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Culture

'Comprehensive' children’s book on Welsh history 'a game changer' says publisher

By NationCymru
History Grounded, subheaded 'looking for the history of Wales' is now available.

A book by one of Wales’ most established historians is a "game changer" for public understanding of the nation's history, according to the publisher.

In History Grounded, Dr Elin Jones takes readers on a visual journey through over 5,000 years of history around the whole of Wales. According to Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, the book is a “comprehensive, must-have book of Wales’ history, from the Cromlechi to the Senedd” and is suitable for children 8-12 years old.

The book asks who were the first people to live in Wales, why is Glyndŵr so important to the Welsh, what was Wales's role in the slave trade and what influence did the sea have on our history?

The book’s cover depicts the Red Wall of Wales, giving representation to local areas in Wales as well as various campaigns such as Black Lives Matter and the fight for LGBT+ rights.

The English book will be published along side the Welsh-language version Hanes yn y Tir.

Gwasg Carreg Gwalch said that “representing Wales’ history in all its rich diversity was central to the work".

“During the past year we have gained a new appreciation of the importance of learning the history of margainaised communities, as well as an appreciation of education as a tool to fight against racism and all other forms of prejudice," they said.

“This is the most comprehensive, colourful, and ambitious Welsh history book for children. It’s a game changer.”

A virtual launch has been organised on 29 September, and can be attended by following this link.

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Curriculum

Dr Elin Jones, the books author taught at the schools of Preseli, Rhydfelen and Cwm Rhymni before being appointed education officer at the National Museum. Part of her work then included collaborating with experts to prepare resources for learners.

In 1996 she began consultancy work with the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales, which included regulating the history qualifications, developing the history curriculum and methods of assessment, and also commissioning history teaching resources.

She chaired the taskforce responsible for preparing the report to the Minister for Education on the Welsh Curriculum, the history and story of Wales in 2013.

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38 comments

j humphrys

I'm lost for words.

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j humphrys

Buy "Land Of My Fathers" by Gwynfor Evans. 2000 years of Welsh history for 13 pounds. Two pounds cheaper than this one.

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Iola Davies

Is that a children’s book though?

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Crwtyn Cemais

Datblygiad ardderchog yr oedd wir ei angen! ~ An excellent development that was truly needed!

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Grayham Jones

Welsh history should be the first in wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 not British history it’s time for a new wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 stop being little Englanders and be proud to be welsh

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Rudolph Winksworth

I hope that this book doesn't say that the Romans brought over our dragon as it was here much, much earlier, many history books copy and paste the same lie over and over again.

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Keith Evans

I know this as a theory,not fact,it's one I particularly like as it makes sense to me.But any "history" of these times has an element of myth

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Michel

I would've bought it if they kept the woke lgbltm++ and black lives matter off it.

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Brian Thomas

That was put in there just to wind folks like you up. Just skip those last couple of pages.

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Michel

I'm don't care about people's sexuality, it's none of my business. But what has black lives matter got to with welsh history dating back hundreds of years ago? Absolutely nothing.

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In reply to Michel

Shan Morgain

Rome brought African legionnaries here - slaves were imported through Bristol and became free later .- an 19thC fashion for black page boys - and so on. Most people in Britain have a bit of African heritage in us.

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In reply to Shan Morgain

Shan Morgain

oops that was 18thC fasion for pages - been up all night writing Mabinogi stuff.

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In reply to Shan Morgain

j humphrys

Please cite evidence. Nothing shown on Oxford mapping.

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In reply to Shan Morgain

Gaynor

Roman invaders left no DNA in the make up of the British population, hardly anything apart from Celts (and I use that in very loose terms), Angles, Danes/ Vikings and Irish. You can check that out from kosher , scientific genetic surveys

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In reply to Michel

Keith Evans

I'd have thought having the oldest continuous Black population in the UK merits inclusion.Or does that offend your sensibilities? These sort of back and forward, purile arguments ,just taint Welsh discourse currently.Its possible to celebrate Llywellyn and Glyndwr,be accepting and interested in modern diversity and it's influence on our culture,have differing views on Trans issues than the wokest of our population,and not have to dig trenches and lob ridiculous bombs at each other .The all or nothing belief systems now in vogue with the Twitter generation gets more child like with every day.

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In reply to Michel

Katharine Jones

There were black people here before the English, soldiers in the Roman army. In more recent times, black mariners helped make our ports the diverse places they are today. It's OUR history, like it or not.

