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National Geographic Kids Guide to Genealogy
Inspired by the growing ancestry and DNA-testing crazes, this guide helps readers dig into the past and learn more about their own family history.
What does your family tree look like? Where do its roots lead? Are you related to royalty? Start your very own journey and find out with this activity-packed guide to genealogy! This lively guide will get you started on researching your family's past and let you in on the newest and most up-to-date technology for genealogy research. Get tips on how to interview family members, create a family tree, and much more. Fun facts, lists, and sidebars offer additional tips and bring the dusty past to vivid life!
What does your family tree look like? Where do its roots lead? Are you related to royalty? Start your very own journey and find out with this activity-packed guide to genealogy! This lively guide will get you started on researching your family's past and let you in on the newest and most up-to-date technology for genealogy research. Get tips on how to interview family members, create a family tree, and much more. Fun facts, lists, and sidebars offer additional tips and bring the dusty past to vivid life!
- GenresNonfictionChildrens
160 pages, Paperback
Published April 17, 2018
3 people are currently reading
1065 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 12, 2021
When I was a kid, the American Girl magazine had genealogical paper dolls. Each month, a reader of the magazine submitted a photo of herself, along with photos and stories of the women she was descended from. The magazine illustrators turned the girl into a beautiful paper doll. You could dress her up in the outfits that went with her ancestors’ stories.
That is how you interest a kid in genealogy. You know how you don’t interest a kid in genealogy? Detailed discussion of filing systems.
I cannot imagine handing this book to a kid and sparking an interest in genealogy. If I wanted to introduce a kid to genealogy, I would start with tangible projects and inviting trees to fill in. I’d talk about the importance of starting with yourself and your parents and your grandparents. I’d offer lots of guidance for interviewing relatives. I’d introduce the very basics of doing research with original documents. I’d talk about how to evaluate whether a source is reliable, or whether it’s more like gossip. I’d teach how important it is to keep track of which information came from which source. I’d tell snippets of cool stories that other kids have uncovered in their own research.
And all of that is in here, more or less, but it’s buried under pages and pages of minutiae that would be more appropriate for adult genealogists who already have a decent footing. Do children brand new to the concept of genealogy need to know about formal citations, the challenges of changing county borders, and the proper way to number an ahnentafel chart? No. No, they do not.
Just because the book is full of whimsical stock art and little text blurbs, it doesn’t mean it’s a good fit for kids. I’ve seen other reviewers say they found this book helpful as adult genealogists. And I’d believe that! There’s lots of good content there. But I wouldn’t hand this book to my actual eleven year old kid.
That is how you interest a kid in genealogy. You know how you don’t interest a kid in genealogy? Detailed discussion of filing systems.
I cannot imagine handing this book to a kid and sparking an interest in genealogy. If I wanted to introduce a kid to genealogy, I would start with tangible projects and inviting trees to fill in. I’d talk about the importance of starting with yourself and your parents and your grandparents. I’d offer lots of guidance for interviewing relatives. I’d introduce the very basics of doing research with original documents. I’d talk about how to evaluate whether a source is reliable, or whether it’s more like gossip. I’d teach how important it is to keep track of which information came from which source. I’d tell snippets of cool stories that other kids have uncovered in their own research.
And all of that is in here, more or less, but it’s buried under pages and pages of minutiae that would be more appropriate for adult genealogists who already have a decent footing. Do children brand new to the concept of genealogy need to know about formal citations, the challenges of changing county borders, and the proper way to number an ahnentafel chart? No. No, they do not.
Just because the book is full of whimsical stock art and little text blurbs, it doesn’t mean it’s a good fit for kids. I’ve seen other reviewers say they found this book helpful as adult genealogists. And I’d believe that! There’s lots of good content there. But I wouldn’t hand this book to my actual eleven year old kid.
June 1, 2022
I debated on a 3* or 4* and gave it a 4 *.
I think this book is much too detailed for a child. I did get information for my research. Working with a child makes it a good reference book.
I do genealogy and for the NaNoWriMo April Camp, I chose to write a kid's book on genealogy. I do not expect to publish. Mine would bring it more to the level of a younger child and more personal research.
I got my copy from my library, but the cost is only $14.99 US.
Also check kids.nationalgeographic.com for photography.
I think this book is much too detailed for a child. I did get information for my research. Working with a child makes it a good reference book.
I do genealogy and for the NaNoWriMo April Camp, I chose to write a kid's book on genealogy. I do not expect to publish. Mine would bring it more to the level of a younger child and more personal research.
I got my copy from my library, but the cost is only $14.99 US.
Also check kids.nationalgeographic.com for photography.
February 3, 2020
This magazine has great illustrations and a perfect intro to Genealogy for a school age kid without getting too technical. I checked it out from the library and noticed that it also has some great reference lists for the grown ups. This magazine give a lot of information about Genealogy and also provides basic skills and knowledge.
May 5, 2019
Great illustrations and a perfect intro to Genealogy for a school age kid without getting too technical. I checked it out from the library but will be purchasing it for our home library. It also has some great reference lists for the grown ups.
July 30, 2018
This quality book is so good. It’s not just for kids. Adults starting out in genealogy can gain a lot of valuable insight from it.
August 13, 2021
I know it's for kids, but as someone who is newish to Genealogy this was very helpful. It was easy to read and understand. I liked how the book was divided up. I learned some interesting facts too.
March 22, 2024
4 1/2 stars
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews