By Joyce Melton Pag s, Ed. More than Anything Else by Marie Bradby Parents and teachers are always looking for strategies to help children resist peer pressure, motivate independent reading, and make history interesting and meaningful. Believe it or not, biographies can help with all of these challenges. History comes alive when children see the human side that is reflected in biographies. The setting and characters provide a context for understanding historical events.
Many children enjoy reading about real people.
Many children are motivated to read about heroes that they find interesting. Virtues such as persistence, perseverance, honesty, respect for others, standing up for what you believe in, etc. are often shown in biographies. Biographies can show children how subjects handled the pressure of peers and society. Biographies show how people adhere to their beliefs and become change agents in their attempt to make the world a better place. They make scientific discoveries, create new art, effect social change, serve humanitarian causes, and make a difference in the lives of others in numerous ways.