Simple Joys of Family: Home in the Woods

Home in the Woods

by Eliza Wheeler

This book is based on the childhood of the author's grandmother, Marvel. Marvel's family is forced to move to a dilapidated shack in the woods after her father's death in 1932. Her mother cares for eight children on a small income, but through the seasons of the year, they learn to delight in their woods, their garden, each other. In the Author's Note, Ms. Wheeler writes:

What an incredibly hard time it must have been, and yet they recall the memories from those years as some of their best.

The illustrations are mostly green-tinged, as if they were alive with plants and trees. Scenes inside the house change from dusty brown to cozy warmth in the winter and open windows to the wide world in the spring.

This would be a delightful addition to a study of American History through Picture Books for the Great Depression.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Bookshop are affiliate links. I read a library copy of this book.

 

Beautiful and Enduring: The Hundred-Year Barn

The Hundred-Year Barn

by Patricia MacLachlan with art by Kenard Pak

This 2019 picture book came too late for our American History in Picture Books studies, but is definitely worthy of inclusion. 

The book begins with the building of a barn in 1919. It is a collaborative work of a whole community to create a beautiful functional barn that will last a hundred years. Then, as the book continues, we see the barn, animals, and people grow, change, adapt, and endure.

The cover calls the illustration "art," and I agree whole-heartedly. The figures and shapes are more symbolic than realistic. The warm tones throughout evoke feelings of nostalgia and the natural world.

As the barn lives it's hundred years, the book fits into a wide range of time periods for an American History study. I think it fits best with World War I and the years just following (as the barn is built in 1919). That would allow the future in the book to foreshadow what children might hear later on. 

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Bookshop are affiliate links. I borrowed this book from our library.

An Illustrated History of the Pilgrims: The Mayflower

The Mayflower: The Perilous Voyage that Changed the World

by Libby Romero

illustrated by Olga Baumert

This is a lovely new book on the Pilgrims made with the collaboration of Plimoth Plantation. The illustrations are beautiful, depicting details about life on board the Mayflower and on land in vibrant colors. Native Americans are portrayed with dignity. Some acts of the Pilgrims, like confiscating corn they found in empty villages, is described. They later make restitution by paying for the supplies.

It's more than a picture book, so you would have to read it aloud to younger children. A Level 2 or Level 3 student would be able to read it independently and narrate it.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Bookshop are affiliate links.

Exodusters in Kansas: Follow Me Down to Nicodemus Town

 

Follow Me Down to Nicodemus Town

by A. LaFaye, illustrated by Nicole Tadgell

In this bright and cheerful picture book, Dede's family struggles to make ends meet at sharecroppers but are delighted to one day be able to start a new life in Nicodemus, KS, a town built by and for African American settlers after the Civil War (one of multiple communities like it). 

I'm sorry to say both of our attempts to visit Nicodemus have been thwarted (by vehicle break-downs and pandemic shut-downs).

This book was published in 2019, so my own children missed out on reading it for lessons, but it would be a great addition to either a Kansas history study or American history in the 1870s.

I have not received anything in exchange for this post. I read a library copy of this book. Links to Bookshop are affiliate links.

American History through Picture Books Over the Years

Like many homeschooling families, we love picture books. So while the requirements for history at the kindergarten level are limited (as in, you really don't need to do anything at all), we have always read picture books either on their own, or in combination with other readings.

For First Son, I put together all of American History in picture books over the course of a single year. For First Daughter, we focused more selectively on the same decades her big brother was studying. Each year, the list changes slightly, adapting to the kids and my goals for the year.

This post is going to pull together the American History through Picture Books posts I've made in the past. If I ever have time to write posts for the others years, I'll come back and add to this list. My guess is that your local library is going to have plenty of these books on hand as well as many wonderful news ones you might find as you search for these.

As a reminder, I am an affiliate with both Bookshop and Amazon. Links to those sites may generate income for me at no additional cost to you.

2009-2010 (First Son in Kindergarten)

Overall Plan

North America before 1600

Colonial America through the Revolutionary War

Exploration, Expansion, and the Civil War

Reconstruction, Urbanization, and Industrialization (1865-1889)

The Progressive Era (1890-1913)

World War I and the Jazz Age (1914-1928) 

The Great Depression

Everything after the Great Depression

2012-2013 (First Daughter in Kindergarten)

Slavery and the Civil War

Progressive Era and Immigration

World War I, Women's Suffrage, and the 1920s

The Great Depression and World War II

Civil Rights, Hawai'i, Alaska, and Space Exploration

Additional Books

The Mayflower (1620)

Follow Me Down to Nicodemus Town (1870s)

The Hundred-Year Barn (1919-2019)

Home in the Woods (1930s / Great Depression)

American History Picture Books in 2012-2013 Post 5 of 5: Civil Rights, Hawai'i, Alaska, and Space Exploration

This is the fifth and last post in a series on the picture books we read along with our American History studies in 2012-2013 when First Son was in  third grade, First Daughter was in kindergarten, Second Daughter was four and Second Son wasn't paying attention.

