History Picture Books

I love, love, love picture books! Picture books are a great way to learn about things because they give you basic information and wonderful pictures to go with it. Even as an adult, picture books about science and history have taught me many things about our world. I have always read picture books to my kids. Of course we read more chapter books now since they are older but I still slide a few in now and then. My boys are 14, 12, and 10 but they have been trained to be polite and listen whenever Mom is reading. (Most of the time--ahem) So...they are very nice to let me read picture books to them when I feel the need. We even have special picture books for holidays that we read each year as part of our family tradition. The 14 year old does not participate because 1) he is 14-hello! and 2) his school load does not allow him the time. So I am savoring that I can still read to my others and knowing that this season is short!

Anywho--We read 2 great picture books for history that I wanted to share. The first is Escaping to America: A True Story by Rosalyn Schanzer. This story is about a family in Poland and around 1921 they knew they must leave their country. The story includes how the family had to deal with the presence of the soldiers in their town and how they had to be sneaky to escape. This story adds personality to the characters and lets the reader relate them. The pictures are wonderful and the story ends on the day of Thanksgiving.

The other book is The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis. This author grew up in Prague, Czechoslovakia during the cold war. This book tells of a boys life growing up and how the politics affected it. Sis shares the desire of the youth to be free to express themselves in music and art. He includes the 'Prague Spring' of 1968 and how the leader, Alexander Dubcek, was lifting the censorship. Then in August the reassertion of totalitarian control by the Soviets was heavy and harsh. This control also included the removal of Dubcek from office. I enjoyed this glimpse into life in that place and time. It made me curious to find out more about 'Prague Spring.' This book also has a happy ending--that is always a good thing!

Both of these books are good reminders of the wonderful country that we live in. I am so thankful for our freedom and liberty that we have as citizens of the United States of America. I think about the price our forefathers have paid for us and how that price is still being paid now by our soldiers and their families. It is very humbling to know how blessed I am to live here in this time. There are many people that still come to our country for the freedom and the opportunity for a better life. How privileged I am to be here and I need to remember to always be thankful!!!

Wow, all those thoughts sparked from a picture book! If you are studying history with your kids I want to encourage you to throw in some picture books for both fun and learning!