (p.48) to be an asset because it illustrated the characters depicted in the book in real black and white photos that were really taken by an old camera during the time frame of the story’s setting. The final page also includes a statement reassuring readers that, “All the stories in this book are true and all the people really lived it.” I found this excerpt to be important for children to be able to reaffirm the understanding of the biography, and that events described really did happen. Just as well, I admit even though I knew that the story was a biography before reading it, I found myself questioning some of the events that took place with Abe’s hat initially, and the passage on p.48 gave me the affirmative answer I was hoping for. Furthermore, I gave this book a 5-star rating because it was kid-friendly, but at the same time it incorporated some important historical elements about our 16th president and the actions he accomplished throughout his life. Additionally, this biography was presented in a fun way, including accompanying illustrations that gave personality to the characters, especially the main character of Abe Lincoln. Moreover, the book stayed true to the facts expanding awareness regarding Lincoln and the struggles that took place throughout his lifetime, while still bringing its own originality to the table, two crucial elements of outstanding children’s literature that were well-represented (TMY, 2010, p. 9).
Classroom Connection:
One obvious classroom connection to go along with this biography would be to incorporate it into a social studies lesson about the study of presidents or Abraham Lincoln specifically. It includes much factual information that could be used as an introduction to the key characteristics of Abe’s importance in American history, or it could be good for briefing students on the life of Lincoln prior to indulging further into the study of the impact he made as a president and a leader. However, another aspect of this book that could be narrowed in on is the story’s element of Abe Lincoln’s hat. Throughout the story, there is focus on how Abe’s tall black hat influenced various aspects of his life, including how it initially made him noticeable and recognizable when he first became a lawyer, and how later he used his hat as his primary place of storage, so that he would not misplace important documents a traveling lawyer and politician needed to keep track of. With this in mind, students could create their own important “hats” (i.e. a shoebox) and include some elements they want to always remember and never forget about themselves. For example, students could incorporate writing and creativity skills by including a letter to themselves in their “hats” writing mini-biographies about themselves (favorites, preferences, etc.) and could also be assigned to find some small physical representations of their likes and dislikes to include in their “hats” (i.e. a tennis ball, a baseball card). Students would also have to decorate their hats to reflect their interests and personalities. Furthermore, students could practice their speech and presentation skills by presenting their “hats” to their classmates. This would be a good way for classmates to gain knowledge about one another, and also a good way for a teacher to better get to know his or her students.
Text Complexity:
Abe Lincoln’s Hat has a lexile level of 330, a guided reading level of M, a DRA of 24, and a GLE of 2.9. Its intended interest level is k-4. Considering its lexile level of 330 and its guided reading level of M, I would consider students to be able to independently read this book by the middle of 2nd grade. (The lexile range for 2nd graders for the first half of the year is 300-399, and the guided reading level range for 2nd graders is J-M.) Nonetheless, kindergarteners and 1st graders would enjoy this book as a read-aloud with its straightforward storyline and interesting pictures, and learning-to-readers would not struggle too much with this book because the wording is simplistic and is accompanied by connecting illustrations.
Abe Lincoln grew up in the mostly wilderness state of Illinois, a place where many people disputed over animals, land, and money. Despite not ever having much money in his family, when it came time for Abe to begin his occupation as a lawyer, he wanted to make sure he had a respectable, notable image, and so he bought a black coat and matching tall black hat. Abe’s hat sure did help get him noticed and build up his clientele, but his lack of organization surely wasn’t helping him in the least. He decided that he could use his hat for more than just a fashion statement, but also a place of storage for all of his acquired important documents. His new paper-keeping method and smart and friendly personality combined to make Lincoln a successful lawyer, until he eventually wanted to pursue his career further into becoming a politician, because there were some laws pertaining to slavery that Abe wanted to emphasize and make more clear. Abe’s first election run against Stephen Douglas for U.S. Senate proved to be unsuccessful, but it did make him more known to the public, which helped him win the presidential election in 1860. As president, he “freed the slaves, worked for fairer laws, and helped unite the nation after a long war” (p.46). Nonetheless, even as president he never waivered from his paper-keeping strategy of keeping everything of importance in his tall black hat that helped in making him famous in the first place.
