The folks at Brimwood Press seem intent to demonstrate for the rest of us that history learning needn't be dull or relegated to textbooks. Calendar Quest is yet another tool they offer to help parents shape kids who are equipped to learn and think about history as Christians. Kids learn about the origins of the Gregorian Calendar through a science fiction-meets-historical fiction novel about two kids and their adventures with Father Time.
Lindsie's dad owns a bookshop, and he needs help for the holiday season so Lindsie's mom can take an accounting class. The man he hires is kind of cranky and very odd, but Lindsie and her friend Evan soon find there's more to Mr. S. Kronos than anyone could imagine. He drags them through five thousand years of history, introducing them to every king, pope and stargazer who had a hand in the creation of the modern calendar system.
Surprisingly well-written for a curriculum-based novel and in many places genuinely funny, Calendar Quest can be read on its own or as part of the What Every Child Needs to Know About Western Civilization course. A comprehension guide called Kenny's Kwiz helps younger readers internalize the information from the plot as well as the historical facts embedded in the narrative.
Kids are notoriously antsy when it comes to learning about history. Much of this can be attributed to a lack of instruction about how to study history, and this book goes a long way toward filling that gap. Kids learn the how and why behind our calendar, and soon navigating names and dates is a lot less tricky, and actually relates to what they know. Best used by elementary and middle school students, this book is highly recommended.
Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews
here.
Did you find this review helpful?