Here’s the background. Next fall we will begin Early American History (think Module 5 time). We’re not doing world history other than how it touches America for that one year. I need a family read aloud spine that focuses on just American History and works for a wide age of listeners. My kids will be 7th, 3rd, 2nd, K/1, PreK, and 3 younger than preK children.
I know SCM has Module 5 and the Stories of America and Stories of the Nations but they are not what I want this time, I just want to focus on Early American History. So what have you read and liked that could work as a family read aloud/spine?
Right now on my list to pre-read are the following, if you ahve read any I would love to hear your thoughts:
American History Stories by Mara Pratt – this has several volumes.
Vol 1 – Explorers, colonies, French and Indian War
Vol 2 – Revolutionary War
Vol 3 – Washington’s presidency to War of 1812, Andrew Jackson, up to differences leading to Civil War
Vol 4 – We wouldn’t do this year, focuses on Civil War.
I’m a bit over halfway through Vol 1 and enjoying it. It may work.
Streams of History by Ellwood Kemp – These come in volumes and we would do 2-3, The New World and The United States (goes to Civil War).
This Country of Ours by H.E. Marshall – This one has 99 chapters under 7 themes:
Stories of Explorers and Pioneers,
Stories of Virginia,
Stories of New England,
Stories of the Middle and Southern Colonies,
Stories of the
French in America,
Stories of the Struggle for Liberty,
and Stories of the United States
under the Constitution
I’ve not read it yet.
Last option I’ve got in front of me to read right now is America First by Lawton B Evans. Description says it has 100 stories from Leif Erickson to Sergeant York (WWI). We would stop at the Civil War for this year. I’ve not read this one yet either.
So what would you pick for a family spine/read aloud for Early American History outside of the SCM Stories of America books?