The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles, illustrated by George Ford, is one of First Daughter's favorite books. Ruby is such a sweet and brave girl in the story.

Touch the Sky: Alice Coachman, Olympic High Jumper by Ann Malaspina, illustrations by Eric Velasquez, is the inspiring story of the first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal (in 1948). The illustrations are wonderful and there are pictures of Alice on the last couple of pages. This is a great book to read when talking about sports, perseverance, racism, and hope.

Akiak: A Tale From the Iditarod by Robert J. Blake is the book we read to celebrate Alaska joining the United States. It's the exciting tale of a one dog who was determined to finish the grueling Iditarod, even after she was injured.

I really wanted to read a Hawai'ian history picture book to the girls to celebrate it as the fiftieth state, but I couldn't find anything appropriate at our library. I did give First Son The Last Princess: The Story of Princess Ka'iulani of Hawai'i by Fay Stanley, illustrated by Diane Stanley, to read independently before he made a notebook page of Princess Ka'iulani. The story of Hawai'i's annexation is a sad one, I think. This book is excellent, but is much more of a proper biography than a picture book, too detailed for the girls.

Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Bryan Collier, is the biography I chose to read to the children. It's a little gritty for young children, but my girls didn't seem to mind. After our unit, I discovered I Have a Dream, which is one of my favorite picture books. We also read We March by Shane W. Evans, which gives a powerful witness not only to the March in 1963, but to our civic responsibilities and freedoms to peacefully demonstrate.

I've just recently discovered Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles, illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue, which tells of the friendship between a white boy and a black boy in 1964, after the Civil Rights Act passed into law. For older children, this could be a good introduction to a discussion about how changing the law was in some way just the beginning, that the struggle for real change meant changing hearts and attitudes.

Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney, is one of my favorite picture books. I think it puts Rosa Parks's actions in perspective for young children. We also have the book Rosa by Nikki Giovanni. I love Bryan Collier's illustrations in this book, but I think the text doesn't do Rosa Parks justice; she was an intelligent and savvy woman who coordinated with others an effort to force Montgomery to change.

Reaching for the Moon by Buzz Aldrin with paintings by Wendell Minor is an autobiography written for young children. I thought it was a little text heavy for my girls, so I asked First Son to read it independently before creating a notebook page on Buzz Aldrin. I enjoyed reading it myself and found it inspiring, as I'm sure the author intended. The illustrations are marvelous.

One Small Step: Celebrating the First Men On the Moon by Jerry Stone is full of bits of paper that unfold like a scrapbook. It's overflowing with information on the astronauts and the space program. It would have been too overwhelming to read out loud to the girls, but I put it in our book basket for First Son to peruse at his leisure.

Posts in This Series - I'll update this list with links to all the others after they post.
#1: Slavery and the Civil War
#2: Progressive Era and Immigration
#3: World War I, Women's Suffrage, and the 1920s
#4: The Great Depression and World War II
#5: Civil Rights, Hawai'i, Alaska, and Space Exploration (this post)

You can see some of the books we read on this era when First Son was in kindergarten here. In addition, you can find links to all the picture books we read through American history in 2009-2010, when First Son was in kindergarten. 

American History Picture Books in 2012-2013 Post 4 of 5: The Great Depression and World War II

This is the fourth post in a series on the picture books we read along with our American History studies in 2012-2013 when First Son was in  third grade, First Daughter was in kindergarten, Second Daughter was four and Second Son wasn't paying attention.

Leah's Pony by Elizabeth Friedrich, illustrated by Michael Garland, is the sweet story of a girl's sacrifice for her family. There are a number of picture books featuring "penny auctions," but this one is my favorite.

Angels in the Dust by Margot Theis Raven, illustrated by Roger Essley, is based on a true story of a woman growing up in Oklahoma during the worst of the dust storms. It's description of the daily lives of people living through in the Dust Bowl is real, including the death of her mother from dust pneumonia. The girl and her sister create a dust angel, like a snow angel, to remember her mother. The times were hard, but the family was together and there are examples of how all the people helped each other live.

Hannah and the Perfect Picture Pony: A Story of the Great Depression by Sara Goodman Zimet, illustrations by Sandy Ferguson Fuller, is (I think) based on a true story of the author's grandmother of one day when a photographer with a pony came to the neighborhood, offering to take pictures for a small fee. The illustration at the end showing a grandmother holding a real photograph of a sweet little girl on a pony. It's a fine story but the illustrations were just alright and there were so many books to read! So I didn't read it aloud, but I did put it in the book basket because I thought the girls would like to see the pony.

Born and Bred in the Great Depression by Jonah Winter and Kimberly Bulcken Root is about growing up in East Texas during the Great Depression. It is full of information about what life was like for the large family without indoor plumbing and electricity. There's one scene in which the mother cries, "Oh Lord, we're all gonna die!" while a storm rages above the family huddled in the storm cellar that seemed a little scary for my kids who do have to huddle in a storm shelter sometimes, so I decided to leave this one in the book basket. It's a really nice book, though, for people with older kids or ones that won't remember that particular phrase the once every year or so they have to run to the storm shelter. The last page is especially good - the text and the illustration.

Uncle Jed's Barbershop by Margaree King Mitchell, illustrated by James Ransome, is one of my favorite picture books. Uncle Jed saves for many years for his own barbershop before he loses everything during the Great Depression. Undaunted, he begins saving again. It's a wonderful book of perseverance and good stewardship, including the important truth that the people we love are always more important than money.

Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride by Pam Munoz Ryan, pictures by Brian Selznick, is just a fun story of Eleanor Roosevelt and Amelia Earhart and a crazy ride they took together. It's fictionalized, but based on a true story. Little girls will love it because it's crazy and fun, but the women were also strong and courageous (though that doesn't play into this story quite as much).

Eleanor story and pictures by Barbara Cooney is a biography of Eleanor Roosevelt, whose young life was not a very pleasant one, though quite inspiring. I decided against reading it aloud, though I think I will the next time we come around to this time in American history. I left it in the book basket for the kids to look through.

Mr. Williams by Karen Barbour is one of my favorite picture books. It's about a simple man with a hard life, but one lived fully and appreciated.

A new book I've discovered is Mrs. Harkness and the Panda by Alicia Potter, illustrated by Melissa Sweet, which is now one of my favorite pictures books. Set in the 1930s, it shows an era of adventure and discovery when most of the focus was on poverty, hunger, and dust.

Across the Blue Pacific: A World War II Story by Louise Borden, illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker, was my first choice of a World War II story to share with the children. Told from the perspective of a young girl at home who connects with a single Naval officer in a way that made the far away war more real, it's a book that was still focused on the war experience of children. It is a little sad, but nothing I thought the children would not appreciate. Sadly, it was checked out during our study.

Lisette's Angel by Amy Littlesugar, paintings by Max Ginsburg, is a book set in Normandy. The arrival of World War II has shrouded Lisette's world in shadows and fear of the soldiers. Her family is relatively safe, though they face hardship, but a friend is arrested and shown held at gunpoint by soldiers. The arrival of an angel, though, changes everything: an American paratrooper who floats down into their yard. Lisette and her brother help him, becoming a part of the D-Day invasion. This could be a difficult book to read to young children, but my girls were entranced, especially by the beautiful illustrations.

Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot: A True Story of the Berlin Airlift and the Candy that Dropped from the Sky by Margot Theis Raven, illustrated by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen, is another great book connecting a European child with American servicemen. Unfortunately, our library has only one copy and it seems there are always people waiting for it so I didn't request it for our studies.

The Farm Summer 1942 by Donald Hall, pictures by Barry Moser, is the quiet story of a young boy who lives with his grandparents on a farm in New Hampshire while his father was on a destroyer in the Navy and his mother worked for the government. It shows clearly what life was like for the farm families at that intersection of modern and more traditional farm life. I love this book, but it is a little slow for young children, with lots of text. The illustrations are lovely, though, and it is a nice way to counteract a lot of the scarier stories of World War II. There was still sunshine and family and quiet somewhere during that time of war.

Wind Flyers by Angela Johnson, illustrated by Loren Long, tells the true story of the Tuskegee Airmen in World War II. It focuses more on the joy of one man (the narrator's uncle) when he flies rather than the harshness of the war. It's a great book to share, incorporating history, aviation, racism, but most of all, the celebration of the achievement of a dream.

Mama Played Baseball by David A. Adler, illustrated by Christ O'Leary, tells of Amy's mother who becomes a professional baseball player during World War II. It's a sweet little story and one my girls enjoyed. The illustrations are done in a style reminiscent of 1940s war posters.

So Far from the Sea by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Chris K. Soentpiet, tells of a visit to Manzanar by a family whose parents had lived in the camp during World War II. In the end, I didn't cover the Japanese internship camps with the children this time through American History, but this would be a wonderfully illustrated poignant book to accompany that discussion. It manages to convey the isolation, fear, confusion, and anger of the Japanese-Americans without being too overwhelming for children.

