At Freedom Fest in Las Vegas, Kelley Paul previewed her new children’s book Good Night, Young American, saying it grew from a family idea — “I have to give a lot of credit to my daughter-in-law, Kate” — and that “our revolutionary history is such a great adventure,” Paul told Fox News Digital. The short picture book, she added, is meant to spark curiosity in young readers while giving parents a simple framework for talking about the nation’s founding.
Kelley Paul discussed Good Night, Young American at Freedom Fest in Las Vegas. In an interview with Fox News Digital, she described the book as a visual, action-filled way to introduce founding-era stories to young children.
What is Good Night, Young American?
Good Night, Young American is a picture book aimed at children ages 4–8. Paul said the book follows a single child through a string of founding-era scenes rendered for young readers: an imaginative evening on the Fourth of July, a visit to the Mayflower, Ben Franklin flying a kite, Paul Revere’s midnight ride, George Washington crossing the Delaware and a playful depiction of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Paul told Fox News Digital the illustrations emphasize movement and accessible iconography so even preschool listeners can connect with the moments: a kite snapping in the wind, a lantern-lit ride, the sweep of oars across a river. She said the narrative device — one child’s dreamlike encounters — is meant to introduce big ideas in simple, age-appropriate terms.
How the book was made
Paul said the concept began at a family dinner and developed through drafts and collaboration. She credited her daughter-in-law, Kate, with prompting the project and called illustrator Marika Monesi a key creative partner. “She really captured the excitement on the little boy’s face,” Paul said of Monesi’s work, praising the illustrations for their sense of motion and drama.
Paul also said her husband, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), reviewed drafts and offered light editorial suggestions. She recalled one joking note — “Rand was like, ‘He needs to be fatter. King George was famously fat!’” — that influenced a playful illustration choice. Paul described the production as iterative, with text and art refined to balance historical reference and child-level clarity.
Paul’s aim and how she frames the founders
Paul framed the book as both celebratory and instructional. She told Fox News Digital she wants children to see themselves as part of America’s story and to come away with admiration for the bravery and ideas behind the Revolution. “I like to say our founders were the first civil rights heroes,” Paul said, presenting that phrase as her interpretive view intended to restore a sense of wonder about the revolutionary era.
“I do think that we’ve gotten away from really celebrating our founders and our heroes…I like to say our founders were the first civil rights heroes,” Paul told Fox News Digital.
The book, she said, aims to “spark a lot of questions” — an approach she described as giving parents a framework for conversation rather than offering exhaustive historical analysis. Where the book presents historical scenes and characterizations, Paul attributed those choices to her own perspective shared in the Freedom Fest interview.
Who will like it and how parents can use it
Paul recommended the book for children ages 4–8 and suggested parents use it as a conversation starter. She advised reading the scenes aloud, pointing to visual details, and letting children’s questions guide deeper explanation as they grow. Examples she mentioned include asking why people were brave, what a document like the Declaration promised, and how ordinary people shaped big events.
Paul said the book’s imagery — a kite caught in a gust, a lantern in the night, oars cutting through a dark river — was chosen so younger listeners who cannot yet grasp complex political theory can still enjoy the story and later connect the pictures with fuller explanations.
Purchase and availability
Paul indicated the book is available for purchase. She positioned the project as part of a broader effort tied to America’s upcoming 250th anniversary to get young readers interested in founding-era stories. For exact purchase links, formats and retailer availability, Paul directed readers to the interview and reporting by Fox News Digital, which covers the book’s announcement and related details.
Parents considering the book should weigh the age guidance (4–8) and the book’s framing as Paul presented it in her interview when deciding whether its tone fits their household. Paul emphasized using the book as one tool among many for introducing civic history to children.
This profile is based on Kelley Paul’s interview at Freedom Fest and reporting by Fox News Digital. For the original coverage and full interview, see the Fox News story linked below.
Source: Fox News — Kelley Paul: America’s Founders were the ‘first civil rights heroes’
