Are you looking for books to inspire and empower your kids to do great things? Two of my go-to sources these days are the new books of heroes and heroines from National Geographic Kids.
The Book of Heroes (aff link) features more than 100 heroes in history. From action heroes to peaceful protesters, this book tells you about ordinary men from around the world who did extraordinary things to save others. From Nelson Mandela to Pancho Villa to Chiune Sugihara you'll find examples of leading men, heroes for hire, peace heroes, inspiring minds and more.
The Book of Heroines (aff link) is similar with gritty girls, legendary ladies, daring dames, and others. You'll learn about Agustina de Aragón and how she saved her town from Napoleon's army. And then there's Itzpapalotl, the legendary Aztec warrior goddess who rules over paradise. Your kids will be impressed by Buffalo Calf Road Woman, the Cheyenne woman who charged into danger to rescue her brother, and by Khutulun, the Mongol princess who agreed to marry any suitor who beat her in a wrestling match (she won 1,000 horses).
What I love best about these books is that they don't overwhelm kids with dry information. Children are given manageable chunks of information that highlight each person(s) accomplishments. The layout is bold and engaging, capturing m10-year-old and 12-year-old's attention. My son says it is almost like a graphic novel/comic.
In addition, each book is careful to include examples of the opposite sex. So in the Heroes book, they mention a few women who rocked history, too, and in the Heroines book, they include a few gutsy guys.
Both books also have a short section in the back that highlights amazing animals, so that rounds out the book nicely for those of you with animal lovers.
If you'd like to incorporate this book into your homeschool lessons, I've put together a free printable for you to use. Once a week (or more!) I have my kids pick up one of these books and read about three of the people inside. Then they must write one fact that they learned about each one. You can print the pages front and back and keep them in a binder.
Enjoy!
Disclosure: I'm a National Geographic Kids Insider. I receives copies of these books for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.