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In reply to Katharine Jones

j humphrys

Perhaps you could state which part of Africa these soldiers were from?

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In reply to Michel

Inkozi

and what has the Red Wall got to do with Welsh history hundreds of years ago? Idiot. Bigot.

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In reply to Michel

Pam Williams

Perhaps you should research Powis Castle's connection to slavery.

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Owain Morgan

So, Racism, Homophobia and Transphobia in all the same person. Do you need to speak to a Therapist about your insecurities 😂😂🤣🤣

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Michel

Funny how you can jump to conclusions so quickly. I don't support the black lives matter organisation due to its violence and how the founders have hoarded money from donations. This book is suppose to protray the history of Wales not push a political agenda.

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Michel

Transphobia lol. I love how the definition of a phobia has neen skewed to include people having a different opinion. I don't care about people's sexuality, skin colour, or if they want to pretend to be a different sex to what they were born.

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Mathew Rees

Same. Half the people in the picture are black and there are two women wearing hijabs whilst others are waving LGBT flags. And I thought the English were good at erasing our history. The woke left are doing a far better job.

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Keith Evans

How in any way shape or form is having a few black faces a couple of hijabs and an LGBT banner erasing our history? History is not static every day it is created.Im 57 I would say in my lifetime biggest historical events or issues ( in Wales )would have been,Fight against racism,miners strike, devolution,gay rights campaign,Welsh language campaign.All effect how we think.The woke left does exist and they can be just as dismissive of what they term ethno Nat's,I'm both ,consider myself of the left, and also nationality has to have some % of ethnic or geographic element.

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Drew

We're Welsh, our history should be told and not covered up. Truth is coming to light at last.

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Owain Morgan

About time too!

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Morris Dean

A beautiful cover reflecting our modern, diverse country comfortable with changing social norms and demographics 🌈🏳️‍🌈✊🏾

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Dafydd Evans

Mega!

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Ian Gwynne

Doesn't give any indication as to where it will be sold or when it's published. I would like to get this for my grandchildren

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Geraint

Looks like a great publication. Just in time for Christmas presents. Hope the publishers have gone for a big print run.

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Shan Morgain

Would be helpful to include date and location of availability. BOOKFINDER is your friend - always has the widest info. It says In stock on October 8, 2021 and lists Amazon, Book Depository, and Abebooks. Not cheap though £15 - £30.

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Y Cymro

The teaching of one's history is the norm in 99.9% of countries . We were part of the 1 %. This book is long overdue. We should know. Who we were in the past. Where we are at present. And where we are going to in future. It's our birthright. But If left to the fascist backward Tories. Would never had existed at all..

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Eifion

If they made Welsh history mandatory in our schools we'd be independent within a generation, hence it is not.

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Louisa

Ordered this the moment I finished this article - from my local bookshop. Really excited to read this to my kids (as much for me as for them). Exactly what I've been looking for, for years! Diolch yn fawr :-)

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CJPh

The history of different ethnic groups in Wales is Welsh history. The history of gay rights struggles in Wales is Welsh history. The history of religious groups and practices in Wales is Welsh history. The history of women's suffrage in Wales is Welsh history. The historical figures, King's, Princes, heroes, villains, brigands and martyrs is the history of Wales. All these aspects of our history have a place and should be insluded in the curriculum. If we are to have a national identity, all aspects of our past play a part for all citizens of Cymru. However, given the cover art and the utterances of the author, this is not a Welsh history book, it is a sociology/applied studies textbook with the contextual addition of a few things that happened before now. The BLM movement has produced a few public figures that I admire greatly (most of whom have left due to malfeasance and violence from the organisation - the broader membership who simply support the sentiment of racial equality are not to blame for this) but to be on the cover of a children's history book about Wales? Smacks of tokenism, trend hunting, americanisation and, frankly, soft racism. Maybe we should ask an historian to write the history book next time? Just a thought.

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arthur owen

Dear editor,Do you have to publish all these stupid racist comments?

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Alex

Welsh history and Welsh culture but no mention of drugs in the comments. This ain't Welsh history, it's propaganda. Only a fool would let someone else tell them their history in 2021

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David Smith

Bet our imperial overlords won't like this. What's that quote about stealing a nation's history and they're half way conquered?

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Leave a reply

Replying to Inkozi Cancel

and what has the Red Wall got to do with Welsh history hundreds of years ago? Idiot. Bigot.

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