Published by Bobbs-Merrill Company
220 Total Books
AMERICA'S PAST AND YOUNG AMERICA'S FUTURE
The Childhood of Famous Americans Series opened a new field of juvenile reading when—over twenty-one years ago—it began to offer thrilling stories that brought young readers a vivid understanding of American life and ideas—and ideals. Written to the exacting standards of a unique tradition and plan, these stories have won the highest praise from parents, librarians, teachers, booksellers. But it is the children themselves who have made the series so enormously popular. They read the books, love them, reread them. They clamor for more.
Millions of copies have been sold and every year the sale is increasing. Every volume has been a success. The standard of excellence is carefully maintained.
WHY SHOULD YOU ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO READ THESE BOOKS?
Because they are so interesting that they make children good readers. The pleasure children find in these books—and the enlargement of their interests—open the whole world of books to them—and this is perhaps the greatest gift in your power to grant them.
Because they make the child of today the friend and playmate of great Americans of the past. He sees why they became famous, sees in them as children the traits which later earned them renown. He is inspired to imitate them, to develop the characteristics you want him to have. Thanks to these good stories—true to time, place and character—he meets great Americans as old friends whom he knew as children when later on he studies the details of our history.
Because they reflect true Americanism, a love of freedom, equality and fraternity, a strong distaste for racial or religious, economic or social prejudice. They radiate honesty, courage, ambition, kindness. They cover the whole panorama of American life in all periods and regions, showing the way our people lived, their hardships and their triumph.
Because their appeal is not limited by age. They have a low vocabulary level, the widest age-level range of interest the greatest variety of interest. Mary grabs them at eight, still loves them at fourteen. John may not catch the fever until he is twelve. Whatever a child's interests are, whenever they may develop whether he is a quick reader or a slow reader, he will find a book here to delight him—and lead him on to other books.
Because these books compete successfully with distracting interests less helpful to your child. Children don't have to be coaxed to read them. They always ask for more.
WHY DO CHILDREN LOVE THESE BOOKS?
Because they are wonderful stories. Story—story—story—always story, told in simple words of action children can understand, told without preaching, without condescension, and without reliance on special knowledge the child doesn't yet have.
Because they are stories about children like themselves. They are not biographies, for which the young reader may not yet be ready. Each book introduces a famous American in a story about his childhood. Child readers put themselves readily into the places of the characters and enjoy experiences from the past—thrilling, amusing, instructive in the American values—as if it were all happening to them.
From the dust jacket of Davy Crockett: Young Rifleman, 1949 edition
Books in this Series
Share this series on Pinterest:
