Brittany Kretz is a history professor whose teaching and scholarship focus on helping
students understand the past as a lived experience that continues to shape the present.
With academic training in history, education, and teacher leadership, she brings an
interdisciplinary approach to the classroom that blends historical content with insights
from pedagogy and cognitive science. Her courses emphasize critical thinking, primary
source analysis, and clear communication, encouraging students to move beyond memorization
to thoughtful interpretation of historical events and ideas. In addition to her work
in higher education, Dr. Kretz is deeply committed to public history and historical
literacy. She has written for broader audiences, including children, and values making
history accessible, engaging, and meaningful for learners of all ages. Whether teaching
future educators, mentoring graduate students, or creating resources for families
and communities, she approaches history as a tool for understanding identity, citizenship,
and responsibility in a complex world.
Serving York University since 2024.
Growing Up in the Dust
A nonfiction children's book that introduces young readers to daily life on the
Great Plains during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Through accessible
language and vivid historical detail, the book explores family life, farming challenges,
weather extremes, and community resilience, helping children understand how ordinary
people adapted to life on the prairie.
Building Dreams on the Prairie This illustrated children's history book examines the essential buildings and structures
that shaped prairie communities, including sod houses, barns, windmills, and rail
depots. By connecting architecture to survival, innovation, and hope, the book shows
how settlers transformed the land and built lasting communities, offering students
a concrete way to understand settlement, technology, and regional history.
From Proud Subjects to Protesters A nonfiction children's history book that explores why ordinary American colonists
gradually moved from being loyal British subjects to protesting British rule. Through
accessible language and engaging historical details, the book introduces young readers
to taxation, representation, colonial protests, and the growing tensions that eventually
led to the American Revolution. By focusing on the experiences and perspectives of
everyday colonists, the book helps children understand that revolutions develop through
a series of decisions, disagreements, and changing beliefs.
The Big Feet of Buster Franklin Scott An engaging children's book that explores the legendary story of Buster Franklin
Scott and the mystery surrounding his unusually large footprints. Blending historical
storytelling with the enduring fascination of Bigfoot legends, the book encourages
young readers to examine evidence, consider different explanations, and distinguish
between what is known and what remains a mystery. With humor, adventure, and historical
context, it offers children an entertaining introduction to folklore, critical thinking,
and the stories communities pass from one generation to the next.
Bravery Through the Years A nonfiction children's history book that introduces young readers to American soldiers
across different periods of U.S. history. Through the experiences of soldiers from
different generations, the book explores courage, service, sacrifice, and the hope
for peace. Rather than focusing only on battles, it highlights the people behind the
uniforms and the dreams they carried with them, helping children understand military
history throug the human experiences of those who served.
Daughters of the Heavenly King A faith-based children's book that teaches young girls that as daughters of God,
they are children of the Heavenly King and can live with the confidence and character
of a princess. Through encouraging Bible verses and age-appropriate lessons, the book
introduces children to behaviors and habits that reflect a life of faith, including
kindness, courage, obedience, self-control, compassion, and love for others. By connecting
biblical principles to the idea of being a daughter of the King, the book encourages
young readers to understand their identity in God and consider how their everyday
choices can reflect their faith.
