Our drive to Michigan is 15 hours, one way. We usually split the drive into two days (10 hours on the first, five on the second), and this year, our 10-hour return leg fell on Independence Day. It couldn’t be helped, but it wasn’t exactly the most festive way to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. To kill some time and celebrate in a road trip-ready way, John did a very John thing: he used Claude to create an America-themed family trivia game.
I haven’t used Claude much, and so was surprised by, and impressed with, the fancy packaging it created for the game. The questions it came up with were also pretty good, but I edited them to be even better — and added a patriotic song in between each round. The resulting trivia game and singalong kept us occupied for a good two hours in the car, and even though our semiquincentennial has passed, I wanted to offer it to you! Save it for your next road trip, save it for America’s 251st birthday, or do it around the table tonight.
We made this to fit our family exactly (with questions aimed at a 4-year-old, an 8-year-old, a 10-year-old, and an adult), but feel free to flex it depending on your kids and their exposure to history. And also, don’t worry if your kids don’t know all the answers — ours definitely didn’t. These are things we think are worth knowing, though, and a trivia game was a fun way to pass them along.
I’ve included the questions below in plain text, as well as the intra-round song suggestions. The link to a playlist with all the songs mentioned is here and the interactive Claude game is here! (Hopefully it works!)
Round 1:
4yo: What three colors are on the American flag? Red, white, and blue 8yo: How many stars are on the American flag, and what do they represent? 50, the current 50 states 10yo: How many stripes are on the American flag, and what do they represent? 13, the original 13 colonies Adult: Who is traditionally credited with sewing the first American flag? Betsy Ross
Song: “You’re a Grand Old Flag”
Round 2:
4yo: In what year did the US declare independence? 1776 8yo: What document officially declared the colonies free from Britain? The Declaration Of Independence 10yo: Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence? Thomas Jefferson Adult: Which Enlightenment philosopher’s ideas on natural rights most directly shaped the Declaration’s opening arguments? John Locke (shout-out to my fellow Lost fans)
Song: “This Land is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie
Round 3:
4yo: What country did America gain its freedom from? England (or Great Britain) 8yo: What event involved colonists dumping tea into Boston Harbor to protest a tax? The Boston Tea Party 10yo: What famous phrase summed up colonists’ anger about being taxed without a voice in Parliament? “No taxation without representation” Adult: Who was the ruler of Great Britain at the time of the American Revolution? King George III
Song: “You’ll Be Back” by Jonathan Groff from Hamilton
Round 4:
4yo: Who do we call the brave people who fought for America’s freedom? Patriots (or soldiers) 8yo: Who was the general who led the Continental Army? George Washington 10yo: What do we call the colonists who sided with the British? Loyalists Adult: What two Massachusetts towns were the sights of the first battles of the Revolutionary War? Lexington and Concord
Song: “Battle Hymn of the Republic” (traditional, also a very cool version by Jon Batiste)
Round 5:
4yo: What do we see light up the sky at night on July 4th? Fireworks 8yo: What war was fought to win American Independence? The American Revolutionary War 10yo: Who was the nighttime rider who warned everyone “the British are coming”? Paul Revere Adult: What famous phrase describes the first shot fired at Lexington and Concord? “The shot heard round the world.”
Song: “Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Philip Sousa
Round 6:
4yo: What bird is America’s national symbol? The bald eagle 8yo: Finish the phrase: “Life, liberty, and ____.” The pursuit of happiness 10yo: What is the term for rights that people are born with, which no government can take away? Natural rights, or unalienable rights Adult: According to the Declaration, from where do governments derive their “just powers”? “The consent of the governed.”
Song: “God Bless America” by Kate Smith
Round 7:
4yo: True or false: One person signed their name to the Declaration of Independence. False 8yo: How many people signed the Declaration of Independence? 56 10yo: Name three signers of the Declaration of Independence. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, John Hancock, etc. Adult: Complete the famous line: “We hold these truths to be ___…” “Self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” (As much as you can!)
