Since we’re moving into American history for the upcoming school year, I was happy to review the Adventures of Rush Revere Book Series by Adventures of Rush Revere #1 New York Times Bestselling Book Series by Rush and Kathryn Adams Limbaugh.
Talk show host Rush Limbaugh, and his wife, wrote this series. The five books are meant to draw young learners into American history, and bring history to life. The books are well done, and were enjoyable to read. They feature beautiful covers and glossy pages.
A Brief Summary
Each book in the Adventures of Rush Revere Book Series focuses on a different event in history. The five books are:
- Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims
- Rush Revere and the First Patriots
- Rush Revere and the American Revolution
- Rush Revere and the Star-Spangled Banner
- Rush Revere and the Presidency
I was a bit confused by the premise of the books at first, because I found it a bit odd.
The fictional Rush Revere is substitute history teacher. His horse, Liberty, is special. Liberty can time travel to any point in American history. With Liberty, Rush can jump back in time and then return to the present.
While in the past, Revere plays the part of a person from that time period. He wears period clothing and interacts with real people from history to learn more about the events.
Once I got past the weirdness of that whole time jumping horse thing, I really enjoyed these books. The history presented wasn’t dry. The writing was well done and engaging.
As Rush Revere and his students (who accompanied him on his historical adventures) explored the past, they learned a lot about the people from history. I thought this section of the forward in book two summed it up nicely:
If it hadn’t been for these everyday people, people who faced difficult circumstances and overcame what seemed like overwhelming odds, transforming themselves into the leaders of their time, our country would not be the wonderful place it is today. We should never lose sight of this. These leaders took chances–great risks–and thought far beyond their own lives for the greater good of others.
This is the American spirit that we share with our ancestors.
Actual History
America was founded as a Judeo-Christian nation, despite the spin textbook writers and political leaders are trying to put on our past. I love that the actual history of our nation was shared in the pages of these books.
It was the history I learned when I was in school, and I appreciated that.
The men and women who worked hard to form this nation weren’t perfect. Some had slaves.
But, they did something tremendous. And we are doing our children a disservice if we throw out everything they did for our nation.
Reading Level
These books are meant for young learners, and I’d say they’re perfect for fourth and fifth graders. The chapters are a nice length for independent reading at this age.
There are also plenty of illustrations and extra content (a diagram of the Mayflower, a picture of the first political cartoon, etc.) to keep readers engaged.
How We Used the Books
I read through the books, so I’d have a better idea of how to use them with the kids. They were fairly quick reads.
As I read, I’d often stop and share an illustration or a quote with the kids. Sometimes I even laughed at the antics of Liberty. (She doesn’t just time travel, she can go invisible, and has an appetite like a…horse! :D)
Now, I’m using these as read alouds. With my younger crew, I’m only reading a chapter a day so it’ll take us a while to get through them. But, the kids are enjoying them. They’re also learning a lot about the history of our country.
I’m looking forward to continue to read these aloud as we dive into American history. As my younger crew gets older, I’m sure they’ll reread them on their own. These books are definitely sticking around!
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