Teens as Museum Learners

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 258 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (68 download)

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Book Synopsis Teens as Museum Learners by : Lauren V. Yockel

Download or read book Teens as Museum Learners written by Lauren V. Yockel and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In museum education, learning is often understood as a process by which visitors construct their own understanding or meaning through interactions with objects. This thesis describes the meanings that high school students attribute to their overall museum visit and to specific works of art encountered on docent-led tours. Over the past two decades, museum educators have purposefully sought a greater understanding of how learning occurs in the museum and a transformation in the museum's relationship with teenagers. Despite the progress made through these initiatives, many museums have not fully considered the learning experiences of their high school student visitors. To move towards an understanding of these experiences, this thesis investigated three questions. What occurs when students make meaning of artworks as a result of their participation in single-visit, docent-led tours? Are students forming personal meaning as a result of connections between their lived experience and artworks? Do students consider their museum experience and/or specific artworks to be personally meaningful? Working with an encyclopedic art museum and three high schools, I implemented an action research project in two phases. First, I observed docent-led tours and interviewed three volunteer docents at the museum. Next, utilizing a case study approach to each school, I studied the museum visit experiences of 73 high school students. Each case study utilized the following data collection methods: (a) written questionnaire, (b) collage-making activity within one week of the tours, and (c) short interviews with a subset of students two months later. These methods provided students with multiple opportunities to reflect on their museum visit and various means (written, visual, and verbal) of expressing their ideas. In my early research, I discovered that the docent participants believe in the potential for students to form personal meaning, but they lack the means to verify whether or not this occurs on their tours--the same difficulty I had in observing tours. In working with students, I heard many narratives of personal meaning and observed students forming meaning with each opportunity they had to reflect on their museum visit. Moreover, the students who did form personal meaning often made sense of artworks in relation to their self-identity and general life experience. In conclusion, I consider how museum and school educators can work together to extend students' meaning making opportunities and how museum education could benefit from research and evaluation that is grounded directly in student experience.

The Manual of Museum Learning

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Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN 13 : 1442258489
Total Pages : 287 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (422 download)

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Book Synopsis The Manual of Museum Learning by : Brad King

Download or read book The Manual of Museum Learning written by Brad King and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2015-12-15 with total page 287 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Museum learning is a vital component of the lifelong-learning process. In this new edition of The Manual of Museum Learning, leading museum education professionals offer practical advice for creating successful learning experiences in museums and related institutions (such as galleries, zoos, and botanic gardens) that can attract and intrigue diverse audiences. The original Manual of Museum Learning was published in 2007. The editors have totally rethought this new edition. This second edition focuses on the ways museum staffs (and the departments for which they work) can facilitate the experience in a way that capitalizes on their individual institutional strengths. The goal of this new edition is to provide museums with guidance in developing a strategic approach to their learning programs. There is a close connection between institution-wide strategic planning – where an institution decides what course and direction it will take for a five to seven-year period – and its approach to museum learning. One size does not fit all, and what each museum is (or aspires to be) will affect its individual approach. Thus there are many routes for museums to take, many alternative ways for them to play this role. No one museum can be all things to all prospective learners; they will be better suited to some approaches than to others. This new edition identifies these approaches and enables museums to find the paths for which they are individually best suited, to help them identify their own unique approaches to facilitating museum learning. Each one’s mission and vision, its relationships with institutional and public stakeholders, local cultural and market factors, its individual collection and programmatic strengths, its financial position – all of these things matter. This second edition aims to help each museum find the right approach to learning for its unique situation by showing them the range of museum “personalities” in terms of their being learning institutions, what constitutes each type, and what the implications are of choosing one or another approach for a particular museum. A major theme of the 2nd edition of The Manual of Museum Learning is museum as connector; the ways in which museums are facilitating self-directed learning by connecting people with resources. Not all will connect audiences with learning vehicles in the same way. If museum learning is affective learning, then it is the role of the museum to connect its visitors, program participants and others who benefit from its knowledge to the learning resources that best suit the institution’s strengths and matches them to the learning needs of the museum’s audiences. By connecting users to the resources they are most interested in, or which best suit each individual’s particular learning styles, museums are at their best when they empower individuals to design their own learning experience in ways that resonate best with each individual.

