Sharing Family History in a Children’s Book




It goes without saying all the benefits of reading to your children and grandchildren. The more you read to your children the more you set them up to succeed. They develop language skills, exercise their brains and enhance their concentration through reading. Reading encourages their thirst for knowledge, it teaches them about different topics and promotes imagination and creativity. If that wasn’t enough reading books with children helps them to develop empathy. When a child can put himself into the story, it helps them to build understanding. They identify with the character, and they feel what the child is feeling. Children begin to understand and relate to the emotions expressed in the story.

 

The characters in children’s books are often remembered for a lifetime because they are fundamental moments in a child’s development. Did you know that children who know stories about relatives who came before them show higher levels of emotional well-being, this according to a research report at Emory University.  Family stories provide a sense of identity and help children understand who they are in the world.

 

Now allow their favourite hero to be a great-grandfather or great-great grandmother and your children will grow to appreciate their family story and develop what the professionals call an ‘intergenerational self.” The intergenerational self as interpreted by Emory University is defined as understanding one’s place in a familial history. They determined “the development of an intergenerational self, becomes a significant factor as children approach adolescence.

 

So, it occurred to me that instead of trying to force family history upon our relatives it might be easier to introduce it a little more subtlety when they are young through children’s books.

Having I just finished my first family history children’s book early this year I thought I would share with you some information to help you consider if you have a children’s book lurking in your research.

 

Children’s books are divided into 3 categories:

Pictures Books

0 to 3 years – board books, novelty books

3 to 5 years – picture books, ABC books

5 to 7 years – picture books, reading primers, colour storybooks

 

Middle Grade

8-12 years old

 

Young Adult

12 and up

 

Getting Acquainted with Children’s Books

Before you decide to write a children’s book, I urge you to get acquainted with children’s books, especially if you been away from children’s book for a while.

 

  1. Consult children’s section of the library/bookstore
  2. Notice the books your children/grandchildren or friend’s children are reading and enjoying
  3. Read reviews of children’s books

 

Classic Children’s Themes

 

Next, you want to familiarize yourself with children’s themes. Most children’s book will address one of the topics listed below. Understanding these themes, it will make it easier to help find stories within your research. Now, there certainly are other themes, but these are the major ones and are a great place to start.

 

  • Courage – adventure, overcoming fears, immigration and migration are great examples in a family history.
  • Friendship – sharing and helping each other
  • Loss – loss parent or grandparent – through toy or something they value such as a pet.
  • Growing up – accepting change, learning a lesson from life that allows you to mature.
  • Belonging – stories about belonging to a group, not fitting in, helpful way of promoting tolerance and understanding.
  • Anger – reassurance to children that they are not alone in their feelings.
  • Jealousy – related to the theme of anger, a great example is the arrival of a new baby.
  • Love – affirming love for someone and feeling love in return is the cornerstone of a happy childhood

 

Consider the themes listed about match them with events in your family history research. Think about your own childhood  – list memories from your childhood, including favourite food, sweets, clothes, board games, toys trips, adults, holidays or particular incidents. Consider the journey of a family history artifact.

 

To find further inspiration for writing a children’s book consider reading what others have written.

Examples of Family History Children’s Books

 

Seven Brave Women  by Betsy Hearne, 1997 for age 4-8 years old

This book is about the author’s unique female ancestors, including her grandmother who was a harpist-architectural-historian who passed on many of the stories in the book. The first page says that history books often marks time by the wars that men fought. Then each spread tells about an ancestor in the author’s family who made history by not fighting in wars. We read about a Mennonite woman who immigrated to Philadelphia, a hardworking homemaker, a horse-riding painter, a missionary doctor, a single mother working as a secretary, and a storyteller. The storyteller is the author’s mother. Seven brave women who left their imprints on the past and on her. Beginning with the great-great-great-grandmother who came to America on a wooden sailboat, these women were devout and determined and tireless and beloved.

 

My Mother’s Pearls by Catherine Myler Fruisen, 1995 Preschool-Grade 3

My Mother’s Pearls is geared toward little girls. It taps into their love for jewelry, beautiful dresses, and getting ready with mom. Going back in time through seven generations, the young narrator shares short anecdotes from her grandmothers and great-grandmothers who once wore (or played dress up with) the pearls. Little girl relates the story of her mother’s heirloom pearls, handed down each generation from mother to daughter on her wedding day. Readers glimpse a day in 1968 when the unnamed protagonist’s grandmother wore the pearls; a day in 1938, when her great-grandmother wore them; and so on, all the way back to 1788, when the young girl’s 6th great grandmother first received the necklace as a wedding gift from her husband.

 

Fancy Nancy: My Family History by Jane O’Connor, 2010

Nancy introduces readers to the fancy term “ancestors.” She wishes she had famous ancestors like her classmates. Instead, she learns about her great-grandpa who was plain and hardworking. She exaggerates his life in her school report but has a change of heart when she realizes she has something in common with her great grandpa.

 

Maman’s Special Job, by Lynn Palermo and illustrated by Josiane Vlitos, 2018, age 5-8.

Maman’s Special Job is the true story taken from the family history of genealogist and writer Lynn Palermo. This story tells the account of a rural midwife as told through the eyes of her young son, Bert. Growing up in a French-Canadian family, Bert observes his mother’s job and how it affects his daily life. Ultimately, he learns what her kindness and sacrifice mean to their community.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related Post

Creating a Family History Book: Detours, Delays, and DistastersCreating a Family History Book: Detours, Delays, and Distasters

Many of us start out with the best of intentions when it comes to turning our family tree research into a family history book. But then something happens.  Our book project is completely thrown off course, and we can’t seem to get back on track and bring it across the finish line.

You are not alone when it comes to struggling to complete your family history book. There is any number of detours, delays, and disasters that can keep you from finishing.

Let’s look at a few of the more popular problems that can happen to your project and how to fix them and get you back on track.

Disaster – I can’t afford to print my book

I’ve written my book, but it is too big. I mean really big and I can’t afford to print it. This is a disaster first because the entire goal of writing a family history book is to be able to share it. If you can afford to print it, or your family can’t afford to purchase a copy what is the point. What was all that work for?

 

THE FIX –  Take on manageable size projects

Break your family history into sections, one book per surname or couple. You can even create a book on a single ancestor if you have a lot of research for them. Don’t think that your family history must be one giant book. There are so many more viable options that will not only interest your family but make the book more affordable.  If your book is already written, consider natural breaks in your book. Turn the book into a series and print it in volumes reducing the cost to your family.

 

Delay – Life keeps getting in the way of creating my family history book.

I really want to create my book, but life keeps getting in the way. I just can’t seem to find the time.

 

THE FIX–  Comprise a detailed plan

You need a detailed plan with manageable tasks and deadlines that takes you from start to finish. You also need to carve out time each week to work on your family history book. If you don’t make it a priority in your life no one else will. The only way to do that is to schedule it into your weekly calendar and make that time non-negotiable.  When you have a plan, you have a focus, and it becomes much easier to stay on track.

 

Delay – My research isn’t complete.

I want to get a little bit more research done before I start writing my book.

 

The FIX – Adopt a new mindset

Stop it. The research will never be done. Create a book with what you have. If you keep waiting to find that next piece of research to include in the book, you’ll never get around to making your book. You need to adopt a new mindset. Create a book with what you have – One ancestor, one story at a time.  Learn the process of building a book on something small and manageable. Then later you can take on that bigger book. Also, many on-demand printers allow you to make changes to your book at any time. You can always go back a few years from now and make any changes you want, provide updates and second editions.

 

Detour – I can’t figure out how to organize my book.

My book is chaos, it has no organization, and I don’t know how to fix it.

 

The FIX –  Outline the scope and span for your book

Taking some time upfront to identify the scope and span of your book before you start will go a long way in keeping chaos at a distance. Identify very clear parameters for your book, including the ancestors that will be in it, what years you will cover?  How many pages, how many stories? Without these clearly defined parameters, you’ll quickly get off track, and the whole project can become a runaway train that is hard to bring back under control. Mindmap out your contents.  Divide your book into parts, sections, chapters, and stories. When you compartmentalize the book, it becomes easier to organize. Don’t try to write your family history as one long story from beginning to end. Family histories are comprised of many individuals each with their own story. Don’t try to make them all fit together in one story.

 

Delay – I don’t have the tech skills to make a book.

