ABE LINCOLN AND THE MUDDY PIG

This small anecdote--a folktale about young Abe Lincoln's encounter with a muddy pig--is enhanced with facts that young historians will find engaging. Who wouldn't be impressed by Lincoln's nonchalant attitude toward a 34-mile walk just to hear a lawyer's speech? Ed Sala's narration has an old-fashioned quality that suits the material, and his pacing is appropriate for younger listeners. Older listeners may be distracted by Sala's odd habit of sighing in the middle of a phrase, although children are unlikely to notice. In any case, this story provides a healthy dose of biographical information while suggesting an important lesson: It matters more what you have to say than how you look while you say it. J.C.G. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 02]