Connecting Kids to History with Museum Exhibitions

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Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1315431874
Total Pages : 333 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (154 download)

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Book Synopsis Connecting Kids to History with Museum Exhibitions by : D Lynn McRainey

Download or read book Connecting Kids to History with Museum Exhibitions written by D Lynn McRainey and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-09-16 with total page 333 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Kids have profound and important relationships to the past, but they don't experience history in the same way as adults. For museum professionals and everyone involved in informal history education and exhibition design, this book is the essential new guide to creating meaningful and memorable connections to the past for children. This vital museum audience possesses many of the same dynamic qualities as trained historian—curiosity, inquiry, empathy for the human experience—yet traditional history exhibitions tend to focus on passive looking in the galleries, giving priority to relaying information through words. D. Lynn McRainey and John Russick bring together top museum professionals to present state-of-the-art research and practice that respects and incorporates kids' developmental stages and learning preferences and the specific ways in which kids connect to history. They provide concrete tools for audience research and evaluation; exhibition development and design; and working with kids as "creative consultants." The only book to focus comprehensively on history exhibits for kids, Connecting Kids to History With Museum Exhibitions shows how to enhance the experiences of a vitally important but frequently the least understood museum audience.

If They're Going to Tell Me what to See, What's the Point?

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 430 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (432 download)

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Book Synopsis If They're Going to Tell Me what to See, What's the Point? by : Heather Dexter Havenga Chelmecki

Download or read book If They're Going to Tell Me what to See, What's the Point? written by Heather Dexter Havenga Chelmecki and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 430 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: My research considers the art museum as an environment for provoking adolescent students to participate in the production of meaning. The urban teen audience is often unaddressed by the art museum, an institution that prides itself on preserving and displaying famous and historical works of art. My participatory action research project explores pedagogical conditions, in both the museum and the classroom, which invite the teen audience to engage in critical and personal art interpretation. Three questions are central to my research: (1) What occurs when a group of urban high school students experience a collaboratively developed language arts based art interpretation curriculum? (2) What kinds of interpretive tools personally engage high school students in the museum setting? (3) What pedagogical classroom conditions invite teens to critically interpret art? I conducted my research with one high school teacher and his class of fifteen high school juniors in an urban, inner-city location. I designed a museum art interpretation curriculum that was integrated on a weekly basis in the students' language and composition class. Teen participants were invited to experience art in the museum setting through docent-led tours and open-ended student exploration. In the classroom, students engaged in the process of art interpretation, looked at the kinds of interpretive tools museums employ, composed writing, and produced culminating podcasts that narrate their encounters with works of art from the Art Institute of Chicago's collection. These podcasts were presented at the museum to an audience of peers, parents, and educators. The students' narratives of museum art interpretation are an important source of data for my research. I use this data to analyze instances when the teen's narratives suggest their engagements with and resistance to critical thinking. I pay close attention to 5 learning moments that provide evidence of students' shifting perceptions about art and art museums. I also concentrate on instances during my attempt to integrate art into a language arts curriculum that strengthen and inhibit teen art interpretation. My thesis concludes with recommendations for museum and classroom educators who share my goal of engaging a teen audience in art interpretation activities that connect with and support other content areas within a high school curriculum.

The Design of Children's Technology

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Publisher : Morgan Kaufmann
ISBN 13 : 9781558605077
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (5 download)

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Book Synopsis The Design of Children's Technology by : Allison Druin

Download or read book The Design of Children's Technology written by Allison Druin and published by Morgan Kaufmann. This book was released on 1999 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Compiled by a leading authority in the field of children's technology, this book brings together current discussions of how and why new technologies are being designed. It presents innovative methods, techniques, and ideas, making this a unique resource for developers of children's software, hardware, and multimedia products; graphic/human interface designers; and university faculty doing research in the area of children and technology. * Case studies, commercial products, and academic research projects * Overview of present and future trends in computer technologies for children * Design practices from university and industry researchers that can aid readers in developing their own approaches to creating and using computer technologies for children

Increasing Access in Art Museums: Teen Programming for English Language Learners

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (992 download)

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Book Synopsis Increasing Access in Art Museums: Teen Programming for English Language Learners by : Lindsey C Stoll

