History For Kids

Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most famous Americans in history and one of the most important men children can learn about. The life and legend of Dr. King have been told to every American, many of whom come away equating King with the civil rights movement as a whole, but King's life was about far more than leading movements and having dreams. History for Kids: The Illustrated Life of Martin Luther King Jr. humanizes the leader who constantly sought to better himself and desperately wanted to follow in his father's footsteps.

Paul Revere is one of the most famous Americans in history and one of the first that schoolchildren learn about. Although he is known almost entirely for his legendary midnight ride before the Battles of Lexington and Concord today, in colonial Boston he was praised for the quality of the silver he made, and he was known for being one of the patriotic Sons of Liberty and a militiaman. With 16 children, Paul Revere supported his large family by doing everything from dentistry to casting church bells and engraving the most popular image of the Boston Massacre.

Includes excerpts from the journals of two of the Mayflower's passengers.

"By God's providence, upon the ninth of November following, by break of the day we espied land which was deemed to be Cape Cod, and so afterward it proved. And the appearance of it much comforted us, especially seeing so goodly a land, and wooded to the brink of the sea. It caused us to rejoice together, and praise God that had given us once again to see land." — Edward Winslow

Before the United States of America even existed, the first American celebrity was Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790). In his career, Franklin was an author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. After having his hand in all kinds of community service in Philadelphia, and inventing important devices like lightning rods, Franklin used his unique status as an international celebrity to become the colonies' best diplomat.

If you ask Delphinia Baker, she’d tell you she has all the family she needs. Sure, her mom passed away when she was young, her dad is often away on deployment, but even though Del has never had anyone she can call her people, she has always had her grandmother—and that’s enough. Besides, having no roots just makes it that much easier when you have to move again. All of that changes, though, when Gramma falls ill and Del is sent to stay with her great-grandmother. Del has never even heard of Nana Rose, and she has no interest in spending the summer on a hot island off the South Carolina coast.

Around 2,000 years ago, the Maya people were raising pyramids to house their many gods and to bury their kings. This is just one of the special secrets uncovered by archaeologists in their stunning finds in parts of Central America. More than anything, the Maya left us with many questions. It’s the job of scientists and archaeologists to explain how a thriving people came to such a quick end. There are no simple answers, but we can discover so much with a shovel and brushes! Come, explore this fascinating civilization with us - and don’t forget your Indiana Jones hat!

Many ancient civilizations have influenced and inspired people in the 21st century. The Greeks and Romans continue to fascinate the West today. But of all the world's civilizations, none has intrigued people more than the Mayans, whose culture, astronomy, language, and mysterious disappearance all continue to captivate people.

From the moment Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes first found and confronted them, the Aztecs have fascinated the world, and they continue to hold a unique place both culturally and in pop culture. Nearly 500 years after the Spanish conquered their mighty empire, the Aztecs are often remembered today for their major capital, Tenochtitlan, as well as being fierce conquerors of the Valley of Mexico who often engaged in human sacrifice rituals.

Imagine a feline with the spirit of a lion, the sneakiness of a puma, the terrifying walk of a black bear, and the strong arms of a gorilla. Sounds cool? Now, add some huge dagger-like fangs. Even cooler, right? This amazing creature was best known as the saber-toothed tiger - an animal so fearless, it could beat beasts even twice their size! As cool as he sounds, this Ice Age feline earned quite a villainous reputation; you can even see them be the bad guys in movies!

Walt Whitman was a great American poet, but many people did not get him when he was alive. His family was like most other families, but his friends were different from most other people living then. He was a teacher and reporter, and then he worked for the government. When he was a young man, he was very serious, but when he was older he liked to play around and have fun. Walt Whitman wrote many poems about America, and his most famous work was Leaves of Grass. It was a lot of poems that took him many years to finish.

This book is the story of how poet Emily Dickinson lived her life.

In many ways, Charles Lindbergh represented the best and worst of America during the first half of the 20th century. Lindbergh became famous for being an aviation pioneer whose solo flight across the Atlantic captured the imagination of an entire world, yet he was an isolationist who wanted to keep American freedoms safe for Americans and no one else. History for Kids: An Illustrated Biography of Charles Lindbergh for Children chronicles the amazing life and career of Lindbergh, his greatest highs and most notorious lows, and everything in between.

Only a select few actors become international stars in their time, but none had as unique a career as Charlie Chaplin. Chaplin was the first true film star, and he managed to do so even when films were still silent. The fact that his name remains instantly recognizable nearly a century after his first film is a testament to his influence. History for Kids: An Illustrated Biography of Charlie Chaplin for Children comprehensively examines Chaplin’s life and films, exploring the controversies and the ways in which his life and works are mutually informative.

Patton was a fascinating, complicated, and controversial man whose life story ranges between genius, folly, and tragedy, with absolute determination the one constant theme. History for Kids: An Illustrated Biography of George Patton for Children profiles the amazing life and career of the American war hero, while also examining his personality and analyzing his lasting legacy.

Of all the military men America produced during the 19th and 20th centuries, it’s hard to find one as important, successful, and controversial as General Douglas MacArthur. The son of a Civil War veteran, MacArthur rose to become the most instrumental commander in the Pacific Theater during World War II. History for Kids: An Illustrated Biography of Douglas MacArthur for Children profiles the amazing life and career of the American war hero while also examining his personality and analyzing his lasting legacy.

In many ways, John Fitzgerald Kennedy and his young family were the perfect embodiment of the '60s. The decade began with a sense of idealism, personified by the attractive Kennedy, his beautiful and fashionable wife, Jackie, and his young children. This audiobook chronicles the amazing lives and legacies of John and Jackie, weaving their lives and legacies together into one narrative.

History for Kids: An Illustrated Biography of Jacqueline Kennedy for Children details the fame and fashion of the famous first lady while also examining her legacy during and after her years in the White House. Americans were fascinated by the young first lady’s style and the manner in which she glamorously positioned both the first family and the White House in those years, and Jackie remains one of the country’s most popular first ladies.

The most famous debates in American history were held over 150 years ago, and today they are remembered and celebrated mostly because they included future president Abraham Lincoln, one of the nation’s most revered men. But in the fall of 1858, Lincoln was just a one-term congressman who had to all but beg his US Senate opponent to debate him. That’s because his opponent, incumbent US senator Stephen Douglas, was one of the most famous national politicians of the era.

This book looks at the amazing lives and careers of America's most powerful political couple, including their unprecedented highs and their notorious controversies, but it also humanizes the duo who have overcome considerable personal and political hurdles along the way. Your kids will learn about Bill and Hillary Clinton like never before.

There was little about the childhood of Phoebe Ann Mosey that indicated that she would grow up to become Annie Oakley, one of the best sharpshooters the world has ever seen and an icon of the West. By the time she had died, Annie had become so well known for her marksmanship that other important aspects of her life were largely overlooked, including her philanthropy and her training and encouragement of women. History for Kids: An Illustrated Biography of Annie Oakley chronicles all the aspects of the famous female sharpshooter’s life.