Welcome to Bedtime History. Hello, this is Brake.

Growing up, one of my favorite childhood memories was using my imagination to build new things.

I'd take apart old, unused electronics or appliances in our home, and then try and rebuild them into something new and interesting.

They usually didn't work. They were more like works of art than functioning inventions, but I had a blast doing it.

What's great about a product like KiwiCo is the things you build as part of the engineering kits actually work.

My kids and I have built a few different projects together, including a ukulele, a pinball machine, headphones, and a speaker.

These projects include detailed instructions and also explain the science behind how the devices work.

As a parent, it can be hard to find creative ways to keep your children busy, challenged, and off screens.

KiwiCo does the legwork for you, so you can spend quality time tackling projects together.

KiwiCo also has boxes for geography and culture, the Atlas crate, and another one focused on cooking.

Other subjects are science, art, engineering, crafting, and design. KiwiCo also has crates designed for kids and adults of all ages.

Redefine Learning with Play. Explore hands-on projects that build creative confidence and problem-solving skills with KiwiCo.

Give 50% off your first month plus free shipping on any crate line at KiwiCo.com forward slash bedtime history.

That's 50% off your first month at kiwico.com slash bedtime history.

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, while I nodded nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping.

As of someone gently wrapping, wrapping at my chamber door, to some visitor I muttered, tapping at my chamber door, only this and nothing more.

This is the opening of one of the most famous poems in American history. It is called the Raven and is written by Edgar Allen Poe.

Edgar Allen Poe was a writer and became famous for his dark, mysterious poems and stories. His storytelling inspired many later writers to write mystery and detective stories.

And Edgar Allen Poe's stories and poems often come to mind for people this time of year near Halloween as the evenings get darker and spookier.

Edgar Allen Poe was born in 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. His parents were both actors. His mom was an actress from Britain and his dad worked in the theaters in Baltimore.

Unfortunately, Edgar never knew his parents as they both died when he was very young. After the death of his parents, Edgar was sent to live with his godfather in Virginia. His name was John Allen.

He owned a tobacco company and was very wealthy. Edgar enjoyed writing when he was very young and by the time he was 13 he had written many, many poems.

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