My brother ate Abraham Lincoln. That becomes a big problem for 7-year-old Chase in Jennifer Lobasso’s illustrated children’s book, “My Brother Ate My Homework.”

Students in her story are assigned a school project in which they have to make the head of their favorite president. They could use whatever they wanted to complete the project — as long as the finished product was entirely edible.

Lobasso, who coached field hockey for 18 years and is a history teacher at Stroudsburg High School, lives in Lehighton with her husband, Lou, and her sons Chase, age 8, and Ty, age 5.

“My own kids inspired the idea for my book,” she said. “I would read books like ‘Goodnight Moon’ and ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar,’ and I learned from them that you need a catch in the beginning of a story to keep their interests, so I thought that I could do that in a book I write.”

Lobasso has very little writing experience unless you count a thesis paper she wrote while attaining her master’s degree in education.

“I’ve been teaching for 20 years, and I thought I’d like to do something else. So I created my story about a history project, and after reading books to my sons, this too helped me with keeping the language simple and to the point.”

Lobasso admitted she’s never been much with making crafts, so she decided to use what was in her pantry to make Abraham Lincoln’s head in the book.

“In the story, Chase, a main character who is patterned after my son with the same name, makes an 8-inch Abraham Lincoln head using Oreo cookies for eyes, angel food cake for his head, food coloring for the top hat and beard and licorice for his mouth.

With the project finished and the family asleep, Boon, whose character is based upon Lobasso’s son Ty sneaks into the kitchen and eats most of Lincoln’s head.

“Ty could have done what Boon does,” said Lobasso. “He likes to eat candy and sweets.”

Chase sees his project eaten and is devastated. While Mom tries to console him, Boon, fully aware of his brother’s feelings, goes into his secret place where he has stored candy and cookies.

Boon repairs Abe’s head and everyone is happy at the end of the story.

“The theme of my story is that children can learn to do the right thing and have compassion and help heal another child who is emotionally hurting. That to me is an important lesson to learn and carry with them into adulthood.”

Lobasso then began the arduous task of trying to acquire a publisher for her book.

“In the publishing business, you need to first get a literary agent who then secures a publisher for you.”

Like most first-time authors, Lobasso, whose illustrator created Chase and Boon in likenesses of her sons, received rejection after rejection from query letters until her story was accepted by Mascot Books in Virginia.

“My Brother Ate My Homework” will soon be available in book and Kindle versions in February on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Books a Million.

Lobasso has scheduled a few events to promote her book.

“I’m going to do readings at the new elementary center in Lehighton, and those interested can check my website, jenniferlobasso.org for further information.”

Lobasso will read from her book at the Lehighton Area Memorial Library, 124 North St., Lehighton, at 6 p.m. Thursday.