This original, informative, and entertaining book...should be required reading for every young person seeking a vivid introduction to Lincoln’s life.Harold Holzer, Lincoln scholar and cochairman of the U.S. Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
2008 NAPPA Honors Award winner
Abraham Lincoln is one of the first American leaders children learn to identify but few know how enthralling his life story is or understand the real man behind the legend. Abraham Lincoln for Kids uncovers the fascinating life of the real Abraham Lincoln, revealing the warm, generous spirit and remarkable intellect of this beloved president, while exploring one of the most pivotal and exciting periods in American history. It takes readers on an adventure through Honest Abe’s life, from his tragic childhood and early years working on ferryboats to his law practice and unexpected presidency to his sudden murder in 1865. Children will be inspired by this courageous and forthright leader who valued lifelong learning, stood by his beliefs, and never gave up in the face of adversity.
This book features a helpful timeline, websites to explore, and more.
Joining the ranks of those books that combine history with crafts and hands-on activities, Herbert’s book is one of the best of its kind, bringing the character of this period into focus. Achieving a good balance between textual material, illustration, and projects, the book immerses children in the milieu of these years. Whether they are studying the Revolution and need a project idea or are personally curious about this country’s origins, children will be fascinated by the scope and detail of this book.School Library Journal
Meet heroes and traitors, great thinkers and revolutionaries in The American Revolution for Kids. Featured on Smithsonian Magazine's list of "Best Books 2002," The American Revolution for Kids (for readers ages 9 and up) brings this exciting and important era in American history to life. Learn about the causes of the Revolution and read fascinating details on the battles fought during the long war for freedom. Find out about day-to-day life in 18th-century America through the lives of distinguished officers, wise delegates, rugged riflemen, and hardworking farm wives and children. Celebrate the concepts of freedom and democracy by participating in fun activities. The American Revolution for Kids takes you from the hated Stamp Act to the riotous Boston Tea Party, Britain's surrender at Yorktown and the creation of the Constitution, all the while making history fun and memorable!
This book features a helpful glossary, a guide to officers, biographies of important figures of the American Revolution, websites to explore, and more.
Written simply, with drama, tension, and purpose. Adults, especially teachers and librarians, will appreciate the details and activities contained in this book. And for children who really want to know what it felt like to take an active role in the past, The Civil War for Kids is it!Book Page
History explodes in this inspiring chronicle of the Civil War. With exciting text and fun activities, The Civil War for Kids (for readers ages 9 and up) brings this pivotal era in our nation's history to life. Learn about the soldiers' life and war on the home front. Meet courageous (and eccentric) generals and leaders. From the turmoil preceding secession, the first shots at Fort Sumter, the fierce battles on land and sea, and the surrender at Appomattox, readers will be immersed in the story of the war that nearly divided our nation.
This book features a helpful glossary, a guide to officers, websites to explore, lists of battlefields, important sites, and museums, and more.
A School Library Journal Star—the life and times of Leonardo da Vinci in an attractively formatted volume. Classroom teachers can encourage children to appreciate the depth of his talent through suggested activities.School Library Journal
A beautiful book, with inviting activities, which provides an engaging full-unit study exploration into the Renaissance. Information and activities to work with for at least four weeks.Homeschool Network News
Leonardo da Vinci was a great inventor, engineer, scientist, botanist, mathematician and—oh, yes—a great artist, too! Find out about the man who painted the Mona Lisa and invented the bicycle, armored tank, diving suit and other machines centuries before they were built. Leonardo da Vinci for Kids (for readers ages 8 and up) tells the story of this remarkable man and shares fascinating details of his era—the Renaissance. Learn the basics of art theory and experience exciting moments in history. Meet important figures like Michelangelo, Machiavelli and the Sforza and Medici families. A glossary, biographies of artists and historical figures, list of web sites, and Leonardo's extraordinary art make this one of the best books on this artistic and scientific genius.
This book features a helpful glossary, biographies of Renaissance artists and historical figures, websites to explore, and more
Lewis and Clark for Kids is a great book! This story of the Corps of Discovery’s expedition is one of adventure, derring-do and achievement. Herbert’s text is smooth and comprehensive; her activities make this book an ideal choice for home-schooled students or as a gift for the classroom.Knight Ridder Newspapers
Lewis and Clark for Kids (for readers ages 9 and up) tells the story of a great American adventure set against the background of a vast, unspoiled wilderness. It takes readers from the Louisiana Purchase and Jefferson’s vision of an exploratory mission across North America to the Corps of Discovery’s triumphant return.
Kids will join the Corps of Discovery in learning about the customs of Plains and Pacific Coast tribes, and the natural history of animals such as the buffalo, prairie dog, and bighorn sheep. Informative sidebars like “Identification, Please” (on the Linnaean system of classification), “On the Contrary (about Lakota visionaries, who do everything backwards), and Thick Coats and Long Naps (describing how animals adapt to cold) add to the adventure. So do nineteenth-century paintings, a glossary of terms, listings of Lewis and Clark events and resources, and related websites.
If your children—whether in elementary, middle or high school—are studying Asia this year, have I got a resource for them--and for you (and teachers too)! Marco Polo for Kids covers China thoroughly but also Polo’s travels through places like Afghanistan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India. It has fantastic activities, wonderful graphic elements, and interesting tidbits on folklore, language, religion, animals, geography, and art.Washington Parent
On foot, horseback, Chinese junk, and camel, Marco Polo explored new worlds. Starting when just a teenager, he made the greatest journey of his time—20,000 miles in 24 years. From Venice to China, over towering mountains and across vast deserts, Marco found new people, new religions, and new ways of life. Travel with him in Marco Polo for Kids (for readers ages 9 and up) and discover great civilizations, explore geographical wonders, and learn fascinating details about the customs and people of a wondrous era in history. This lively book brings back to life the exotic cities and humble villages along Marco's route. Through fun activities and fascinating text, find out what it's like to ride with Genghis Khan, escape from bandits and pirates, and kowtow to an emperor. Along the way, you'll learn about world cultures, religions, and ancient civilizations.
This book features a helpful glossary, biographies of important figures in ancient history, websites to explore, and more.
Received a NAPPA Honors Award from the National Parenting Publications Awards, a program sponsored by Dominion Parenting Media and promoted in association with parenting publishers across the United States.
The terrific reader-friendly text is packed with information, anecdotes, and biographical detail. A great historical immersion experience for ages 9-12.
Home Education MagazineThis original, informative, and entertaining book...should be required reading for every young person seeking a vivid introduction to Lincoln’s life.
