If you need inspiration for sharing your love of family history with the next generation, the mother-daughter team of Melissa Beardall and Rebecca Nichols has some fantastic ideas. They have written two children’s books that teach the value of learning about ancestors. Melissa also shares how other family members influenced her in her love of family history in this blog post.

I always need new ideas and especially love that Melissa and Rebecca have written beautiful books to share with the children in our lives. Melissa graciously sent me a copy of their latest book, Too Tall Tilly.  The book is delightful and shows the power that learning about ancestors can have in a child’s life. I’m excited to share the book and the authors with our readers!

-Diana

Instilling a Love of Genealogy in Children, by Melissa

How to Instill a Love of Genealogy in Children

As adults, many of us are passionate about genealogy. Our hearts race with excitement when we discover a new ancestor or when long-lost pieces of the puzzle finally come together. I was blessed to grow up in a family that instilled in me a deep sense of family pride.

Though my grandmother passed away before I was born, I grew up hearing stories about her life—stories that made me feel connected to her. I wanted to know everything about her. That same longing extended to other relatives who had gone before me. I was fascinated by old photographs, especially of the stone home my great-grandfather built. I loved seeing faces, learning their stories, and hearing who I resembled. I often wondered where my personality traits and quirks came from.

This joy—the thrill of discovery, the emotional connection to those who came before—is something so many of us feel. But if these stories aren’t told and retold, they risk being lost forever.

So how do we pass this love of family history on to our children—especially when they’re growing up in a very different world than we did?

Soon after my mother and I co-authored and published the book Twirl with Me, Mama!: Helping a Child Understand a Loved One with a Chronic Illness, we realized we had more to share—more stories that could help children face today’s complex world.

Out of late-night inspiration and many conversations with a heart full of purpose came our next book: Too Tall Tilly.

Meet Tilly—a relatable and imaginative character who helps children connect with their roots.

Too Tall Tilly is a whimsical, heartwarming picture book about embracing who you are—even when it feels easier to be someone else. Spunky Matilda—Tilly for short—is tired of being the tallest kid in her grade and of being called names like “Too Tall Tilly.” So she comes up with a plan: she’ll change her name and become someone spectacular.

With her colorful imagination, Tilly transforms into a graceful ballerina, a wise teacher, a world-famous painter, and even a royal princess. Surely life would be better as someone else.

That is, until her parents show her a special family book filled with old photographs she’s never seen before. Through this treasured keepsake, Tilly embarks on a different kind of journey—one that helps her see herself through the stories of those who came before her.

Can a connection to her family’s past help Tilly embrace who she really is?

Too Tall Tilly helps children discover that their identity is richer and deeper than they might think. It shows them that knowing where they come from can help them face life’s challenges with confidence and pride.

While it’s not always easy to get kids excited about genealogy, stories like Tilly’s offer a fun and engaging entry point. Children will relate to her struggles and delight in her imaginative adventures—but they’ll also experience how family stories can shape and strengthen their own.

We are all connected.

Genealogy isn’t just about names and dates—it’s about connection. When we help children discover the stories in their family tree in a playful way, we give them a sense of belonging and identity that can last a lifetime.

Whether you’re a parent or a family historian, Too Tall Tilly is a meaningful way to spark that first spark of interest—and help them learn to stand tall just as they are.

About the Author

How did you get started in family history? Do you remember an initial “spark” or incident that inspired you? Did you have any experiences as a child/teen in school or at home that helped you be more inclined toward family history? 

I give credit to my parents for my very first memories of family history. Every year, we would attend multiple family reunions. I would spend time with my great aunts and uncles, grandparents, and the rest of the family. There were introductions, crafts, a program, and always stories told. I remember playing the violin with Great Uncle Lee when I was 5 years old. At the time, he seemed ancient, but over time, I recognized these great people and knew we were family and that they loved me. Family reunions instilled in me a sense of pride in where I came from and who I was.

My second great influence was my step-grandmother. She was amazing at family history and was the driving force behind much of it. When I was around 14, she helped me create my own family history book. Each picture we cut out had a story to go along with it, and I began to feel that connection to those I’d never met before. She also shared stories of memorable experiences when she felt she was being led, especially when progress felt like it had come to a halt. This book is my heart’s treasure, and I am so grateful to have spent such special time with her.

My third influence is my Aunt Martha. She instilled in me what I call “May pride.” My grandmother died of ovarian cancer when my mother was only four years old. Aunt Martha, being a little older, has more memories of Mama (my grandmother) than my mother does, and she would share them with me. She often talks about the traits of the May family and points out the ones she sees in us. She taught me to be proud to be a May.

Why do you do genealogy? Why do you think it’s important?

I’m not an expert by any means, but I’ve found real joy in learning about the lives of those who came before me. I love the sense of connection I feel to them. It’s so important to remember that they were real people with hopes, dreams, struggles, likes, and dislikes—just like us. They shaped the world we live in today, and I believe we should recognize and honor them for the lives they lived.

What is your favorite way to share genealogy and family history with others?

One project I created for my in-laws was a visual family timeline using their ancestral photos, going back as far as they had pictures. I arranged the pictures in a single frame with a large mat, starting with my mother and father-in-law, and placing each generation behind them in order. It gives them a beautiful, easy-to-follow visual of their family history. They now have it hanging in their front entryway.

I also have a large magnet board that has family pictures on it. Every now and then, the kids will walk by and ask a question about a certain ancestor. It’s a gentle daily reminder to them that they are connected to something much greater than themselves.

 

Do you have a famous ancestor?

Our most famous ancestor would have to be Robert E Lee.

Having eight kids and different chronic illnesses has limited the time I can spend doing family history now. But I feel it in my heart and feel so much gratitude for my predecessors. They are a part of me, and I want to continue to carry their stories. I don’t want it to end there, though.

I want our children to feel that same spark that I have. By teaching them their roots, they know they are a part of a family line that has influenced who they are today. That love and respect can teach them how special and loved they really are.

Thanks, Melissa, for sharing your love of family history with us!