Kid Konnection: National Geographic Kids' History Books

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you two fun and educational history books from National Geographic Kids.

Summary: What's so weird about U.S. presidents? Plenty! Did you know that Abraham Lincoln was a great wrestler? That Ulysses S. Grant got a speeding ticket while riding his horse—twice! Or that Benjamin Harrison was afraid of electricity? And let's not forget that President McKinley had a pet parrot that whistled "Yankee Doodle Dandy" duets with him. In this new single-subject Weird But True book, you'll have a blast learning that there's a lot of substance—and weirdness—in every president's past. -- National Geographic Kids

WEIRD BUT TRUE KNOW-IT-ALL! U.S. PRESIDENTS by Brianna Dumont is an ideal book for kids who are interested in U.S. history, and especially the presidents. What's so fun about this book is that it's full of interesting trivia about the United States presidents, and these tidbits are a little odd!

I love WEIRD BUT TRUE KNOW-IT-ALL! U.S. PRESIDENTS. Not only are there interesting fun facts about the position of U.S. president, but there are also specifics about each of the 45 presidents. The book begins with some intriguing (and little known) facts including when the White House was renovated for new technological advances like running water, telephone, electric lights, and computer. There were also some fun facts like the taxpayers don't pay for personal expenses like toothpaste and mouthwash for the president.

The book is then divided into sections for each of the 45 presidents. There is quite a bit of information about each president, but I suspect most kids will appreciate the "weird but true!" facts. For example, George Washington wore dentures made of hippo tusks and human teeth! And Andrew Jackson fought in as many as 100 duels! Having said that, the bios on each president are a terrific resource for kids to learn a bit about our country and its presidents.

I really appreciated how this information is presented. Granted, there is a fair amount of text about each man; however, there is also enough graphics, text boxes, photos, illustrations and fun facts to keep even reluctant readers interested. Honestly, I think there are many ways to approach this book... and all of them are both fun and educational!

I highly recommend WEIRD BUT TRUE KNOW-IT-ALL! U.S. PRESIDENTS for budding history lovers... and their parents! It's a great addition to home and school libraries.

Summary: Discover history through the eyes of one of the smartest, funniest, and coolest figures from America's past. This book presents 50 of Benjamin Franklin's famous "wise words" from Poor Richard's Almanack, his personal letters, and other writings, with sage advice on everything from good citizenship and manners to friendship and being happy. Sayings are paired with hilarious illustrations and witty translations for modern audiences. It's a great go-to for inspirational and innovative ways to practice mindfulness, industriousness, and self-improvement. -- National Geographic Kids

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S WISE WORDS: HOW TO WORK SMART, PLAY WELL, AND MAKE REAL FRIENDS by K.M. Kostyal and illustrated by Fred Harper is another fantastic book by the folks at National Geographic Kids. This hardcover book, aimed at kids ages 8 - 12, is a great introduction to all things Ben Franklin.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S WISE WORDS does make learning about Ben Franklin fun. Most kids probably don't realize that Ben Franklin was a pretty interesting (and dare I say, "Cool?") guy, and there's no doubt that he was pretty insightful on a variety of subjects. He's said some famous things that are still being quoted today.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S WISE WORDS is divided into the following chapters: Tranquility, Industry, Order, Humility, Resolution, Sincerity, and Moderation; and it provides many of his words about these subject matters from his writings, the Poor Richard's Almanack, and letters. It also provides some wise advice about basic human behavior including having proper manners, being a good friend, and even working to be happy.

Ben's words still stand the test of time (with a few translations!) and I love so much of his advice. This book would probably be entertaining and informative with just his words; however, I loved the adorable illustrations that are included in this book. They truly complement Ben's clever text and make the book all the more fun!

All in all, I think BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S WISE WORDS is a wonderful book for today's kids to explore! Highly recommended!

Thanks to Media Masters for providing review copies of these books.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!