Song: “My Country, ’Tis of Thee” by Aretha Franklin
Round 8:
4yo: Who was the very first president of the United States? George Washington 8yo: Which Founder was a famous inventor, printer, and America’s first Postmaster General? Benjamin Franklin 10yo: Who wrote the words to our national anthem? Francis Scott Key Adult: Name one (or more) of the three authors of the Federalist Papers. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay
Song: “Alexander Hamilton” by Lin-Manuel Miranda and cast from Hamilton
Round 9:
4yo: What is the name of the President’s house? The White House 8yo: What famous document starts with the words “We the People”? The United States Constitution 10yo: In what city was the Constitution written? Philadelphia Adult: In what year was the Constitution signed? 1787
Song: “The Preamble” by Schoolhouse Rock (had to find this on YouTube; not on Spotify)
Round 10:
4yo: What is the name of the character with a white beard, top hat, and striped pants who represents America? Uncle Sam 8yo: What are the first ten amendments to the Constitution called, as a group? The Bill of Rights 10yo: Which amendment protects freedom of speech, religion, and the press? The First Amendment Adult: Who is often called the “Father of the Constitution” and helped draft the Bill of Rights? James Madison
Song: “America the Beautiful” by Ray Charles
Round 11:
4yo: What is the name of our country’s national anthem? The Star-Spangled Banner 8yo: What do we call the famous bell that stands for freedom? The Liberty Bell 10yo: In what city can you visit the Liberty Bell today? Philadelphia Adult: What building did the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution both get signed in? Independence Hall
Song: “One Last Time” by Christopher Jackson from Hamilton
Round 12:
4yo: What do we call the leader of our country? The President 8yo: Name one (or more) of the three branches of the U.S. government. Executive, judicial, legislative 10yo: Name the two bodies in Congress. The Senate and the House of Representatives Adult: What system keeps any one branch of government from becoming too powerful? Checks and balances
Song: “Yankee Doodle Dandy” by Gene Autry
Round 13:
4yo: What color is the Statue of Liberty? Green-blue 8yo: Which country gave the Statue of Liberty to America, as a gift celebrating friendship and freedom? France 10yo: Name one of the Founding Fathers who served as Ambassador to France. Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, or James Monroe Adult:Which French figure played a key role in the Continental Army and American Revolution? The Marquis de Lafayette
Song: The Armed Forces Medley by the United States Army Field Band
Round 14:
4yo: What is the capital city of the United States? Washington, D.C. 8yo: True or false: Abraham Lincoln was a Founding Father. False 10yo: What’s the nickname for the American flag? Old Glory Adult: In which city was the Declaration of Independence signed? Philadelphia, PA
Song: “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver
Round 15:
4yo: What do we call the day America celebrates being born as a free country? Independence Day 8yo: How many years of independence did the U.S. celebrate on July 4, 2026? 250 10yo: Which four presidents are on Mount Rushmore? George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt Adult: Two founding fathers’ deaths are remarkably linked. Who are they and what is the link? Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years to the day after the Declaration of Independence was adopted.
Song: “American Pie” by Don McLean
How’d you do on the grown-up questions? :) I’d love to hear!
Reading aloud to my children continues to be one of the best parts of motherhood for me. There’s just something so peaceful, so connected, so all-is-right-with-the-world about snuggling up together — everyone freshly pajama-ed, all quarrels postponed, lamplight low — to read another chapter.
In the midst of a full life, I have found that the very best way to make time for reading together is to choose books that we can’t wait to return to each night — books that make us start dinner prep on time, work together to clear the table, bathe efficiently, and eagerly bounce onto whatever bed we’re gathering on. To help with this, I put in some effort each year to plan out of titles for the months ahead. (Just like with my own reading list!) We’ll almost certainly deviate from this plan, but it’s a good place to start. In case it inspires your own year of reading…
Quarter 1 | January, February, and March
The first three months of the year tend to be some of our best for readalouds: our schedule is quieter, and we’re (I’m) fired up from yearly planning. Knowing that June would want to start the fourth Harry Potter as soon as she received it for her early-January birthday, I wedged in a shorter-but-beloved favorite from my childhood right at the beginning. (Both kids loved it.) I’m currently deep into the fourth HP while John reads Prince Caspian to Shep (he hadn’t joined readaloud when John and June read it the first time). From there, John will read the final Narnia book and then I’ll crack open the first in the Wingfeather Saga, which June has been desperate to read. (All her friends have read it, apparently, which delights me no end.)
