There are three children’s stories I tell that are based on various ancestor’s lives. One thing that I always liked about telling the stories is the questions that children will ask.
The stories are kept simple, but details help to flesh things out. And while I make things up, I strive to be historically accurate without being tedious or pedantic–these are for children and not for academics looking to question a citation.
While telling the one set in 1820s Kentucky on a night when I was especially tired I added a bit of dialog/. I indicated (without thinking) that one character said to the other “Ok, let’s follow the trail in the snow.” As soon as I said it, I knew it was wrong.
Some of you will know what was wrong.
It was not the snow. The story was set in the winter time.
It’s “ok” if you don’t know what the issue is. It’s even more “ok” if you do.
This isn’t about the “ok.”
I’ve found that telling the stories serves two purposes for me as a genealogist. It has the potential to create an interest in family history in the future generation. It also has the ability to help with my actual research–for two reasons: trying to flesh out details and finding out answers to kid’s questions.
Kids do really ask the best questions.
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