Supreme Court Justice Writes Kids' Book on Declaration

A Supreme Court Justice is teaching America's youngest generation about their country's founding in the most unexpected way: through a picture book that celebrates everyday heroes alongside famous names.

Justice Neil Gorsuch teamed up with former colleague Janie Nitze to create "Heroes of 1776: The Story of the Declaration," a gorgeously illustrated guide to the people who risked everything for American independence. The timing couldn't be better, with the nation's 250th anniversary approaching and civic knowledge at historic lows.

The statistics are sobering. Only 13% of eighth graders today are proficient in American history, and just 22% understand civics well. Gorsuch saw an opportunity to change that trajectory, one bedtime story at a time.

"If parents are tired of 'Goodnight Moon,' how about 'Goodnight, Ben Franklin?'" Gorsuch joked. But his mission is serious: helping kids understand that "somebody has to run the zoo" of democracy.

The book shines by highlighting forgotten heroes. Sixteen-year-old Joseph Plum Martin defended Philadelphia from British troops. Eighteen-year-old Emily Geiger worked as a spy. These young patriots proved that age has never been a barrier to courage.

Gorsuch emphasizes the real stakes of independence. Only 40% of colonists supported breaking from Britain in July 1776, while 30% actively opposed it. Families split apart. Signers of the Declaration faced grave personal costs for their radical choice.

Why This Inspires

The book's hand-painted artwork, created in close collaboration with illustrator Chris Ellison, brings history to vibrant life. Each page adds what Gorsuch calls "a touch of humanity" to familiar stories, revealing the individuals behind the sweeping historical narrative.

Gorsuch draws a direct line from 1776 to today's Supreme Court. "A wise old judge once told me, if you sit and listen to someone long enough, you're going to find something you can agree on," he explained. The framers practiced that same principle, finding common ground despite deep divisions.

"At the heart of it all were ordinary people willing to do extraordinary things and risk all they had to secure a better life for themselves, their children, and generations to come," Gorsuch wrote. That legacy lives on in every generation brave enough to preserve it.