National Geographic Kids Guide to Genealogy

by T.J. Resler

Overview

Inspired by the growing ancestry and DNA-testing crazes, this guide helps readers dig into the past and learn more about their own family history.

What does your family tree look like? Where do its roots lead? Are you related to royalty? Start your very own journey and find out with this activity-packed guide to genealogy! This lively guide will get you started on researching your family's past and let you in on the newest and most up-to-date technology for genealogy research. Get tips on how to interview family members, create a family tree, and much more. Fun facts, lists, and sidebars offer additional tips and bring the dusty past to vivid life!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781426329838
Publisher:	Disney Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/17/2018
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	408,205
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	960L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

T. J. RESLER is a former journalist and research analyst turned writer. With the curiosity of a journalist and the research chops of a Ph.D., she's tackled issues of science, health, human rights, the environment, and more in her writing. She is also the author of the How Things Work books for Nat Geo Kids.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Who Are You? 6

How to Use This Book 8

On the Move 10

Map of Earliest Human Migrations 12

Detective Work 14

Solving a Mystery 16

Kinds of Kin 18

Detective Techniques 20

Who, What, When, Where 22

Why and How 24

Research Roadblock: Where's Prussia? 26

Prove It! 28

Documentary Evidence 30

Test Your Detective Skills 32

Case Files: The First Americans 34

Tools of the Trade 36

Gear Up! 38

Preserve the Evidence 40

Keep Your Facts Straight 42

Picture This 44

Group Activity 46

Case Files: The Europeans Arrive 48

Case Files: Forced Migration 50

Beginning the Investigation 52

The Prime Suspect: You 54

Create a Timeline of Your Life 56

Super Sleuthing 58

Undercover Work 60

Research Roadblock: What's in a Name? 62

Break Through! 64

Hidden in Plain Sight 66

Make a Time Capsule 68

Interviewing Witnesses 70

Case Files: Coming to Both Coasts 72

Finding Clues 74

Hit the Books 76

Make Your Coat of Arms 78

Count on Counties 80

One-Stop Shopping 82

A Little Help, Please? 84

Research Roadblock: Why Don't the Facts Match Up? 86

Make and Keep a Journal 88

Case Files: Heading West 90

Hot on the Trail 92

Vitally Important! 94

Making Sense of the Census 96

Digging Deeper 98

Research Roadblock: What Does That Say? 100

More Than Just Population 102

Make a Board Game 104

Memory Lane 106

Wedding Bells 108

Aww, a Baby 110

Getting Down With Death 112

Start Growing Your Family Tree 114

Case Files: Flocking to U.S. Cities 116

Filling in the Blanks 118

Following Footsteps 120

Increase Your Cultural IQ 122

Put Together a Family Cookbook 124

Land Ho! 126

Uncle Sam Wants You! 128

Digging Into Daily Life 130

Time Travel 132

Trace Your Family's Journey 134

Research Roadblock: Vanished Without a Trace? 136

Case Files: The Great Migration 138

Into the Forensics Lab 140

Your Blueprint 142

Decoding Your DNA 144

Make Your Case 146

Organize a Family Reunion 148

Case Flies: Becoming More Diverse 150

Meet a Family Historian & Genealogist 152

Words Genealogists Need To Know 154

Find Out More 155

Index 156

Photo Credits 158

Acknowledgments & Credits 160

Editorial Reviews

04/30/2018
There are many approaches to tracing family lineage—particularly in the era of home DNA kits and genealogical search forums. Resler offers guidance to those looking to learn more about their roots, beginning with the basics and framing the quest for family history as a mystery to solve, with readers as the detectives. Resler includes charts that focus on research techniques, finding helpful resources, documenting and citing evidence, and determining reliability of information. Sections titled “Case Files” feature historical perspectives on periods of American immigration that give readers a broad perspective on the diverse genetic makeup of the country. Sidebars provide links to online archives, databases, and directories and sections are devoted to helping readers overcome “Research Roadblocks.” Resler introduces a host of research skills for use in genealogical searches and beyond. Ages 8–12. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

★ 03/01/2018
Gr 5 Up—This comprehensive guide recognizes that there is no "typical" family structure and emphasizes that family is not just about bloodlines. With a theme of the United States as an immigrant nation, this title suggests genealogists are detectives, gathering, evaluating, and documenting evidence. It offers many useful examples, including how to cite evidence, and points out the tools needed. Resler offers suggestions on how to tackle research difficulties, such as geographical boundary changes. Readers will also learn the value of original and derivative sources. There is even a section on deep ancestry. The colorful layout includes plenty of fun facts, bulleted clues, and examples of research roadblocks, with solutions, case files, and activities. This volume expertly identifies libraries, historical societies, and other organizations of value to genealogists. It also establishes the crucial role of librarians and archivists and stresses the importance of how one's own life shapes history. VERDICT Highly recommended for young people interested in genealogy.—Lisa Gieskes, Richland County Public Library, Columbia, SC

School Library Journal

2018-01-25
This guide to the various components of researching family history provides helpful hints for young genealogists.Interest in family research continues across ages, and this volume explores all aspects in great detail. It begins by pointing out that all humankind began in the same place—eastern Africa—and shares what scholars believe about how various groups spread throughout the world. From then on, personal genealogy is approached as a mystery to be solved, a strategy designed to engage its target audience. The recognition that there are many types of families is a critical part of the text. All kinds of threads are explored, from documentary evidence to family stories, with suggestions on how to evaluate them. Each topic is fully described. For example, in addition to addressing how to use census data, the book discusses the origins of the census and the parts that are relevant to family research. The section on DNA is brief but gives scientific perspective. Very little is left to chance, including how to store, preserve, and retrieve the accumulated data. The narrative is inviting and lively in tone, but it doesn't shy away from potential difficulties. It is richly illustrated in full color with sidebars to provide additional information, though some pages feel too full to digest. Diversity is woven throughout the text, illustrations, sidebars, and graphics. A thorough and comprehensive treatment of the subject. (glossary, further resources, index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews

The colorful layout includes plenty of fun facts, bulleted clues, and examples of research roadblocks, with solutions, case files, and activities. This volume expertly identifies libraries, historical societies, and other organizations of value to genealogists. It also establishes the crucial role of librarians and archivists and stresses the importance of how one’s own life shapes history. VERDICT Highly recommended for young people interested in genealogy.”—School Library Journal



.

From the Publisher