Another book that touches on the Japanese internment camps is The Bracelet by Yoshiko Uchida, illustrated by Joanna Yardley. This story focuses on the confusion and anxiety of a family as they are being moved to the internment camps, but also highlights a special friendship between Emi, a young Japanese girl, and her white friend. The book ends soon after they arrive at the camp, so it doesn't talk about what life was like there, but it does show the strength and courage of the Japanese people who lived there as well as a good lesson on the importance of our relationships rather than connections to material belongings.

The Unbreakable Code by Sara Hoagland Hunter, illustrated by Julia Miner, is the fascinating true story of the Navajo code talkers that risked their lives in the Pacific in World War II. I put this in the book basket for First Son to read on his own because I didn't think the girls would be very interested.

One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World War II written and illustrated by Lita Judge is a sweet tale of reaching out to people in a war-ravaged Europe after World War II. I put it in our book basket for them to look through.

Posts in This Series - I'll update this list with links to all the others after they post.
#1: Slavery and the Civil War
#2: Progressive Era and Immigration
#3: World War I, Women's Suffrage, and the 1920s
#4: The Great Depression and World War II (this post)
#5: Civil Rights, Hawai'i, Alaska, and Space Exploration

Some of the books we've read set during the Great Depression are here and some post-1930s picture  books are here. In addition, you can find links to all the picture books we read through American history in 2009-2010, when First Son was in kindergarten.

American History Picture Books in 2012-2013 Post 3 of 5: World War I, Women's Suffrage, and the 1920s

This is the third post in a series on the picture books we read along with our American History studies in 2012-2013 when First Son was in  third grade, First Daughter was in kindergarten, Second Daughter was four and Second Son wasn't paying attention.

Gold Rush Winter by Claire Rudolf Murphy, illustrated by Richard Waldrep, is an early chapter book rather than a picture book, but it could easily be read aloud to young children. It's based on the real life of a girl who joined her father in Alaska during the Gold Rush. It's entertaining and informative and a good addition to any study of Alaska or the Gold Rush.

Emily by Michael Bedard, pictures by Barbara Cooney, is a story of Emily Dickinson, one of my favorite poets, illustrated by Barbara Cooney, one of my favorite illustrators, so I can't explain why it wasn't on my schedule for the year. It's a fictionalized account of a friendship between a neighbor child and the poet that shows how she lived and reluctantly interacted with others. It would make a wonderful complement to any study of Dickinson.

Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel, pictures by Melissa Sweet, is a new book (published in 2013) so we didn't read it when we studied this era, but it's a fantastic book. It's about immigration, women's rights, unions, industrialization, and tells the inspiring story of a courageous young woman. Combine this book with a discussion of continuing dangerous conditions in factories in other parts of the world and you could have quite the conversation.

Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children by Jan Pinborough, illustrated by Debby Atwell, is not a book we read during our studies because I hadn't read it yet (it was published in March 2013), but it's now one of my favorite picture books. I particularly think it would fit in well with a reading through American history because it offers a more joyful glimpse of the era. Read with Brave Girl, younger readers could contrast the two books and see that while some are courageous and walk picket lines, others are courageous and build libraries. We need both.

I didn't read The Donkey of Gallipoli: A True Story of Courage in World War I by Mark Greenwood, illustrated by Frane Lessac, to the children because I really tried to focus more on what was happening in America than overseas during the wars. (This was American history; we also cover the wars in Western history.) Also, this story is probably more appropriate for older elementary students or even middle school students, but it's a marvelous true tale of bravery and the devastation of war. The illustrations are brilliant, filling every bit of every page with color.

When Esther Morris Headed West: Women, Wyoming, and the Right to Vote by Connie Nordhielm Wooldridge, illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers, tells the story of Esther Morris, the first woman to hold elected office in the United States. What I like best about the book is how the focus is not just on Esther Morris, but on the man who believed women should be able to vote and the lawyer who changed his mind when he saw how well Esther managed herself as a judge. The book seemed to have a touch more law and politics than I thought my girls would enjoy, so I just put it in the book basket this time around.

I Could Do That!: Esther Morris Gets Women the Vote by Linda Arms White, pictures by Nancy Carpenter, is a book on Esther Morris that was better for my young girls. Esther is brave, competent, and doesn't get discouraged even when she doesn't get her way. The phrase "I could do that!" is one children will eagerly adopt.

Mama Went to Jail for the Vote by Kathleen Karr, illustrated by Malene Laugesen, tells the story of the women's suffrage movement in the early 1900s from the point of view of the daughter of a suffragist. While a fictionalized account, it gives a good idea of what life was like for the women in the movement, including supervising the cook and dinner for their husbands. It's full of high ideals and wonderful illustrations.

