Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
Caddie Woodlawn was one of those books that had to be read two chapters at a time before bed because the slightest pause was met with multiple cries of, “Oh please, Mom! Please! Just a little bit more!” I kept going for my sake as much as theirs! This book is similar to Little House…
Paddle-to-the-Sea by Holling C. Holling
I’m not sure if there’s a more delightful way to learn about the geography of the Great Lakes and the surrounding area, than with Paddle-to-the-Sea by Holling Clancey Holling! The story begins with a young boy who places his wood carving of an Indian in a canoe into a stream near Lake Superior. Underneath the…
Trial and Triumph by Richard Hannula
If I could only suggest one church history book to read aloud to your kids this year, it would be Trial and Triumph. In this well-researched, well-written living book, Richard Hannula has brought to life forty-six heroes of the faith. Beginning with Polycarp in the Early Church, and ending with Richard Wrumbrand, Trial and Triumph…
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
Elijah of Buxton is the first free born black child, the son of two freed slaves, who escaped to Buxton, Ontario, a little settlement just North of the US-Canada border. Elijah is a likeable character and a typical 11 year old boy in his often humorous adventures and antics. In every other way, he is…
Journey Through the Night by Anne De Vries
My husband bought our family copy of Journey Through the Night shortly after our first son was born. He had such fond memories of reading it himself as a kid, and wanted to pass along this piece of our Dutch heritage when the time was right. This work of historical fiction, commissioned by the Queen…
Tree in the Trail by Holling C. Holling
The kids unanimously agreed that after Paddle-To-The-Sea, Tree in the Trail was their next favorite Holling C. Holling geography book, followed by Seabird, and Minn of the Mississippi (we didn’t care so much for the last one, but looking forward to Pagoo next!) Tree in the Trail explores the history of the Great Plains by…
Twenty Texans by Betsy Warren
Twenty Texans: Historic Lives for Young Readers by Betsy Warren was another book we greatly enjoyed about the Lone Star state! It was recommended to me by a “born and raised” Texas mama, and it appealed to our whole crew as we learned about 20 mostly famous and a few lesser known Texans through the…
Journey to America by Sonia Levitin
Journey To America by Sonia Levitin was a much enjoyed read aloud from the Word War 2 Era. If you are concerned about the worst of history repeating itself in our children’s lifetime, this is an eye-opening book to read. Much of what happened in 2020 was happening in Germany, circa 1938. The story is…
The Secret of the Village Fool by Rebecca Upjohn
I was happy to find a copy of The Secret of the Village Fool by Rebecca Upjohn at the thrift store! We had borrowed it from the library a few times, and our youngest son particularly enjoys this true story of a Polish man who risks his life to hide a Jewish family during World…
Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison by Lois Lenski
This book has seen better days, but its worn cover, loose binding, and dog-eared pages speak volumes (no pun intended); Indian Captive, The Story of Mary Jemison by Lois Lenski is a well-loved living book that I’ve enjoyed since I was as young as our children are now! The story is always moving quickly, so…
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
Turning the last page of Johnny Tremain evoked audible sighs all around the room. What an experience to live in Boston during the latter half of the 1700s over the past few weeks! Author Esther Forbes introduced us to a plethora of interesting characters a few years before the Revolutionary War took place. They developed…
For Christ’s Crown by Richard Hannula
We listened to the audio version of For Christ’s Crown: Sketches of Puritans and Covenanters by Richard Hannula on our trips to and from church, and I wanted to recommend it heartily. Much like Hannula’s other well-loved collection of biographies, Trial and Triumph, the historical sketches in this book exalt our Lord and Savior Jesus…
