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I'm a wife to my "Mr. Right". A momma of five. A maker of slow food and simple living. A collector of memories, a keeper of books, and a champion for books that make memories. An addict who likes my half-and-half with a splash of coffee. A fractured pot transformed by the One Who makes broken things beautiful. I heart homeschooling, brake for libraries, and am glad you're here with me on the journey! Be sure to subscribe to my monthly newsletter. Or, follow along with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google +, Youtube, or Pinterest.

Top 10 American History Read Alouds

Every Tuesday, I've been joining up with the fabulous ladies of iHomeschool Network to offer up 10 lists of Top 10. This week we are focusing on our Top 10 favorite Read Alouds. When given that topic, my head nearly exploded! How in the world would I ever pick just 10?! I'm sort of known as the "Closet Librarian." Books are my best friends, especially great children's books.

So, I'm taking the liberty of narrowing my topic to my Top 10 American History Read Alouds for Young Learners...phew...that was a mouthful. (If you are a list purist and insist on knowing my Top 10 Favorite Read Alouds of all the time periods and genres, you can check out my list of favorite fictional chapter books. But, I'm warning you, there are more than 10!)

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Top 10 American History Read Alouds (+10 Bonus Titles) The Unlikely Homeschool

I have chosen living literature quality books...books that are not necessarily non-fiction but which are based upon an actual event or era in history...because so much can be learned about the life and times of a people group or event in history from a well-written story. Although most historical fiction is written for older students, even early learners (Pre-K through 3rd graders) can learn valuable historical lessons simply by snuggling on the couch with an age-appropriate historical fiction.

The first 10 books are picture books to be read aloud by mom or dad, while the last 10 are early reader chapter books to be enjoyed by emergent readers (or crazy thirty-something moms, like me, that just can't get enough of great children's books!) Many of these authors have written other wonderful historical fictions. So if you find one that you like, be sure to check out their other titles.

Here's my Top 10 American History Read Alouds in chronological order...

Top 10 Picture Books

American History Picture Books 


American History Picture Books 

2. The Hatmaker's Sign retold by Candace Fleming

American History Picture Books 

3. The Ox-Cart Man by Donald Fleming

American History Picture Books 

4. Apples to Oregon by Deborah Hopkinson & Nancy Carpenter

American History Picture Books 

5. Nine For California by Sonia Levitin

American History Picture Books 

6. The Promise Quilt by Candice F. Ransom

American History Picture Books 

7. Mailing May by Michael O. Tunnell

American History Picture Books 

8. Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming

American History Picture Books 

9. The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco

American History Picture Books 

10. The Bicycle Man by Allen Say


Top 10 Emergent Readers

American History Picture Books 

1. Good Hunting, Blue Sky by Peggy Parish

American History Picture Books 

3. Buttons for General Washington by Peter and Connie Roop

American History Picture Books 

4. Sam the Minuteman by Nathaniel Benchley


American History Picture Books 

6. The Josefina Story Quilt by Eleanor Goerr

American History Picture Books 


American History Picture Books 

8. Abe Lincoln's Hat by Martha Brenner

American History Picture Books 

9. Clara and the Bookwagon by Nancy Smiler Levinson

American History Picture Books



If you are looking for more American History titles for early learners, check out these GREAT American History authors:
  • Ingri and Edgar d'Aulaire
  • David A. Adler
  • Steven Kellogg
  • Alice Dalgliesh


For more great book suggestions, be sure to head to iHomeschool Network and check out the Massive Guide to Homeschool Reading Lists!


16 comments:

  1. Awesome! Thanks for the recommendations!

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    1. Wish I could've given soooo many more. Limiting my list to just 10 was very difficult!

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  2. This is sad. I have not heard of any of these books. Wait.. maybe Apples to Oregon, but we've never read it.

    Guess I'll be making a list for the library!

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    1. Hope you are able to find some of them, Heidi. Many of them are award winners, so it shouldn't be hard.

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  3. We are just starting American History and we really enjoyed Finding Providence too. I'll have to add some of the others to our list for history next year.

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    1. Does Tapestry of Grace use living literature? I'm not very familiar with it but have heard great things.

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    2. Does that mean real books vs. textbooks? Yes, that's one of my favorite things about it.

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  4. Your list brings back lots of memories of reading when my kids were small. Thanks for sharing.

    Kerry Beck
    http://HowToHomeschoolMyChild.com/blog/

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  5. Excellent list! So happy to see you have Boxes for Katje and the Ox-Cart Man (both amazing reads that I find many people don't know about). My daughter and I also enjoy The Little House on the Prairie series in picture book form (she's now old enough to read the chapter versions :)

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    1. We love the Little House picture books, too! My daughter is currently reading Farmer Boy (the chapter book version.) I think Boxes for Katje and Ox-Cart Man are my two all-time FAVORITE picture books.

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  6. So many of these have stood the test of time. My mama read them to us when we were homeschooled!! I can't wait to reread them in a very few years to my own little ones. My Kids Co-Op post is here: http://likemamalikedaughter.blogspot.com/2012/06/wonderfull-full-of-wonder-wednesday_13.html

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    1. I love a combination of old classics and new treasures, don't you? The classics never go out of style.

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  7. Jamie,
    How fun! Just wanted to invite you to stop by and link up your Children Book inspired post (New or Old) in our 6 Week Summer Reading Adventure http://inspiredbyfamilymag.com/2012/06/12/summer-reading-adventure-week-1-tickle-monster/.
    Have a great week!
    Mari
    www.inspiredbyfamilymag.com

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  8. wow what a great list. I have to admit, being from the UK I haven't heard of any of them. I will go and see if our library has any of them. Thanks for sharing on Kids Co-op

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