Skip to Content

A simple way to teach children about historical figures

I DO mean simple.

Also, free.

Schweet.

If your library is remotely decent, chances are good that they have a non-fiction section just for kids. If you’ve never perused those shelves in your library, then goodness, you need to!

(well, assuming you have children in your life.)

Our library isn’t huge, but we do have a fairly decent children’s non-fiction section, and as a homeschooling mom, I consider it to be quite the gold mine.

I browse through it when I’m looking for something in particular (I’ve been keeping an eye out for whatever president we’re studying), but I also love to poke around just looking for interesting books.

I think sometimes we get the idea that the only way to properly learn about history is to do it in a neat, orderly, chronological way.

And while I do see the value in that (we’re studying the presidents from George Washington forward, of course.), I also think that there’s value in picking up bits of historical knowledge here and there in a rather helter-skelter, enjoyable fashion.

So, I look for biographies, but not just any biographies. I’m looking for ones with fun artwork and a colorful story…not the sort of book you’d dutifully check out while writing a paper on George Washington, but the kind you’d pick up and read just because you want to.

Less textbook, more fabulous, I say.

When I bring these home, my children are delighted. They read them just for fun, as though I’d carted in a Pippi Longstocking or Amelia Bedelia book.

But as they read these books, they’re learning about Rosa Parks, Henry Ford, Audrey Hepburn, John Audubon, Eleanor Roosevelt, and countless other famous people.

Since the books are engaging, my kids read them without me telling them to.

And since the books are engaging, my kids actually remember what they read, even without a workbook or test. It’s effortless, enjoyable learning.

As you probably know, I’m a huge fan of the non-fiction books Mike Venezia writes for children, but there are other great authors out there too.

Really, just trust your sense as you flip through the books…if it seems appealing and interesting to you, it’ll probably seem appealing and interesting to your kids.

And if your kids aren’t old enough to read through these types of books by themselves, then read aloud to them. I’ve always done lots of that during my children’s preschool and kindergarten years, because even if they could just barely read their Bob Books, they could certainly understand books on a much higher level.

______________________

Do you have any favorite non-fiction picture books to recommend?

______________________

Today’s 365 post: It’s just a little thing right now.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

WinterLightHomestead

Wednesday 6th of June 2012

When my son was little and we homeschooled, these were huge ("useful" fiction and nonfiction) favorites (read and reread!). All are from Rod and Staff. (Not plugging that company, we just so enjoyed their stuff!)

Baking Day

Bible Stories to Read (For a long time, we did one of these each night at bedtime.)

Farming with Father

My Book About Bartimaeus (from the Say It Again series)

Julie O

Thursday 17th of May 2012

My son is 9 and loves the Basher series of books on science. Basher takes complex ideas and makes them simple for children, such as explaining the periodic table, algebra, chemistry, biology, the composition of the human body, etc., things you dont normally see in books for young children. They are bright with good drawings and funny comments. You can find them on Amazon.

My son prefers nonfiction so I am always looking out for books for him as his school library seems more focused on fiction. He also enjoyed WW II for Kids.

Susie

Wednesday 16th of May 2012

It's great to hear all the great comments about libraries! I've worked in the library for almost 14yrs and have seen a lot of changes happen but it's still clear that book collections are important! In Ca we are hit hard with budget cuts and zero funding from the State right now and our ILL program was cut to borrowing from one system only but we have a grant to buy books that people request and we don't have and it's very popular! I have the honor of purchasing all children's and young adult books and I am also the type to buy whatever people ask for and am happy to do so :) Keep the request coming and thank you for supporting the libraries.

Cindy

Tuesday 15th of May 2012

Dear America series- fiction set in historical times

Amy W

Tuesday 15th of May 2012

We love the "For Kids" Series. We've read Thomas Edison for Kids, Leonardo Da Vinci for Kids, Civil War for Kids, WWII For Kids and many more. We love the writing style and the hands-on projects sprinkled throughout the books.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.