Harold Holzer, Lincoln scholar and cochairman of the U.S. Lincoln Bicentennial CommissionExcellent quality, not only in its clear writing style but also in its format and depth of information. A valuable source of information on the life of one of our most famous presidents.
KliattWell-researched and very readable, with interesting photos and drawings.
Washington PostOne of the best of its kind. Reading it and doing some of the activities brings the character of this period into focus. Achieving a good balance between textual material, illustration and projects, the book immerses children in the milieu of these years. Whether they are studying the Revolution and need a project idea or are personally curious about this country's origins, children will be fascinated by the scope and detail of this book.
School Library JournalChosen by Smithsonian Magazine as a Best Children's Book.
A Pennsylvania state library association's top selection for books on the American Revolution
Listed by PBS's TeacherSource as a recommended book for teaching American history.
A learning pleasure through and through.
Midwest Book ReviewAnother must-have. With clear, concise writing, Herbert brings to life heroes, traitors and great thinkers and celebrates not only distinguished officers and delegates, but hardworking farm wives and children.
Copley News ServiceMost claim it; few do it: 'bring history to life.'; By linking an engaging text with classroom activities, the author succeeds in immersing the reader in colonial America.
Pennsylvania School Librarians AssociationThe dramatic events that lay behind the Founding Fathers' struggle for liberty are vividly recounted in Herbert's lively survey.
Smithsonian MagazineFun reading for adults and kids.
Rockford Register StarA valuable historical reference.
Today's ParentOur General James Longstreet Book of Honor: An excellent and concise book which provides a clear understanding of military life and the triumphs and tragedies of the war that divided our nation. If you know a teacher, youth group leader or home schooling parent, you should recommend this book to them.
Civil War CourierUsing a clear and lively tone, this book provides a look at the Civil War and its leaders as well as the contributions of individual soldiers, African-Americans, women and even children. Its activities are ideal for classrooms.
School Library JournalNot standard textbook fare, it is written simply, with drama, tension, and purpose. Adults, especially teachers and librarians, will appreciate the details and activities contained in this book. And for children who really want to know what it felt like to take an active role in the past, The Civil War for Kids is it!
Book PageTeachers and parents will find this book a very handy tool to help teach their students and children about this critical period in our nation’s history.
D. Scott Hartwig, Historian, Gettysburg, PennsylvaniaFor children who really want to know what it felt like to take an active role in the past, The Civil War for Kids is it!
Civil War Book ReviewA crash course on the Civil War that's fun as well as informative.
KliattA School Library Journal Star—the life and times of Leonardo da Vinci in an attractively formatted volume. Classroom teachers can encourage children to appreciate the depth of his talent through suggested activities.
School Library JournalThoroughly illustrated and well-designed. This is a fine purchase that rises above the current bounty of available books on the subject.
BooklistReaders and young artists can learn about Leonardo da Vinci, his life and his work, through this exceptional biography. Teachers of history, literature, science, math, and art can include this descriptive and engaging biography of Leonardo da Vinci in their curriculums.
Iowa Reading JournalA beautiful book, with inviting activities, which provides an engaging full-unit study exploration into the Renaissance. Information and activities to work with for at least four weeks.
Homeschool Network NewsAn excellent art appreciation course with a treasure trove of information and activities. This book is not just for kids.
Educational DealerThis is an especially strong book that belongs in schools. Richly illustrated, beautifully written, and quite comprehensive.
Arts & ActivitiesImagine being with Leonardo da Vinci throughout his extraordinary life and perceiving, exploring, and experiencing the world as he did. Leonardo da Vinci for Kids brings to life both da Vinci’s life and times in a beautifully illustrated four-color biography and student activity book.
Tennessee Education AssociationThe creativity and genius of Leonardo da Vinci comes alive for the classroom in a new book by Janis Herbert.
Chicago Union TeacherHerbert’s Leonardo da Vinci for Kids is a beautifully designed book with illustrations, figures, and paintings by da Vinci. Integrated within the historical text are a series of art activities that allow the reader to create products of this time period.
Gifted Child TodayThe only children's Lewis & Clark book recommended by Boys' Life magazine.
Chosen by the state of Missouri as the recommended text to teach students about the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Lewis and Clark for Kids is a great book! The story of the Corps of Discovery's expedition is one of adventure, derring-do and achievement. Herbert's text is smooth and comprehensive, but it's the activities she's included that make this book an ideal choice for home-schooled students or as a gift for the classroom. There's even a recipe for Great Plains stew (supposedly, it tastes just as good without the buffalo).
Knight Ridder NewspapersThe best children's book on the Expedition.
Oregon Statesman JournalOne of Chicago Tribune’s 100 Great Books for Young People.
A fine book with an appealing format and a profusion of intriguing sidebars. Teachers will welcome the suggested activities, glossary of terms, and list of helpful web sites.
KliattHerbert's hands-on activities and compelling text will help kids share in the discoveries of Lewis and Clark throughout their three-year journey across North America.
Kids MagazineThe Lewis and Clark expedition was not only one of America’s greatest adventures, it was one of our nation’s greatest leaps in learning. Geography, ethnology, zoology, botany, and literature—the Corps of Discovery made important contributions to them all. This book invites readers to join Lewis and Clark’s epic journey and helps them make their own discoveries along the way.
Dayton Duncan, author of Out West: American, Journey Along the Lewis and Clark TrailThis is no connect-the-dots amusement book. The activities are meaningful—latitude and longitude exercises; preserving plants; drying fruit for the trail; Native American dance, instruments, and regalia; trail signs; and sign language. The book’s real strength is a comprehensive text thoroughly illustrated with artwork and photographs. This is a fine resource that can be revisited with a youngster either at home or on the trail.
Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage FoundationAnother marvelous learning-through-activity book. Just like Lewis and Clark’s expedition—one of our nation’s greatest leaps in learning—this book helps children 9 and up make their own discoveries.
Copley News ServiceThis is just about the best book on the subject for young children. Come to think of it, many adults will have fun with this wonderful book.
Statesman JournalA thorough and interesting capsule for young readers.
OC FamilyPacked with high drama of exploration into the unknown, Lewis and Clark for Kids will hold students spellbound. Herbert’s account, based on primary sources, captures the thrills, dangers, and awe-inspiring experiences of those who made up the Corps of Discovery.
InfoTech, Public Schools of North CarolinaA great book. Herbert’s text is smooth and comprehensive, but it’s the activities she’s included that make this book an ideal choice for home-schooled students or as a gift for the classroom.
Santa Barbara News-PressThose who can’t visit the locations [along the Lewis and Clark trail] can still participate in the expeditions national bicentennial with 21 activities in Lewis and Clark for Kids.
ScoutingLively and informative.
Albemarle MagazineIf your children—whether in elementary, middle or high school—are studying Asia this year, have I got a resource for them—and for you (and teachers too)! Marco Polo for Kids is an activity book and history book all rolled into one. It covers China thoroughly but also Polo's travels through places like Afghanistan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India. It has fantastic activities, wonderful graphic elements, and interesting tidbits on folklore, language, religion, animals, geography, and art.
Washington ParentIn her historical activity book, Marco Polo for Kids, Herbert chronicles the famous explorer's travels. Projects feature the various cultures that he experienced. Archival artwork and prints add to the handsome volume.
Publishers WeeklyAn all-encompassing guide that's full of fascinating sidebars about subjects from the discovery of Mohenjodaro to the secrets of the Qin Emperor's tomb. Not only a study of Polo, this book is a great study guide for young readers who will surely enjoy the 21 related activities in this comprehensive book.
Copley News ServicePart history, part biography, part activity book, this guide to all things Marco Polo is graced with lively writing and imaginative projects.
San Diego Union-TribuneThe text is lively and sophisticated, but easy to understand. There are lots of pictures and tidbits of information to capture young imaginations.
Star-LedgerThe book offers suspenseful stories, as Polo and his men face shipwrecks, bandits and other dangers.
The Dallas Morning NewsSons and Daughters of Liberty
Brew a Batch of Beer
I Protest!
Liberty Tea Punch
Who Were the Colonists?
A Sampler
Boston Brown Bread and Churned Butter
Three Colonial Children's Games
Papyrotamia
Assemble an Almanac
We Must All Hang Together
Get Ready in a Minute Fire Drill
Dance a Minuet
Make a Tricorn Hat
An Eventful Year
Be A Betsy Ross
Rebus!
Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier
Make a Fringed Hunting Shirt
Create a Powder Horn
Sew a Pouch
The World Turned Upside Down
Benedict Arnold's Secret Code
Reenact the Battle of Cowpens
A Good Peace, A New Nation
There Ought to Be a Law!
Everyday Heroes
Be a History Buff
Glossary
A Guide To Officers
Biographies
Declaration of Independence
Revolutionary War Sites To Visit
Abraham Lincoln is born
Lincoln family moves to Indiana
Nancy Hanks Lincoln (Abraham's mother) dies
Thomas Lincoln marries Sarah Bush Johnston
Sarah Lincoln (Abraham's sister) dies
Lincoln journeys by flatboat to New Orleans
Lincoln family moves to Illinois
Lincoln's second flatboat journey to New Orleans
Lincoln moves to New Salem, Illinois
Lincoln runs for state legislature
Lincoln fights in Black Hawk War
Lincoln is elected to Illinois House of Representatives (serves four terms)
Lincoln becomes an attorney
Lincoln moves to Springfield
Lincoln and Mary Todd marry
Robert Todd Lincoln is born
Edward Baker (Eddy) Lincoln is born
Lincoln is elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
Eddy Lincoln dies
William Wallace (Willie) Lincoln is born
Thomas Lincoln dies
Thomas (Tad) Lincoln is born
Lincoln loses race for Senate
Lincoln-Douglas debates
Lincoln loses senate race to Douglas
Lincoln is nominated for presidency
Lincoln is elected president
Lincoln leaves Springfield
Lincoln is inaugurated in Washington
Civil War begins
Willie Lincoln dies
Lincoln signs Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln gives Gettysburg Address
Lincoln issues proclamation of amnesty and reconstruction
Lincoln comes under fire at Fort Stevens
Lincoln is reelected to presidency
Lincoln's second inauguration
Lincoln enters Richmond
Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox
Lincoln is shot by John Wilkes Booth
Abraham Lincoln dies
John Wilkes Booth killed by Federal troops
Lincoln is buried in Springfield, Illinois
13th Amendment is ratified
French and Indian War
George III becomes King
Stamp Act and Quartering Act passed
Stamp Act Congress meets
Stamp Act repealed
Parliament passes Townshend Acts
British troops in Boston
Boston Massacre
Parliament passes the Tea Act
Boston Tea Party
Coercive Intolerable
Acts and Quebec Act passed
First Continental Congress meets
Battles of Lexington and Concord
Second Continental Congress meets
Washington appointed commander of Continental Army
Battle of Bunker Hill
Defeat at Quebec
Thomas Paine writes Common Sense
Siege of Boston ends
Declaration of Independence signed
New York falls
Battle of Trenton
Battle at Princeton
Fort Ticonderoga falls
Battle of Bennington
Battle of Brandywine
Philadelphia falls
Battle of Germantown
Battle of Saratoga
Burgoyne surrenders
Congress passes Articles of Confederation
Winter at Valley Forge
France declares war
Battle of Monmouth Courthouse
Savannah captured
George Rogers Clark captures Vincennes
Bonhomme Richard vs. Serapis
Winter at Morristown
Charleston falls
Battle of Camden
Battle of Kings Mountain
Battle of Cowpens
Articles of Confederation adopted by states
Battle of Guilford Courthouse
Battle of Eutaw Springs
Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown
Treaty of Paris signed
Continental Army disbanded; Washington retires
Annapolis Convention
Shays' Rebellion
Congress passes Northwest Ordinance
Constitutional Convention meets
Constitution signed
Constitution is ratified
First meeting of Congress
George Washington sworn in as President, John Adams as Vice President
Congress adopts the Bill of Rights
Slaves sold in Virginia
Importation of slaves outlawed
Missouri Compromise
Publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Dred Scott Decision
John Brown raids Harpers Ferry
Lincoln elected
South Carolina secedes
Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana secede
Texas secedes; Confederate States of America formed
Attack on Fort Sumter
Virginia secedes
Tennessee, Arkansas, and North Carolina secede
Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)
Battle at Wilson's Creek
Fort Henry falls
Fort Donelson surrenders
Battle of Pea Ridge
Battle of the Monitor and the Virginia
Peninsula Campaign begins
Shenandoah Valley Campaign
Battle of Shiloh
New Orleans falls
Battle of Seven Pines (Fair Oaks)
The Seven Days Battles
Second Manassas (Second Bull Run)
Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg)
Lincoln announces Emancipation Proclamation
Battle of Corinth
Battle of Perryville
Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Stones River (Murfreesboro)
Battle of Chancellorsville
Siege of Vicksburg begins
Battle of Gettysburg
Vicksburg falls
Battle of Chickamauga
Lincoln gives the Gettysburg Address
Battle of Chattanooga (Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge)
Battle of the Wilderness
Battle of Spotsylvania
Battle of Yellow Tavern
June 3 -- Cold Harbor
Siege of Petersburg begins
-- Battle of the Kearsage and the Alabama
-- Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
The Crater
Farragut enters Mobile Bay
Atlanta falls
Battle of Cedar Creek
Abraham Lincoln re-elected
Sherman's March to the Sea begins
Battle of Franklin
Battle of Nashville
Sherman reaches Savannah
Petersburg and Richmond fall
Surrender at Appomattox
Death of President Lincoln
Gutenberg invents printing with movable type.
