Story of Abraham Lincoln’s Tenacious, Hilarious Son Releases Oct. 3, 2023
Perfect for Thanksgiving/Holiday Round-Ups
Grand Rapids, Mich. (August 9, 2023) — New York Times bestselling author, respected broadcast journalist and producer Raymond Arroyo continues his Turnabout Tales series with The Magnificent Mischief of Tad Lincoln, releasing Oct. 3, 2023, from Zonderkidz. The story of Abraham Lincoln’s rambunctious son is the second heartwarming, historic picture book in the series, following The Unexpected Light of Thomas Alva Edison, which debuted in March.
Ushering in the fall season, The Magnificent Mischief of Tad Lincoln introduces readers to the youngest son of the 16th President of the United States — a largely forgotten, but historically significant boy, who is responsible for an enduring national holiday tradition. Tad, who had a cleft palate that sometimes made his speech difficult to understand, was known for pulling pranks and wreaking havoc in the White House. This is the unknown story of the boy whose joyous presence became a source of comfort to his father during the nation’s darkest moments. Aimed at children, ages 4-8, and the young at heart, this keepsake picture book — illustrated by Jacqui Davis — captures the hilarious White House mischief of Tad Lincoln and reminds us of the importance of one child in the life of a father — and a nation.
Filled with Tad’s imaginative hijinks, The Magnificent Mischief of Tad Lincoln also paints the portrait of a doting, grieving father, who after losing his oldest son to a deadly fever, grows even more attached to young Tad. Against the backdrop of the Civil War, the 8-year-old provides moments of joy, laughter and hope to his father on his darkest days. In turn, his dad subtly teaches Tad important life lessons about mercy and forgiveness as he pardons real-life soldiers, toys and even a Thanksgiving Day turkey at the insistence of his son. In this “Turnabout Tale,” Arroyo explores how Tad’s beloved “Paw,” as Tad called the president, recognized wisdom in his son’s innate mercy and how, together, they created a national tradition that continues to this day.
“As his father reviewed pardons in his office, late into the night, Tad would often fall asleep next to his desk. Lincoln’s cabinet famously hated pardon requests to reach the president personally. He had a soft spot for those in distress — a sensitivity his personal losses only deepened,” Arroyo observes of the president, who granted pardons for more than 82% of the requests he received over the course of his four years in office. “His generosity and mercy, even amid a bloody war, is a constant theme of his presidency and a huge part of Tad’s story.”
It was Tad and President Lincoln who began the tradition of the White House Thanksgiving turkey pardon — a custom U.S. presidents still observe to this day — after Tad begged his father not to let the kitchen staff cook the bird he had adopted as a friend and playmate. Lincoln established Thanksgiving as a national holiday in 1863, that same momentous year, which also saw the esteemed president sign the Emancipation Proclamation and deliver the Gettysburg Address.
The Magnificent Mischief of Tad Lincoln is the second installment in Arroyo’s Turnabout Tales series, which is slated to feature pivotal moments in more historic lives, each revealing “Challenges Faced, Paths Changed, History Turned.” Additional books in the series will be announced soon. This series was acquired by Zonderkidz Publisher Megan Dobson and Senior Acquisitions Editor Katherine Jacobs, from agent Chip Flaherty of Bamtrey Strategies.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The Magnificent Mischief of Tad Lincoln
By New York Times bestselling author Raymond Arroyo
Illustrated by Jacqui Davis
Hardcover w/ Jacket, $18.99
978-0310793823 October 3, 2023 On Sale
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Raymond Arroyo is an internationally known, award-winning journalist, producer, and New York Times bestselling author. As a Fox News Contributor and Editorial Advisor to the top-rated, The Ingraham Angle, he has created the popular “Seen and Unseen” and “Friday Follies” segments that have become audience favorites. He regularly files national reports for Fox News and appears across the network. He is also a former CNN contributor.
As founding News Director, Managing Editor and Lead Anchor for EWTN News, he is seen in more than 400 million homes on six continents each week and heard on more than 600 AM/FM affiliates and a stand alone Sirius channel throughout the U.S. and globally. Arroyo established EWTN News and The World Over Live in 1996, which he hosts from Washington D.C. each week. Known for his penetrating interviews, Arroyo has interrogated the leading figures of the day. Highlights include: The first exclusive, sit down interview with Mel Gibson about his film, “The Passion of the Christ”; Mother Teresa of Calcutta; Placido Domingo; Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump, a groundbreaking interview with comic legend, Jerry Lewis, and the first and only English language interview with Pope Benedict XVI. Arroyo has also worked for the Associated Press, The New York Observer and the political columnist team of Evans and Novak.
He is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He has acted and directed in New York and London. Arroyo has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Erin Burnett OutFront, Access Hollywood, and NPR. His work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Newsweek, Time Magazine, The New Yorker, and elsewhere.
Five of his adult books, including his biography of Mother Angelica, were all New York Times bestsellers. His first picture book, The Spider Who Saved Christmas, was also a New York Times bestseller. Additionally, he is author of the bestselling Will Wilder series for young readers. In 2015, Arroyo founded Storyented.com, a literacy initiative to inspire reading by connecting the world’s great authors and their readers. Arroyo resides in New Orleans and Washington D.C. with his wife Rebecca and their children.
https://raymondarroyo.com/
https://twitter.com/raymondarroyo
https://www.facebook.com/ArroyoRaymond Literary Initiative: storyented.com
Zonderkidz™, the children’s division of Zondervan, inspires young lives through imaginative, innovative and educational resources that represent a Christian worldview and build up God’s children and teens. For additional information, please visit www.zonderkidz.com.
Zondervan is a world-leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications. Zondervan, as part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan’s offices are located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.
Media Contacts:
Jessica Westra, Director of Publicity, Zonderkidz, Jessica.westra@harpercollins.com
Velvet Kelm, the media collective, velvet@themcollective.com, (615) 591-7989, themcollective.com