Download or read book Increasing Access in Art Museums: Teen Programming for English Language Learners written by Lindsey C Stoll and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The following paper discusses the need to increase access for English Language Learners (ELLs) and recent immigrant teens in contemporary art museums through the implementation of participatory programming. This capstone project proposes a teen council program for English Language Learners and recent immigrants at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco, CA, and was created with the following goals in mind: (1) to increase access for ELL and recent immigrant teens in art museums, (2) to increase participatory programming for ELL and recent immigrant teens, and (3) to foster meaningful relationships between ELL and recent immigrant teens and museums. The paper discusses the previous research conducted on this topic, proposes a teen council program for the Contemporary Jewish Museum, and offers an action plan describing the tasks, milestones, goals, and other logistics needed to successfully implement the program. This project seeks to use museum education as a way to make art museums a more inclusive, equal, and relevant space for diverse audiences by providing relevant, meaningful, and creative programming.

Balancing Act

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Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1481420518
Total Pages : 15 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (814 download)

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Book Synopsis Balancing Act by : Ellen Stoll Walsh

Download or read book Balancing Act written by Ellen Stoll Walsh and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2015-02-10 with total page 15 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Two mice have fun playing on a teeter-totter, but as more and larger friends join them, it becomes increasingly difficult to stay balanced.

Interpreting Slavery with Children and Teens at Museums and Historic Sites

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Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN 13 : 1538100711
Total Pages : 163 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (381 download)

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Book Synopsis Interpreting Slavery with Children and Teens at Museums and Historic Sites by : Kristin L. Gallas

Download or read book Interpreting Slavery with Children and Teens at Museums and Historic Sites written by Kristin L. Gallas and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2021-09-26 with total page 163 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Interpreting Slavery with Children and Teens offers advice, examples, and replicable practices for the comprehensive development and implementation of slavery-related school and family programs at museums and historic sites. Developing successful experiences—school programs, field trips, family tours—about slavery is more than just historical research and some hands-on activities. Interpreting the history of slavery often requires offering students new historical narratives and helping them to navigate the emotions that arise when new narratives conflict with longstanding beliefs. We must talk with young people about slavery and race, as it is not enough to just talk to them or about the subject. By engaging students in dialogue about slavery and race, they bring their prior knowledge, scaffold new knowledge, and create their own relevance—all while adults hear them and show respect for what they have to say. The book’s framework aims to move the field forward in its collective conversation about the interpretation of slavery with young audiences, acknowledging the criticism of the past and acting in the present to develop inclusive interpretation of slavery. When an organization commits to doing school and family programs on the topic of slavery, it makes a promise to past and future generations to keep alive the memory of long-silenced millions and to raise awareness of the racist legacies of slavery in our society today.

An Introduction to Art

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Publisher : Yale University Press
ISBN 13 : 0300247133
Total Pages : 346 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (2 download)

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Book Synopsis An Introduction to Art by : Charles Harrison

Download or read book An Introduction to Art written by Charles Harrison and published by Yale University Press. This book was released on 2020-03-10 with total page 346 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: At once engaging, personal, and analytical, this book provides the intellectual resources for the critical understanding of art Charles Harrison’s landmark book offers an original, clear, and wide-ranging introduction to the arts of painting and sculpture, to the principal artistic print media, and to the visual arts of modernism and post-modernism. Covering the entire history of art, from Paleolithic cave painting to contemporary art, it provides foundational guidance on the basic character and techniques of the different art forms, on the various genres of painting in the Western tradition, and on the techniques of sculpture as they have been practiced over several millennia and across a wide range of cultures. Throughout the book, Harrison discusses the relative priorities of aesthetic appreciation and historical inquiry, and the importance of combining the two approaches. Written in a style that is at once graceful, engaging, and personal, as well as analytical and exact, this illuminating book offers an impassioned and timely defense of the importance and value of the firsthand encounter with works of art, whether in museums or in their original locations.

Perspectives on Object-Centered Learning in Museums

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Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1135645280
Total Pages : 376 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (356 download)

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Book Synopsis Perspectives on Object-Centered Learning in Museums by : Scott G. Paris

Download or read book Perspectives on Object-Centered Learning in Museums written by Scott G. Paris and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2002-04 with total page 376 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The goal of this book is to cull from the last NSF conference, the "best ideas about how children interact with objects & through that interaction acquire new understandings, attitudes, and feelings."

