History For Kids

Over the centuries the West has become fascinated by the Vikings, one of the most mysterious and interesting European civilizations. In addition to being perceived as a remarkably unique culture among its European counterparts, what's known and not known about the Vikings' accomplishments has added an intriguing aura to the historical narrative. Were they fierce and fearsome warriors? Were they the first Europeans to visit North America? It seems some of the legends are true, and some are just that - legends.

The life of Pocahontas fulfills a specific role in American culture and history. Her short life holds a bittersweet tragedy that is part of the mythology of Native America, especially the first encounters between English settlers and the local native tribes. The meaning of her name, "little plaything" or "little wanton", suggests that she was destined to be bandied about by the powers in her life.

It is the most fabled and storied journey in American history. From 1804-1806, the first expedition across the North American continent was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson, who had recently bought a vast swath of territory from France. Though he knew he had bought a huge amount of land, Jefferson wasn't entirely sure of what he had bought, so he asked a team, led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, to traverse the continent until they reached the Pacific, studying everything from ecology to geography along the way.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Describing Hillary Clinton as just a first lady belittles all of her accomplishments. Today she is the most powerful woman in the world and one of the most recognizable. History for Kids: An Illustrated Biography of Hillary Clinton for Children looks at the life and career of one of America’s most influential first ladies, but it also humanizes the woman who has overcome personal and political hurdles along the way.

Hollywood has produced no shortage of famous movie stars, but none have been as culturally significant as John Wayne. Marion Morrison was born in a quintessentially quaint Midwestern town, but he eventually grew up to become John Wayne, the legend of the silver screen who embodied the Western frontier. History for Kids: An Illustrated Biography of John Wayne for Children looks at the iconic actor's life on and off the silver screen, from his out-sized influence to Hollywood to his outspoken views on politics.

During the early 20th century, groundbreaking technology revolutionized transportation both on the ground and in the sky, with new motors making automobiles and airplanes a reality in the 1910s. Around that same time, the feminist movement was underway in the United States, spearheaded by women seeking the right to vote, lobbying for the temperance movement, and trying to make their voices heard. It was at that crossroads that flight pioneer Amelia Earhart found herself in 1919.

Over 450 years after his reign, Henry VIII is still the most famous and recognizable King of England, but it’s for all the wrong reasons. Though well regarded by contemporaries as a learned king and "one of the most charismatic rulers to sit on the English throne", he is best remembered today for his gluttony and multiple marriages. History for Kids: An Illustrated Biography of King Henry VIII chronicles Henry VIII’s life and reign.

In a story that could have come straight out of Hollywood, the golden actor rose through California politics to become California governor and eventually the 40th President. The 70-plus-year-old former actor then went on to have one of the most consequential presidencies of the 20th century, unquestionably making him one of the most influential men of the last 50 years. And his name is still as relevant in American politics today, with every politician with an R next to his or her name trying to claim Ronald Reagan’s conservative mantle.

Eleanor is one of her country’s most famous and admired first ladies, an ironic fact considering she was worried being the wife of a successful politician would force her to take on what she considered to be irrelevant ceremonial roles. History for Kids: An Illustrated Biography of Eleanor Roosevelt for Children chronicles the amazing life and career of one of the nation’s most important First Ladies, but it also humanizes her to paint the fuller picture.

On November 4, 2008, 47-year-old Barack Obama was officially declared president-elect of the United States. Though he was still young by presidential standards, the biracial native of Hawaii had already traveled a great distance physically and spiritually. History for Kids: The Illustrated Life of Barack Obama chronicles the amazing life story and Obama's path to the presidency, from his unique roots to his unique victory.

Marco Polo (1254-1324) is an instantly recognizable name, and he is known for his travels, but it's safe to say that his influence and importance has been greatly overlooked in the nearly 700 years since he died. Born in Venice, Marco Polo was in a fortuitous position to participate in the Mediterranean trade, but he was still a young man when he went on the journey that would make him famous and greatly inspire the Age of Exploration.

John Adams has become one of the more popular presidents in history relatively recently, but it was not always so. For most of his life he was seen as a bit of an outsider, different from his fellow first presidents in his temperament, birth, life, and politics. Adams and his son were the only presidents out of the first seven who were born north of the Mason Dixon line, and he was not an easy man to understand or work with.

Rosa Parks is one of the most famous women in American history thanks to the events of December 1, 1955. That afternoon, on her way home from work, Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white person in defiance of Montgomery's segregated bus policies. Within days of her arrest, Montgomery's civil rights activists had organized a wide-scale boycott of Montgomery's buses by blacks. To lead the boycott, organizers formed the Montgomery Improvement Association, electing a young, 26-year-old pastor president of the new group. His name was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

History for Kids: The Illustrated Life of John F. Kennedy humanizes the nation's youngest elected president, explaining the roots of the Kennedy family, the basis for John’s presidential ambitions, his war service and journalism, his political career and assassination, and all of the accomplishments and shortcomings in between. Along the way, your kids will learn interesting facts about JFK you never knew, like which famous relative also died on November 22.