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CHAPTER 5 pHistoryP See also chapters on: The Bible, Famous Jews, Holocaust and World War II, Immigration, and Israel and Zionism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Introduction Writing history for children, either factual books or historical fiction, requires a great deal of skill because younger children have little sense of history and older ones often have only a fragmentary knowledge of it. It isn’t all that uncommon for librarians and teachers to be asked by children some version of a question such as “Was butter invented when you were little? or if the Civil Rights movement came before the Civil War. When the world you live in is still quite small—defined by family, school, friends, and near-by places— a faraway time or a faraway land are very hard to grasp. Although teenagers’ views of the world may have widened since they were in elementary school, their interests center mainly on themselves and their peers, and their attitude about learning history is often soured by lifeless textbooks or teaching that stresses memorization. Children also absorb messages from adults and from the media that the subject of history is boring or irrelevant, and it isn’t unusual to hear something described as a “boring history lesson.” Yet for children, especially Jewish children—with a heritage that reaches back thousands of years—the idea that history is “boring” is far from true. Through exile, persecution, and renewal, Jews have occupied a place on the world stage that far exceeds their numbers; the world we live in would be quite different without Jewish thought and accomplishments. How we convey the richness and the relevance of the Jewish past to today’s children without overwhelming them depends on how meaningful to their own lives that past is made to be. Facts must be put in context, context must be brought to life with people, and people must be imbued with characteristics and experiences that are not only authentic to the time in which they lived, but meaningful to today’s readers. Helping children enter into the past achievements, strivings, conflicts, sufferings, and joys of the Jews who lived before them, gives them a greater understanding of themselves and a proud sense of being part of the people Israel. The writing of Jewish history books for children, both factual and fiction, has improved substantially over the years. The earliest history books that were written in the first half of the 20th century were either textbooks or sentimental stories about an idealized Jewish past. With a few exceptions, books of this type have been replaced by those with livelier writing, more attractive formats, and a higher regard for the standards of historical writing. Of these standards, accuracy is of primary importance in both historical fiction and in factual accounts. In the former, facts are smoothly and imaginatively integrated into a good story about people who may or may not have really existed. Their personalities, speech, points of view, and experiences must be consistent with the historical period in which the story is set, as this is what gives historical fiction authenticity. The characters and plots must reflect the values and spirit of the setting, and nothing should be included that contradicts the historical record. 125 It has become commonplace for authors of historical fiction to include background notes before or after the story; but while these are helpful, they do not replace the skillful rendering of context, setting, characters, and theme within the story. When historical fiction meets the standards of both accuracy and skillful story telling, it can enable children to think of themselves as part of an ancient and enduring nation; to experience the joys and the sufferings of that nation; to reflect on the ideas and events that shaped the Jewish people, past and present; and to use both their intellects and their emotions to understand how the past shapes the present. Accuracy is, of course, the most important aspect of non-fiction (sometimes called informational books) as well. Authors should be educationally and professionally qualified to write about the subject and the facts of the book should be checked by an authority in the field. The information presented should be up to date and based on reputable scholarship. The author’s point of view should be made clear and differing points of view should be noted, not ignored. The writing style should involve the reader through vivid and interesting language and the subject of the book should be presented with clarity and directness. The organization...

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