Curricula and Learning Links - History
Living History Book Lists
Living Books for American History
To make suggestions for additions to this list, please leave a message on our comment page.
Early Settlers and The American Colonies
Sarah Witcher's Story by Elizabeth Yates
Leif the Lucky by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire
Columbus by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire
Of Plimouth Plantation by William Bradford
The Landing of the Pilgrims (Landmark series)
The World of Captain John Smith by Genevieve Foster
The World of Columbus and Sons by Genevieve Foster
The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper
The Matchlock Gun by Walter D. Edmonds
Calico Bush by Rachel Field
Skippack School: Being the Story of Eli Shrawder and of One Christopher Dock, Schoolmaster About the Year 1750 by Marguerite De Angeli
Calico Captive by Elizabeth George Speare
Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison by Lois Lenski
Paddle-to-the-Sea by Holling C. Holling
American Revolution and U.S. Beginnings
Why Don't You Get a Horse, Sam Adams? by Jean Fritz
What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin? by Jean Fritz
And Then What Happened, Paul Revere? by Jean Fritz
Can't You Make Them Behave, King George? by Jean Fritz
Shhh! We're Writing the Constitution! by Jean Fritz
The Great Little Madison by Jean Fritz
Why Not, Lafayette? by Jean Fritz
Traitor: The Case of Benedict Arnold by Jean Fritz
Silver for General Washington by Enid LaMonte Meadowcroft
The Spy by James Fenimore Cooper
The Double Life of Pocahontas by Jean Fritz
Early Thunder by Jean Fritz
Leader by Destiny by Jeanette Eaton
John Adams and the American Revolution by Catherine Drinker Bowen
America's Paul Revere by Esther Forbes
Around the World in a Hundred Years by Jean Fritz
Guns for General Washington by Seymour Reit
George Washington's World by Genevieve Foster
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
George Washington by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire
Benjamin Franklin by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire
Civil War
Abraham Lincoln's World by Genevieve Foster
Abraham Lincoln by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire
Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt
Shades of Gray by Carolyn Reeder
Brady by Jean Fritz
Bull Run by Paul Fleischman
Slopes of War by Norah Perez
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
The War Within: A Novel of the Civil War by Carol Matas
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era by James M. McPherson
Follow the Drinking Gourd by Jeanette Winter (picture book)
Who Owns the Sun? by Stacy Chbosky (picture book)
Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates
Stonewall by Jean Fritz
Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith
Abe Lincoln Grows Up by Carl Sandburg
Civil War Hospital Sketches by Louisa May Alcott
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave, Written by Himself by Frederick Douglass
Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington
Narrative of Sojourner Truth by Sojourner Truth
Jip: His Story by Katherine Paterson
Other U.S. History
Of Courage Undaunted by James Daugherty. Story of Lewis and Clark
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham. Story of tall ships and sailing
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare. Story of boy left alone in the wilderness.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond Elizabeth George Speare. Salem witch hunts
Sam Houston by Jean Fritz
Buffalo Bill by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire
Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall (picture book)
Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt! by Jean Fritz
Comments on the American Girl Series
From one of HomeschoolChristian.com's message board participants: I do have to comment on the American Girl series. These aren't really books I would recommend. They are poorly written with thin plots, questionable grammar, and shallow vocabulary. Certainly from a Christian point of view, Felicity, in particular, does not portray an image that I want my daughters emulating. There are many worthy "living" history books series out there. The Landmark, Signature, We Were There, Childhood of Famous Americans, Messner biographies, Lives to Remember, Piper, and Vision (Catholic saints) series come immediately to mind. Your library probably has some of these, and if not, check the used curriculum boards and ebay.
Please let us know about new books to add, broken links, and inappropriate links by leaving a message on our comment page. Thank you!
