History is an important subject for children, but it can be a challenge to spark their interests. Kids need to learn that there's more to learning the lessons of the past than just memorizing dates and geographical locations to pass a test. Many interesting and important happenings took place during America's short but exciting history, and by presenting these stories in different ways, more children are likely to find a love and interest in learning about the road paved by our forefathers.

I have to admit, history wasn't my favorite subject when I was young. Reading and memorizing passages from heavy textbooks didn't appeal to me until I was much older. And, while there's no disputing the necessity of textbook learning, I think it would have been more helpful for me if my teachers would have tried supplementing textbook lessons with other more enjoyable resources.

As a father of three boys, I know that sparking their individual interests and getting them excited about learning can be a challenge. I can't even imagine it on a scale of 20-30 different children from year to year. Still, I think academic education is a partnership between schools and parents, and I'm always on the lookout for new ways to help my kids learn outside of the classroom, too.

As a lifelong lover of comic books, I couldn't resist the American History Comic Books by Jack Silbert and Joseph D'agnese. They're playful, but educational, tools that my boys love to look at and read. They don't even know that they're learning while they're enjoying their comics. The book has 12 different historical stories included, all from the perspective of a time traveler who witnesses major events in American history. It's an awesome blend of education and light science fiction that really grabs my boys' attention.

Giving kids alternative ways to learn and explore history allows them to come to understanding and appreciation in ways that are more natural to them as individuals. Finding fun ways to teach them the important lessons from America's history can trigger interests that they might not find early in their educations.