Next we’ll return to another beloved series we’re making our way through. Shep hasn’t read the first three, but they’re easy to pick up midway. From there, we’ll read one of my favorite books of all time, with attendant nerves that they’ll enjoy it as much as I do. We’ll round things out with a classic and the second book in the Wingfeather series. This quarter is a little “girl heavy,” but Shep continuously surprises me by how much he loves even books I’m unsure about. (For example, he loved Anne of Green Gables last year.)
When June heads to summer camp, Shep and I will dig into Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. (I don’t know what we’ll do when Shep goes to camp, too, but right now June’s two-week absence aligns well with his birthday!) John will read them the third Wingfeather before Annie joins read aloud upon her entrance into kindergarten (!). With the newest member of our crew, we’ll circle back around to where we started our readaloud journey: with the first book in the Little House series (it’s been four years since June read them) and with Charlotte’s Web, a book I think every child should have read to them at least once.
Between travel, holidays, and activities, these months are notoriously slow for readalouds around here. Realistically, I’m hoping to fit in just three: a beloved classic from my childhood, the next Little House, and the final Wingfeather installment. (Not sure what I’m going to do about the fact that Annie will have only joined for number four, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Maybe she’ll sit that one out and she and I will catch up on something else?)
We are also reading Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH and Island of the Blue Dolphins with June’s school book club! For Shep’s, I plan to start with Mr. Popper’s Penguins and The Mouse and the Motorcycle in the fall.
This year’s list skews heavily classic, and there are so many more books I wish we could squeeze in! First up if we have more time, or for next year: Number the Stars, A Place to Hang the Moon, All Thirteen, and Because of Winn Dixie.
Friends, I’d love to hear: What books have you enjoyed reading with your kids recently? What books would you be most excited to introduce your kids to?
While I don’t hold tightly to any one gifting formula (e.g. something you want, something you need, something you wear, something to read), I’ve realized we do try to check at least two boxes with each gift collection: an experience, and something that will bring immediate delight (a kit, a toy). This year, the experience is the same for all three kids, and it’s a big one: a day at Disneyland with the cousins when we’re in California at Christmas. I’ve never been, and I can’t wait (and I can’t wait to see their faces). We’re also gifting our trio the Wingfeather Saga boxed set – read aloud delight awaits! For everything else our kids will be finding under the tree this year, read on…
June (who is almost 10), will be receiving:
— A weekender of her own. She has been asking for a small duffle for weekend trips and sleepovers, and this colorblocked version is quite fun. — “Fashion” sneakers. Fourth grade came with a noticeable uptick in brand/trend interest, including a desire for fancier sneakers. She picked out this style in the store but we’ll surprise her with the online-only lavender colorway. — A Camp Snap Pro camera. We got Shep the original Camp Snap camera (a screen-free, old-school, easy-to-use digital camera!) for his birthday this year; he he has loved toting it on adventures and snapping away. June will love this upgraded version (and to stop borrowing her brother’s.) — A Kavu sling bag. June came home from camp requesting a Kavu bag after seeing many other campers toting one. She likes that they’re big enough to pack a paperback :)
Other ideas I gave to relatives: Crocs, a small jewelry case for earrings, outfits and accessories for her American Girl doll, a Doodle Crate subscription, the Mysterious Benedict Society books she doesn’t already have (numbers three and four!)
Other items she owns and loves or is wishing for:right here!
— A father-son weekend with John. This is how June eased into sleepaway camp, and it was the best opportunity to get the lay of the land, meet the directors, and set her up for success before her first session. Plus, we had the best time together, and I know they will, too! — A Charlotte FC jersey, since he outgrew the Nashville FC jersey my sister gave him that was very beloved. — Two soccer goals for the backyard. A dream for the guy who plays soccer at recess every single day. — A wooden block set. It must be his Montessori training showing, because this was his number one request this year. I’m not complaining!
