There's been a push in certain circles for "patriotic curriculum" that discourages kids from looking at American history through a critical lens. Educators should be pushing back on that. Hard.
Many of us grew up learning an incredibly whitewashed version of American history from older social studies textbooks. Our kids deserve better than that.
A recent review of The Next President, my picture book with @MrAdamRex, suggested that we shouldn’t have mentioned the fact that most of America’s first presidents enslaved people. Why? Because it might make kids think they were less heroic.
This reviewer wasn’t looking for history. She was looking for mythology. She was looking for a founding myth. And of course, this reviewer was an adult. Kids, I’ve found, are better at sitting with discomfort. Better at considering that more than one thing can be true.
When kids write to me about that page in The Next President – or about my History Smashers series, which is aimed at unraveling the lies & myths we sometimes teach young kids about history – they’re more thoughtful. They have questions.
Kids are more curious about history - about what really happened – especially when historical documents show that something they’ve been told their whole lives might not be true – or isn’t the whole story.
It’s so important that we remember we’re not just teaching students in classrooms today. We’re teaching tomorrow’s leaders. In order to make things better, and more just, they need an honest picture of history.
I’m really grateful that our new HISTORY SMASHERS series is becoming part of that conversation in so many classrooms. If you teach & haven’t seen them yet, books 1 and 2 are out now. They smash some of the myths surrounding the 1st Thanksgiving & the fight for women’s suffrage.
History Smashers: Pearl Harbor will be out this winter and includes not only the story of the attack on Pearl Harbor but the racism against Japanese Americans that followed.
The series continues in 2021 with History Smashers: Titanic, History Smashers: American Revolution, and History Smashers: Plagues and Pandemics, which covers everything from the Plague of Athens and the Black Death to COVID-19.
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I want to share a story with you - a picture book I wrote while I was doing research for my Ranger in Time 9/11 book. I never sent it out so it's unpublished & there's no art - except this photo from NASA, a view of Manhattan from the International Space Station on 9/11. (thread)
This is a true story - about something that happened after the September 11th attacks. It's a story about space, old friends, and the power of music to make terrible things bearable. It's called "A Song for Captain Burlingame." Here it is...
The Earth was blue-green beautiful when Frank Culbertson looked down from space one September morning. He was the commander of the International Space Station.
On 11/3 - Join @tracisorell & me for our virtual author visit "Rethinking Thanksgiving: History, Holidays, and Gratitude." We'll look at the TRUE story of the Mayflower & Wampanoag people and talk about Indigenous traditions of gratitude.
And on 11/4 - I'm offering "Over and Under: Nature Writing," a virtual author visit recommended for grades PreK-3. It's is all about exploring the nature in your own backyard.
I'm seeing a lot of questions from educators about how to talk about the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks with young readers. Stories are always the best starting place - and the good news is that we have really great books for all different ages now. (thread)
One of my favorite novels that deals with the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks is TOWERS FALLING by @jewell_p_rhodes - it's a wonderful choice for grades 4-8. bookshop.org/books/towers-f…
Another great choice for upper-elementary and middle school readers will be available this week - @SaadiaFaruqi's YUSUF AZEEM IS NOT A HERO takes place on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and looks at the impact on the Muslim community. bookshop.org/books/yusuf-az…
Now that our Dr. Fauci picture book biography is officially out, I want to share some behind-the-scenes stories about how this book came to be. Writing a kids' book about a current public figure is a fascinating process - and a bit of a whirlwind. (thread)
I first had the idea for this book while I was working on another project about the childhoods of famous scientists. When I heard the story about Dr. Fauci riding his bike around Brooklyn to deliver prescriptions for the family pharmacy I knew his story would make a great pb bio.
I spent last summer doing research, reading interviews & articles on Dr. Fauci, along with his own speeches, papers, and other writings. In the fall, I reached out to his office to request a Zoom interview, knowing it would be probably be a long shot.
I'm going to gush for a little while about a book I just finished. Ready?
It's STARFISH, a novel-in-verse by @AuthorLisaFipps. And it is wonderful. (thread)
The main character Ellie (nicknamed Splash from an unfortunate swimming pool incident) has always followed Fat Girl Rules, facing bullying at school and even in her own family. This is a story about how she learns to stand up for herself.
It’s a quick read but a powerful one that will launch essential classroom conversations about bullying, as well as fat-shaming and self care.
I'm seeing a lot of educators and parents online tonight, wondering what we should tell the kids about all of this. The answer, as always, is the truth. (thread)
That something unprecedented and awful has happened, like some of the things they've read about in their history books. Tonight, we are all the people from those history books.
Our voices matter. Their voices matter. Democracy and leadership matter, too.
So talk with the kids about all of that - about the Constitution and the peaceful transfer of power and why it's a cornerstone of our democracy.