What We Read: Early Native Americans to the Civil War
One of my favorite ways to learn history--both for myself and my kids--is to read. We are studying American history with Classical Conversations this year, so last summer I spent a bunch of time compiling a book list for us to read through. We're reading mostly picture books, but I'll list our chapter books at the end, too. I did not come up with all the titles myself--I used Jessica Telian's Whole Story History for some and another friend kindly sent me her list, too. We've also read some books that go along with our weekly geography memory work. My aim was to give my kids a well rounded view of history, focusing on those whose stories have largely been untold.
I told the kids that once we reached 100 picture books we would celebrate with an ice cream party. We are currently at 69 and another batch arrived this week so we are well our way to our goal.
One of my children claims to not like all this reading, but when someone recently asked what their favorite part of school was, this child said reading history books so I'm chalking that up as a win, haha.
Several friends have asked for our book list, so here's what we have read thus far, complete with Amazon links, loosely sorted in chronological order. Any book marked with an asterisk is one we skimmed instead of reading in its entirety and I also noted the ones we've read multiple times.
6. The Discovery of the Americas
7. Encounter
12. Mayflower 1620
13. St. Brendan and the Voyage Before Columbus
15. Miss Rumphius
16. People of the Breaking Day
17. The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower
18. Now and Ben
19. John, Paul, George and Ben (twice)
21. Sleds on the Boston Common
22. How Ben Franklin Stole the Lightning
23. Noah Webster and His Words
24. Jamestown: New World Adventures
25. The Pioneers
I couldn't find the Amazon link but it's an old book that I randomly found on our shelf at home.
26. Katie's Trunk
27. Obadiah the Bold
Please note I did not pay $970 for the hardcover 😂 We got it from the library.
30. Phoebe the Spy
31. Samuel's Choice
32. When Washington Crossed the Delaware
33. Expanding a Nation (twice)
34. A Picture Book of Sacagawea
36. Ox Cart Man
37. Aunt Minnie and the Twister
39. The Flag Maker
40. George Washington's Breakfast
41. They Called Her Molly Pitcher
42. Colonial Voices: Hear Them Speak
43. Rebel With a Cause (twice)
44. Laura Secord's Brave Walk (twice)
45. The Town that Fooled the British
49. Abe Lincoln
50. Voices From the Underground Railroad
52. Liberty! How the Revolutionary War Began
53. Pink and Say
54. Virgie Goes to School With Us Boys
55. Minty
56. Worst of Friends
57. Locomotive
58. Moses
60. A Book for Black Eyed Susan
61. Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors? (twice)
64. A Picture Book of Robert E. Lee
65. Hope's Gift
66. When Jessie Came Across the Sea
67. Finding Winnie (twice)
68. In the New World
Chapter Books
We are (slowly) working our way through some historical chapter books as well. First up was Black Heroes of the American Revolution. The writing style was a bit dry, but it's packed with historical figures most of us never learned about in school. I knew it was important to push through, and I'm glad we did. Next, we read We Were There at the Boston Tea Party. The two main characters in this one are kids, and we really enjoyed it. We're currently reading Soft Rain. It's pretty brutal and heartbreaking, but those words accurately describe the Trail of Tears.
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