Response:
I found Abe Lincoln’s Hat to be a very enjoyable and easy read. I really liked the vivid and concrete language that was used throughout the book, which is one of the qualities for outstanding children’s literature (TMY, 2010, p. 9). The text was simple and not overly complex, perfect for young readers to be able to comprehend and relate to. For example, when Brenner described Abe’s motives for running for U.S. Senate (p.40) she said, ‘If Abe won, he could make laws to stop slavery.’ I found this to be an appropriate sentence that children could understand, using the phrase “stop slavery” instead of something along the lines of abolishing slavery or Abe wanting to terminate the racial discrimination that was taking place. On another note, I also really found the accompanying page at the end of the book (p.48) to be an asset because it illustrated the characters depicted in the book in real black and white photos that were really taken by an old camera during the time frame of the story’s setting. The final page also includes a statement reassuring readers that, “All the stories in this book are true and all the people really lived it.” I found this excerpt to be important for children to be able to reaffirm the understanding of the biography, and that events described really did happen. Just as well, I admit even though I knew that the story was a biography before reading it, I found myself questioning some of the events that took place with Abe’s hat initially, and the passage on p.48 gave me the affirmative answer I was hoping for. Furthermore, I gave this book a 5-star rating because it was kid-friendly, but at the same time it incorporated some important historical elements about our 16th president and the actions he accomplished throughout his life. Additionally, this biography was presented in a fun way, including accompanying illustrations that gave personality to the characters, especially the main character of Abe Lincoln. Moreover, the book stayed true to the facts expanding awareness regarding Lincoln and the struggles that took place throughout his lifetime, while still bringing its own originality to the table, two crucial elements of outstanding children’s literature that were well-represented (TMY, 2010, p. 9).
Classroom Connection:
One obvious classroom connection to go along with this biography would be to incorporate it into a social studies lesson about the study of presidents or Abraham Lincoln specifically. It includes much factual information that could be used as an introduction to the key characteristics of Abe’s importance in American history, or it could be good for briefing students on the life of Lincoln prior to indulging further into the study of the impact he made as a president and a leader. However, another aspect of this book that could be narrowed in on is the story’s element of Abe Lincoln’s hat. Throughout the story, there is focus on how Abe’s tall black hat influenced various aspects of his life, including how it initially made him noticeable and recognizable when he first became a lawyer, and how later he used his hat as his primary place of storage, so that he would not misplace important documents a traveling lawyer and politician needed to keep track of. With this in mind, students could create their own important “hats” (i.e. a shoebox) and include some elements they want to always remember and never forget about themselves. For example, students could incorporate writing and creativity skills by including a letter to themselves in their “hats” writing mini-biographies about themselves (favorites, preferences, etc.) and could also be assigned to find some small physical representations of their likes and dislikes to include in their “hats” (i.e. a tennis ball, a baseball card). Students would also have to decorate their hats to reflect their interests and personalities. Furthermore, students could practice their speech and presentation skills by presenting their “hats” to their classmates. This would be a good way for classmates to gain knowledge about one another, and also a good way for a teacher to better get to know his or her students.
Text Complexity:
Abe Lincoln’s Hat has a lexile level of 330, a guided reading level of M, a DRA of 24, and a GLE of 2.9. Its intended interest level is k-4. Considering its lexile level of 330 and its guided reading level of M, I would consider students to be able to independently read this book by the middle of 2nd grade. (The lexile range for 2nd graders for the first half of the year is 300-399, and the guided reading level range for 2nd graders is J-M.) Nonetheless, kindergarteners and 1st graders would enjoy this book as a read-aloud with its straightforward storyline and interesting pictures, and learning-to-readers would not struggle too much with this book because the wording is simplistic and is accompanied by connecting illustrations.
February 11, 2019
A Step into Reading Level 2 book targeted for grades 1-3. I picked this up because my grandson loves Abraham Lincoln after doing a study on him last year. I liked the way that they started with his tall hat and why he wore it and then branched out into a glimpse of what life was like as a lawyer in those days, traveling long distances and sleeping in rooms crowded with many other men. It takes one of his cases and shows how he proved his client innocent and his accuser a liar. The story ends with Abe running for president AND at the end wraps around to the beginning with him STILL carrying papers in his tall hat.
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May 9, 2021Abe Lincoln's Hat is a great historical fiction early reader book. It is about Abe Lincoln and his top hat. Lincoln wanted to be a lawyer and he was a great lawyer but he lost mail and other important documents so he decided to put them in his top hat. This would allow him to remember what he had to do every time he took off his hat. I would recommend this book because I think it is a great early readers book and learn a little more about Abe Lincoln other than his being a president. This would be for ages 5-8. I think they would enjoy learning about Abe Lincoln in a different way. There is not really any diversity in this book.