Many family historians are intimidated by the software available to create beautiful coffee table style descendant’s books.

 

THE FIX– Anything can be learned or hired out. 

Build some time into your schedule to learn. If the tech element of producing a book is not your strength, then create a team. Find family members with these skills who are willing to help you. There are also lots of online courses and videos to help you learn book building software. Most of this software has simple drag and drop features. Explore what is out there. It’s easier than you think.

 

Disaster -My stories are boring

My stories are boring, and I want them to be better before I print my book. What good is a book that won’t be read?

 

THE FIX- Learn to turn your facts into entertaining stories.

By learning to write narrative nonfiction, you can turn the true-life stories of your ancestors into entertaining and engaging stories. Narrative nonfiction uses details, description, plot, tension, and dialogue to bring family history stories to life on the page. Take a class and learn to turn facts into real stories.

 

 

Do you have a delay, detour, or disaster that is preventing you from creating your family history book?

 

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Creating a Legacy Family History BookCreating a Legacy Family History Book

It’s time to stop procrastinating and start pulling your research into a family history book. Is the thought a little overwhelming? Not sure where to start?

Here at The Family History Writing Studio, we believe in helping you preserve your family history in a sharable and entertaining format. We want your family history book to be a book your family wants to read and pass down for generations to come.

It’s time to stop procrastinating and start pulling your research into a family history book. Is the thought a little overwhelming? Not sure where to start? We are here to help.

We have a brand new course starting in just a few weeks. We are excited to be delivering Creating a Legacy Family History Book. Take a look at our video, it’s just 6 minutes long and we’ll take you inside a Legacy Family History Book created with the MyCanvas software.

Your book could look like this!  Watch the video!

 

Here’s What You’ll Learn

Week 1 – Introductions

  • MyCanvas Tour
  • Your First Decisions

Week 2 – Getting Ready to Build and Write

  • Importing Files from Ancestry and Beyond
  • Creating a Workflow

Week 3 – Handling Pictures and Documents

  • Prepping Your Pictures and Documents
  • Copyright and Permissions

Week 4 – Structuring Your Book and Stories

  • Structuring Your Book
  • Structuring Your Stories

Week 5 – Assembling a Page

  • Basics of Assembling a Page
  • Creating a Story Framework

Week 6 – More Pages, More Writing

  • Creating a Variety of Pages
  • Bringing Your Ancestors to Life on the Page

Week 7 – Polishing Your Book

  • Revision and Editing

Week 8 – Final Product, Now What?

  • Ordering Your Book
  • Recap and Final Questions

 

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How the Class Works

Each week you will have access to one or two videos, each helping you to understand how to build a book using the MyCanvas software but also you’ll learn about structuring your book and your stories. We won’t just talk about the book we will talk about the skills you’ll need to write entertaining stories.

You can download the videos each week and watch them when they are convenient to you. If you have any questions over the course of the 8 weeks you’ll have to two teachers in the forum to help you with your project.

The homework is completely optional but we hope you’ll complete the homework so that we can help you with any questions you may have along the way.

Here are a few comments from some students who have already taken some of our classes, so you can be sure we will deliver quality and value for your money.

What Students Have Said about The Family History Writing Studio

Kim Said:

I thoroughly enjoyed completing this course in “Writing a Family History Scene” and would recommend it to all aspiring family history writers. It is inspiring when you can see yourself and your fellow students improve so much by the end of the course. Lynn’s teachings have given us the tools to carefully craft our stories for the enjoyment by our families. I have learned so much.

Denise Said:

This course opened my eyes to scene structure. My writing improved immensely once I had the right tools and guidance to build a scene properly. This is my second Family History Writing Studio course, and it will not be my last. Between Lynn’s excellent guidance and the input from the other students, it was an interactive learning experience I highly recommend to anyone who is thinking of writing a family history narrative. In order to do any job properly, you need the right tools and, in my opinion, this is the place to build your toolbox.

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Now that we’ve answered all your questions click the link, add the course to the shopping cart and checkout. After checkout, you’ll receive an email welcoming you to the class. Closer to the date of the first class you’ll receive and email and some instruction for finding your way around the website and getting acquainted with the forum.

We look forward to seeing you in the classroom.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]