A few year's ago, I spoke in my wife Kristi's fifth grade class about the Lincoln assassination. She gave me a sheet containing the information that the school district requires them to pass on to their students. It basically said, “ Booth shot Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre.” Being an avid reader on this subject, I told the real story of what happened on April 14, 1865. Including the kidnapping plot, those involved, the trial, and the manhunt for Booth. The class loved it, but I was shocked that this was the first time they had heard any of the actual details. After the class I complained to my wife about how little gets taught on this subject. "They left out all of the good stuff." Sadly, teachers have to teach such a broad range of topics that there is often little time to teach the way they would like to. History, or Social Studies, is routinely pushed to the side. The emphasis being on Math, Reading and test scores. Sometimes History even gets alternated with Science every other quarter. Frustrated, I couldn't fathom how American History could play such a small role in an American educational system. Instead of listening to me complain, Kristi iscasued me a challenge. "Then maybe you should write a book about it for my class."
So I set out to create for her classroom a book. One that contained all the information, but was enjoyable for her kids. I really wanted to create something that would be a starting point, to spark interests to continue great novels such as American Brutus or The Day Lincoln Was Shot. I know that Bill O’Reilly and James Swanson have great books on the subject and have released additional books that are marketed toward young readers. While this is great, these books are still adult novels to children; just abbreviated versions with a few pictures thrown in. Children can still find them difficult to read and lose interest.
My goal with this novel, is to make learning about history a new experience for children. I decided to write a comic book, or graphic novel styled book. I felt that the best way to gain a child's interest is by putting a picture in his or her mind. I was always a visual reader. Growing up I loved reading the Classics in comic book form, which I truly believe made me a lover of books. I also have a wonderful copy of The Divine Comedy. On the left hand pages it is written in Italian and the right is translated to English. I decided to write this book using a similar method. The left hand would be in prose, and the right would be in comic book fashion. I figured, for the higher reading students the detailed information would be nice, while the comic style could be read by all.
Children are visual. I believe children learn much more, when they can make a picture in their minds of what they are reading. I know. I was a child once.
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Children are visual. I believe children learn much more, when they can make a picture in their minds of what they are reading. I know. I was a child once.
Read With Malice Toward One, Free for a limited time. Press the button below and scroll to the middle of the page.
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