Pandemonium and Patience in the President's House
June 1, 2021
Grades 2-4 This picture book profiles Abraham Lincoln's youngest son, Tad, during 1863, a year after the death of Willie, his next-older brother. Evidently born with a partial cleft palate that affected his speech, 10-year-old Tad had trouble communicating through words and settling down to study with his tutor. However, he excelled at running through the White House, sometimes accompanied by his goat, and barging into meetings and receptions. In the midst of the Civil War, his antics amused his father, though visitors to the White House disapproved of his parents' handling of the boy, who seemed largely uneducated and undisciplined. But Tad had a warm heart, whether obtaining a presidential pardon for his pet turkey or accompanying Papa on visits to soldiers in hospitals. Anderson's lively text offers anecdotes along with insights into how Tad's high-spirited escapades may have given Lincoln welcome relief from his weighty responsibilities. Created using ink, watercolor, and gouache, Schindler's lively illustrations bring a lesser-known White House resident to life within a distinctive period setting. A vivid introduction to Tad Lincoln.
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July 15, 2021
Learn about the Lincoln family through the life of their youngest child. Thomas "Tad" Lincoln was by all accounts rambunctious. The nickname came with his birth, when his wiggling body reminded his father of a tadpole, and his high energy continued throughout his childhood. This energy, paired with a partial cleft palate that left a hole in the roof of his mouth, made Tad a high-maintenance child who was hard to understand but also one who delighted the president and brought levity to a troubled White House. Readers will learn about a few of these adventures, including Tad's moneymaking schemes to support the war effort, his romps through the White House, and his role in the pardoning of the first turkey, Jack, which became one of his menagerie of pets. The story's strength lies in its quiet depictions of Abraham Lincoln and his wry humor that many children's history books ignore. The fine-lined and delicately colored illustrations capture the energy of the day and don't sugarcoat the Whiteness of Lincoln's world; most of the Black characters depicted are servants. Readers fascinated by this glimpse into Tad's story will want to know more, and caregivers and educators will delight in the extensive bibliography and source notes that will aid that exploration. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A lively glimpse into the Lincoln home. (author's note) (Picture book/biography. 5-12)
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