Customer Reviews

50 American Heroes Every Kid Should Meet

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Dr. Dennis Denenberg and Lorraine Roscoe have written a book so inspiring and appropriate for children, it should be in every classroom in the United States! It's factually accurate and to the point. This is a great way to learn about some of the most inspiring people the U.S. has ever produced. Honest, I have literally bought more than 60 copies of this book to share with parents and educators around the country. Everyone I've spoken with who has read this book has given it nothing but rave reviews!

I was really suprised how many of these people I was not familiar with. I learned a lot! This book gives 2 pages of information on 50 important and influential people from the US (note: just from the US), explaining WHY we should think of them as heros. The heros quiz in the back is fun to do as a family. Everyone should read this book, not just children.

When I first found this book, I was impressed with the simple, accessible, straight-forward presentation of REAL WORLD heroes - for kids. When they get a chance to learn about the accomplishments of these people, they can have a real vision for themselves and for their lives. This is the kind of book that can make a positive impact on our world, a kid at a time, or better.

When I next read through the book, I was very impressed with the writing, for it presents a person (aka hero), his/her accomplishment(s), and then asks the readers to relate this to their own lives. The call it "Explore" - it is an invitation for the reader to make a part of the hero story become a part of them. What you are left with is the possibility that I can, that I am, that we are... It is a calling to be a hero, ourselves.

The stories in this children's book are not biographies; they're fluff. The authors clearly intended to engage the book's young readers by asking questions and making sweeping statements, trying to whet their interest in biographical subjects rather than providing historical information. Regrettably, there is so little by way of information presented, the reader is left with the most abstract of understandings of who the individual was/is and what that person did/does. The profiles are so lacking in substance, they would have earned very low grades had they been composed and turned in by an elementary school student. Additionally, and perhaps as a result of the approach taken by the authors of the stories, the biographies are rather boring. One final comment, unrelated to the very disappointing style of the profiles: The authors' selection of heroes is at times startling, even disturbing. Jimmy Carter, but not John Adams, John F. Kennedy, or Robert Kennedy? Sandra Day O'Connor, but not Thurgood Marshall or Louis Brandeis? Robert E. Lee, but not Dwight D. Eisenhower? Roy Rogers/Dale Evans, but not Audrey Hepburn? The concept of this book was great. Everything else about it? Not so much.

I went to a workshop recently where Dr. Denenberg presented, and am so excited to have a copy of his book. As a teacher I can see many uses for this book in the classroom. The stories really grab you and make you want to know more about each hero. I especially like that the authors included a diving in section for each hero. They give the reader other sources to find more information about their hero. I hope Dr. Denenberg writes many more books! I love his work.

In a timeof Homer Simpson and Sponge Bob it is so refreshing to have a source of real heroes for school age children and adults alike. 50 American Heroes Every Kid Should Meet gives the reader a source of Americans who struggled and shaped our nation. They include living and dead, men and women, young and old who have made positive contributions. It is a great read aloud for my fourth grade during our biography unit. 50 American Heroes contains so many interesting and unique facts about these famous people, but it also allows you to see their human side. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to visit with the men and women who were and are the backbone of this great nation.

While looking through this book, it dawned upon me as a history professor how necessary it is for a book like this to be available. I find the authors premise that children of today need heroes to look up to, is not only valid but right on target. This book is well written, informative, and vast in the scope of individuals its covered. While I lecture on a college level, I have referred students who are interested in education to look this book over, and many times theyve come back to me and stated how they'd use this book in their own classrooms someday. But the best review I can give this book comes from my nine year old daughter, who reads this book over and over again, and comes to me to talk about these people. How great can a book be to provoke such a response from a little girl who only knows her dad "teaches some of this stuff to college students". This book is a good read for adults and kids, and adults with kids, and kids to read to adults.

I love this book!!! It is extremely well-written and full of interesting, fun information on REAL, noteworthy heroes. I have taught grades 7-12, and I have used "50 American Heroes" in each grade with students of all abilities. The "Power Words" prompt great discussions with the older students, and "Explore Some More!" activities help keep these heroes alive for the younger children. No matter what the reader's age or reading ability, this book is sure to teach him or her a lot about the people who have made a difference in our country and the world.

Rachel carson is responsible for the deaths of millions. Mostly black children in africa, as her ridiculous book silent spring led to the outlawing of DDT the most effective way to kill disease carrying mosquitos.
Jimmy Carter supported Kohmeini's taking power in Iran, leading to the slaughter of more Iranians in his first year than the Shah had committed in his entire reign. Kohmeni also created the suicide bomber and instituted strict islamic law, removing the freedoms and the pro-western culture the Iranians had previously enjoyed. We now face crazy Achmadenajab acquiring nukes thanks to Carter. These authors have a strange definition of hero.

In a timeof Homer Simpson and Sponge Bob it is so refreshing to have a source of real heroes for school age children and adults alike. 50 American Heroes Every Kid Should Meet gives the reader a source of Americans who struggled and shaped our nation. They include living and dead, men and women, young and old who have made positive contributions. It is a great read aloud for my fourth grade during our biography unit. 50 American Heroes contains so many interesting and unique facts about these famous people, but it also allows you to see their human side. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to visit with the men and women who were and are the backbone of this great nation.