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Children's Books and Family History: One Big Open Sky

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Many of us have ancestors who left behind everything they knew in search of a better future. They crossed oceans, traveled great distances, learned new customs, and faced uncertainty with remarkable courage. While children may struggle to understand those sacrifices, stories can help bring those experiences to life. This is one of the reasons I chose to spotlight One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome. Told in verse, the novel follows three girls traveling west on the Oregon Trail. Each girl carries her own hopes, fears, and dreams as she leaves behind the familiar and journeys toward an uncertain future. As their wagon train moves across rivers, prairies, and unfamiliar landscapes, the girls face the realities of pioneer life. There are moments of friendship, wonder, disappointment, fear, and loss. They encounter difficult choices, changing relationships, and the uncertainty that comes with leaving everything familiar behind. Through it all, readers become deeply invested in their st...
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25 Memory Prompts About Dad

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 Some of the most treasured family stories begin with a simple memory. The way Dad laughed at his own jokes. The Saturday morning routines. The advice he gave. The traditions he created. The quiet ways he showed his love and support. Too often, we assume we will always remember these moments. Yet as the years pass, the details can begin to fade. Taking time to record our memories helps preserve not only the stories themselves but also the lessons, values, and relationships that shaped our lives. These memory prompts are designed to help you reflect on your relationship with your dad and capture the moments that matter most. Whether your memories are funny, meaningful, ordinary, or profound, each one is a piece of your family story worth preserving. Choose one prompt or work through them all. You may be surprised by the memories that come rushing back and the stories waiting to be shared with future generations. to download/print the memory prompt activity page simply click here or ...
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Children's Books and Family History: A Grandfather's Journey

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 One of the reasons I love children's books is that they help us see family history through the eyes of a story. Facts and dates tell us when someone lived, but stories help us understand who they were and the choices they made. A Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say tells the story of the author's grandfather, who left Japan and traveled to the United States. Along the way, he fell in love with different places, experienced new opportunities, and eventually built a life between two worlds. Although he loved America, he also missed his home in Japan. Throughout his life, he found himself longing for whichever place he was not currently living. One of my favorite parts of A Grandfather's Journey comes at the end of the book. As the grandson grows older, he finds himself following in his grandfather's footsteps. He too travels between Japan and the United States and discovers that he loves both places. Through his own experiences, he begins to understand his grandfath...
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Children's Books and Family History: Memory Jars

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One of the things I love most about family history is that it helps us preserve the moments that might otherwise be forgotten. While we cannot place memories in glass jars like Freda does, we can record them in journals, photographs, voice recordings, and family stories. Many of the memories I treasure most are not major life events. They are ordinary moments: playing board games with my grandma, riding home in the basket of my dad's Royal Mail bike, or gathering around the dinner table with family. At the time, they seemed small. Looking back, they became part of my family's story. Memory Jars reminds us that family history is not only about preserving the big milestones. It is also about capturing the everyday moments that tell the story of who we are and the people we love. Freda loves collecting memories. She carefully stores special moments in jars because she wants to remember everything exactly as it happened. As her collection grows, she begins filling jars with memori...
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All About the United States Census

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 One of the first records I recommend to beginning family historians is the United States Census. Taken every ten years since 1790, census records provide a snapshot of a family at a specific moment in time. They can reveal where an ancestor lived, who was living in the household, what work they did, and other valuable details about their lives. Because census records were created regularly and cover much of the population, they are often one of the easiest and most useful records to locate. By following an ancestor through multiple census years, you can watch a family's story unfold as children are born, occupations change, and households grow. If you are new to family history research, learning how to use census records is an excellent place to start. To help you get started, I've created a free printable that explains what census records are, why they are valuable, and how to locate them on FamilySearch. to download/print the census record page simply click here or on the im...
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Children's Books and Family History: All About Grandpa!

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One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the opportunity to know their grandparents beyond the titles of Grandma and Grandpa. Grandparents carry a lifetime of stories, experiences, traditions, and lessons that can help children better understand both their family and themselves. Children's books provide a natural way to begin those conversations. Through stories, children can see grandparents as adventurers, storytellers, teachers, friends, and individuals with dreams, memories, and experiences of their own. These books encourage children to ask questions, listen to family stories, and develop deeper relationships with the older generations in their lives. Whether your child's grandpa is nearby, lives far away, or is remembered through stories and photographs, these books celebrate the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren while highlighting themes that connect beautifully to family history. Granpa by John Burningham A young girl and her grandfather s...
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All About My Dad: A Simple Father's Day Family History Activity

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When we think about family history, we often think about preserving stories, photographs, and important life events. While those things are valuable, sometimes the most meaningful details are the simple ones. What was Dad's favorite food? What did he always say? What made him laugh? What was his job? These ordinary details help paint a picture of who a person really was. The truth is, children often notice things that adults overlook. They remember the funny sayings, the routines, the inside jokes, and the little moments that make someone special. Taking a few minutes to record those memories can create a keepsake that families will treasure for years to come. That is why I created the All About My Dad activity page. It gives children an opportunity to reflect on their relationship with their dad while preserving a snapshot of who he is right now. The completed page becomes more than a simple worksheet—it becomes a record of a father's influence and a child's perspective. ...
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