Book Summary
Mr. Lincoln's Way by Patricia Polacco is about a principal of an elementary school who is caring, understanding, involved, and everything you would want a principal to be. All of the students in the school love Mr. Lincoln, especially when he plays with them out on the playground at recess! However there is one boy who has not been so positively inspired by Mr. Lincoln. He is the school bully, "Mean Gene," and he's learned to be racist because of his racist father. However, Mr. Lincoln does not give up on Eugene. He manages to find something Eugene is interested in and uses this as a way to connect to Eugene and find out what the root of his problem is. Eugene misses spending time with his grandfather and has learned to be hateful from his father. Mr. Lincoln is able to get through to Eugene, teach him about tolerating differences, and find a way to get his grandfather, a more positive role model, back in his life.
My Impressions
In typical Polacco fashion, this book explores difficult topics in a gentle way. Mr. Lincoln, one of the main characters, is the type of adult Polacco puts in many of her stories, the kind of perfect adult role model who is everything for children: caring, observant, intuitive, wise, and abundantly understanding. It shows that many times bullying comes from the bully's own pain, and that well-trained, sufficiently staffed schools are crucial for children, especially when it comes to the crisis of rampant bullying occurring in schools.
Professional Review
Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2001 (Vol. 69, No. 14))
Mr. Lincoln, the African-American school principal is considered "just plain cool" and is loved by all the students-except Eugene Esterhause. "Mean Gene" is a bully who uses racial epithets he has learned from his bigoted father. Mr. Lincoln is determined to reach Eugene and affect a change in his thinking and behavior. When he discovers that Eugene has learned a great deal about nature from his kind grandfather, he enlists Eugene's help in managing the school's new atrium. They become deeply involved with the birds, especially a pair of mallards that have nested there. Along the way, Mr. Lincoln tries to teach the troubled child about acceptance and respect of all his "little birds," both feathered and human. When the ducklings hatch, Eugene and Mr. Lincoln lead them safely to the pond where their parents await. Polacco ("Betty Doll", p. 264, etc.) is a master at telling moving stories that gently teach lessons of kindness, compassion, and love. This newest work is only slightly less successful. It is certainly visually appealing, with colorful, expressive illustrations that beautifully enhance the text. Personalities and changing moods are vividly presented in Polacco's signature style. The story, however, seems a bit contrived and derivative. It's a little of "Make Way for Ducklings" meets "To Sir with Love". In fact, endpapers that show a grown Gene Esterhause, now a teacher, indicating there might be more to the story as indeed the flap copy reveals that Polacco based her setting on a school where the ducks and atrium do exist. With that in mind, it is still a sweet story about learning to respect oneself and others, and is well worth the reader's attention. 2001, Philomel, $16.99. Category: Picture book. Ages 6 to 9. © 2001 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
(PUBLISHER: Philomel Books (New York:), PUBLISHED: c2001.)
[Review of the book Mr. Lincoln’s Way, by P. Polacco]. (2001). Kirkus Reviews, 69(14). Retrieved from www.clcd.com
Adapted from http://www.patriciapolacco.com/books/linclon/linclon.html
Have Storytime participants draw a picture of a bird of any color, size, shape, or kind. Next to the bird, have each participant write his or her name and list the characteristics that he or she feels make him or her unique. For example, have each child list his or her hobbies, dreams, religious preferences, heritage, nationality, or any information they wish to share with one another. When the drawings are complete, create a library atrium by decorating a wall or bulletin board with the drawings of the birds. Allow time for participants to share their drawings and characteristics with each other.
References
Polacco, P. (2001). Mr. Lincoln's Way. New York: Philomel Books
Polacco, P. (n.d.). Activity ideas: Mr. Lincoln's Way activity ideas, "Mr. Lincoln's Way" [Author Website]. Retrieved from http://www.patriciapolacco.com/books/linclon/linclon.html
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