“Prairie-Town Boy” by Carl Sandburg

Before he was a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and Lincoln’s great biographer, Carl Sandburg was “Charlie,” a barefoot kid running loose in Galesburg, Illinois.

In this memoir for young readers, Sandburg looks back on growing up in the 1880s and ’90s as the son of hardworking Swedish immigrants. He writes about delivering milk, sweeping floors, swimming in the creek, and roaming with his pals. He remembers circus days, election torchlight parades, and the old-timers who still talked about Lincoln debating Douglas right there in town. It’s full of humor and honesty, and the plain, poetic voice that made Sandburg famous.

This book is drawn from his longer autobiography, “Always the Young Strangers.” It’s a wonderful window into small-town America for readers 8 to 12 and for grown-ups who love history. This Odyssey Classic is a sturdy library binding in acceptable condition, and you can find it at Dead Tree Dreams.