Rush wasn't there
March 9, 2020 6:07 PM Subscribe
What history books to give a kid to balance out Rush Limbaugh?
My wife's nephew is 10 and lives in Indiana. His grandparents on the other side of the family just gave him a bunch of Rush Limbaugh kids history books (Rush Revere?!?). His mom is suspicious, but not very savvy about this sort of political brainwashing or media consumption in general.
The book descriptions from Amazon: "Starting with the arrival of the Mayflower in 1620, Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims, you can join these daring English settlers as they arrive in America and celebrate the first Thanksgiving. Follow that with Rush Revere and the First Patriots and discover just how the talk of revolution and liberty spread from the bustling streets of 1760s Boston. Join the fight for freedom with Rush Revere and the American Revolution and be on hand for some of the most important battles of the war. Experience America’s first days as a nation and meet James Madison as writes the Constitution in Rush Revere and the Star-Spangled Banner! And finally, learn about all the first three presidencies of the United States directly from the men themselves and get to see George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson in action in Rush Revere and the Presidency!"
One critique I saw said the main problem with the books is Rush's belief in American Exceptionalism. Leading to such ridiculous claims as that the end of slavery was inevitable due to the brilliance of the founders.
As the progressive, politically active aunt and uncle, what books should we think about countering with. I don't want to start a fight with the grandparents that the kid will actually notice, just make sure that he's exposed to more than one viewpoint. Any recommendations?
My wife's nephew is 10 and lives in Indiana. His grandparents on the other side of the family just gave him a bunch of Rush Limbaugh kids history books (Rush Revere?!?). His mom is suspicious, but not very savvy about this sort of political brainwashing or media consumption in general.
The book descriptions from Amazon: "Starting with the arrival of the Mayflower in 1620, Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims, you can join these daring English settlers as they arrive in America and celebrate the first Thanksgiving. Follow that with Rush Revere and the First Patriots and discover just how the talk of revolution and liberty spread from the bustling streets of 1760s Boston. Join the fight for freedom with Rush Revere and the American Revolution and be on hand for some of the most important battles of the war. Experience America’s first days as a nation and meet James Madison as writes the Constitution in Rush Revere and the Star-Spangled Banner! And finally, learn about all the first three presidencies of the United States directly from the men themselves and get to see George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson in action in Rush Revere and the Presidency!"
One critique I saw said the main problem with the books is Rush's belief in American Exceptionalism. Leading to such ridiculous claims as that the end of slavery was inevitable due to the brilliance of the founders.
As the progressive, politically active aunt and uncle, what books should we think about countering with. I don't want to start a fight with the grandparents that the kid will actually notice, just make sure that he's exposed to more than one viewpoint. Any recommendations?
Steal these books the next time you visit and trash them. Claim total innocence. This seems weird and below his reading level anyway? My fifth grade class did a unit on “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry” so that shouldn’t be too much for him. I was given “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” in 8th grade which was formative although maybe a little young.
posted by moonlight on vermont at 6:40 PM on March 9, 2020 [8 favorites]
posted by moonlight on vermont at 6:40 PM on March 9, 2020 [8 favorites]
Same 5th grade class also did a unit on Number the Stars and The Giver, and we had older-reader books like Farewell to Manzanar and Sachiko available in the student lending library to read for homeroom.
Honestly, if his mom is suspicious, you could also give him tamer books like Johnny Tremain or Caddie Woodlawn, and push the “you’re right to be suspicious, he hasn’t even learned the real history in school yet, why would you want him believing that Rush or Paul Revere were on the Mayflower 250 and 150 years after the fact? This is nonsense and will mess him up in school” line
posted by moonlight on vermont at 6:49 PM on March 9, 2020 [3 favorites]
Honestly, if his mom is suspicious, you could also give him tamer books like Johnny Tremain or Caddie Woodlawn, and push the “you’re right to be suspicious, he hasn’t even learned the real history in school yet, why would you want him believing that Rush or Paul Revere were on the Mayflower 250 and 150 years after the fact? This is nonsense and will mess him up in school” line
posted by moonlight on vermont at 6:49 PM on March 9, 2020 [3 favorites]
If he and his parents are really interested and he's a decent reader, The History of US is a well-written, mainstream series aimed at upper elementary through middle school. It's a lot better written and more engaging than most textbooks, but still just textbooks, so it depends on his interest level.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 9:25 PM on March 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 9:25 PM on March 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
An author named William Durbin writes really good historical fiction for younger readers that my kids love. It's pretty unvarnished, and politically neutral -- but at least it isn't Limbaugh's brand of B.S.
posted by wenestvedt at 3:16 AM on March 10, 2020
posted by wenestvedt at 3:16 AM on March 10, 2020
Joy Hakim’s series is solid, and a long time ago, my oldest and I listened to most of the series as an audiobook - it’s solidly engaging as was available from the library at the time.
My kids will Nathan Hale graphic novels with no prompting. They are solid.
Also, for most episodes, the podcast “Stuff You Missed in History Class” are PG, but not R, and give extra content and depth so his mom has a sense of how much Good content history book authors sift through. I listened with my kids often, but pay attention to their content advisory. For example, the story of Sir Walter Raleigh’s head is not suitable for young children, and it’s a depth that can get missed if there is merely a year to cover two centuries.
posted by childofTethys at 5:25 AM on March 10, 2020
My kids will Nathan Hale graphic novels with no prompting. They are solid.
Also, for most episodes, the podcast “Stuff You Missed in History Class” are PG, but not R, and give extra content and depth so his mom has a sense of how much Good content history book authors sift through. I listened with my kids often, but pay attention to their content advisory. For example, the story of Sir Walter Raleigh’s head is not suitable for young children, and it’s a depth that can get missed if there is merely a year to cover two centuries.
posted by childofTethys at 5:25 AM on March 10, 2020
A fundamental aspect of this American mythology is that the continent was sparsely populated and backward whereas the population, especially in the north east, was dense and the land was well cultivated when the first Europeans arrived with their diseases and weapons. Books about native cultures might be a lateral way to counter the Rush version of history without directly confronting the other grandparents. Sorry I don't have a specific suggestion, perhaps someone else will.
posted by Botanizer at 7:52 AM on March 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Botanizer at 7:52 AM on March 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
Many Thousand Gone, by Virginia Hamilton, is a collection of slave narratives both pre- and post-Revolutionary War. It is stark, beautiful, and horrifying; I loved it as a child and I'm reasonably certain my Limbaugh-loving family didn't realize what it was. Or, if they did, they didn't realize the power of simple narratives against political rhetoric.
posted by VelveteenBabbitt at 2:16 PM on March 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by VelveteenBabbitt at 2:16 PM on March 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
Best answer: May be a little older than ten but An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People (ReVisioning American History for Young People) & Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning. The latter is less history but is good nevertheless.
posted by emkelley at 8:50 AM on March 11, 2020
posted by emkelley at 8:50 AM on March 11, 2020
Response by poster: I ultimately decided to send him the Cartoon History of the United States. Apparently he was very excited to get it and immediately started reading. Being in stay at home mode may have contributed to his level of excitement, but I'd say this was a success. I also purchased a few of the other suggestions for myself, and perhaps he'll get them in due time.
posted by postel's law at 12:32 PM on April 9, 2020
posted by postel's law at 12:32 PM on April 9, 2020
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posted by Tell Me No Lies at 6:21 PM on March 9, 2020 [6 favorites]