I love books for kids that are fun to read but also teach at the same time. The SockKids Meet Lincoln by Michael John Sullivan and Susan Petrone introduces a touch about Lincoln and the Civil War with a sock that travels back in time through the washer. This is the first book in what is anticipated to be a series of books about the Socker family that goes on all sorts of adventures.
The book is aimed at younger children, as young as two, according to the authors. It is silly and has great illustrations that take up the majority of pages with the words themselves limited to a few paragraphs so the younger readers don’t lose their attention. The book is upbeat and moves along quickly, making it a great fast bedtime book.
In The SockKids Meet Lincoln, Stretch is taking a “bath” in the washing machine and strays too far. He’s pulled into the spin of the spin cycle and pops out on the leg of Abraham Lincoln as he is giving his Gettysburg Address. While the book doesn’t go into great detail – and how can you when it’s aimed at such young children? – it gives a quick overview of who Lincoln is and how he loves all people, regardless of who they are and where they come from via the sock on Lincoln’s other foot.
It’s simplistic, but it’s cute and sweet, and it’s a nice introduction to a little history. In the end, Socker is returned to his family where he shares his adventure after being wrung through an old fashion hand washer that existed back in the 1860s. It’s a nice way to make an introduction to history interesting and less daunting to children.
Written by Michelle who has a fond appreciation for history and is hoping to generate a similar interest in her own children. See how she chronicles her own history on her blog Honest & Truly! and follow along with her on Twitter where she is also @HonestAndTruly.