Review
Since I’m a transplanted New Englander, I grew up learning about the American Revolution. We have found some fun history resources for children, and my sons are in love with this time period, even though they are only four and six. They act out Revolutionary War battles all the time, wearing appropriate colors and shouting names of generals as they race by. When Hal and Melanie Young from Raising Real Men sent me a copy of Hero Tales, Part One for review, I was very excited.
What you may not know is that Hero Tales was written in 1895 by Theodore Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge. They wanted to write about American heroes, to pass these great stories of courage along to the children of their time. Hal Young has turned this fascinating tome into an audio book in three parts, added sound effects and music, and created a great resource for your family. Part One includes stories about George Washington, Daniel Boone, George Rogers Clark, the Battle of Trenton, and Bennington.
Since I have a son with sensory issues, I notice things having to do with sound. During the introduction, the music seems just a bit too much until Hal begins reading Hero Tales. Since the book was written in the late nineteenth century, it contains very long sentences and some archaic language that your children may not recognize. At ages four and six that can be a challenge, so I think kids eight and up would enjoy it a bit more. However, my boys do enjoy listening to it; they just don’t understand a lot of it. But aren’t we trying to improve our children’s listening skills and comprehension anyway?
Here’s what I love about Hero Tales, Part One:
- I enjoy hearing American history retold by men who were not that far removed from the time period they are discussing.
- Hal’s voice is just right for an audio book.
- We learned amazing facts we never knew–my favorite is General Stark’s ambush (I can’t tell you more–it would ruin the fascinating story of brazen courage!).
- I don’t have to have an MP3 player. You can download it if you want, but I received a CD, so we listen to it in the car.
- These stories are great examples for our children.
- It’s a fabulous supplement to what my sons are already learning about the American Revolution.
So, if you’re ready to add some interesting history and great examples of character to your family’s read aloud time or travel time, Hero Tales is just for you!
About the Reviewer
Fresh from a state tax audit to prove that yes, they’re all ours, Hal and Melanie Young, authors of the Christian Small Publishers Association 2011 Book of the Year, Raising Real Men, are parents of six real boys and two real girls. They have homeschooled through eight high-risk pregnancies, three re-locations, two decades, and 181 degrees of longitude. Hal and Melanie have served on the Board of Directors of North Carolinians for Home Education for over 14 years, including three terms as President for Hal. 
Publisher of the award winning “Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching and Appreciating Boys” (Christian Small Publishers Association 2011 Book of the Year) and the ongoing audiobook series “Hero Tales from American History,” Great Waters Press provides challenging, encouraging, and useful resources for making Biblical family life practical.
This would be so great to have this is what we are going through right now
Both of my boys are special needs (ages 8 & 14) and they LOVE stories on tape or CD’s. Reading is laborious for them but being able to hear a story through headphones while they play or at bedtime is a favorite activity. I’ll check this one out!