Lavinia Warren never let her height—or the lack of it—prevent her from leading a full and adventurous life. Although she never grew more than three feet tall, she became a beloved teacher, a world traveler, an entertainer and the friend of many powerful figures. Lavinia was teaching at a local school when she heard about an opportunity to travel doing shows as a “human curiosity” on a Mississippi River boat. Eventually she met P. T. Barnum and worked at his American Museum. It was there that she met Charles Stratton, a little person known to the world as “Tom Thumb.” Their wedding, which took place on February 10, 1863, brought joy to a nation at war. President and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln held a reception for the couple at the White House. The newlyweds later toured the United States and the world. Lavinia faced several tragedies but always found the strength to go on. Lavinia’s extraordinary story also provides a social history of one of the most devastating periods in American history. With additional material on Tom Thumb Weddings, readers' questions, time line, and notes and bibliography, this is sure to be a valuable title for adventurous middle-grade readers.

“Lavinia Warren was a remarkable woman who lived in an era when careers and world travel were extremely unusual among her gender, let alone for a woman so tiny. Her size never limited her aspirations, nor her curiosity about the world. Elizabeth Raum has deftly woven Warren’s fascinating personal story with the events and people of the American Civil War in ways that will surely engage young readers and connect them with history.” —ADRIENNE SAINT-PIERRE curator of the Barnum Museum

“A captivating and astounding story about a confident woman who traveled the world, embracing life and proving that our differences can indeed unite us. Lavinia Warren is an inspiration and a delight. I adored this book!”—SARAH MARSH author of Thomas Paine and the Dangerous Word

“A fun, interesting, and rare look into the life of one extraordinary woman during a very tumultuous time in American
history.”—JENNIFER SWANSON author of Pearl Harbor, part of the American Girl: Real Stories from My Time series

"A book worth reading…so absorbing." —Ms. Yingling Reads

"An unreservedly recommended addition to family, elementary school, and community library biography collections." —Midwest Book Review

Elizabeth Raum has written more than 100 fiction and nonfiction books for children. She is a longtime member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and currently serves as the regional advisor of SCBWI—Dakotas. Raum is a teaching artist with the North Dakota Arts Council, and enjoys visiting schools and speaking with children throughout the country.