Leonardo born in Vinci.
Leonardo apprenticed to Verrocchio.
Copernicus born in Poland.
Leonardo moves to Milan.
The plague kills thousands in Milan.
Columbus sails the Atlantic and discovers the New World.
Leonardo begins The Last Supper.
French capture Milan.
Leonardo returns to Florence.
Michelangelo creates statue of David.
Leonardo begins painting Mona Lisa.
Leonardo returns to Milan.
Leonardo moves to Rome.
Michelangelo finishes painting the Sistine Chapel.
Machiavelli writes The Prince.
Francois I becomes King of France.
Leonardo moves to France.
Luther denounces the Catholic church and the Reformation begins.
Magellan's expedition begins its voyage around the world.
Leonardo dies.
Copernicus publishes theory stating Earth revolves around the Sun.
Thomas Jefferson born
William Clark born
Boston Tea Party
Meriwether Lewis born
Revolutionary War begins
Continental Congress adopts Declaration of Independence
Revolutionary War ends
United States Constitution ratified; George Washington elected president
William Clark joins militia
Captain Robert Gray enters Columbia River
Whiskey Rebellion; Meriwether Lewis joins militia
Thomas Jefferson elected president
Meriwether Lewis becomes President Jefferson's secretary
President Jefferson asks Lewis to command Expedition to the west
Louisiana Purchase; Lewis invites William Clark to join him in command of Expedition
Jefferson re-elected; Vice President Aaron Burr kills Alexander Hamilton
Lewis & Clark Expedition
Enters the Missouri River
Leaves St. Charles, Missouri
Sergeant Floyd's death
Reaches Mandan and Hidatsa Villages
Leaves Mandan and Hidatsa Villages
Junction of Yellowstone, Missouri Rivers
Junction of Missouri, Marias Rivers
Great Falls of the Missouri River
Three Forks of the Missouri River
Crossing the Bitterroot Mountains
Down the Columbia River
First sight of the Pacific Ocean
Return journey begins
Separation at Travellers Rest
Fight with Blackfeet
Return to Mandan and Hidatsa Villages
Return to St. Louis
Louisiana Territory formed
Lewis appointed Governor of Louisiana Territory
Clark appointed Brigadier General of Militia and Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Louisiana Territory
Clark marries Julia Hancock
Meriwether Lewis dies
War of 1812
Clark appointed Governor of Missouri Territory
Journals of Lewis and Clark published
Thomas Jefferson dies
William Clark dies
Genghis Khan sets out on his conquests
Kublai Khan born
Death of Genghis Khan
Mongols invade Eastern Europe
Marco Polo born
Nicolo and Maffeo set out for the east
Kublai Khan gains the throne
Nicolo and Maffeo Polo return to Venice
Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty rules China
Marco, Nicolo and Maffeo set out on their journey
The Polos arrive at the palace of Kublai Khan
The Polos set sail for home
Kublai Khan dies
The Polos return to Venice
Marco Polo captured in battle
Marco Polo tells his story
Marco Polo dies
Mongol rule ends in China; Ming Dynasty established
The Long and Short of It
We Must All
Hang Together
On the March
The Young Apprentice
Beautifull in the Extreme
The Eyes and Ears of the Khan
Abraham Lincoln used his tall, black stovepipe hat like a filing cabinet, keeping important letters and papers inside. What will you keep inside this stovepipe hat?
Measure a 7-by-28-inch rectangle on one piece of poster board and mark it with a pencil. Cut it out. Wrap the rectangle around your head until it fits comfortably (a little extra room is good). Paper-clip the cylinder at the top and bottom to hold it then try it on again. When you’re comfortable with the fit, staple the cylinder at the top and bottom.
Center the cylinder on the poster board. Slightly push in on two sides of the cylinder to make it an oval shape. Hold it down with one hand while tracing an oval around the base with the other hand (or ask someone to help hold the cylinder while you trace). Remove the cylinder. Measure 1 inch out from the edge of the oval and draw another oval around the first one. Cut out along this outer oval. Cut slits from the outer oval approximately every 1 inch toward the inner oval to create tabs. Place the oval on top of the cylinder, folding the tabs inside to make a good fit. Turn the cylinder over, and tape the tabs to the inside of the cylinder.
To create the brim, place the cylinder over the remaining poster board. Hold it down with one hand while tracing an oval around the base with the other hand (this is oval A). Remove the cylinder. Measure 1 1/2 inches out from the edge of oval A and draw another oval around it (this is oval B).
Measure 1 inch in from oval A and draw a third oval inside it (this is oval C). Cut around the outer oval (B), then cut along the inner oval (C). To make tabs, cut 1-inch slits from oval C to oval A.
With the cylinder covered end down, place this piece around the uncovered upper rim. Fold the tabs inside the cylinder and tape them in place.
Glue the ribbon around the base of the hat. To use your hat as a filing cabinet, cut the “v” off a small envelope, then tape the envelope to the inside of your hat. Use it to hold very important papers!
Try serving this all-American bread with your own churned butter!
(Makes 1 loaf)
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter the loaf pan, then dust it lightly with flour. Combine the rye flour, cornmeal, white flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a mixing bowl. Stir the buttermilk, melted butter, molasses, and eggs together in another bowl. Pour the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture and stir until combined. Pour into loaf pan and bake for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven with oven mitts and place on a rack to cool for 15 minutes. When cool, shake the bread gently out of the pan.
(Makes about 1 cup)
Pour the whipping cream into the jar and screw the lid on tight. Shake the jar vigorously back and forth. In 5 to 10 minutes, the mixture will start to look like whipped cream. Keep shaking. In a few more minutes, the cream will thicken into butter and a watery liquid will separate out. Pour the butter into a colander to strain out the liquid. Spread your hand-churned butter on a slice of Boston Brown Bread.
