Young Reader's Edition to Land of Hope (Volume 1)

This two-volume Young Reader’s Edition Land of Hope Text was written by Hillsdale College faculty member, Wilfred McClay, who’s passion for passing an accurate version of American history on to the next generation is evident. In a day when misinformation is everywhere, he takes a balanced approach. Delving into the struggles of our past, great accomplishments are celebrated –giving students many reasons to love and be proud of their country. But America’s faults (such as slavery) are also acknowledged, helping us learn important lessons from our past. Although intended for 5^th-8th grade students, these books are not an “easy read” and will be difficult for some at that level. They do make wonderful family read-alouds and a perfect history “spine” for adding onto, with other books & activities to bring the text to life. Volume 1 is focused on the shaping of a new nation, from 1492 -1877, and the people, ideas, and events that played a part. Volume 2 focuses on the making of modern America, from 1877- 2020. Textbooks are high quality with reinforced soft covers and a center section filled with glossy pictures to provide rich visual context for readers.

Beautiful, thick Volume 1 & 2 Student Workbooks correlate (chapter by chapter) with textbooks, allowing students to process and understand the readings on a deeper level. My favorite workbook feature is the alignment of primary source documents for each chapter, bringing voices from the past alive for the students through songs, letters, documents, and more. Answers to student questions & activities are found in the Volume 1 & 2 Teacher Guides which parallel student pages exactly with answers filled in on each page. Additional teacher tips encourage tailoring workbook resources to best fit a teacher’s classroom or individual setting. ~Nancie