Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch Releases Children's Book on Declaration of Independence

Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch is releasing a children's book this month to teach young Americans about the Declaration of Independence and the nation's founding ideals.

The book arrives as the U.S. nears its 250th anniversary and amid falling civic knowledge among students, a trend Gorsuch hopes to reverse.

In "Heroes of 1776: The Story of the Declaration," Gorsuch spotlights ideals like independence, self-governance and separation of powers. It combines stories from famous revolutionaries and ordinary patriots whose overlooked acts of courage helped shape the country.

"If parents are tired of 'Goodnight Moon,' how about 'Goodnight, Ben Franklin'?" Gorsuch said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

Written with his former colleague Janie Nitze, the book aims to pass on America's hard-won history to younger generations by focusing on the people at its core.

Gorsuch said the project stemmed from concern over weak civic education among schoolchildren and adults. "Only about 13% of kids today in eighth grade are proficient in American history — [and just] 22% in civics," he said.

"One thing we could all agree on is the importance of learning American history," Gorsuch added. "Because how else are you going to carry this thing forward? Somebody has to run the zoo, right?"

"Heroes of 1776" recounts personal stories of those who risked their lives for American independence. Gorsuch noted that independence was a radical idea at the time. The book details the severe hardships faced by the Declaration's signers, often at great personal cost.

"You have to remember that only about 40% of the colonists supported independence," Gorsuch told Fox News Digital. "Even in July 1776, another 30% were opposed. They were loyalists. The rest were kind of undecided. And it split up families."

The book stands out for its detailed, hand-painted artwork created with illustrator Chris Ellison, whose work Gorsuch said "deserves a prize," and for its engaging tales of founders and obscure patriots who endangered their lives for freedom.

It features young contributors too, such as 16-year-old Joseph Plum Martin, who defended Philadelphia from British troops, and 18-year-old Emily Geiger, who spied for the cause.

"Young people have been remarkable contributors to our country throughout history," Gorsuch said.

By examining the sacrifices and bravery of those who fought for independence, Gorsuch hopes the book adds a "touch of humanity" for children and adults, bringing fresh details to familiar history.

"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 as America nears its 250th anniversary.

"And 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 told Fox News Digital. "Maybe you start there."