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History and Historical Fiction

"Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

 

Winston Churchill 

Why read books about history and historical fiction?

​Much like fairy tales and folk tales. reading history and historical fiction extends the imagination and helps us learn what the past was like, along with learning about important civilizations and civilizational moments in history. Connecting a child with a rich historical narrative helps that child connect much better with the events of history. Children (and adults!) who have stories to reference can better place the real events on a mental timeline along with mental pictures of that time in history. 
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Pick at least one to read each week, and read the picture books as well as the chapter books, even if your children are older! Each of these picture books contains a well-told story as well as gorgeous art.

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Note: You may want to read some of these books at different levels than suggested depending on your flow of learning history or your child's maturity. Always pre-read and evaluate books according to your particular family, child, and convictions.

Picture Books

​Middle Ages (c. 500 - 1500 CE)

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Renaissance & Age of Exploration (c. 1540 - 1700 CE)

Colonial America

  • By Kate Waters

    • On the Mayflower​

    • Sarah Morton's Day

    • Samuel Eaton's Day

    • Tapenum's Day

    • Mary Getty's Day
       

  • By Patricia Polacco

    • Mr. Lincoln's Way​

    • The Bee Tree

    • The Trees of the Dancing Goats

    • Babushka's Doll

  • By Alan Say​

    • Tea With Milk

    • Grandfather's Journey

    • The Bicycle Man

    • The Ink-Keeper's Apprentice

    • Home of the Brave

  • Bard of Avon: the Story of William Shakespeare by Peter Vennema and Diane Stanley

  • Good Queen Bess by Diane Stanley

Chapter Books
Elementary level

Series to look for:

  • *Childhood of Famous Americans

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Middle Ages (c. 500 - 1500 CE)

  • The Door in the Wall by Marguerite De Angeli

  • Mansa Musa and the Empire of Mali by P. James Oliver

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Colonial America

 

Early America and Pioneers

  • Lucretia Mott: Girl of Old Nantucket by Constance Buel Burnett*

  • ​By Laura Ingalls Wilder

    • Little House in the Big Woods​

    • Farmer Boy

    • Little House on the Prairie

    • On the Banks of Plum Creek

    • By the Shores of Silver Lake

    • The Long Winter

    • Little Town on the Prairie

    • These Happy Golden Years

    • The First Four Years
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  • By Patricia MacLachlan

    • The Sarah Plain and Tall series​

      • Sarah Plain and Tall​

      • Skylark

      • Caleb's Story

      • More Perfect than the Moon

      • Grandfather's Dance​​

​American Girl Historical Series

**If possible, find the original American Girl historical 6-book sets, which contain historical sections and visual vocabulary
 

  • Kaya (Nez Perce, 1764) by Janet Beeler Shaw**

    • Changes for Kaya: A Story of Courage​​​​​

    • Kaya Shows the Way: A Sister Story

    • Kaya and Lone Dog: A Friendship Story

    • Kaya's Hero: A Story of Giving

    • Kaya's Escape

    • Meet Kaya

    • Felicity (Pre-Revolutionary War, 1774) by Valerie Tripp**​​​

      • Meet Felicity​

      • Felicity Learns a Lesson

      • Felicity's Surprise

      • Happy Birthday Felicity

      • Felicity Saves the Day

      • Changes for Felicity

    • Caroline (War of 1812)**​

      • Meet Caroline​

      • Caroline's Secret Message

      • A Surprise for Caroline

      • Caroline Takes a Chance

      • Caroline's Battle

      • Changes for Caroline

    • Josefina (Southwest, 1824)**​

      • Meet Josefina​

      • Josefina Learns a Lesson

      • Josefina's Surprise

      • Happy Birthday Josefina

      • Josefina Saves the Day

      • Changes for Josefina

    • Cécile and Marie-Grace (New Orleans, 1853-1854)**​

      • Meet Marie-Grace​

      • Meet Cécile

      • Marie-Grace and the Orphans

      • Troubles for Cécile

      • Narie-Grace Makes a Difference

      • Cécile's Gift

    • Kirsten (Swedish Immigrant to Minnesota, 1854) by Valerie Tripp**​

      • Meet Kirsten​

      • Kirsten Learns a Lesson

      • Kirsten's Surprise

      • Happy Birthday Kirsten

      • Kirsten Saves the Day

      • Changes for Kirsten

    • Addy (Enslaved / Free in Philadelphia, 1864)**​​​

      • Meet Addy​

      • Addy Learns a Lesson

      • Addy's Surprise

      • Happy Birthday Addy

      • Addy Saves the Day

      • Changes for Addy

    • Samantha (Turn-of the-Century, 1904) by Valerie Tripp**​

      • Meet Samantha​

      • Samantha Learns a Lesson

      • Samantha's Surprise

      • Happy Birthday Samantha

      • Samantha Saves the Day

      • Changes for Samantha

    • Rebecca (Jewish Immigrant family in New York City, 1914)**​

      • Meet Rebecca​

      • Rebecca and Ana

      • Candlelight for Rebecca

      • Rebecca and the Movies

      • Rebecca to the Rescue

      • Changes for Rebecca

Chapter Books
Middle level

​Ancient Egypt 

Ancient Israel​

Middle Ages (c. 500 - 1500 CE)

Colonial America

  • Johnny Tremaine

  • The Landing of the Pilgrims by James Dougherty​

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1800s

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1900s

World War II

Chapter Books
Upper level

Ancient

  • Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

  • Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare


Medieval

 

Colonial America

  • By Elizabeth George Speare​​

    • Calico Captive​

    • The Witch of Blackbird Pond

  • By Ann Rinaldi

    • A Break with Charity: A Story about the Salem Witch Trials

    • Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons: The Story of Phyllis Wheatley

    • The Fifth of March: A Story of the Boston Massacre

    • Wolf By the Ears 

1800s

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  • By Ann Rinaldi

    • An Unlikely Friendship: A Novel of Mary Todd Lincoln and Elizabeth Keckley

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1900s

World War II

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