Children's Biographies

Young Patriots Bulletin (web edition)

Hook Kids on History!
December, 2003
Vol. 1, Number 1

Featured Article: Welcome!

Previews of new titles, special offers for subscribers, tips on using the Young Patriots Series in the classroom, additional information about each Young Patriot-all these benefits and more will be yours in this and upcoming issues of our brand new Young Patriots Bulletin!

As many of you know who have heard me speak at book festivals and industry conferences, the Young Patriots Series is a direct outgrowth of the classic Childhood of Famous Americans SeriesT first published more than seven decades ago and known by many of us as the "orange biographies."

Who remembers the entire Childhood Series lined up in a row on the library shelf in alphabetical order beginning with Abigail Adams and ending with John Peter Zenger?

Of the original 215 books in the Series, nearly 150 of them have been out of print for 30 years. It is those "lost" books that we are bringing back to you so you can share them with the young students and children in your school, library or home. New, child-friendly covers and illustrations and new classroom/library-friendly features enhance the appeal to today's kids, but when you open each book and begin reading, you will immediately recognize the same basic text that we baby-boomers knew and loved.

With all the demands on your time, I appreciate your interest in keeping up-to-date on the Young Patriots Series. Talk back! If you have any suggestions on what I can do better or differently, please let me know by emailing fkichler@patriapress.com. I welcome your input.

And don't miss next month's issue with a sneak preview of the newest title in our Series (hint: his initials are GRC and his younger brother was a partner in the Lewis and Clark Expedition) and a survey where you get a chance to choose the next Young Patriot!

Rest assured, we will never, ever share your email address with anyone for any reason. And at the bottom of each issue is a quick and easy way to unsubscribe if you wish to do so.

Warm wishes for a happy holiday season,

Florrie Binford Kichler

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What's New? Celebrate the Anniversary of Flight with Eddie Rickenbacker!

On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright made their historic flight at Kitty Hawk. 11 years later, from 1914-1918, Eddie Rickenbacker made history in the air during World War I when he became America's leading combat pilot, winning the designation "Flying Ace."

Before his exploits in the air, Eddie also gained fame as a pioneering racecar driver and eventual owner of the Indianapolis 500 Speedway. But first Eddie the hero was Eddie the boy growing up in Columbus, Ohio making his first (heartstopping!) attempt at flight in his own backyard!

Imagine Eddie trying to fly by riding a bicycle off the roof while holding an umbrella! Or building a "pushmobile" in the early days of the "horseless carriage," or careening down a mine shaft in a miner's cart! Find all these adventures and more in Volume 6 in the Young Patriots Series, Eddie Rickenbacker, Boy Pilot and Racer.

Why not check out a free sample chapter, a timeline of Eddie's life, fun facts about Eddie and more!

Hook Kids on History with Historical Fiction--Part 1 of 3

"History's boring." "What does something that happened 200 years ago have to do with me?" "I hate history; do you have any books about Brittney Spears?"

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone-persuading kids to read is challenging enough, persuading them to pick up a book about someone who lived before television and cell phones, let alone video games, is even more difficult. So what's a parent/educator to do?

Read aloud to your child or students-Study upon study has shown that children who are read to become readers themselves. We all know it, but do we do it? When I visit schools and libraries to present my program How A Book is Born to the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th grades, the children are generally attentive as they learn the various steps involved in producing a book from manuscript to final copy. At the end, I usually read a chapter from one of the Young Patriots Series titles. Rarely is there a sound or a fidget in the room during my reading and the kids' faces say it all-read to us, we love it. And the advantage is that (at least most of the time), you can choose the book to read aloud. How to choose good historical fiction will be the subject of part 2 in this series.

Encourage your child or student to read to you-Talking about what's happening in the story as they read will not only help their comprehension but also stimulate their thinking and interest. Particularly in the case of the Young Patriots Series, since the books are about historical figures as children, your kids will find the characters facing some of the very same problems they face-peer pressure, disagreements with parents, school issues-the only difference is that the problems occur in another time zone! In part 3 we'll discuss how good historical fiction creates role models for kids.

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More on Flight--The Mystery of Amelia Earhart

First woman to fly solo coast-to-coast, first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, first woman to fly solo across the Pacific between Hawaii and California--these and numerous other "firsts" made Amelia Earhart an aviation and women's rights heroine. In Amelia Earhart, Young Air Pioneer, we meet Amelia as a young girl, full of mischief, fearless, and determined to realize her goal of flying.

But what happened to the adult Amelia on her last voyage remains a mystery.

However, recently there has been renewed interest and new theories about what became of Amelia and her flight engineer, Fred Noonan, on that final journey. Check these resources for additional insights into what might have been on that historic day in 1937.

"In Search of Amelia Earhart"

"Dig for Earhart Delayed."

"The Last Take-Off"
See the only known film of Amelia Earhart's departure on her round-the-world flight.

Patria Press in the News and Special Offer for Subscribers Only!

Mahalia Jackson, Gospel Singer and Civil Rights Champion won the National Parenting Center's Fall Seal of Approval Award and the Iparenting Media Award, competing against more than 2000 submissions.

Juliette Low, Girl Scout Founder was a finalist in ForeWord Magazine's 2003 Book of the Year Award.

The Orlando Sentinel newspaper profiled the Young Patriots Series and creator Florrie Binford Kichler in a recent article (free version)

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Special Offer for Subscribers Only!

With each order for two or more of the Young Patriots Series, we will send you a PDF file with a sample chapter of the newest Young Patriot (sssh-don't tell anyone, it's a secret till next month!)

With each order for a complete 7-volume set of the Young Patriots Series, you will receive a 20% discount, plus we will send you on CD_ROM both the sample chapter AND the complete text in electronic book format of Amelia Earhart, Young Air Pioneer.

Don't wait-this offer expires 1/9/04! Fill out or add to your school or library collection or give the Young Patriots Series for the holidays!

Order here!

Schools and libraries may also fax your purchase order to 413-215-8030, or mail to Patria Press, Inc., PO Box 752, Carmel, IN 46082

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