Line six or more friends in two rows (called ranks
). Starting at the left of each rank, have your troops alternately call out the numbers one and two. Give the order to Right face!
The soldiers should turn to their right. All the soldiers who called out number two!
should take a diagonal step forward and to the right. Now your troops are in column formation, four across, and ready to forward march,
or advance.
On the march, you may see enemy troops ahead. Double quick
will tell your troops to march briskly to the front. Order them back in line formation by shouting out Company into line!
The twos
should step back to where they were and once again your soldiers will form two ranks. In this formation, they are ready to turn and shoot in any direction. They can shoot in a fire by file
(starting at one end of the line and each firing in turn). They can also volley by rank, in which one rank fires while the second rank reloads.
As he measured and drew human bodies, Leonardo noticed that we generally have standard proportions.He noted that the span of a man’s outstretched arms is equal to his height.
Other observations he noted about human proportions:
Now is your chance to test Leonardo’s observations and maybe make some of your own.
Spread several sheets of newspaper on the floor so that it is longer and wider than you are.Tape them together.Lay down on the paper with your arms held out away from your body and have a friend draw the outline of your body with a black marker on the paper.Measure the different parts of your body and see if they fit into the general proportions that Leonardo noted. Have your friend measure the parts of your face to see if those proportions Leonardo noted are true.
In an effort to encourage the endangered whooping cranes to breed, one scientist learned to perform the whooping crane mating dance with the birds. Try the whooping crane waltz.
Pretend to be a pair of whooping cranes facing each other across a field. One of you starts the dance by bowing your head and flapping your wings. Then leap high into the air and throw your head back so you’re looking straight up to the sky. Your partner runs toward you with wings flapping and head bobbing. Jump up and down in unison, throwing your heads back to the sky. Back off from each other and bow again. Stretch your wings out and jump up and down some more. End the dance with an elegant bow!
During the springtime the plains were a lively place. Sharp-tailed grouse gathered at their dancing grounds (called “leks”) in the dark right before dawn. Here they executed their magnificent courting displays, proud dances the males performed to win a bride. Some Indian societies dance like the grouse—you can too! Get ready for the sharp-tailed shake.
Draw a circle on a patch of dirt or on the sidewalk with some chalk. One dancer runs into the circle and is joined by the other dancer. Lift your arms up, lower your head, and stoop over with your behind jutting out. Shuffle your feet back and forth and make a cooing sound while shaking your dance rattles. (The grouse makes a rattling noise by shaking its tail quills.) Approach each other, face-to-face, and slowly lower your heads more. Lower your bodies to the ground and end the dance spread out flat with your noses touching!
The Polos were leaving for lands that many people thought were inhabited by demons and monsters! Maps from medieval Europe showed the known world (parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe centered around the Mediterranean Sea) surrounded by mythical lands. Early travelers claimed they had visited countries where people hopped along on only
one foot, or had ears as large as their bodies, which they used as blankets at night! They told of talking serpents, unicorns, and griffins. There were reports of Amazons (fierce female warriors), dog-headed men, and the realm of Prester John (a legendary kingdom where rivers flowed with gold, and the Fountain of Youth made those who drank from its waters young again). Hideous monsters were said to guard mountain passes and narrow straits. Here be dragons,
the mapmakers wrote in warning along the margins of their maps. Try making your own mythical map.
Cut the bag into a large, flat surface for your map. Draw continents and oceans, countries and rivers. Make up bizarre people and animals to inhabit this world—fire breathing serpents that guard mountain passes, or dog headed people who bark at passing ships! Fill your map with pictures and warnings. When you’re done drawing and painting, scrunch the map up in your hands, then flatten it out again to give it an antique look. To make it look even more like an ancient map on parchment, rip away little pieces at the edges and smudge it in places by pressing a damp tea bag against the paper to stain it. Let it dry, then roll it up and tie it with the red ribbon.
Abraham Lincoln: An Extraordinary Life
Learn about Lincoln, from his log cabin birth to his accomplishments as our nation’s leader during the Civil War, in this informative site from The National Museum of American History.
Northern Illinois University Lincoln/Net
Before he became president, Lincoln led a fascinating life. Lincoln/Net shares primary documents about his life in Illinois, from the Black Hawk War to the Lincoln-Douglas Debates.
Lincoln's Birthplace and his Springfield Home
Get a peek at Lincoln’s pre-presidential life by visiting the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site (Hodgenville, Kentucky) and taking a virtual tour of the Lincoln Springfield Home.
Library of Congress: American Memory: African American Odyssey
Maps, photographs, and artifacts tell the story of African American people as they struggled to make their place in American society at this American Memory site from the Library of Congress.
Library of Congress: American Memory: Abraham Lincoln Papers
There are 20,000 documents at the Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress. You can view letters in Lincoln’s own hand, drafts of speeches, and correspondence from his friends and associates.
Find news about Abraham Lincoln, check out this week in history,
and get information about books, speeches and writings, and events related to our 16th President at Abraham Lincoln Online.
View the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, and find out more about the people who created them at the National Archives. And the story doesn’t end there – see how these important documents still influence events today.
National Park Service: The American Revolution: Lighting Freedom’s Flame
Visit the National Park Service to take virtual tours of Revolutionary War historic sites (and plan your in-person visits). They offer helpful timelines and student resources, too!
The PBS documentary series Liberty! The American Revolution is a great way to learn about the birth of the American Republic. Click on Chronicles
for newspaper headlines that tell the story as it unfolded. Perspectives on Liberty
shows daily life in the colonies. Play the Road to Revolution
game to see if you can achieve liberty!
You can find excellent maps of the battlefields of the American Revolution at this Department of History, United States Military Academy: West Point site.
House of Representatives and Senate
Keep track of legislation and tour the Capitol. Enhance your knowledge about your representatives and senators in Congress – and let them know your concerns!
National Museum of American History
Make sure you visit the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington DC! Until then, browse their website to see artifacts from every era of America’s history.
Keep up on current issues and news, learn about how government works, read biographies of presidents and first ladies, and take a virtual tour of the White House!
The National Constitution Center
Learn about the Constitution’s origins and how it relates around the world today through podcasts, videos, and live chats offered by the Constitution Center.
Over 2,300 former slaves were interviewed in the 1930s by writers working for the government’s Works Progress Administration. Read a sample of these oral histories of former slaves.
