The Top History Series for Kids
History Series for Kids
The best way to get your kids hooked on history is by introducing them to great books. There is nothing more rewarding than watching your kiddos blow through entire book series because they just can't get enough!
Below are my top choices for young readers.
Dear America and My Name is America Series
Dear America is a historical fiction series for girls ages 8-14. Its counterpart, My Name is America, is geared toward boys.
Both series are written like journals or diaries, telling the story of a historical event or period through the eyes of a young, fictional character. There are multiple books in each series, written by various authors — writing quality does vary somewhat from book to book (here is a collection of reviews on individual books in the Dear America series from an Amazon customer.)
Overall, however, the series provides an engaging look at many different angles of America's history. Stories include the Civil War, the Titanic, the Transcontinental Railroad, American Indians, Lewis and Clark, the pilgrims, and much more.
My favorite book from the Dear America series: Dear America: Voyage On The Great Titanic.
My favorite book from the My Name Is America series: My Name Is America: The Journal Of William Thomas Emerson, A Revolutionary War Patriot.
The Magic Tree House
Some of the stories even have companion nonfiction “fact tracker” books.
Books by Jean Fritz
One renowned author of biographical and historical books for children was the award-winning Jean Fritz. Fritz only recently passed away at the age of 101.
She brought to life more than four dozen tales, including And Then What Happened, Paul Revere? and Traitor: The Case of Benedict Arnold.
The American Girl Series
American Girl publishes a number of books for young girls, including a classic collection of historical fiction series for ages 8+. Each of these BeForever series features one American girl, each from a different time period and setting in American history.
For example, Molly lives during World War II, Kirsten is a young immigrant from Sweden, and horse-loving Felicity’s stories take place during the Revolutionary War. The stories allow young readers to experience the feelings and impressions of a young girl from another era.
The ValueTale Series
The 40+ ValueTale books, which you can now find only secondhand or in libraries, are a fun way to introduce children to various outstanding historical figures. Each cartoon-like biography focuses on a specific, commendable character trait.
The simple, illustrated children's books are written by Dr. Spencer Johnson and Ann Donegan Johnson, and illustrated by Stephen Pileggi. The series includes titles such as The Value of Helping: The Story of Harriet Tubman and The Value of Patience: The Story of the Wright Brothers.
Uncle Eric Books
The nonfiction books are engaging and interesting. While not all the books are historical books, several are, including Ancient Rome: How it Affects You Today, World War I: The Rest of the Story and How it Affects You Today, and others. These are great for teen readers, and even parents who want to expand their understanding of their world. Several of the books also have study guides available.
More History—Beyond Series
Another great list, of individual children's books on history, can be found here.
From Our Home to Yours
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