“Everybody knows it’s true that…”
Nope, they really don’t –
especially about early US history!

This large-format book begins by wondering “Where does history come from?” as it calls for readers to be historians and ask questions so they can better understand the past.

Fifteen myths – from the “empty” New World and Columbus to the Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving to the common (incorrect) belief that women, Black Americans, and Indigenous people didn’t participate in the Revolution – are questioned, each clarifying its events, identifying people and social trends, and leaving the reader with a final question to consider.

Unique is the page setup where “The Myth” is noted on a large flap covering part of the left page, with the myth’s origin on the inside of the flap and the true story told across the double-page spread. Several pages have a lift-the-flap True or False question, too.

Well-spaced blocks of text make it easy to dip into a myth and quickly encounter something interesting to consider. Many historical images are used as illustrations, collaged with vivid captions, painted cartoon people, clip art, teddy bears, and a dinosaur or two.

Readers of all ages will learn something new and begin to think more carefully before accepting any single history textbook paragraph as “the” truth.

What historical “fact” have you changed your mind about as you learned more?
**kmm

Book info: America’s Founding Myths…and What Really Happened! / Christy Mihaly; art by Marta Sevilla. Barefoot Books, 2026. [author site https://www.christymihaly.com/writing.html] [illustrator site https://www.martasevilla.es/books] [publisher site https://www.barefootbooks.com/americas-founding-myths] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher, via Publisher Spotlight.