LINCOLN AND DOUGLASS An American Friendship

This story of Abraham Lincoln's friendship with Frederick Douglass will make budding historians want to learn more. Poet Nikki Giovanni's prose is lyrical and lilting at times and more straightforward at others. Danny Glover's voice is deep and friendly, and his narration is backed up by subtle sound effects—murmuring crowds, shushing waves. The music is particularly stunning, tying together Glover's narration, Giovanni's words, and Bryan Collier's illustrations. When the story shifts to young Douglass escaping from his slave master, the combination of the beautiful nighttime scene, spread across two pages, and the urgent, swelling music feels cinematic and stirring. The production offers great opportunities for talking about race, friendship, and American history with young listeners. J.M.D. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2009]