A Roman Dinner

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 100 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (89 download)

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Book Synopsis A Roman Dinner by : Alpha Mu Pi Omega. Milwaukee Chapter

Download or read book A Roman Dinner written by Alpha Mu Pi Omega. Milwaukee Chapter and published by . This book was released on 1900 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Museum Trip

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Publisher : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN 13 : 0547348592
Total Pages : 45 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (473 download)

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Book Synopsis Museum Trip by : Barbara Lehman

Download or read book Museum Trip written by Barbara Lehman and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This book was released on 2006-05-22 with total page 45 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Museums: filled with mysterious, magical art and curiosities? Or secrets? And what might happen if a boy suddenly became part of one of the mind-bending exhibits? Join the fun in Museum Trip, by Barbara Lehman, the author-illustrator of the Caldecott Honor–winning The Red Book.

Collage Workshop for Kids

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Publisher : Quarry Books
ISBN 13 : 1631595202
Total Pages : 155 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (315 download)

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Book Synopsis Collage Workshop for Kids by : Shannon Merenstein

Download or read book Collage Workshop for Kids written by Shannon Merenstein and published by Quarry Books. This book was released on 2018-10-30 with total page 155 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Be inspired and delighted by Collage Workshop for Kids, a colorful art instruction book on collage techniques for children—made in cooperation with The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. Collage Workshop for Kids pairs essays by educators from The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art with instructions on collage technique. Chapters explore favorite art themes for kids and demonstrate how to work with colored tissue paper, newspaper, fabric and buttons, painted paper, torn paper, and more. In each chapter, Reggio-inspired author and teacher Shannon Merenstein explores each technique with original ideas. Members of the museum's education staff offer expert advice on creating art with children. Everything you need to know about collage is in this book, making it a great reference for teachers, librarians, and parents.

Learning from Museums

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Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN 13 : 1442276002
Total Pages : 295 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (422 download)

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Book Synopsis Learning from Museums by : John H. Falk

Download or read book Learning from Museums written by John H. Falk and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2018-10-16 with total page 295 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the second edition ofJohn H. Falk and Lynn D. Dierking’s ground-breaking book, Learning from Museums. While the book still focuses on why, how, what, when, and with whom, people learn from their museum experiences, the authors further investigate the extension of museums beyond their walls and the changing perceptions of the roles that museums increasingly play in the 21st century with respect to the publics they serve (and those they would like to serve). This new edition offers an updated and synthesized version of the Contextual Model of Learning, as well as the latest advances in free-choice learning research, theory and practice, in order to provide readers a highly readable and informative understanding of the personal, sociocultural and physical dimensions of the museum experience. Falk and Dierking also fill in gaps in the 1st edition. Falk’s research focuses increasingly on the self-related needs that museums meet, and these findings enhance the personal context chapter. Dierking’s work delves deeply into the macro-sociocultural dimensions of learning, a topic not discussed in the sociocultural chapter in the first edition. Emphasizing the importance of time (and space), the second edition adds an entirely new chapter to describe the important dimension of time. They also insert findings from the burgeoning field of neuroscience. Latter chapters of the book discuss the evolving role of museums in the rapidly changing Information /Learning Society of the 21st century. New examples and suggestions highlight the ways that the new understandings of learning can help museum practitioners reinvent how museums can and should support the public’s lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning.

Museum Education for Today's Audiences

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Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN 13 : 1538148617
Total Pages : 350 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (381 download)

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Book Synopsis Museum Education for Today's Audiences by : Jason L. Porter

Download or read book Museum Education for Today's Audiences written by Jason L. Porter and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2022-02-15 with total page 350 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Today’s museum educators are tackling urgent social issues, addressing historic inequalities of museum collections, innovating for accessibility, leveraging technology for new in-person and virtual learning experiences, and cultivating partnerships with schools, businesses, elders, scientists, and other social services to build relationships and be of service to their communities. Despite the physical distance the pandemic placed between museums and their visitors, museum educators have remained essential -- sustaining connections with the public through virtual or modified programming, content development, and conversations that they are uniquely qualified to execute. Educators require updated resources to guide their efforts in navigating these new challenges and building upon the opportunities presented by current events and changing audiences. This book and its accompanying on-line resource share lessons from innovators in the field to support ongoing professional development efforts with essays about current issues. Additionally, it provides new models and tools to guide individual or group reflection on how today’s museum educators can adapt and thrive in a dynamic and ever-changing cultural sector. The additional resources include discussion prompts and adaptable templates to allow readers to customize the content based on current events, institutional discipline, size, budget, and staffing scenario of their organization. The book’s essays are divided into three sections: Changing expectations of visitors - inclusion, participation, and technology Training and preparation for responsive, resourceful educators Models for the future While a book can share ideas in the hope of inspiring change, the accompanying online resource (www.EvolveMuseumEd.com) provides a more flexible and responsive forum for sharing ongoing and evolving resources to encourage professional development for museum educators as they respond to the changing needs of today’s audiences.

Different--A Great Thing to Be!

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Publisher : WaterBrook
ISBN 13 : 0593232658
Total Pages : 40 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (932 download)

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Book Synopsis Different--A Great Thing to Be! by : Heather Avis

Download or read book Different--A Great Thing to Be! written by Heather Avis and published by WaterBrook. This book was released on 2021-06-29 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • This joyful rhyming book encourages children to value the “different” in all people, leading the way to a kinder world in which the differences in all of us are celebrated and embraced. Macy is a girl who’s a lot like you and me, but she's also quite different, which is a great thing to be. With kindness, grace, and bravery, Macy finds her place in the world, bringing beauty and laughter wherever she goes and leading others to find delight in the unique design of every person. Children are naturally aware of the differences they encounter at school, in their neighborhood, and in other everyday relationships. They just need to be given tools to understand and appreciate what makes us “different,” permission to ask questions about it, and eyes to see and celebrate it in themselves as well as in those around them.

Abigail and John

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Publisher : Liberty Bell Press
ISBN 13 : 9781948496025
Total Pages : 48 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (96 download)

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Book Synopsis Abigail and John by : David Bruce Smith

Download or read book Abigail and John written by David Bruce Smith and published by Liberty Bell Press. This book was released on 2019-10-22 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From David Bruce Smith, author of American Hero: John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States, and his mother Clarice Smith, world renowned artist, comes this compelling and insightful historical biography of Abigail and John Adams. This unique nonfiction children’s book tells the story of one of America’s most-treasured couples alongside stunning and original illustrations. Abigail and John presents readers the opportunity to view prominent scenes in American history through the remarkable lives of one of the country’s most beloved couples—the Adamses. Exploring the historical significance of a partnership that spanned over five decades, Abigail and John details the love they shared for each other and the country. From carefree childhoods to years of war, to the births of their children, and the beginning of a new nation, Abigail and Johnlooks into the unique roles the Adamses played in the formation of America, and contributions and sacrifices they made for the young country. Praise Abigail & John “Abigail & John invites young readers into the partnership of America's second president John Adams, and his wife and closest advisor, Abigail Smith Adams. David Bruce Smith's fresh take on these well-known historical figures, animated by Clarice Smith's charming illustrations, is sure to give students new insights into the early years of our country's history.” ~ Margot Lee Shetterly, Bestselling author of Hidden Figures: The Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race “Abigail & John delivers a charming portrait of a love story that bloomed in the midst of a revolution, a partnership that gave America two of its first six presidents – John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams. Their joint journey, described in more than a thousand letters they exchanged, is an exciting and timeless tale.” ~ David O. Stewart, Bestselling author of The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution Abigail & John teaches young readers not only historical facts but introduces them to the strong union and lasting bond between John and Abigail Adams and how it shaped our new nation. An excellent addition to any library. – Trinka Hakes Noble, Bestselling author and illustrator of American history books for young readers “Abigail & John is a wonderful addition to the literature on our early American history for our young readers. Engagingly written, brilliantly illustrated, it should be “must read” for every school child. I’m sure teachers across America will welcome it as a new, handsome resource for their classrooms.” ~ Alex Nyrges Director & CEO Virginia Museum of Fine Arts “Children and adults alike will cherish the wonderfully illustrated true story of love and enduring strength as Abigail and John Adams—in what was surely a partnership of equals—overcome daunting challenges and together change the world. An exciting start to what promises to be a brilliant series.” ~ Ed Lengel, Bestselling author of General George Washington "This is a beautifully told love story of one of the earliest power couples in American history. The story and the illustrations will appeal to readers of all ages with a nod to graphic novels. Abigail & John is a well needed positive American history primer using excerpts from the couple’s correspondence. The nuanced language and setting used to convey the story acknowledges a sophisticated reader of any age. The illustrations by renowned artist Clarice Smith enhance the story with a dynamic quality of movement. The images are beautifully aligned with the story making it visually stunning. This book demonstrates the importance of art in telling the story and both artist and author have set the bar high.” ~ Neme Alperstein, Library of Congress Teaching With Primary Sources Mentor “Abigail & John is a heart-warming yet honest account of America's most celebrated founding couple. With charming illustrations that bring Abigail and John Adams' partnership to life, and beautifully-written text that engages equally well when read aloud as when read silently, this highly-informative history of early America will be treasured by children and parents alike”. ~ Louise Mirrer, Ph.D., President & CEO, New-York Historical Society Louise Mirrer, Ph.D. President and CEO New York Historical Society “Abigail & John invites young readers to meet a couple that was both extraordinary and ahead of their time, yet flawed and prone to individual struggles as we humans all are. The vignettes throughout the book weave together personal and global events, enriched with original art.” ~ Erin Carlson Mast CEO & Executive Director, Lincoln Cottage. "What a lovely, humanizing dual-biography of these revered founding mother and father. Abigail and John are true equals in this narrative, gifting readers a wonderful introduction and inspiring summary of their joint efforts and sacrifices for their new democracy, their affection and support for one another. The illustrations are works-of-art - inviting, evocative --beautiful punctuations to each life stage described in the text and the perfect complement to the book's presentation of the Adamses as the living, breathing, and extraordinarily strong human beings they were." ~ L.M Elliott, bestselling author of Give Me Liberty, Hamilton and Peggy and Under the War Torn Sky “As the leader of an organization committed to advancing lifelong learning in history, I am delighted that David Bruce Smith and Clarice Smith have created this vitally important, beautiful, and compelling nonfiction resource for young people. They have made history, and women’s history, come to life!” ~ Phoebe Stein, Executive Director, Maryland Humanities "What a gift David Bruce Smith and Clarice Smith’s Abigail & John is to our families, kids and parents alike. In their graceful hands, words and illustrations tell such a compelling story about one of our nation’s original power couples. With prose that approaches the poetic and lines and color that elevate those words these masterful storytellers leave us grateful for the reawakening of this important part of our history. Two thumbs up from this fan!" ~ Edgar Dobie, Executive Producer and President of Arena Stage "For David Bruce Smith it is a matter of utmost urgency that all Americans understand the story of our nation and how the lessons of that history can lead us to greater justice and human flourishing. The late Bruce Cole, who was David Bruce Smith’s close colleague and collaborator, used to warn the nation against historical amnesia: books like Abigail and John give us good reason to hope that the rising new generation of citizens will be dedicated to building an even brighter future for America. This volume, engagingly illustrated by Clarice Smith, is the first in the Grateful American Book Series, an initiative for which we should all be thankful. ~ Michael B. Poliakoff, Ph.D. is the president of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni “Exquisite illustrations, coupled with compelling prose, offer readers of Abigail and John a rich and moving journey into the personal and political lives of America’s first power couple. Young readers will be captivated by Clarice Smith’s artistry and David’s Smith graceful writing. How the intimate feelings of affection between Adams’s animated their politics is powerful story that is conveyed brilliantly by the Smiths. Abigail and John is a triumph.” ~ Peter S. Carmichael, Fluhrer Professor of History, Gettysburg College. “David Bruce Smith has captured the special relationship between John and Abigail Adams and their part in forming a nation in a way that kids will both understand and enjoy. A great read for young and old alike.” ~ Chris Stevenson, Author of Gabriel Cooper and the Drum of Destiny “Too often we look on the American Founders as icons, statue-like figures whose world-historical greatness raises them above the status of mere mortals. When we do this, we forget their humanity. No one who reads Abigail & John will make that mistake, however. Here we are permitted to see the two Adamses as real people, full and equal partners in one of the great marriages in American history, a marriage that carried through all the most critical events in early United States history, without ever losing any of its intimacy and joy. Truly a book to be grateful for.” ~ Dr. Wilfred M. McClay, G.T. and Libby Blankenship Chair in the History of Liberty, University of Oklahoma “David Bruce Smith and Clarice Smith have collaborated beautifully on a radical, yet long overdue, concept for historical works; that success is often the product of a couple and not solely the male partner’s accomplishment. Young readers will be treated to a rich narrative of the union between Abigail and John Adams told through easily readable prose and inviting illustrations”. ~ Rabbi Mitchel Malkus, Ed.D. | Head of School Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School