We studied the United States for the first time in 2019 when my oldest kids (twins) were in second grade. We found the best picture books of living stories about people and places in America! Following a chronological order, history fell into place for me for the first time. I used painters tape to create a long timeline down the hallway and we added to it as we learned.
Now, in 2023, my oldest kids are in fifth grade and I’m starting US history with my second grader and kindergartener. I’m thrilled to revisit favorite books and find new ones. I’m especially excited to tie in more indigenous American history this time around!
- Origins of Earth Day: Two Important Events
The origins of various holidays is always of special interest to me. I found these two picture books on the origins of Earth Day, both published in 2023! Surprisingly, they do not tell the same story. - Living US History Curriculum: How to Implement it
This is our second time going through a living US History Curriculum with picture books and experiences. I’ve learned so much from homeschooling this way for seven years now. Our First time The first time we went through US History, my twins were 7 years old… Read more: Living US History Curriculum: How to Implement it - Our Family Style Homeschool Curriculum for this year: 2024
Here are our family style homeschool curriculum picks: what we are starting and continuing in 2024. If I mention a specific curriculum, please know that I pick and choose from multiple curricula, modify everything, and add reads as I please. My oldest kids (twins) are in… Read more: Our Family Style Homeschool Curriculum for this year: 2024 - Top 6 Books About Thanksgiving in AmericaThis year, we’ve been focused on American History, including the study of indigenous American tribes. Here are the top 6 books about Thanksgiving in America, gleaned from various booklists on my blog. AND we’ve been continuing our country studies (currently central Africa), so finding the last… Read more: Top 6 Books About Thanksgiving in America
- Traditions of the Abenaki, Passamaquoddy, and PenobscotThe Abenaki lived in present-day Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and northern Massachusetts. Here I have compiled the stories that I found from the traditions of the Abenaki, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot. Wabanaki Confederacy in Maine “The Wabanaki Confederacy–the People of the First Light–comprises the Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Abenaki,… Read more: Traditions of the Abenaki, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot
- 4 Books about Rhode IslandOnly four books about Rhode Island, the smallest state in the United States! Don’t miss this booklist about the Native Americans from present-day Rhode Island: Stories from the Wampanoags and Narragansetts. R is for Rhode Island Red, read it for free at archive.org “With every turned… Read more: 4 Books about Rhode Island
- Top 12 Books about Alabama: The Heart of Dixie
We read these books about Alabama in preparation for our roadtrip to visit family there. We hadn’t been since before the kids were born, which means I know my history much better now compared to back then! We visited the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Ivy Green-the… Read more: Top 12 Books about Alabama: The Heart of Dixie - 3 More Books About Massachusetts: The Bay StateI think we covered a ton of ground here in other booklists. But I did find 3 more books about Massachusetts. Check out: M is for Mayflower, read it for free on archive.org “”M is for Mayflower” is a wonderful addition to our series of state… Read more: 3 More Books About Massachusetts: The Bay State
- 3 Famous People from ConnecticutHave you heard of a young girl who was Paul Revere’s Connecticut counterpart? How about the man who standardized American English? Know any composers from Connecticut? We read fascinating biographies highlighting these 3 famous people from Connecticut! N is for Nutmeg, link to read for free… Read more: 3 Famous People from Connecticut
- Stories from the New England Algonquian TribesWe dove into these stories from New England Algonquian tribes of the Wampanoag and Narragansett peoples along with our study of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. According to Legends of America, the New England Algonquian tribes “include Mohegan, Pequot, Narragansett, Wampanoag, Massachusett, Nipmuc, Pennacook, Abenaki, Maliseet, and… Read more: Stories from the New England Algonquian Tribes
- 5 Books about New YorkHere are our Top 5 Books about New York, plus a few chapter books! Also check out these related booklists: Stories from the Five Nations of the Iroquois and New Amsterdam: Before there was New York. Edited: SIX picture books! I found one more. Manhattan: Mapping… Read more: 5 Books about New York
- Top 5 books for an Overview of Native American HistoryI’ve been compiling and reading books that pertain to specific tribes as we study Native American History. Here are a few that I keep returning to for the big picture. Encyclopedia of American Indian History & Culture “More than 160 tribes are featured in this outstanding… Read more: Top 5 books for an Overview of Native American History
- Top 5 Books for New Jersey: The Garden StateTop 5 Books for New Jersey, plus a biography about poet William Carlos Williams. There were a couple books about the indigenous Lenni Lenape tribe specific to New Jersey. They are listed here: Lenni Lenape booklist. G is for Garden State, link to read for free… Read more: Top 5 Books for New Jersey: The Garden State
- Top 5 Books for Delaware: The First StateDuring our study of Delaware, we had the chance to visit Winterthur Gardens. We also looked back on our memories of seeing the horseshoe crab spawning in Delaware Bay. Learning about Caesar Rodney and Annie Jump Cannon rounded out this week of Delaware. Here are our… Read more: Top 5 Books for Delaware: The First State
- 10 Books for a Pennsylvania StudyWe read so many books about the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War but we were still able to find more books for this Pennsylvania study. This booklist includes books that introduce the state and the early history of Pennsylvania. Also be sure to check… Read more: 10 Books for a Pennsylvania Study
- 5 Books to Understanding the ConstitutionHere are 5 books that we found helpful to increase our understanding the Constitution, past and present. We the People We found it interesting to learn about all the quarreling and compromises leading up to the final draft of the Constitution. Cheney does a good job… Read more: 5 Books to Understanding the Constitution
- 3 Books about the Life of Poet Phillis WheatleyPhillis Wheatley was born around 1753 in what is perhaps present-day Senegal. She was enslaved and lived in Boston, Massachusetts with the Wheatley family where she was taught to read and write. Phillis became the first famous black poet in America, although she had to defend… Read more: 3 Books about the Life of Poet Phillis Wheatley
- More Interesting Books about the American Revolution
I always look for inspiring biographies in our studies of US and world studies. We enjoyed these picture and chapter books about the American Revolution. - Spies in the American Revolution: Betcha Didn’t Know!
