I remember sitting in school learning about history and it would be all dates, politics and lots and lots of yawning. I’ve always loved learning about the past but school made history dead.
How I wish Horrible Histories books were about back then!
My sons bring them home from school and I borrow them. Actually, I put in requests for them to bring them home for me!!
When you want to read about the past, it’s the juicy bits that get your attention. Nobody really wants to read about peace treaties and times when everything was hunky-dory. That’s just boring. Luckily the Horrible History series has all the gruesome, gory stories of the past — the bits you wanted to know but your History teacher was too afraid to tell.
The author, Terry Deary, sprinkles the pages with bad jokes and illustrations. That part really isn’t me but my kids love it. They’ve enjoyed their introduction into history and hopefully they’ll want to learn more. As an adult I can’t resist reading the books — the Terrible Tudors and Witches (of course) were my favorites. I’d like to get my hands on the Angry Aztecs next.
If you’ve always thought history was boring then pick up a Horrible History book. Pretend it’s for your kids if the librarian is giving you strange looks. It’s history how it should be 😉