— An enchanted castle. Do I want to get this for her? Not particularly. But it was at the very top of her collage wishlist (starred, highlighted, circled) and so it is the one item we will be getting from it :) — A deluxe bracelet kit. Annie specifically requested a bead kit after eyeing all of her sister’s crafty creations, and I think she’ll love this one customized with her name. — A unicorn air dough kit. She spotted this at one of our favorite local stores and I was happy to pick it up. — A glow-in-the-dark marble run. Another catalog request :)
Other ideas I gave to relatives: anything Frozen, a gift card to our local ropes adventure course (she’s hooked now that she’s conquered the zip line!), a pottery painting place gift card
Other items she owns and loves or is wishing for:right here!
A FEW OF OUR TIME-TESTED, VERY FAVORITE TOYS AND GIFTS:
— The Nugget, a key component for hours of open-ended play. — This ice cream play set, which has provided hours and hours of entertainment. FIVE STARS. — Roller blades. June and Shep got these for Christmas last year and they still strap them on multiple times a week. Go for the light-up wheels! — A set of MagnaTiles, because yes, they’re as good as everyone says they are. Definitely add the cars, and remember MagnaTiles and PicassoTiles are interchangeable! — A giant box of chalk. This sidewalk chalk is incredible – bold and vibrant – and with 180 pieces is still going strong one year later. — America’s Test Kitchen Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs, which has some of the most delicious recipes I’ve ever tasted (those chocolate crinkle cookies!). — A box of letter writing supplies (cards and envelopes, postage stamps, a fancy pen, stickers, a return address stamp, maybe even pre-addressed labels printed with the addresses of grandparents and friends!). — A Micro Kickboard scooter. These are hands-down the best scooters – we’ve gifted them to all of our kids around age 2, and 3-5 is the sweet spot. — A glow-in-the-dark soccer ball – perfect for street games after Daylight Savings Time! — A Priority Start bike. June started with the 16″ at age 4 3/4, graduated to the 20″ at age 6, and got the 24″ for her 8th birthday. Shep now rides the 20″ and Annie got the 16″ on her 4th birthday. These bikes are SO well-made – they’ve been through several kids in our family and still look perfect! — An art case coloring set. One of Shep’s most beloved items, used daily! — A game you can play together: try Cover Your Assets, Ticket to Ride, or Sushi Go Party, all family favorites. (More ideas here!) — The cutest personalized notepads. BIG favorite with June.
Whew! I hope that’s helpful! I’ve rounded up a bunch of ideas, but remember, kids don’t need much to be happy – in our family, we’ve actually found that too many gifts can be overwhelming and dull the whole experience. So choose wisely, and with joy – giving our kids good gifts is a really fun part of being a parent! :)
Below, tell me what you’re getting your kiddos this year — I love hearing your shopping lists!
Previously: — 2024: An 8-year-old girl, a 6.5-year-old boy, and a 3.5-year-old girl — 2023: A 7-year-old girl, a 5.5-year-old boy, and a 2.5-year-old girl — 2022: A 6-year-old girl, a 4.5-year-old boy, and a 1.5-year-old girl — 2021: A 5-year-old girl, a 3.5-year-old boy, and a six-months girl — 2020: A 4-year-old girl and a 2.5-year-old boy — 2019: A 3-year-old girl and a 1.5-year-old boy
Our children have been gifted with incredible teachers at every level of education. From infant daycare, to Montessori preschool, to public elementary school, we have found wise, talented teachers happy to partner with us in educating our kids. Each has shaped their lives in ways that are already visible, but whose full impact we might not know for years. Grateful, grateful, grateful.
Naturally, I wanted to find a way to keep these teachers close over the years, and that’s how we found our way to the graduation book tradition. You’re probably already familiar with it – parents choose a picture book and ask their children’s teachers to write a note in it each year, kind of like a yearbook. As a words gal, I love the idea of capturing memories and hopes for the future from these dear ones. June’s book now has several years of notes penned inside, and Shep’s has been broken in by his beloved preschool director. They’re both already on the short list of items I’d save in a fire.
While this tradition isn’t a new idea, it’s become a beloved one in our family, and so I thought I’d share a bit about it today!
