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History books: must-reads or could leave out?
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Last year, we ended up running short on time to complete our history living books, and I don’t want that to happen again. I suspect I need to schedule a bit fewer books. Oh, decisions, decisions!
We are doing module 6 (Modern Times) this year. Given that I have a special needs child who often needs more of my attention, I’m looking to pare down from what I’ve been considering. Would you please give me your opinion on which of these books are an “Absolute Must-Read” for module 6? (Or please let me know which you think I could leave out.)
Books for my 5th & 6th graders:
- Abe Lincoln: Log Cabin to White House by Sterling North
- Robert E. Lee, Gallant Christian Soldier by Lee Roddy
- Stonewall Jackson: Loved in the South, Admired in the North by C. Ludwig
- Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
- Skylark by Patricia MacLachlan
- Caleb’s Story by Patricia MacLachlan
- Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt! by Jean Fritz
- George Washington Carver: Man’s Slave Becomes God’s Scientist by David Collins
- The Wright Brothers by George Sullivan
- The Singing Tree by Kate Seredy
- Team Moon by Catherine Thimmesh
Books for my 8th grader:
- Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt
- Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
- David Livingstone: African Explorer by John Hudson Tiner
- Across America on an Emigrant Train by Jim Murphy
- Louis Pasteur: Founder of Modern Medicine by John Hudson Tiner
- The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
- Sargeant York and the Great War by Richard Wheeler
- Mama’s Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor
- Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl
- Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
- North to Freedom (or I am David) by Anne Holm
We may do a couple of these as read-alouds for the entire family, and quite a few of the 5th/6th graders’ books will be read aloud, although even then the 5th grader can share a lot of the reading (it’s just her brother only reads at about a 3rd grade level, and it’s tedious for him all on his own). We also will have a World History spine and an American History spine….whenever I can decide for certain which ones to use! (Still thinking….)
Thanks for your input.
Let me speak to a bit of this.
I love the Jean Fritz books, and my kids do too. Also, the Patricia MacLachlan books are some of the most beautiful prose I’ve ever read that is intended for younger readers. I actually was moved to tears reading them. My daughter loved Caddie Woodlawn in 6th grade and I enjoyed it too. i was actually thinking my 4th grade son would probably enjoy that too. I did Across Five Aprils this past year as a family read aloud and my three oldest kids, (a 13 yo dd, 9 yo ds, 6.5 yo dd) really enjoyed it. We also did Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry. That was one of the first books I ever read as a young person (I was 12 the first time I read it) that moved me to tears and fanned the flame of injustice for me. Really moved me and my kids loved it so much that by the time we got to chapter 8, they each stole my copy and finished it on their own b/c they didn’t want to wait for it to be finished as a read aloud. I can also highly recommend Anne Frank and Number the Stars.
As for leaving off, I might suggest waiting on Red Badge. It’s not an easy read by any means, it’s a bit drawn out and dry in the beginning, and we just couldn’t get through it. it’s on the high School list for most students.
I hope our experiences help you out a bit!
Amy
Sterling North is an unusually good children’s nonfiction author. I like him a lot. Do NOT miss Caddie Woodlawn–it’s also a terrific read-aloud, as is the followup book Magical Melons. Loved them! I agree with Amy, the Patricia MacLachlan books are lovely, and they also happen to be short easy reads. You are missing the first one, Sarah Plain and Tall, from your list. Do NOT miss The Singing Tree–Kate Seredy is one of my very favorite authors; I only wish she’d written more. I would also highly recommend her The Good Master although it is less tied to historical events (WWI) than is The Singing Tree. We also especially love Across Five Aprils–very good view of what the war was like for people back home; The Story of My Life is a classic; boys always love Seargeant York; I also really had an intense experience as a child with Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and think it has changed the way a lot of people think, or at least got them TO think of something they hadn’t before. We also loved North to Freedom.
FYI, we read Sarah Plain and Tall (and then had fun watching the movie) a little over a year ago. I’m torn between leaving the shorter, easier books to the two younger ones–especially to encourage their individual reading skills–and enjoying them all together as read alouds. But I think I agree that they are not to be missed.
Thanks for the advice on Red Badge. I had a feeling about that, but I have picked it up myself twice only to find myself unable to get beyond the first page or two! (Too many other things to do and read.) I think we’ll wait on that one.
Also, you’re probably right about Sterling North; we loved his book Rascal.
Thanks!
Sue, I did not read any of the other responses as I am playing some serious “catch-up” on here today, so if I repeat someone elses response, please forgive me.
