Originally published by Doubleday, it was the recipient of the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1940.

[1] Abraham Lincoln story is based on the life of the 16th President of the United States, focusing on his early years and the road he took to manhood.

Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire often explored the environment of their historical subjects and, for Abraham Lincoln, they spent time camping and sketching in Kentucky and Illinois to capture the feel of Lincoln's roots.

By 1957, this was a cumbersome printing process and the d'Aulaire's were asked by their publisher, Doubleday, to reproduce their artwork on acetate for later editions of the book.

Other minor changes were made to the original artwork and text to reflect historical accuracy and contemporary sensibilities to race and culture.