Donna Janell BowmanReseñas

I like the range of issues it covers, its focus on kindness, and of course Jim Key.

This book was very interesting for me because it was a story about an event that happen in Abraham Lincoln’s life that not very many people knew about, this also became the “meanest thing he has ever done”. This book is about how Lincoln got himself into trouble. Abraham Lincoln was a Lawyer and his coworker Shields was a lawyer too, they were often known as opposites of one another. Shields was very arrogant and serious, and Lincoln was not. One day Shields had wrote an article and Lincoln’s reply was a “Aunt Rebecca” letter, which at the time no one knew that it was Lincoln and soon after more letters started to show up from other citizens. Lincoln knew he had to own up to his mistake and that’s when Shields called Lincoln to a Duel. They were able to solve this matter without a duel and this became Lincoln’s meanest things he’s ever done in his life. I did not know this about Lincoln, and thought that even if this was not true, it was still in a way funny because what he did was “mean” and that was far from mean, maybe wrong but Abraham Lincoln was a very good guy and never did anything mean in his life.

This book tells the story of a duel that Abraham Lincoln had before he became the president. Many people have never heard of this story because Abraham was ashamed of the duel. He called it the meanest thing that he had ever done. The significance of the story was that through this “almost- duel” Lincoln became the honest person that everyone knew him to be.
Abraham was a regular man, he made mistakes and lived a regular human life. He was smart, funny, and clever. The book was more of a story about a specific time in Lincoln’s life rather than an overall story of Lincoln’s life. It did not resemble the other biographies that I have read and was not as interesting as the others. There was no real timeline of Lincoln’s life because it was mainly based on his “almost duel”.

I really enjoyed this book. The style the author chose to write in was very entertaining and I though it help make the story better. This biography was slightly different than most because it didn’t focus on a broad range of topics. It focused on a short part of Lincoln’s life that I did not know about. I really enjoyed this book.

This book is about Doc Key, an African American man, and his horse Jim. Doc was born into slavery but was given a great opportunity to learn how to read and write along with working with animals. He loved animals, helped take care of animals particularly horses. When Doc grew up he became a successful businessman. He ended up buying a sick, mistreated horse. Doc took great care for the horse and taught the horse tricks, and with these tricks, Doc and Jim would travel and perform for millions. This story is a non-fiction book that expresses patience, love, kindness, and compassion.

This book is the story of Doc Key and his horse, Jim. Even though Doc was born into slavery, he was taught how to read and write and had a knack at working with animals. After the Civil War, doc became a successful businessman and bought an intelligent horse named Jim. Doc taught Jim many tricks, and the two performed these tricks for millions. This book is based on a true story and would be a good lesson on non-fiction versus fiction books as well as a lesson on patience and compassion. With those two virtues, we, and horses, can accomplish anything we set our mind to.

This book is about a man who was a slave, but after he was released he started breeding horses. He has a horse and it is very sick, but Doc does not give up on him. He teaches him all kinds of things and the horse turns out to be amazing. This could be used in the classroom to teach about kindness, compassion, and that any one can learn anything...even a horse.

This book tells the story of Doc and his success in life. Doc was well known and liked by many others due to his many businesses and occupations. He was especially well liked when he began teaching his horse unconventional tricks and skills. This book could be a great tool to use when introducing careers to students. Much like Doc had to learn and study his occupations, students can research and study a career that interests them. This book could also be used when introducing fiction and nonfiction since the book is based on a true story.

Such a beautiful tribute to the human treatment of animals.

Abraham Lincoln's Dueling Words is a delightfully illustrated tale about a lesser known incident in Lincoln's life as a barrister. In response to tax changes that would affect the poorer folk rather harshly, Lincoln wrote a letter to the newspaper under the name 'Aunt Rebecca’, which also called out rival James Shields. Two other 'Aunt Rebecca’ letters turned up, written by people other than Lincoln.