WOW this was a fascinating topic, learning about spies in the American Revolution. We took a week-long detour to explore this topic! - Read Through American History with Leveled ReadersThese leveled readers are great for kids to practice their reading skills or just to have something easier on hand for fun reading. History + reading in one shot! These stories are a bit simplified and one-dimensional. When provided, the author’s notes give additional insight. I… Read more: Read Through American History with Leveled Readers
- Books about the other Founding FathersI’ll have to admit, I didn’t know much about the other Founding Fathers. These picture and short chapter books were engaging reads for us. Worst of Friends The subheading reads, “Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and the True Story of an American Feud.” Jefferson and Adams were… Read more: Books about the other Founding Fathers
- Stories from the Five Nations of the IroquoisThe Haudenosaunee are more commonly known as the Iroquois. Haudenosaunee means “People of the Longhouse.” The Iroquois Confederacy is comprised of five nations, with one added later. The original five nations of the Iroquois are the Cayuga, Seneca, Mohawk, Oneida, and Onondaga, who agreed to the… Read more: Stories from the Five Nations of the Iroquois
- The Beginning of the American RevolutionThe Battles of Lexington and Concord were the beginning of the American Revolution. The first volley of shots between the British and the minutemen at Concord is known as “the shot heard round the world.” We kicked off our study of the American Revolution with these… Read more: The Beginning of the American Revolution
- The Declaration of Independence and the Liberty BellInstead of focusing on various Fourth of July celebrations, this booklist is all about the Declaration of Independence in 1776. I was glad to find additional perspectives from women and an enslaved person. The second part of this booklist focuses on the Liberty Bell. Definitely watch… Read more: The Declaration of Independence and the Liberty Bell
- Tales and Traditions of the Lenni Lenape
The Lenni Lenape, also known as the Delaware, originally inhabited the current states of Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the southern part of New York. The Crow’s Tale, read it for free on archive.org “In the dark depths of winter, snow is falling and the animals… Read more: Tales and Traditions of the Lenni Lenape - Books about George Washington
These are the books about George Washington that we enjoyed. Some are overviews of his life, some focus on events during the Revolutionary War, and some on his presidency. I felt it was important to also learn about one of the Washington’s enslaved people, Ona Judge.… Read more: Books about George Washington - Booklist to learn about Colonial Life in America
Where on the timeline is “Colonial Life in America?” It’s from the earliest British colonies in America (Jamestown in 1607) until the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783. These are the books that we read for a glimpse into colonial life. Fort Mose The subheading… Read more: Booklist to learn about Colonial Life in America - Books about Benjamin Franklin, Inventor and Statesman
Benjamin Franklin is such a interesting character to study along with the history of colonial America. These books about Benjamin Franklin focus various facets of his personality: his inventions, his love for swimming, his inventions, and his role as statesman for the colonies. Picture Books Now… Read more: Books about Benjamin Franklin, Inventor and Statesman - New Amsterdam: Before there was New York
I made a handful of acquaintances in college who had attended the prestigious Stuyvesant High School in New York City. And now, I know the history behind the person, Peter Stuyvesant! Here are the books that we read about the Dutch pioneers that created the settlement… Read more: New Amsterdam: Before there was New York - The Mayflower and Pilgrims at Plymouth
These are the books we read to study the Pilgrims at Plymouth, Massachusetts. Who knew that they most likely did not land on Plymouth Rock? Most histories do not mention why the modern-day Thanksgiving celebration is offensive to Native Americans. The last book on the list… Read more: The Mayflower and Pilgrims at Plymouth - Learning the truth about Pocahontas and Jamestown Colony
Did you know there were multiple lost colonies between the Lost Colony of Roanoke and the Jamestown Colony? We’ve all seen the Disney version of Pocahontas, and then heard it was filled with falsehoods. But where is the true story of Pocahontas and Jamestown Colony? I… Read more: Learning the truth about Pocahontas and Jamestown Colony - Resources about the Lost Colony of Roanoke
The 2nd grade US history curriculum jumped from Columbus to Jamestown. Hold the phone! Did they forget about the Lost Colony of Roanoke? I can see how that might happen with a name like “the Lost Colony.” So…..how do I know about it? I happen to… Read more: Resources about the Lost Colony of Roanoke - Christopher Columbus Books: An Honest Look at the Real Story
What do you remember about Columbus from your own social studies classes? Take an honest look at the real story with these Christopher Columbus books. - How to Sail and Explore: The Age of Exploration
The next section in our study of American history was the Age of Exploration. We happened to be studying Portugal simultaneously which matched up perfectly! The Age of Exploration My older kids read Around the World in a Hundred Years: from Henry the Navigator to Magellan.… Read more: How to Sail and Explore: The Age of Exploration - How to Sail and Explore: Leif Ericsson the Viking
We began our study of American History with the first non-native explorers who reached the shores of America: the Vikings. Sail like a Viking Your Life as an Explorer on a Viking Ship is a fun book that puts the reader in the shoes of a… Read more: How to Sail and Explore: Leif Ericsson the Viking