On July 4, 2026, America will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with a nationwide multi-day celebration that includes exhibits, service projects, and federal events. This important year is the perfect time to check out some of the best children’s book series for liberty-minded families! And the Tuttle Twins history books fit the bill.
History Books that Teach Critical Thinking
Traditional history books teach rote memorization of facts and dates, but history has so much more to teach us! Patricia and her kids enjoy learning “real” history, meaning what actually happened and why it happened the way it did, rather than just what traditional history textbooks typically tell us.
They excitedly read the Tuttle Twins history books to learn about real history in a narrative format that engages kids and helps them remember what happened. Patricia and her kids will undoubtedly be excited to hear that there’s a new entry to the Tuttle Twins history books series.
America’s History Volume 3 picks up where Volume 2 left off, teaching American history starting in 1791 through 1849. Kids will learn about some bold presidents, broken promises, and ordinary people who fought for freedom.
The Tuttle Twins history books also teach critical thinking. Books that teach critical thinking like those in the Tuttle Twins series are an important part of learning not just about history but especially about freedom.
PHOTO: Tuttle Twins
Teaching History Through a Liberty Lens
One of the greatest gifts you can give your kids during America 250 is the gift of liberty. This is an excellent time to study history through a new lens — one of freedom.
Teaching history through a lens of liberty is about focusing on the continuing struggle for human autonomy, free expression, and governance by the self. Critical thinking is a key piece of the puzzle, so books that teach critical thinking, like the Tuttle Twins series, will be an important tool in your belt.
In addition to books that teach critical thinking, here are some other ideas to help you teach history through a liberty lens:
· Have your kids analyze original source documents like the Declaration of Independence or personal letters and journals of freedom fighters like Harriet Beecher Stowe.
· Study individual agency. Traditional textbooks typically focus on figures like heads of state and military movements. However, to look at history through a lens of freedom, you’ll want your kids to study grassroots movements, everyday people, whistleblowers, and dissidents who pushed change forward.
· Debate systemic power versus personal autonomy. Teach your kids how to hold a mock debate and then show them the tenets of systemic power and personal autonomy. Explain how to think about institutions, economic policies, and legal frameworks and how they either gave power to the individual or to the state.
While traditional textbooks may have a place in history lessons, it’s far better to look to original sources for information. Whenever your kids write a paper for school, they’re told to use original sources for their arguments, and the same should hold true when studying history. The story of freedom truly rings out when you look at original source materials and the lives of everyday, otherwise ordinary individuals.
Written in partnership with Tom White
