Second Lady Usha Vance just announced her annual summer reading challenge for the nation's children in grades K–8. According to Vance, the challenge is simple, requiring children to read only 12 books over the summer in order to receive several prizes and a chance to visit the White House.
In a time when only a third of the nation's grade-school children are reading at their grade level, Vance's challenge is a commendable way to get children off their electronic devices and into the pages of a book. It's also admirable because it encourages parents to read with their children, just as Vance says she does with her three little ones.
Most interesting, however, is Vance's mention of what she and her children are reading. Because of the nation's 250th birthday celebration, Vance mentions that she is reading a number of books to her children relating to our nation's history.
Such an action is commendable, and very much in line with what the father of American education, Noah Webster, encouraged in his treatise, "On the Education of Youth in America":
But every child in America should be acquainted with his own country. He should read books that furnish him with ideas that will be useful to him in life and practice. As soon as he opens his lips, he should rehearse the history of his own country; he should lisp the praise of liberty, and of those illustrious heroes and statesmen, who have wrought a revolution in her favor.
Sadly, many of today's books for children no longer do this. And if they do teach history, they often portray our nation’s founders as scoundrels unworthy of our emulation.
To avoid this problem, check out the following sample list below, culled from the reading selections at various classical education schools around the country. Then sit down with your children to do some serious reading this summer – and be prepared to fall in love with our country and its history all over again!
Grades K-3
George Washington’s Breakfast, by Jean Fritz
Little George Allen’s hero is his namesake, George Washington, and he seeks to learn everything he can about the father of our country – even what he would have eaten for breakfast, a fact which sets little George on a long historical quest!
Ben and Me, by Robert Lawson
The amusing tale of a little mouse who insists that he was the real brains behind the genius inventor and American founder Benjamin Franklin.
The Matchlock Gun, by Walter D. Edmonds
Set several decades before the Revolutionary War, this book tells the story of Edward, a young boy living during the French and Indian War, who must defend his mother and sister during his father’s absence with the family’s heirloom gun.
A Spy Called James: The True Story of James Lafayette, by Anne Rockwell
The story of an American slave turned double agent who went back and forth between the American and British armies, gathering important information for the Americans while passing along misinformation to the British.
Betsy Ross: Designer of Our Flag (Childhood of Famous Americans series), by Ann Weil
A story of the little girl who grew up to allegedly create the stars and stripes that would proudly wave over America for centuries to come. Other books in the Childhood of Famous Americans relevant to the nation’s founding include biographies of Paul Revere, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin.
Grades 4-6
The Story of the Thirteen Colonies, by H. A. Guerber
Ever wonder what history books around the turn-of-the-20th-century taught children about the founding of our country? This book, originally published in 1898, gives a glimpse, starting with the natives who lived in the land when the Vikings first came and ending with George Washington’s farewell to the colonial army.
The World of William Penn, by Genevieve Foster
Best known for his Pennsylvania colony, the story of William Penn is skillfully woven by Genevieve Foster with other world events and individuals at the time, painting a clear picture of what life was like during the early days of exploration and settlement in the American colonies.
And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?, by Jean Fritz
Many of us know about Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride … but what do we know about the rest of his life? This book fills in the details of this remarkable person recorded in the annals of liberty.
Toliver’s Secret, by Esther Wood Brady
What grade school child doesn’t love a good spy or mystery story, especially when it involves a child their own age? “Toliver’s Secret” depicts the difficulty of espionage during the Revolutionary War, as a young girl slips past the enemy with a special message for the American patriots baked in a loaf of bread.
Amos Fortune, Free Man, by Elizabeth Yates
Captured in Africa as a young boy, Amos Fortune is shipped to America as a slave in the early 1700s where he lives until his death in 1801. His story is one of personal liberty, as he works hard to purchase first his own freedom, and then the freedom of several other slaves.
Grades 7-8
Christopher Columbus, by Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire
Although a controversial figure in recent years, Christopher Columbus is still the official discoverer of America. Like all books by the D’Aulaires, “Columbus” uses beautiful pictures and a straightforward narrative to depict the life of the individual who set off a chain reaction leading to the founding of the United States.
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, by Benjamin Franklin
For children seeking to spread their wings and step into the adult world of books, reading this short, firsthand account of the life of one of the most prominent American founders will inspire them toward a life of diligence, efficiency, and logical argument.
George Washington’s World, Genevieve Foster
Genevieve Foster’s books have a knack for making biographies entertaining and palatable for children. This book is no exception, covering not only the life of the Father of America, but also the lives of his famous contemporaries, both American – such as Daniel Boone and John Hancock – and European.
Johnny Tremain, by Esther Forbes
This classic story of Johnny Tremain, an injured silversmith apprentice, gives a glimpse into what life was like for the ordinary citizen in the years of unrest preceding the American Revolution. It deftly weaves historical characters like Paul Revere and the Adams brothers into the lives of the story’s fictitious leads, challenging readers to take courage and pursue liberty.
Carry on, Mr. Bowditch, by Jean Lee Latham
Although just a boy during the years of the American Revolution, Nathaniel Bowditch grew up to be a prominent mathematician and maritime navigator. This fictionalized biography will give older children a fun look at life in the fledgling United States.
Annie Holmquist is the culture and opinion editor for 1819 News. Her writing may be found at The Epoch Times, American Essence Magazine, and her Substack, Annie's Attic.
This culture article was made possible by The Fred & Rheta Skelton Center for Cultural Renewal, a project of 1819 News. To comment on this article, please email [email protected].
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