History.com’s American Civil War
You’ll learn more about leaders, events, and battles – as well as slavery and spies, black soldiers and women in the War – at the History Channel’s Civil War site.
Get a bird’s-eye view of Civil War battlefields with the satellite and animated maps offered by The Civil War Trust; learn about slavery, battles, life in camp, and present-day battlefield restoration. Student resources pages offer great information and fun quizzes!
The television series, Ken Burns’ Civil War, is a great way to learn about the Civil War! This accompanying PBS site offers maps, historical documents, biographies, and Civil War facts.
See over 7,000 different views of the War from photographs made by Mathew Brady, Alexander Gardner, and others at the Library of Congress site.
Find out about the National Park sites dedicated to the Civil War and the Underground Railroad, and research your Civil War ancestors in the Soldiers and Sailors Database.
The Museum of Science in Boston
Understand perspective by looking at landscapes through Leonardo’s eyes, explore an inventor’s workshop, and explore the cities of Italy where he worked at this Museum of Science in Boston site.
Leonardo’s painting of Ginevra de’ Benci is the only portrait by Leonardo in North America. Zoom in to see the artist’s fingerprints, see what’s on the reverse side of the painting, and paint a portrait of your own.
Museo Nazionale Scienza e Technologia Leonardo da Vinci
This Italian museum asked experts to create models of inventions from Leonardo’s manuscripts. See the marvelous models and watch video demonstrations of how they work.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
If Leonardo lived today, he might be working at NASA! Learn about aerodynamic topics like wind tunnels, shock waves, and the basics of how airplanes fly at this site.
Khan Academy Art History Basics
Mama, mia! You’ll love this entertaining and informative video about renaissance artists offered by the Khan Academy.
Browse paintings, manuscripts, and inventions at Universal Leonardo. Find out how, in Leonardo’s worldview, all things are connected. And play! You can create your own monster, make the Mona Lisa smile, try out some mirror-writing, and learn to fly like a bird (or sink like a stone!).
Leonardo dissected bodies to study anatomy. Learn fascinating details of human anatomy, from the digestive to the skeletal systems, here.
Visit Jefferson’s home to learn about the president who made the Louisiana Purchase and who sent the Corps of Discovery to the West.
The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition Online
Read their words! The University of Nebraska offers the Expedition’s journals - spelling errors and all!
The Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation
You’ll find everything, from the preparations for their journey to the influence Lewis and Clark had on history, at the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation site.
Learn about the history and natural history of the Missouri and other American rivers – and about the conservation efforts that are safeguarding them.
Plan your own adventure! The National Park Service’s Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail offers maps, bios, and amazing photographs of sites along the Expedition’s route.
Take a virtual tour of the Library of Congress exhibit Rivers, Edens, Empires: Lewis and Clark and the Revealing of America to see maps, tools, Indian artifacts, and more.
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Visit the online exhibits of the National Museum of the American Indian to learn about the art, history, and traditional ways of America’s native peoples.
National Geographic: Lewis and Clark
Go on an interactive journey with the Corps of Discovery! Follow the National Geographic’s map to see historical drawings, tribal peoples, and the plants and animals described for science by Lewis and Clark.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation offers fascinating information about the historic Silk Road networks. Click on its interactive map to learn about some of the cities Marco Polo saw on his journey.
National Geographic’s Adventures of Marco Polo
What would Marco Polo see today? Find out at the Photo Gallery: Adventures of Marco Polo site offered by National Geographic!
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art: The Legacy of Genghis Khan
One of the legacies of Genghis Khan’s empire was the exchange of goods, art, and ideas throughout Eurasia. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art tells the story of that empire through its art, textiles, and other artifacts.
Columbia University’s Timeline of Chinese History and Dynasties
Columbia University offers this quick reference guide to China’s dynasties and its history, from 2100 BCE to the present – and a bonus! Scroll to the bottom of the screen for “The Dynasties Song” to help you remember them in order (sung to the tune of “Frere Jacques”).
The Arts of Asia at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Find maps, history, and photos of Asian artifacts and architecture at The Arts of Asia.
Abraham Lincoln is the only U.S. president to hold a patent on an invention. When he was young, he created a device to boost riverboats over sandbars. His model is on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington DC.Page 18
Lincoln was only 23 when he first ran for public office (as a candidate for Illinois’s state legislature). He lost.Page 25
Prank letters and a political disagreement led an Illinois politician to challenge young Abraham Lincoln to a duel! Lincoln was given the choice of weapons. He picked cavalry broadswords, feeling sure that, with his long arms, he could disarm his opponent. Friends showed up at the last minute and put a stop to the fight. Lincoln was embarrassed about the entire incident and realized he’d taken the prank too far.Page 39
One visitor to Lincoln’s law office in Springfield, Illinois said it was such a mess that orange seeds sprouted in the dirty floor! Books and papers were everywhere – in boxes, on desks, in piles on the floor. A pile on Lincoln’s desk had a note on top saying When you can’t find it anywhere else, look in this.
Page 39
Abraham Lincoln loved animals. He risked his life in icy waters to rescue a dog. He wrote a reprieve
to spare a turkey meant for the Christmas table. The family’s pony, goats, cats, rabbits, and dog Jip had the run of the White House. Mary Lincoln, when asked if her husband had a hobby, replied cats.
Pages 13 and 116
That speech won’t scour,
Lincoln told a friend after he gave the Gettysburg Address. He was using a phrase from his farming days. He meant his speech was no good – like a plow so caked with soil that it couldn’t till the earth.Page 115
Southern troops attacked the outskirts of Washington in the summer of 1864. Impatient for news, Lincoln left the White House to see the fight. He climbed the parapet at Fort Stevens and stood to look at the Rebel troops. With his tall hat, he made a fine target for enemy fire. A nearby soldier yelled to him, Get down, you fool, before you get shot!
Page 122
Lincoln and his wife Mary were indulgent parents who seldom reprimanded their children. Their boys Willie and Tad built a fort on the roof of the White House to fire pretend cannons at the Rebels. They invaded a Cabinet meeting, pretending it was a Confederate camp. Tad demanded nickels from the people lined up in the hallways waiting to see his father. One time, he rode his goat into a formal reception!Page 83-84
Every day, Ben Franklin asked himself, What good shall I do this day?
The answer? A lot! Franklin was a printer and publisher, inventor, scientist, philosopher, and statesmen. He invented bifocals, the lightning rod, an odometer, and the Franklin Stove. He founded the first American circulating library, figured out that lightning and electricity were related, taught himself four languages, and played the guitar, harp, and violin.Page 27
Supplies were so scarce in the Continental Army that patriotic women made coats for the soldiers. Each soldier who volunteered for an eight-month stint at this time received a coat of homespun wool. English soldiers called the Continental Army the Homespuns.