January 25, 2018
So I read this book while I was waiting for Ray to finish using the printer and his stink to dissipate after he'd left the computer room. Long story short, I think it's a solid read. I learned a few interesting little bits of history and the writing is straightforward and clear. The depictions of the men and events with which this book concerns itself seems legit. It's not the best thing I've read this week but it's up there, like maybe top 20%, though I admit it's been an unusually slow week in terms of reading.
November 8, 2016
This book is about Abraham Lincoln and the story of how he got to become a lawyer. He always forgot about paper-work and letters he got, so he got a tall hat were he could all the things he needed to do. It also tells you of the stories of him helping one of his friends who got charged of murder. And it tells you of how he didn't agree that you couldn't buy or sell slaves. It also tell you of how he got to be president but always kept his important papers in his hat.
April 29, 2018
1. (None)
2. Grade 1-3
3. “Abe Lincoln’s Hat” is about Abe Lincoln and how he bought a hat when he became a lawyer. He was a disorganized person so he decided to store his important paper inside his hat. The book states many facts about Abe Lincoln’s life and his presidency.
4. I like this story becuase it is factual while also including some fictional details about Abe Lincoln’s life and why his hat is so famous.
5. This story can be used when learning about presidents.
2. Grade 1-3
3. “Abe Lincoln’s Hat” is about Abe Lincoln and how he bought a hat when he became a lawyer. He was a disorganized person so he decided to store his important paper inside his hat. The book states many facts about Abe Lincoln’s life and his presidency.
4. I like this story becuase it is factual while also including some fictional details about Abe Lincoln’s life and why his hat is so famous.
5. This story can be used when learning about presidents.
September 18, 2019
This is another book that I use during my President and Government unit. Again, I model how to take notes so my students know how to summarize facts for their president projects. I do not allow my students to do their projects on Abe Lincoln or George Washington. This book is written at a level that is typically easy for my third graders to read even if they are a couple levels behind expectation.
March 25, 2021
An appropriate non fiction level 3 story about Abe Lincoln and his famous top hat. The illustrations are humorous, yet show life in the 1800s. Age appropriate reflection Lincoln's humorous nature and rise to the White House. The conclusion explains the book to today's young reader: All stories in this book are true and the people really lived. Here are photos of some of them. When the photos were taken around 1860, the camera was a new invention.
November 3, 2022
I find that this book did a great job at hooking on young readers wanting to continue to learn more about Abraham Lincoln before he became a president, his journey being a lawyer. The author used Abraham's hat as a fun way to teach children. The illustrations also added to the story bringing the words to life. At the end of the story it reminds students that story is a true story and even shows real picture if Abraham Lincoln and other important figures mention in the story.
July 26, 2017
A great early reader non-fiction title! While this book only scratches the surface of Licoln's life, the episodes it records give a flavor of what he stood for and his great accomplishments. It also provides just enough humorous detail to keep the intended audience engaged.
Recommended for a lower grade reader interested in the presidents.
Recommended for a lower grade reader interested in the presidents.
September 17, 2018
Even though this is a step 2 book, I used this book as a read aloud to my 3rd grade son. We are studying about Abraham Lincoln this week and this book was the perfect addition to our study/read aloud time! My son has a short attention span with reading and this book kept him entertained WHILE he learned! I also learned some new info I did not know as well!
**Highly recommend!**
**Highly recommend!**
August 1, 2020
Abraham Lincoln had a fault - keeping track of papers and correspondence. His hat was the first "Franklin planner" where he stuffed his to-do lists and notes that he still needed address. This was a fun story for young kids to read to learn about the character and personality of our 16th President.
February 5, 2018
Good early reader, and had a few stories we hadn't heard yet.
May 22, 2018
This book is okay but it's too childish and easy for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2018
A great, easy-to-read first look at Abraham Lincoln and his times. He is presented as a real person who laughed easily even while indicating his importance.
February 5, 2019
Abe Lincoln was a lawyer. He help people when they need him. It he had one problem himself. He forget to answers letters. But that didn't stop him. He become president.. He did some great things!!
February 9, 2019
Read this prior to reading to my grandkids. I am sure they will like it. Best for 3rd grade when they can read it on their own.
April 22, 2019
Grade: 1-3
Biography
A fun story that kids will enjoy when continuing reading and learning about Abraham Lincoln at the same time.
Biography
A fun story that kids will enjoy when continuing reading and learning about Abraham Lincoln at the same time.
April 23, 2019
All kinds of things I didn't know.
Want to read
October 31, 2019good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2020
Remember reading this as a kid.
February 24, 2021
I didn’t know Abe kept important papers and notes in his hat! What a fun fact that is the through line over Abe’s life as lawyer and president .
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews