Kelsey Rae Dunckel - If Monuments Could Talk

Happy Wright Brothers Day (Dec. 17)! ✈️

📖 “Who Were the Wright Brothers?” (from the Who Was? series) tells the true story of Wilbur and Orville Wright—two brothers who loved to tinker, test ideas, and solve problems. Kids will learn how they went from curious kids (and even running a bike shop!) to experimenting with flying machines, facing setbacks, and eventually making the first successful powered flight.

Fun Facts about the Wright Brothers: ⭐️

✈️ They weren’t college scientists — they were self-taught inventors who ran a bicycle shop, and that work helped them understand balance, control, and mechanics (all key for flying).
✈️ They cracked the “control” problem first — before worrying about speed or power, they focused on how a pilot could steer and stay stable in the air. That’s a huge reason they succeeded when others struggled.
✈️ Their first powered flight was super short — on December 17, 1903, their first flight lasted only about 12 seconds and went roughly 120 feet… but it proved humans could fly under power and control.

📚 The Who Was? series is great because it turns real history into easy-to-read chapters, with simple explanations and illustrations that help kids stay engaged. It’s a perfect “first biography” series for kids who want to learn about real people and big moments in history—without it feeling like a textbook.

❓Question to ask your child: What would you invent if you could build anything?

Happy ! 🥾🌍

Carl Honoré’s Slow Adventures: Enjoy Every Moment whisks kids to trails across the world—Inca paths, canyon corridors, stone-circle strolls—but the real magic is this: you can slow-hike almost anywhere, including your own block. 🌻

Try these neighborhood hike ideas:

🥾 Instead of ancient paths, do a history hunt: look for old trees, plaques, or sidewalk dates. Get to know your neighborhood, town or city!
🥾 Instead of a canyon walk, do a sound safari: pause on a quiet street and list 5 sounds from near to far. What can you hear? What do you think the sounds are? Are they cars, trains, planes, birds, babies laughing?
🥾 Instead of a volcano trail, do a texture trail: collect different items and explore their textures—bark, brick, gravel—describe them with adjectives like “sharp”, “smooth”, or “bumpy”.
🥾 Instead of exploring the coast, as about the wind: feel the breeze and notice how leaves, flags, or hair move. Is it cold, wet, or warm?

Taking kid-friendly hikes can be interactive and engaging, even in your own neighborhood. Exploring the world outside your door is a sensory-oriented experience. ☀️

📖 Why this book works: although the hikes explored in this book are in far-off places, it inspires adventure and outdoor wonder in your own backyard. Hiking at nearby parks, schoolyards, even your sidewalk can spark joy and learning!