Page 43
John Adams thought Thomas Jefferson should write the Declaration of Independence. I’m unpopular,
he said, and you write ten times better than me.
Page 44
Teenager Sybil Ludington became known as the female Paul Revere
when she rode swiftly through the Connecticut countryside to warn her neighbors of a British attack. Page 78
British soldiers made up a mean song about the Americans – Yankee Doodle! Some think the word Yankee came from a common Dutch name (Janke) and was meant to mock New England settlers. Doodle was a word meaning simpleton.
Macaroni was a fancy hairstyle of the era, as well as a nickname for the dandy who wore his hair that way. American soldiers took the sting out of the insulting song by adopting it for themselves.Page 62
Thomas Jefferson thought up names for new states that might join the Union. Imagine living in Polypotamia (many rivers
), Pelisipa (country of the skins
), or Chersonesus (peninsula
)!Page 110
Forget the wooden teeth and the cherry tree – they’re both myths. But George Washington did have false teeth (several sets, of ivory and cow’s teeth) and telling lies wasn’t his style. He was athletic, loved to ride horses, and spent years in his youth roughing it in the western wilds. And, according to Thomas Jefferson, he was the best dancer in Virginia.Page 38
Printer John Dunlap made around 200 copies of the Declaration of Independence. Only 25 still exist. One was recently discovered in a four-dollar frame purchased at a flea market. It sold at auction for $8.1 million!Page 47
Civil War battles sometimes have two different names: Manassas and Bull Run, or Antietam and Sharpsburg. Southerners often named battles for nearby towns; Northerners for natural landmarks like rivers.Page 11
Hundreds of women cut their hair, took men’s names, and fought in the War. Jennie Hodgers, as Albert D.J. Cashire, fought in 40 battles with the 95th Illinois. Kady Brownell fought with a Rhode Island unit and had a song written for her, “The Daughter of the Regiment.” Southerner Amy Clark joined up with her husband, and stayed after he was killed.Page 18
Many families were divided by the Civil War. President Lincoln’s wife had four brothers in the Confederate army. A senator from Kentucky had two sons who became generals – one in the Confederate army and one in the Union. One time a Yankee soldier captured a Rebel only to find that his prisoner was his own brother!Page 27
Old Abe, Robert Lee, and Stonewall were Civil War heroes – of the animal world! Regimental mascot Old Abe, an eagle, was carried on a special perch by Wisconsin soldiers. The dog Robert Lee, not quite as brave as his namesake, hid in an ammunition box when battle broke out. Another dog, Stonewall, showed up for roll call on his hind legs with a pipe in his mouth!Page 78
What do Chester Arthur, James Garfield, Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Harrison, Rutherford B. Hayes, and William McKinley have in common? All of these future presidents served during the Civil War.Page 106
Confederate troops under General Jubal Early came within five miles of the White House! Curious to see the Rebels, President Lincoln went to Washington’s Fort Stevens and looked over the parapet. A captain, who didn’t recognize the president, shouted “Get down, you fool, before you get shot!” Lincoln smiled and quickly obeyed.Page 118
Johnny Clem joined the Union army when he was only nine years old! He tagged along with the 22nd Michigan until the men gave up trying to send him home and made him their drummer boy. He spent his life with the army. When he retired in 1915, he was the last veteran of the Civil War to serve in the U.S. Army.Page 19
Robert Smalls was a slave who worked in the Charleston, South Carolina harbor. One night, he dressed in captain’s clothes and took the Planter, a Confederate gunboat, and its slave crewmen and their families out to sea, where he handed the Planter over to the Union navy. Smalls served as a pilot for the Union during the Civil War. After the War, he bought his former master’s home and served as a representative in the United States Congress.Pages 50 and 134
Wilmer McLean had a home near Manassas that was shelled badly during the first battle of the Civil War. He moved, saying he wanted to live where his family would never again be bothered by war. By a strange coincidence, the war ended when Generals Grant and Lee met to discuss terms of surrender in McLean’s new home at Appomattox Courthouse!Page 129
Robert E. Lee’s beloved horse was Traveller. William Tecumseh Sherman rode Sam. George McClellan rode Dan Webster. Ulysses S. Grant loved all horses, especially Cincinnati. Stonewall Jackson went to battle on Old Sorrell. Jeb Stuart’s famous rides were on a horse named Virginia. And you can see Philip Sheridan’s horse, Rienzi, on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C.Page 77
After finishing the Mona Lisa, Leonardo took it with him everywhere. When he died, it was given to the king of France. Napoleon kept it in his bedroom. Finally, it was placed at the Louvre. In 1911, a man stole the painting and hid it in a trunk in his room for three years. During World War II, it was moved by ambulance to secret locations to keep it safe from the Nazis. Today, it hangs in the Louvre, heavily guarded and behind bullet-proof glass.Page 70
Leonardo da Vinci was left-handed and wrote backwards, in mirror-writing. No one is sure why he did this, but it certainly stopped people from reading over his shoulder!Page 32
Leonardo was a vegetarian. He loved animals, especially birds, and sometimes would buy caged birds at the marketplace just to let them go.Page 47
Have you ever wondered why the sky is blue? Leonardo was the first to conclude that that the sky’s blue color is due to the way light is scattered by small particles in the air.Page 48
As a child, Leonardo had no formal education. His beloved uncle taught him about plants and animals and weather; a priest in Vinci showed him how to read and write and use an abacus.Page 3
Some of Leonardo’s designs weren’t invented by others until hundreds of years after his death. These include an armored tank, a helicopter, a diving suit, the bicycle, a submarine, a hang glider, and the parachute. He designed an alarm clock and a machine to move monuments, a telescope, water fountains, watches, folding furniture, and many other inventions.Pages 31 and 42-43
Leonardo knew more about anatomy than the doctors of his time. He discovered the way blood flows throughout the body and made important discoveries about lungs and eyes.Page 36
Leonardo worked slowly and left many of his paintings unfinished. He spent three years painting The Last Supper. When the priest in charge urged him to hurry up, Leonardo said he’d finish right away if the priest would serve as the model for Judas.Page 58
Leonardo da Vinci was one of the world’s greatest painters. He was also a sculptor, scientist, architect, mathematician, musician, anatomist, botanist, and engineer.
