One of the benefits of homeschooling my girls is that they can pursue hobbies and subject matter that excites them, as well as explore and try new things. As their teacher I am able to see how they learn and what subjects and topics really resonate with them. My youngest daughter, she is all about history and math, while my oldest loves to read and gets excited language arts. But, whenever history day comes up in our weekly homeschooling, my oldest is always quick to let out a huge sigh when we sit at the table to start school for the day. To say she is not a fan of history is an understatement. I have found myself looking for books that are made especially for reluctant readers or those keen on history, and my search led me to Alan Katz's new "Awesome Achievers" series.
Here is more about this new series, which will make non-history people finding that they actually like the subject and want to learn more!...
More about the "Awesome Achievers" Books by Alan Katz:
"From acclaimed author Alan Katz comes a new middle grade nonfiction series designed to make history fun and vibrant for reluctant readers. Awesome Achievers (
With Katz' signature humor and extras such as illustrations, imagined diary entries for a first-person perspective, comics, poems, and personal anecdotes like the time Katz met Dr. Heimlich himself, each title brings 12 lesser-known figures to life like you've never seen them before.
Everyone has heard the name Steve Jobs, but what about Nolan Bushnell--Jobs's boss before the invention of Apple, and the founder of the first major video game, Pong? Many of the most relevant figures in tech history have remained in the shadows, but not any longer!
From Alan Katz's new Awesome Achievers series,
Each figure is given a traditional biography but is also subject to Katz's unique brand of silliness, with humorous elements such as imagined poems, song lyrics, and diary entries by and about the not-so-famous figure accompanying each bio.
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Everyone has heard the names Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, but what about Michael Collins--the third brave Apollo 11 astronaut who didn't get to walk on the moon? Many of the most relevant figures in scientific history have remained in the shadows, but not any longer! From Alan Katz's new Awesome Achievers series, Awesome Achievers in Science gives kids a look behind the scenes at 12 lesser-known scientists whose contributions are personally relevant to their lives today.
Each figure is given a traditional biography but is also subject to Katz's unique brand of silliness, with humorous elements such as imagined poems, song lyrics, and diary entries by or about the not-so-famous figure accompanying each bio.
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My youngest daughter really loved these two books, especially with all the black and white illustrations, plus the short sections about each awesome achiever. Even though she loves history and learning about new people and events in history, she is not keen on reading. But, when she saw that these books were small and with illustrations, she couldn't wait to start reading them. She ended up reading both books in one sitting, in a little over an hour's time. She did stop in between to grab a highlighter, as she wanted to mark achievers she wanted to study further, or tell me about.
As for my oldest daughter, who isn't a fan of history, she found herself liking these books, as they were about people we have never talked about in our schooling, or that you come to expect to read about when you bring the topics of technology and science. And, because the books were thin, she was happy to sit and read through each book, as she knew they would be quick reads. But, as she started to read the books, she found herself making notes of some of the achievers just like her sister, to learn more about.
I really like how these books are written and how they shine light on less known achievers in history, who really should get the spotlight shown on them and their accomplishments. My girls and I are eagerly awaiting more releases from the author in this series, so that we can buy them and use them as part of our homeschooling.
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About the Author:
Alan Katz is the author of many highly acclaimed children’s books, including Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs, Don’t Say That Word! OOPS!, Poems I Wrote When No One Was Looking, and The Day the Mustache Took Over and its sequel, The Day the Mustache Came Back. Alan is also a six-time Emmy-nominated writer for TV series including The Rosie O’Donnell Show, animated series Taz-Mania, Disney’s Raw Toonage and Goof Troop, the Grammy Awards and Tony Awards, and many network specials and game shows. he has also created comic books, trading card sets, web videos, TV commercials and hundreds of other special projects for kids and parents. He lives with his family in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Alan can also be found at www.alankatzbooks.com.
Disclosure: I was sent review copies from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.
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