Vinnie and Abraham

(Paperback)

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Vinnie Ream was a small girl with a giant gift for sculpture. This story chronicles Vinnie's life from her arrival in Washington D.C. at the start of the Civil War through her apprenticeship with a famous sculptor and friendship with Abraham Lincoln. After Lincoln's assassination, Vinnie fights doubt and prejudice for the honor of sculpting the full-size statue of Lincoln that now stands in the Capitol rotunda.

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This picture book biography presents Vinnie Ream as a young woman who transcended the conventions of her time through determination and a remarkable talent for sculpture. Living in Washington, D.C., during the Civil War, Vinnie, 14, became one of the U.S. Postal Services first female employees, but she spent her spare time modeling in clay. She apprenticed herself to a renowned sculptor and progressed so well that at 18, she had daily sessions with President Lincoln while she worked to create his likeness. After Lincolns assassination, Congress commissioned her to sculpt a marble statue of the late president, which is still on display in the Capital rotunda. Fitzgeralds clearly written narrative portrays Vinnie as a hardworking, resolute person who succeeded through her own gifts and the help of others who believed in her. Stocks watercolor paintings light up the pages. The joy of the Washington street scene marking the wars end is all the more vibrant in contrast with quiet pictures of Vinnie sculpting the president. Back matter includes an authors note about Vinnies later life as well as a list of books and online resources. A spirited introduction to a little-known artist.

Booklist, starred review

Author Bio

Vinnie Ream was a small girl with a giant gift for sculpture. This story chronicles Vinnie's life from her arrival in Washington D.C. at the start of the Civil War through her apprenticeship with a famous sculptor and friendship with Abraham Lincoln. After Lincoln's assassination, Vinnie fights doubt and prejudice for the honor of sculpting the full-size statue of Lincoln that now stands in the Capitol rotunda.