These letters steamed Shields up, and he demanded to know who was behind it. He then challenged Lincoln to a duel. In an attempt to protect both people, and force it to be called off, Lincoln chose swords, and set very clear guidelines that would favour his height and reach. This gives the seconds the opportunity to step in and defuse things, satisfying the honour of both. At the end, there's a section explaining more historical facts regarding the events surrounding Lincoln's duel.

With brilliant illustrations and clear language, Bowman and Schindler bring to life this little known tale, making Lincoln into more a person than a symbol of ideal. He's got a playful sense of humour, and bit of an impetuous nature. It was neat to see Lincoln in a trickster light! My cubs all enjoyed reading this book!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Myrick Marketing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is the story of William "Doc" Key and his horse, Beautiful Jim Key. Doc was born into slavery, but unlike most slaves was taught to read and write, and his owners recognized that he had a gift with animals, so he was allowed and encouraged to pursue it. After the Civil War he became a successful businessman and he ultimately bought a sick, injured, and mistreated purebred Arabian horse, with the hopes of breeding her to produce a champion racehorse. The only colt she had was Jim, who was sickly and spindly but extremely intelligent. With kindness and patience, Doc trained Jim to spell, do math, and a number of other "tricks." Doc and Jim performed for approximately 10 million people over 9 years, including the president. They helped newly formed Humane Societies all over the country and promoted the message that animals are more easily trained and respond better to kindness than cruelty.

The story of Doc Key and the Beautiful Jim Key, from the childhood of Doc to the kindness he showed toward Jim Key and all humans and animals.

This is the true and amazing story about William “Doc” Key, born into slavery in 1833, and illegally educated by his masters.

Young William had a way with animals, and soon he was being sent all over Bedford County, Tennessee to help with injured or ill animals. Before long his skills extended to people, who started calling him Doc Key.

After Emancipation, Key started his own business and even created his own line of medicines, including “Doc’s Keystone Liniment,” which became a popular treatment for both people and horses.

One day Doc spotted a neglected and abused mare near a circus, and bought her for $40, naming her Lauretta. He nursed Lauretta back to heath and paired her with a racing stallion. Her first colt was sickly, but Doc nursed the colt back to health just as he had done with the mare. He called the colt Jim Key.

After a year, Lauretta died, but Jim Key still needed constant observation, so Doc moved the colt into his house. Jim began to act more like a dog than a horse, and when he grew too big for the house, he pitched a fit until Doc moved into the stall with him. Soon Jim began to accompany Doc on his trips to sell horse liniment. Jim would "act" sick and then instantly “recover” after getting the liniment.

Doc wondered what else Jim could learn, and began teaching him. After six months, Jim could pick out letters on cards when Doc said them. He learned to lick his name in sugar on a blackboard. After seven years of instruction, Doc took Jim to the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition in Nashville. Packed crowds were in awe as they watched Jim exhibit his learning.

Doc explained: “The whip makes horses stubborn and they obey through fear. Kindness, kindness, and more kindness, that’s the way.”

Doc and Jim went on the road, experiencing a great deal of racial discrimination. But humane societies, dedicated to ending cruelty toward animals, sponsored Doc and Jim, using a portion of ticket sales to help animals. In 1898, Jim actually started winning spelling bees! Professors from Harvard University who studied Jim concluded there were no tricks or hoax; “It is simply education.” Doc and Jim now drew record-breaking crowds. But as the author reports, Doc would not perform anywhere that had segregated seating.

The two retired when Doc was 73 and Jim was 17.

In the Afterword, the author tells about some additional accomplishments of Jim, and about the stray dog they both adopted, Monk, who served as Jim’s bodyguard, often riding on his back.

The author writes:

“Doc and Jim’s legacy lives on in today’s stronger humane movement, better enforced animal anticruelty laws, and greater societal compassion toward animals.”

Illustrations by award-winning Daniel Minter are charming. You can also see read photos and learn a great deal more about Doc, Jim, and Monk at the website “Beautiful Jim Key.”

Evaluation: This incredible story should help all readers understand that animals are sentient beings, deserving of respect and care and love. The fruits of such treatment will be rewarding all the way around.

Note: Lee & Low features a great teacher’s guide, with more links, background, questions, and activities, here.