While on Twitter today I saw a message pop up from @OspreyRich asking the following;
Kid-friendly military history. Anybody got any recommendations? For a six-year old who thinks he is 10? He has pestered enough.
My first instinct was to tell him to try one of Osprey’s titles, which is a graphic story (aka comic book) called Hitler’s Last Gamble: The Battle of the Bulge. However, when I looked at the name a bit closer I realized that Rich WAS from Osprey. Maybe he missed that one? Would it be appropriate for a six-year old? I’ve actually got a copy here and it seems to me it would be appropriate, though some of the details would probably be over his head. For teaching some history it would probably be excellent.
That got me thinking of course…
When I was a kid I can recall having a huge book called “World War II” (not sure of the publisher) but it had lots of pictures to keep me interested for hours. I can’t say for certain how young I might have been when I first started looking through it (certainly pre-teen), but upon reflection when I recall many of the graphic images (such as a section on the concentration camps) maybe I was a bit young for it. Then again maybe books like that were the root cause of my passion for history today? If nothing else it taught me the horrible things that war brings – and also the reason why sometimes war *is* the answer. Kids today should all have at least a few books relating to history on their shelf.
Now, how about history books for my three-year old?
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Richard Sullivan said:
Thanks Brian. I hadn’t forgotten Graphic Histories but I’m after something not in comic form. I grew up on a Ladybird book (UK, 1970s) called Arms & Armour. What is the equivalent today? US or UK?
September 28th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
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September 28th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
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Frank Chadwick said:
My earliest military history book, and one which completely entranced me, was CIVIL WAR IN PICTURES by Fletcher Pratt, published in 1955. I think I got my copy when I was six (and thought I was ten) so it may be the perfect choice. I notice there are lots of used copies floating around on the internet.
September 30th, 2009 at 3:27 pm