You’re the greatest, Charlie Brown!

My eldest can be Bored IDon’tWanna McBordeypants Ruler of the BoredLandians, and if you say, “Let’s read a book,” he comes around instantly, and Little Brother follows right behind him. (I don’t want to say they take after their mother, but… they take after their mother.) He does have standards, of course- if he doesn’t like the way a book is written or the way the story is going, he won’t hesitate to inform you that there will be No More Reading Of The Hobbit Ever because he just can’t want to be part of this family when we read the Hobbit. (But if there’s a Lego version of it, though, that would be fine… I have no words.)

In other words, if you want him to learn about a particular topic or to be interested in a particular activity, a book (or rendering it in Lego, apparently?) stands an excellent chance of piquing his curiosity. Little Patriot Press has released three new story books that explore 250 years of American history.  Each book mentions five historical “great”s while featuring Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang. They are designed exactly to capture a child’s interest, and then give them more information. (And when I was asked if I’d review them, of course I said yes- because unlike Bilbo, Snoopy rates two thumbs up even when he’s not Lego.) Each story mentions five historical figures within the character dialogue, and follows with an “appendix” giving an excellent overview of each person.

Each book focuses on a different area of historical knowledge. Who Cares, Charlie Brown? covers the roots of the civil rights and women’s suffrage movements. What’s the Big Idea, Charlie Brown? talks about the names behind five landmark pieces of technology, including the chocolate chip cookie. (Although the five are very popular and probably represent a good introduction, I’d have liked to see more than one woman mentioned in this one. For further reading, visit Women-Inventors.com.) Where Did You Go, Charlie Brown? will introduce your child to people who were instrumental in shaping the way we know our world, from Christopher Columbus to the moon landing.

The Peanuts stories and illustrations are very true to Schulz’s style, and will definitely please any fan of Charlie Brown and the gang. (Personally, I’ve always had a soft spot for Lucy.) As a story book, straight out of the gate, these are enjoyable, and well written and illustrated. (I could say more about the illustrations, but really, if you are familiar with Peanuts, there’s nothing else to say. And if you’re not familiar with Peanuts… there’s way too much to say.) As a jumping off point to interest kids in historical people, they are excellent, with the one omission noted above.

 Further reading for interested minds:

• Women Explorers
• Famous Civil Rights Activists
• Women’s Suffrage leaders
• Abolitionists
• Famous Female Spies
•  Women-Inventors.com