We’re dedicated living book fans. Life is too short to learn from textbooks. We like to choose to learn from books written by someone intimately familiar with the chosen historical period, perhaps from that period themself, and usually with beautiful illustrations to further ignite our imaginations.
These are some of our favorite books we enjoyed last year when we studied early American history, the 1000’s through about the 1680’s.
NATIVE AMERICANS
- Chapter Books
- Children of the Longhouse, Joseph Bruchac (1500s-1700s; New England area; Grades: 2-5)
Burchac has been writing books about the indigenous heritage and culture for decades. His books are wonderful ways to see some of these societies that sadly don’t exist anymore.
- Children of the Longhouse, Joseph Bruchac (1500s-1700s; New England area; Grades: 2-5)
- Picture Books
- Hiawatha and the Peacemaker, Robbie Robertson (1300s; Iroquois nations)
- The Legend of Sleeping Bear, Kathy-Jo Wargin (A legend told by the Ojibwe of Michigan) – be aware there is a sad ending.
- Very Last First Time, Jan Andrews
This beautiful little book takes place in Inuit village on Ungava Vat in northern Canada.
EARLY EXPLORERS AND FIRST SETTLERS (1005-1584)
- Historical Spines
- The Discovery of the Americas, Betsy Maestro (Prehistory through 1400s; North America)
- Exploration and Conquest: The Americas After Columbus: 1500-1620, Betsy Maestro (1500-1620; North America)
- Chapter Books
- Viking Adventure, Clyde Bulla (1000s; Europe to Greenland)
- The Vikings, Elizabeth Janeway (1000s; Europe to Greenland)
- Picture Books
- Leif the Lucky, Ingri and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire (100s; Europe to Greenland)
- The Mystery of the Lost Colony, Candice Ransom (1584; Virginia, Grades: 1-3)
PILGRIMS, PURITANS, & SETTLERS (early 1600s)
- Historical Spines
- The New Americans: Colonial Times: 1620-1689, Betsy Maestro (1620-1689; American Colonies; Grades: 1-5
- The New Americans: Colonial Times: 1620-1689, Betsy Maestro (1620-1689; American Colonies; Grades: 1-5
- Chapter Books
- Anne Hutchinson’s Way, Jeannine Atkins (1600s; Massachusetts; Grades: 1-4)
- A Lion to Guard Us, Clyde Robert Bulla (1609; England to Virginia; Grades: 3-6)
- Pilgrim Stories, Margaret Pumphrey (1600s; England to American Colonies; Grades: 1-5)
- The Landing of the Pilgrims, James Daughtery (1620s; American Colonies; Grades: 3-7)
- Finding Providence: The Story of Roger Williams by Avi (1635; Massachusetts Bay Colony; Grades 1-3)
- Elin’s Amerika, Marguerite de Angeli (1648; Delaware River, New Jersey area; Grades: 1-6)
- Picture Books
- Our Colonial Year, Cheryl Harness (1600s; American Colonies; Grades: K-3)
- The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower or John Howland’s Good Fortune (1600s; American Colonies; Grades: 1-5)
- Squanto’s Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving, Joseph Bruchac (1620; New England colonies; Grades: 2-6)
- Three Young Pilgrims, Cheryl Harness (1620; England to American Colonies; Grades: K-4)
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