Leonardo’s notebooks are precious documents of his sketches, notes for inventions, and ideas about science and art. But on one page about geometry and river canals, he jotted down what he’d eaten for lunch that day: frutta, minestrone, insalata
(fruit, minestrone soup, salad).Page 32
William Clark came from a family of heroes! Five Clark brothers were officers in the Revolutionary War. Big brother George Rogers Clark led a small band of soldiers that captured three British forts.Page 3
At the time of the Expedition, there were no coyotes east of the Mississippi River. When Clark wrote in his journal about this “Prarie Wolf,” he’d never seen one before. Now they’re found all over the United States – including in many cities!
Sacagawea was only 17 when she joined the Corps of Discovery on their journey west.
It was rightly named the Corps of Discovery – Lewis and Clark were the first to describe 122 animal species and 178 species of plants in a scientific manner.
Alexander Willard, blacksmith and hunter for the Corps of Discovery, was attacked by a grizzly and nearly drowned twice, but lived to the ripe old age of 88. Sergeant Patrick Gass volunteered to fight for the Union army during the Civil War – at age 90
Sacagawea’s son Pomp had an exciting life. He lived in a castle in Germany, served as an army scout in the Mexican War, was mayor of California’s Mission San Luis Rey, and a prospector during the California Gold Rush.Page 130
Expedition member John Colter became a fur trapper, and was the first white man to discover the place we now call Yellowstone National Park. He was attacked by Blackfoot Indians, who stripped him and gave him a chance to run away. Colter jumped into a river and hid. He walked naked and alone for seven days until he came to a trapper’s cabin.Pages 124 and 129
Salmon travel thousands of miles to return to the stream where they were born. Some scientists think they navigate by smell (a salmon can smell one drop of a substance in 250 gallons of water!). Others believe that they can sense the earth’s magnetic fields.Page 97
Clark’s calculation of the distance from the mouth of the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean was only off by 40 miles!Page 101
The Corps of Discovery met nearly 55 Indian tribes, who spoke many different languages (fortunately, they used a sign language as a way to communicate with each other). Even the members of the Expedition didn’t all speak the same language. They played telephone
before there were even telephones! When Lewis wanted to say something to Sacagawea, he had to go through two translators – English to French to Hidatsa.Page 84
Marco Polo’s famous travel memoir was written while he was in prison. After his return to Italy, he commanded a Venetian ship in a sea battle, lost, and was made captive. A fellow-prisoner took down his story.Page 111
In China, Marco Polo discovered to his surprise, people used paper money to buy goods. What else did China invent first? The magnetic compass, the smallpox vaccine, gunpowder, clocks, umbrellas, and the seismograph.Page 52
Many people think Marco Polo brought noodles back from China and introduced Italians to pasta. Not true! Marco did write about Chinese people eating noodles, but Italians had been eating pasta since the year 1000.Page 78
Marco Polo traveled more than 20,000 miles on his 24-year journey!Page 110
Lots of people didn’t believe Marco Polo’s stories of the things he saw on his travels. They called him “Marco of the Millions” because they thought his book contained millions of lies.Page 112
Christopher Columbus brought a copy of Marco Polo’s book with him on his voyage to the New World.Page 112
The ruler of China during Marco’s time there wasn’t Chinese. Kublai Khan was a foreign leader of a conquered land – the grandson of the Mongol emperor Genghis Khan.Page 45
Marco Polo never mentioned the Great Wall of China. Does this mean he never saw it? Some scholars say this is proof he never went to China. Others point out that, at that time, the Great Wall had deteriorated and was rebuilt later.Page 33
Marco Polo’s story of his travels has been in print for more than 700 years.Page 112
The Polos were not the first to travel the long road between China and the West. Caravans had followed the ancient path we call the Silk Road as far back as 200 B.C.Page 14
I'm the author of six books for young people (Abraham Lincoln for Kids, The American Revolution for Kids, The Civil War for Kids, Leonardo da Vinci for Kids, Lewis and Clark for Kids, and Marco Polo for Kids.) Under my maiden name, Janis Martinson, I co-wrote The World Don't Owe Me Nothing: The Life and Times of Delta Bluesman David Honeyboy Edwards.
With each of my children's books, I've tried to share my enthusiasm for history while presenting interesting ideas and messages for kids to consider. Young readers of my Lewis and Clark book will learn about ecology and the ways of native peoples while crossing North America with the brave members of the Corps of Discovery. I wrote Marco Polo for Kids hoping kids would find excitement in the history of ancient civilizations as well as learn a bit about other cultures and world religions. My love for American history made writing Abraham Lincoln for Kids, The Civil War for Kids and The American Revolution for Kids so much fun! My hope is that these books will inspire kids to learn more about their country's past and to play important roles in its future. Exploring the era of the Renaissance through the life of that fascinating genius, Leonardo da Vinci helped me, and hopefully my readers, realize the importance of creativity and art. It's been really gratifying to meet kids, through my school visits and camps, who have taken my books and their activities to greater levels.
I've worked in bookstores, libraries, offices, restaurants, in grade schools, and on college campuses. My favorite activities are camping, hiking, birdwatching, attending Civil War reenactments, and, most of all, reading. I grew up on the south side of Chicago. I am now living in Northern California with my husband, Jeff.
Thank you for visiting my web site!
Janis Herbert
Booksigning with Janis Herbert
Face in a Book
4359 Town Center Blvd, Suite 113
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
(916)941-9401
Celebrate Chinese New Year. Make crafts and enjoy special treats as we enter the Year of the Rat! Heidi Goodman, illustrator of Mei-Mei's Lucky Birthday Noodles, and Janis Herbert, author of Marco Polo for Kids, will be on-hand to lead the fun!
Face in a Book
4359 Town Center Blvd, Suite 113
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
(916)941-9401
Celebrate Local Authors - Come meet Janis and a dozen other authors from the neighborhood.
Face in a Book
4359 Town Center Blvd, Suite 113
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
(916)941-9401
Leonardo da Vinci Camp
Face in a Book
4359 Town Center Blvd, Suite 113
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
(916)941-9401
Lewis and Clark Camp
Face in a Book
4359 Town Center Blvd, Suite 113
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
(916)941-9401
Booksigning with Janis Herbert
Face in a Book
4359 Town Center Blvd, Suite 113
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
(916)941-9401
Interview with Janis
Writing Advice from Author and Bookseller, Janis Herbert
Placerville Library
345 Fair Lane
Placerville, CA 95667
(530)621-5540
Abraham Lincoln's 207th birthday
Civil War reenactment