How to organize a teacher picture book signing tradition
Though this tradition requires a bit of sustained effort over many years (your child’s entire K-12 education!), it’s really an easy lift: once you’ve chosen a book (see below!), you simply have to produce it at the right time each year for the teacher to sign – and, perhaps more challenging, keep it safe all the months in between. (We keep ours in our children’s memory boxes.)
Here’s the email I send to our kids’ teachers in late May:
Hi [teacher name]!
I hope you’re enjoying these last few days with your students! I will be sending in a picture book soon that I’m hoping you (and [assistant’s name], if she’d like!) would be willing to sign for our girl! I’m sure you’re very familiar with the tradition, but the idea is that you’d both choose any page and write her an encouraging note (no need to return it the same day – anytime before the end of the year!). We’ll then pass the book on to her teachers next year and beyond. (We do plan to let her read it along the way instead of waiting until graduation!)
She has enjoyed being with you both so, so much this year, and I know it will mean the world! Thank you in advance!!
Emily
Once receiving confirmation, I tuck the book in her backpack inside a manilla envelope. We keep it close until the end of the school year, then let the kids read the notes at our end-of-school-year/beginning-of-summer celebration. (I know some parents keep the tradition a secret until senior year, but I think it’s meaningful to be buoyed by these special teacher’s words along the way!)
14 Great Graduation Book Ideas
When looking for a graduation picture book, the key is to combine a meaningful message with illustrations that leave enough white space for writing notes. This is surprisingly tricky to find! Here are the two books we’ve used for our older kids, and a few others that are worth a look:
— The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be by Joanna Gaines | This is June’s book! I wouldn’t say it’s the absolute best story, but it’s sweet, the illustrations are lovely, and it has plenty of room for writing.
— What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada | Shep’s book! The black-and-white illustrations work wonderfully for adding colorfully-penned notes, and the message is timeless.
— Miss Rumphius | In terms of messaging, this would be my hands-down choice – but alas, I didn’t think it had enough room for notes. Worth considering, though!
— Oh the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss | A classic! The sales of this one must be bananas in May.
— A World Wonder by Laura Wifler | Though I haven’t chosen a book yet for Annie, this is on my short list! We love this story of a girl with big dreams on a journey to discover what makes life truly meaningful.
— Journey by Aaron Becker | This is a visually-stunning wordless picture book – perfect for adding your own words of wisdom over the years!
— The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Martin | This seems to be a very popular option for graduation book gifts. I don’t care for her illustration style as much as some of these others, but this is a great pick with plenty of white space on the page.
— All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon | This simple, profound Caldecott Honor book follows a circle of family and friends over the course of a day. The breathy, windswept illustrations leave plenty of margin for notes!
— Because by Mo Williams | We have and love this picture book about the chain reaction one decision can make, which begins and ends (and begins?) with a life-changing musical performance. Check it out in person, though – the (beautiful!) illustrations take up a lot of the space on each page.
— The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson | The vibrant illustrations in this one are a marvel, but I don’t know that they leave quite enough room on the page for notes! Either way, the message is lovely and this is a book my kids enjoyed reading.
— Wherever You Go by Pat Zietlow Miller | This one seems a bit calculated to be an alternative to the almost-trite Oh the Places You’ll Go, but I think it succeeds! The verse is easy, the illustrations are whimsical and packed with detail, and it has plenty of “off you go into the world!” verve.
— The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein | Sob. This unforgettable story of love and empathy is a timeless pick. Shel’s spare, black-and-white illustrations leave plenty of room for colorful penned notes.
— Why Not?by Kobi Yamada | Honestly, this one seems designed to be used as a graduation book rather than as an actual picture book for preschoolers, so let’s give it its moment! :) The beautiful illustrations and encouraging text are an invitation to embrace big possibilities.
— The Three Questions by Jon J. Muth | “When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do?” These questions are asked and answered in this picture book based on a fable by Leo Tolstoy. Simple and direct text paired with whimsical watercolors make for a satisfying package.
I’d love to hear: does your family do the graduation book tradition? If so, what books do you use? I’d love to hear!
