Young Patriots Bulletin (web edition)

Hook Kids on History! May, 2004 Vol. 1, Number 4

     

Featured Article:       From the Creator of the Young Patriots Series      

Hook Kids on History in May: May 1-31: Get Caught Reading Month-see www.getcaughtreading.org for more info. May 14: In 1804, the Lewis and Clark expedition left St. Louis on their journey west. May 16: Biographer's Day-What makes a good biography? May 18-25: International Pickle Week-just for fun!

At a recent appearance at the Southern Kentucky Festival of Books, I included in my display some of the old Childhood of Famous Americans titles from which the Young Patriots Series were derived. There's nothing quite like watching the smiles break out on the faces of people who catch sight of the classic orange covers and say "I remember I read every one of those in the library when I was a child."

Since I know many of you are fans of the old Series as well, I wanted to share with you an email I received from a librarian at the Phoenix Public Library who gave me permission to pass her words along. She wrote, "What I loved about these books is that they opened up the world to me. In my tiny, rural Tennessee town I had never heard of Mary Mapes Dodge or Julia Ward Howe. But after reading the books in this series, I would go find more books about them. And then I would want to BE these people. And because my parents encouraged that sort of thing, I did become them. My "play pretend" worlds were old New York, so I could be Julia Ward, Girl of Old New York. And that was true for the other kids in my play area. We didn't play house, or Barbies. We played Virginia Dare, Juliette Gordon Low, Amelia Earhart…."

What a wonderful testimony, not just to the Childhood Series, but to the power of the book to stimulate imagination and inspire learning.

May is "Get Caught Reading" Month-turn off the TV and the computer, read aloud to the children in your life and "open up the world".

Thank you so much for your support of our Young Patriots Series.

Warmly,

Florrie Binford Kichler

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The Lawman and the Outlaw-Billy the Kid and Lew Wallace

''In return for your doing this [testifying], I will let you go scot free with a pardon in your pocket for all your misdeeds.''---Gov. Lew Wallace to Billy the Kid, March 17, 1879

''I have done everything that I promised you I would and you have done nothing that you promised me.''---Billy the Kid, in a letter to Gov. Lew Wallace, dated March 4, 1881

Lew Wallace, author of Ben-Hur, served as governor of the New Mexico territory in the late 19th century during a period of lawlessness and criminal violence. And few lawbreakers were as violent as one William Bonney, nicknamed "Billy the Kid." Still the government needed his testimony against many other criminals of the time and so Governor Lew Wallace agreed to pardon Billy in exchange for his testifying.
But Governor Wallace's deal with Billy fell apart. Billy the Kid escaped from the jail where he was being held for murder and was eventually hunted down and killed by a posse. For more details see:

The Curse of Lew Wallace:
http://members.aol.com/wmpb2/CrossWallace/
History Channel Tackles Truths, Fallacies: http://www.abqjournal.com/news/state/apbilly04-27-04.htm

Fun Facts About Lew Wallace

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Win a Young Patriot in our First Monthly Drawing!

Win a Young Patriot in our Monthly Drawing

Congratulations to the winner of last month's giveaway of James Whitcomb Riley, Young Poet. We would like to give you a copy of both the print edition AND the electronic edition of this month's featured Young Patriot, Lew Wallace. And it takes only two clicks to enter and win Lew Wallace, Boy Writer! Just click here: newscontest@patriapress.com and send the blank email! You will automatically be entered to win.
The winner will be announced in the June issue.

 

Activities for Get Caught Reading Month

(The following are suggestions from teachers and librarians, courtesy of "Get Caught Reading" at www.getcaughtreading.org)

 

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Young Patriots Ordering Information

With each order for a complete 8-volume set of the Young Patriots Series, you will receive a 20% discount plus Free Shipping. All Young Patriots titles may also be ordered from your favorite wholesaler. Also, remember that Teacher's Guides are always free and may be downloaded at our website.

Take advantage of Free Shipping and 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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Copyright 2004, Patria Press, Inc.
Email: newsletter@patriapress.com
Telephone:  317-577-1321
Fax:  413-215-8030