Standing in for Lincoln Green
What’s inside...
Lincoln Green has a double, someone who looks just like him. Lincoln Green's own mother can't tell the difference between him and You Know Who. With his handy stand-in taking care of all the chores that just can’t wait, Lincoln Green has plenty of time to do the things he wants to do, like drink fizzy sarsaparilla and shoot the breeze. However, You Know Who teams up with Billy the Kid Next Door, preferring fun over chores. This leads to big trouble for Lincoln Green. This visually striking and inventive picture book by the author of Marshall Armstrong Is New to Our School and The Frank Show explores themes of responsibility and the importance of doing things you may not initially enjoy.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
2-6
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What similarities do you see between yourself and Lincoln Green?
How would you feel if you had a stand-in like Lincoln Green does? What would you have them do?
Why do you think Lincoln wanted a double? Do you think it solved his problems?
What does this story teach us about honesty and being true to oneself?
If you could change something about Lincoln's decisions, what would it be and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to draw parallels between Lincoln's experiences and their own daily life. Listen attentively to their perspectives and gently guide them to contemplate the consequences of Lincoln's actions and choices in the story. Use the discussion to tie back to important values such as honesty, independence, and the importance of facing challenges head-on.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding Individuality
Explanation: In the story, Lincoln Green creates an imaginary twin to stand in for him at less enjoyable moments. This narrative highlights the importance of embracing and understanding one’s unique qualities.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to appreciate their own individuality and understand that everyone has strengths and weaknesses. It teaches them to be comfortable with who they are.
Example Lesson: Value of Honesty
Explanation: As Lincoln creates more scenarios for his imaginary twin, the complexities grow, showing both humorous and challenging outcomes, which emphasize the value of honesty.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to practice honesty in their daily interactions and understand that truthfulness builds trust and simplicity in relationships.
Example Lesson: Importance of Facing Challenges
Explanation: Lincoln's reliance on his imaginary twin to escape uncomfortable situations demonstrates an avoidance strategy that ultimately complicates situations.
Real-World Application: This can help children recognize the importance of confronting problems directly, helping them develop resilience and problem-solving skills.
Example Lesson: Consequences of Actions
Explanation: The book illustrates how Lincoln’s decisions affect not only himself but others around him, teaching readers about the impact of their choices.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to think about how their actions might affect others and the importance of considering consequences before acting.
Example Lesson: Creativity and Imagination
Explanation: Lincoln’s creation of an imaginary twin exemplifies the power of imagination and creative thinking.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to use their creativity to think of innovative solutions and to view imagination as a valuable tool in everyday life.