Abraham Lincoln's Dueling Words

Abraham Lincoln was known for his sense of humor. But early in his adult life, it got him into trouble. He had to use his imagination to save his career—and maybe even his life.

When Abraham Lincoln became frustrated with the actions of James Shield, a political rival, he came up with a plan. It was silly. It was clever. And it was a great big mistake! Lincoln wrote a series of fictional letters to the editor, complaining about Shields.

But when Shields took offense, he challenged Lincoln to a duel. How did our future president straighten things out and save the lives and careers of both himself and his rival?

Donna Bowman's humorous voice and S. D. Schindler's expressive illustrations are the perfect match for this story of Abraham Lincoln's humor and wit. Back matter includes an author's note and bibliography."Bowman adds levity and appeal. . . Schindler's illustrations, done in watercolor and ink, are a perfect accompaniment to this moralistic story." —School Library Journal

"Bowman's upbeat telling is infused with folksy humor, and Schindler's superb watercolor-and-ink illustrations effectively capture the time period" —Kirkus Reviews

"Lively, engaging. . . Bowman's conversational, folksy reader-directed paragraphs incorporate droll, dramatic, and suspenseful touches that will likely hold readers' interest. . . Schindler's intricate, expressive watercolor-and-ink illustrations lend further vibrancy." —BooklistDonna Janell Bowman grew up on a ranch in central Texas, where she took care of animal friends and trained for horse shows. Today she is a speaker, writing coach, and the author of award-winning books for young readers. Bowman has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts and lives in Texas.

S. D. Schindler grew up in Wisconsin and began drawing and coloring at the age of three. He received a degree in biology from the University of Pennsylvania before becoming a popular illustrator of many bestselling children's picture books. He lives in Pennsylvania.