A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant, illustrations by Melissa Sweet, is a biography of Horace Pippen I discovered after our year was done, but it would have been a great addition to our studies. Pippen was inspiring as a person and the illustrations are evocative of his work. (Melissa Sweet has illustrated so many wonderful books!)

Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue  by Anna Harwell Celenza is a fun look at music composition as Gershwin is composing Rhapsody in Blue. It focuses more on the process of the composition rather than technical terms or everything that influenced him, but it's perfect for young children as an introduction to much of the music of 1920s America. The included CD is a fantastic end to the book as children are prepared to listen by the story. The piece itself is also one most children will enjoy, of course. I love the illustrations.

Waiting for the Evening Star by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Susan Jeffers, tells of two brothers growing up in Vermont just before World War II. Their lives shaped by the seasons and the farm, by the community in which they lived, and by their dreams. The older brother, Luke, dreams of traveling and seeing the world, and eventually joins the Navy to fight in the war. Though he doesn't actually die in the book, his brother imagines that he will never return as he watches the train carrying his brother leave. It is bittersweet, both for the brother who remains and for the kind of childhood they had that has in many ways disappeared.

The Great Serum Race: Blazing the Iditarod Trail by Debbie S. Miller, illustrations by Jon Van Zyle, is a non-fiction book on the events behind the Iditarod, the race in 1925 to bring antitoxin serum to Nome, Alaska, where diptheria raged. There is a lot of text, so I put this in our book basket for First Son to read if he wanted, but I did not want to neglect it in this post because the illustrations are so amazing. The text is good, too, and the story is both exciting and inspiring. This is an excellent book for any child interested in Alaska, medicine, tests of endurance, or dog sledding.


Posts in This Series - I'll update this list with links to all the others after they post.
#1: Slavery and the Civil War
#2: Progressive Era and Immigration
#3: World War I, Women's Suffrage, and the 1920s (this post)
#4: The Great Depression and World War II
#5: Civil Rights, Hawai'i, Alaska, and Space Exploration

Here's a post on the books we read about World War I and the Jazz Age when First Son was in kindergarten. In addition, you can find links to all the picture books we read through American history in 2009-2010, when First Son was in kindergarten. 

American History Picture Books in 2012-2013 Post 2 of 5: Progressive Era and Immigration

This is the second post in a series on the picture books we read along with our American History studies in 2012-2013 when First Son was in  third grade, First Daughter was in kindergarten, Second Daughter was four and Second Son wasn't paying attention.

First of all, I forgot to mention a fun book in my last post on Slavery and the Civil War, Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek: A Tall, Thin Tale (Introducing His Forgotten Frontier Friend) by Deborah Hopkinson with pictures by John Hendrix. We didn't read this for our study because I found it later, but it's a fun tale of Abraham Lincoln's youth, when he was saved from near-certain death by a friend. It humorously reminds us that we don't know everything about the past from the tales that come down to us. What I love most about it, though, is the thought at the end that even the actions of a child can lead to great things in the future.

Going West by Jean Van Leeuwen, illustrated by Thomas B. Allen, is a nice book about a pioneer family traveling west by covered wagon to the prairie. The weather is harsh, the neighbors are few, but the family makes a home.

Two Scarlet Songbirds: A Story of Anton Dvorak by Carole Lexa Schaefer, illustrated by Elizabeth Rosen, tells of Dvorak's visit to Iowa in 1893 and his composition of his American Quartet. It's fictionalized, but fun to read. I read this again to the children recently as part of our music appreciation. Then we listened to some of the piece on Spotify.

I put in our book basket Ten Mile Day and the Building of the Transcontinental Railroad by Mary Ann Fraser. That's a fine book, but just last year Brian Floca published Locomotive. The illustrations are stunning and the text is as much a part of the story as it tells the story. The endpapers are full of additional information on the first transcontinental railway line as well as the engine itself. I can completely understand why it won the Caldecott Medal and think it would be perfect for this kind of study. You might need to pause and finish on another day with younger children (just watch to see if their interest is lagging) because it is such a rich book.

I found two biographies of George Washington Carver I liked. I finally decided to ask the children which the wanted to hear. Based purely on the front cover, First Daughter requested A Weed Is a Flower: The Life of George Washington Carver written and illustrated by Aliki. I also really enjoyed A Man for All Seasons: The Life of George Washington Carver by Stephen Krensky, illustrated by Wil Clay. They convey similar information and are both inspiring.

When Jessie Came Across the Sea by Amy Hest, illustrated by P.J. Lynch, is one of my favorite picture books. I love it and any excuse to read it.

