October 2026: The Stories We Carry

Ancestors • Family memories • Story magic

Welcome, Young Scholars! This month, Zara is wondering about the stories people carry. A photograph, a favorite song, or something a grandparent says can help us remember where we come from.

A prayer for our families

God, thank You for the people who came before us and the people who care for us now. Help us listen to their stories, remember their love, and share what we learn. Amen.

Let’s read together

In Grandma’s Purse by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, a visit with Grandma Mimi turns everyday things into an adventure.

In Milo’s Museum by Zetta Elliott, a young girl begins to think about whose stories a museum chooses to show.

After reading, ask:

“What would you put in a museum about our family or community?”

Meet Henry Louis Gates Jr. He helps people explore their family histories on Finding Your Roots. Zara’s question for you is simpler:

“What is one story I can ask someone in my family to tell me?”

Three words to know

Ancestry: the people in your family who came before you.

Remembrance: keeping someone or something in your thoughts.

Legacy: something meaningful passed on to others.

Try this at home: 

Make a one-page family museum. Draw three things—a person, a place, and an object—and ask someone to tell you a story about one of them.

Young Scholar affirmation:

I am guided by those who came before me.

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