Our family REALLY enjoyed all of the books that you have listed. Having said that, I would pull these readers to make them read-alouds:
Books for my 5th & 6th graders:
- Abe Lincoln: Log Cabin to White House by Sterling North
- Robert E. Lee, Gallant Christian Soldier by Lee Roddy
- Stonewall Jackson: Loved in the South, Admired in the North by C. Ludwig
- Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
- Skylark by Patricia MacLachlan
- Caleb’s Story by Patricia MacLachlan
- Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt! by Jean Fritz
- George Washington Carver: Man’s Slave Becomes God’s Scientist by David Collins
- The Wright Brothers by George Sullivan
- The Singing Tree by Kate Seredy
- Team Moon by Catherine Thimmesh
Books for my 8th grader:
- Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt
- Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
- David Livingstone: African Explorer by John Hudson Tiner
- Across America on an Emigrant Train by Jim Murphy
- Louis Pasteur: Founder of Modern Medicine by John Hudson Tiner
- The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
- Sargeant York and the Great War by Richard Wheeler
- Mama’s Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor
- Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl
- Number the Stars by Lois Lowry *** (possibly this one as well)
- North to Freedom (or I am David) by Anne Holm
The ones chosen as family read-alouds are historic fiction, BUT they feel less like you’re reading off another history book than some of the others might. Also, I admit that I the ones I have highlighted have good memories of time spent with all of the kiddos curled around about listening, laughing, and crying together with the characters. Also, these do not HAVE to be completed by the end of the school year. You could read them together in the summer as well. 🙂
I have a question about this…
Do you do the ones you have chosen as read alouds in the same order of the readings?? For example, if my oldest is in the first book should I choose the next book listed as the read aloud, even if he isn’t finished or wait until he finishes?? Same question with my middle boy….we are in the first Abe Lincoln book, should the read aloud be the next in order or can I choose somewhere down the line?? And same thing…do I wait until we are finished with his book or can we read aloud at the same time??
Forgive my ignorance, but this is exactly where we are at and I need to incorporate the exact line thinking that Sue is…I’m sooo glad you posted this question, yeah!
That’s a good question. The funny thing is, in my notes I have “All??” written next to Caddie and the two MacLachlan books, so I obviously was considering them as read-alouds. I also noted the time period each book covers, so I think I would start off with Across Five Aprils and then do Caddie Woodlawn. They won’t necessarily line up with our chronology of history (meaning we likely will have moved on past the Civil War era while we’re still reading Caddie), but it really won’t matter. Then I will probably do Skylark and after that Roll of Thunder…..saving Caleb’s Story for the summer, maybe. We’ll have to see how things progress, but I don’t think we’ll mind lingering on the 1860’s a bit, especially since my oldest daughter wants to focus a lot on the Civil War this year. (I’m in heaven–one of my children shares a historical interest with me!)
I’m telling you, I love U.S. history, especially the early settlers and colonial/revolutionary eras. Last year, I often felt like a stand-up comic whose audience was staring blankly at her in response to her jokes….I would read passages or find interesting websites about the Pilgrims or General Washington or some such thing, and I’d be all excited about it. Most of the time, all I got from them was, oh….that’s nice….and they’d look at me like I was from another planet! Although they thoroughly enjoyed Squanto: Friend of the Pilgrims, and my son was enthusiastic about attending a military timeline event and battle reenactment at a local museum. He even commented as we walked through the displays, “Now, this is all the history I need!”
Sounds sooooo wonderful…I love history as well. My oldest would totally say the same thing, although he is reading a historical “young readers” book about the Donner Party.
I’m off to find a good read aloud and get started, yeah!
I should have noted that by “these” I meant the bolded ones.
I would read them off in the order that they are. They won’t match up exactly, but it will be ok.I’m so irritated….can’t quite explain why, but I didn’t choose to use the 7-9 grade reading list for my 7th grader, he’s using the 4-6th with several other of a higher level, so….
We won’t necessarily be able to read Roll of Thunder, Here Me Cry…I wonder if I could just make it a read aloud for 2nd semester??? And, have him read several others??? Any thoughts….I know it’s our decision and we can definitely use weekends, holidays, etc, but if we don’t do it this year he’ll be 17 by the time we wrap around again. I hate to miss it this go around. I have the book but was at the library earlier getting a different book and started reading the Foreward and Introduction…wow! what powerful words….I think we would really like this book in this year of studies….hmmmm. Any thoughts??
I would read them off in the order that they are. They won’t match up exactly, but it will be ok.
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