Journey to Ellis Island: How My Father Came to America by Carol Bierman, illustrated by Laurie McGaw, is the true story of the author's father who immigrated in 1922. It's written for older elementary or even middle school students and is full of personal stories and facts about Ellis Island, the people who passed through it, and the lives they led in America. The lovely illustrations are combined with reproductions of photographs. I put this in the book basket for the kids to look through. If I had read it aloud, I would have spread it over a few days.


Posts in This Series - I'll update this list with links to all the others after they post.
#1: Slavery and the Civil War
#2: Progressive Era and Immigration (this post)
#3: World War I, Women's Suffrage, and the 1920s
#4: The Great Depression and World War II
#5: Civil Rights, Hawai'i, Alaska, and Space Exploration

While First Son was in kindergarten, we read these books on Reconstruction, Urbanization, and Industrialization and these book on the Progressive Era. In addition, you can find links to all the picture books we read through American history in 2009-2010, when First Son was in kindergarten. 

American History Picture Books in 2012-2013 Post 1 of 5: Slavery and the Civil War

Last year, when First Son was in third grade, we studied American History from slavery through modern times. I used a hodge-podge of books with First Son (based around what I could find at our local library). Because I have an insatiable love of picture books, I selected about one a week to read to the girls that was set in the same time period. For much of the year, First Son read these books to the girls for me. It was necessary because I was working much more than I had planned and while I was a little sad to miss out on the time with them, I think it forced him to pay attention to books that were still good for him and interesting which he might otherwise have ignored.

I'm going to break the year into a series of five posts because otherwise I think the number of books would be overwhelming. These are the picture books we read covering the time of slavery in America and the Civil War. We spent twelve weeks on this era.

First Son was in third grade, First Daughter was in kindergarten, Second Daughter was four and Second Son wasn't paying attention.

Priscilla and the Hollyhocks by Anne Broyles, illustrated by Anne Alter, is the story of a young slave with a Cherokee owner who joins the family on the Trail of Tears. Despite being a difficult topic for young children, this story focuses on finding a way to remain a "person" in slavery, seeking out the loveliness of creation, and a few people who blessed those who were suffering. It's a wonderful book.

Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman by Alan Schroeder, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, is a tale of Harriet Tubman when she was just a child. It's a rich look at her life as a slave child, masterfully illustrated by Mr. Pinkney. The harsh treatment by her masters is contrasted with the love and comfort she receives from her family. This is a great way to begin or continue a discussion of slavery with young children.

Follow the Drinking Gourd written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter is a popular choice for this subject. For those who are interested, the music and lyrics for the folk song are included in the back of the book. If I were reading it now, we'd listen to a version of the song on Spotify.

Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers written and illustrated by Karen B. Winnick is a fun tale of a young girl who wrote a letter to Abraham Lincoln, encouraging him to grow whiskers. It is based on a true story and is one of encouragement to all young girls. Most of all, it shows some of the generosity, warmth, and humor of President Lincoln.

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by James Ransome, is one of my favorite books, even if the idea of a quilt showing the way to freedom is a little unlikely. Clara is a slave taught to be a seamstress so she can work in the house rather than the fields. Working in the kitchen, she often hears stories of the fields and landmarks around and quilts together a map to freedom. James Ransome's illustrations are lovely as always. (Some nice member of PaperBackSwap.com sent me a copy signed by the illustrator.)

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, is a fantastic book. The lyrical text is perfectly combined with the glowing illustrations by Mr. Nelson. What I love most about this book is how the strength and courage of Harriet Tubman shine throughout the book.

Under the Quilt of Night by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by James E. Ransome, is the work of one of my favorite authors and one of my favorite illustrators. The text briefly tells of a group's journey from slavery to freedom in Canada along the underground railroad. The note at the end is helpful. The illustrations, of course, are wonderful.

Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, was a favorite in our family. Though it does not shy away from the harsh realities of a slave's life (his wife and children are sold away from him), the idea of mailing yourself to freedom is ridiculous enough to startle and delight children. And it worked! Mr. Nelson's illustrations are as perfect as always.

A Place Called Freedom by Scott Russell Sanders, illustrated by Thomas B. Allen, is inspired by the true story of the founding of Lyles Station in Indiana. It's a sweet, simply story that emphasizes family, perseverance, and hard work. The families escape slavery but the focus is on how they create their own lives after they reach free soil. The illustrations are among my favorites.
 
The Silent Witness by Robin Friedman, illustrated by Claire A. Nivola, is such an interesting book. The McLean family was coincidentally involved both in the battle in Manassas and the final surrender in Appomattox. Lula's rag doll was present at the surrender and carried off by Colonel Moore. Though the events in the book are frightening (as was the Civil War), this is a "safe" story of a family's experience of the war because they always seem to escape real harm. Other than the kidnapping of the rag doll, which you can now see on display in Appomattox.

Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco tells the story of two men of the Union army during the Civil War, one separated from his unit, the other running from his unit. A young white enlisted man learns the true reason for the war. There is so much sadness in this book. I finally did when First Son was in third grade and First Daughter was in kindergarten because the ending is so powerful. First Daughter was a little sad, but the uplifting ending was enough to overcome her sorrow. I still recommend parents read it first to make sure it would be appropriate.

The Last Brother: A Civil War Tale by Trinka Hakes Noble, illustrated by Robert Papp, is a beautifully illustrated book of a young bugler who follows his 16-year-old brother into the Civil War after receiving news that their two older brothers had been killed in the war. Gabe faces his first battle at Gettysburg. The book is full of details about daily army life at that time, for a bugler, and touches on just about every important topic in war. Gabe happens to meet a Confederate bugler in the woods and becomes friendly. In the battle, then, he faces the harsh reality of someone he knows on both sides of the battlefield, something not uncommon in the Civil War. This was a hard book to read aloud to my young children, but they were all enthralled. It's one worth sharing, especially with older children.

The Cemetery Keepers of Gettysburg by Linda Oatman High, illustrations by Laura Francesca Filippucci, is the tale of the family that cared for the cemetery at Gettysburg. It's an illuminating look at the battle from the point of view of bystanders in danger. Parts of it are frightening and distressing, so it's important to read it before sharing with young or sensitive children. This is based on a true story and one of the things I love about this book is the bravery of average people and very young people in the face of responsibility.

Wagon Wheels by Barbara Brenner, pictures by Don Bolognese, is one of my favorite books. It's an early chapter book (An I Can Read Level 3 book) in which a black man and his three sons move to Kansas (hooray for Kansas) to the free town of Nicodemus. Their mother died on the journey. They endure harsh weather and hunger. They are saved by the Osage Indians. Their father moves on to seek a better homes, leaving the three young boys (with neighbors near-by). They care for each other, support each other, and help each other on a 150 mile journey to join their father. It's amazing how much wonder, strength, courage, and familial love is packed in this short book, all based on true stories. The pictures are enjoyable, too.

A Band of Angels by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Raul Colon, is inspired by the true story of the Jubilee Singers at Fish School, which served former slaves. This was a wonderful story for the end of our unit, touching on the courage of freed slaves, the desire for an education, and their dedication to each other. You can also read about the Fisk Jubilee Singers on their website.

Though I didn't read it with my children, a new book I found at our library called Light in the Darkness: A Story about How Slaves Learned in Secret by Lesa Cline-Ransome and illustrated by James Ransome would be a good one to include. It focuses on the great desire of some slaves to learn to read, risking capture and beatings to attend pit schools.

Posts in This Series - I'll update this list with links to all the others after they post.
#1: Slavery and the Civil War (this post)
#2: Progressive Era and Immigration
#3: World War I, Women's Suffrage, and the 1920s
#4: The Great Depression and World War II
#5: Civil Rights, Hawai'i, Alaska, and Space Exploration

You can find some more books on the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln on this post from First Son's kindergarten year. Here are links to all the picture books we read through American history that year (2009-2010). These are some of my favorite books and I'm excited to be planning a return to reading through American history in picture books as part of our American history studies next year.

Reading Through American History with Picture Books

When First Son was in kindergarten three years ago, we read through American history in picture books. Two or three times a week, we read picture books set in a particular time period. The books selected were mainly based on what I found in library searches and a few I had lying around; I didn't buy anything, but we were still able to read some wonderful books. I've been searching through the blog to find the particularly good ones to include for First Daughter's kindergarten year in 2012-2013. Next year, we won't read quite so many. Instead, I'm trying to find one picture book to read each week that will correspond to First Son's American history studies (Civil War through...well, as far as we get, but I'm hoping to get to September 11, 2001).

Well, I discovered that my blog records of our American history reading are rather hard to navigate, so I decided to write a post to help everyone, myself included, find them more easily.

For every time period, I was looking for living picture books. I was not particularly concerned with imparting factual knowledge like dates or big events. I wanted beautiful picture books that would delight us first and give us a feel for life in the time period second.

August and September: Pre-1600 North America - This group is mainly composed of Native American legends but also includes Columbus.

October: Colonial America through the Revolutionary War - the Mayflower, the Pilgrims, Paul Revere, Molly Pitcher, Johnny Appleseed and George Washington

November and December: Exploration, Expansion, and the Civil War - more tall tales, Sequoyah, Ox-Cart Man, the California Gold Rush, the Underground Railroad, and Abraham Lincoln

January: Reconstruction, Urbanization, and Industrialization (1865-1889) - The Statue of Liberty, immigration, and saving the buffalo

February: The Progressive Era (1890-1913) - Helen Keller, Least of All, George Washington Carver and more immigration

March: World War I and the Jazz Age (1914-1928) - The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Duke Ellington

April: The Great Depression - perseverance, family, and skyscrapers

May: Everything after the Great Depression to the present - John Steuart Curry, Art Tatum, Ella Fitzgerald, and some recommendations for later books

I spent a little time updating these posts, fixing the formatting and a few links that weren't working. I apologize to anyone who received updates in their readers for posts that are three years old.

UPDATE: Here's a link to the last post of the 2012-2013 picture books we used for First Daughter's kindergarten year. It includes links to all five of the posts.

History & Culture: Everything After the Great Depression

As we approached the end of the school year, I just started reading books in roughly chronological order up to the present time. I figured we'd keep reading a few a week until we ran out of books or the baby was born. That didn't quite happen, but here are the books we did read.

Lightship by Brian Floca is a nice little book about ships that anchored near dangerous areas and acting as floating lighthouses. The illustrations are captivating, though my kids were mostly interested in the "head." I'm not sure this book contributed greatly to our understanding of history, but I like it, especially how the people who man the lightships are shown to be brave by their actions.

John Steuart Curry: The Road Home by Alice Bertels tells of the childhood and career of one of Kansas's own artists. Many of his paintings are shown in the book (and we can see a few in local museums). I'm sure we'll be reading this book again, certainly before visiting the State House in Topeka (doesn't every school-child see their state house at least once?) where his dramatic murals are on display. I have read and enjoyed this book a few times, but the kids were not overly impressed. Perhaps after seeing the murals they'll be more interested.

The Farm Summer 1942 by Donald Hall should be brought back to print. It tells of a young boy who lives with his grandparents in New Hampshire one summer while his mother is working for the war in New York City. Though he travels by plane and train, his grandparents still use their horse and wagon. The book bridges well the generations by describing the upgrades to the farmhouse since his father was a boy. Peter learns to help his grandfather on the farm. In sweet simple sentences we see him grow to love his summer life, while still yearning for his parents and friends in California. This book kept the attention of First Son pretty well (the second or third time we've read it), but it was not action-oriented enough for First Daughter. She'll get there.

Crow Call by Lois Lowry, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline, builds on Ms. Lowry's own experiences reconnecting with her father after his time in the war. Nothing much happens. They spend the morning together, planning to hunt crows but simply enjoying the morning instead. The illustrations are marvelous, soft and evoking the shyness the girl and her father feel for each other. I love how this book attempts to show their relationship growing. (Some reviewers think it fails.) I read this book because I like it, but I wasn't surprised the children were not too interested. The only part they liked at all was when the father and daughter were making silly animal noises for each other.

One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World War II by Lita Judge is the story of a little girl whose family connections to Germany develop into an effort to provide one thousand pairs of shoes along with other necessities to struggling families in Europe. The wonderful illustrations are complimented with pictures of real items the author discovered in her attic and based on the memories of her mother, the child in the story. I liked this story for our reading because it gives some idea of life after the war without being too harsh for little ones. I had also considered Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot by Margot Theis Raven, but opted against it when there was a long wait at the library. (It would also have been the only book we read that wasn't set in the United States or the Americas.)

Piano Starts Here: The Young Art Tatum by Robert A. Parker tells of Art Tatum's youth. I enjoyed this story because it presented poverty without dwelling on it and showed Art's love of the piano and his music despite his blindness. The kids were not overwhelmingly interested in the book and even less interested in the music even as I pointed out the pieces that are named in the book.

Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney, was not much of a greater hit with the kids. I think First Son was intrigued by Scat Cat, who narrates Ella's life. Ms. Pinkney does a wonderful job incorporated some of the rhythm of Ella's music into the language of the book. Again, though, the kids did not love the story and were not interested in the CDs I requested from the library.



At this point, we stopped our "official" lessons for kindergarten. Because I've already done the work, here's the list of additional history books I had selected:

1. Rosa by Nikki Giovanni
2. Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King Jr. (Scholastic Bookshelf) by Jean Marzollo
3. Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport
4. The Story Of Ruby Bridges (Scholastic Bookshelf) by Robert Coles
5. The Bat Boy And His Violin (Aladdin Picture Books) by Gavin Curtis
6. You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?! by Jonah Winter
7. Teammates by Peter Golenbock
8. Reaching for the Moon by Buzz Aldrin

I may still read these with the kids before we have to return them to the library, but I haven't yet so I'm not sure how much they will like them. For myself, I recommend them.