Communities Communities > historical
Abraham's Battle
An ex-slave named Abraham, a young Confederate soldier, and a girl from Gettysburg meet in the cataclysmic days of the Civil War battle. Abraham meets Lincoln after the President gives his famous address.
Author: Banks, Sara Harrell |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
African Princess
Illustrated with paintings, photographs, and artifacts, six biographies tell us about royal African women from Ancient Eygpt to the present: Hatshepsut of Egypt; Njinga of Matamba; Taytu Tetal of Ethiopia; Amina of Zaria; Tata Ajache of Dahomey; and Eliz
Author: Hansen, Joyce |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
All Around Town
Columbia, South Carolina of the 1920's and 1930's is chronicled by photographs by Richard Roberts and text by the author. One reader thought the text was too childish.
Angel Island
An historical account of the discrimination against the Asian immigrants in the late 1800s-early 1900s. Angel Island, located near Alcatraz Island, was the Ellis Island of the west coast of the U.S. but was more of a prison than a welcoming center. Drawi
Author: Russell Freedman |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies | language arts - reading
|
Anno's Medieval World
In Anno's beautifully illustrated medieval world, superstitions rather than science explain natural phenomena, especially the shape and movement of the earth. Anno uses medieval styled illustrations to share these beliefs of the Middle Ages up to the Age
Author: Anno, Mitsumasa |
HSE Descriptors:
science | social studies
|
Blizzard!
This book tells the story of an amazing blizzard that struck the Eastern U.S. in March, 1888. The author tells how the storm affected individuals, workers, communication, transportation, and more. The book is illustrated with vintage photographs and maps
Author: Murphy, Jim |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies | science
|
Bobbin Girl, The
Rebecca, a 10-year-old "bobbin girl" working in the textile factories in Lowell, Massachuesetts in the 1830's must decide if she will participate in the first workers' strike.
Author: McCully, Emily Arnold |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Bodies from the Ash:Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii
With the help of detailed photographs, the author describes how historical fact is established by excavating and reconstructing the volcanic site of Pompeii.
Author: Deem, James M. |
HSE Descriptors:
science | social studies
|
Breaking Ground, Breaking Silence
In 1991, New York's long-ignored African Burial Ground was rediscovered. The description of what scientists found there and how they pieced together information about life serves as a backdrop for stories of life for African Americans in Colonial New York
Author: Hansen, Joyce, & McGowan, Gary |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies | science
|
Building a New Land
Each of the short chapters in this well written picture book addresses the lives, rights, changing roles, and contributions of African Americans in a different area of Colonial America. The author includes a timeline and a bibliography.
Author: Haskins, James & Benson, Kathleen |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Castle Diary: The Journal of Tobias Burgess, Page
Tobias, an 11-year-old boy, goes to serve as a page for a year in his uncle's castle in 13th Century England. Notes for the Reader contains additional historical information.
Author: Platt, Richard |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies | language arts - writing
|
Cathedral
This fascinating nonfiction book describes the construction of an imaginary castle in medieval France. The illustrations are black and white and very detailed. The book ends with a glossary.
Author: Macaulay, David |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Cats in Krasinski Square, The
With a simple text and marvelous watercolors, Hesse tells a true story of the bravery of the Jewish Resistance who helped the Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II. End matter provides more historical background.
Author: Hesse, Karen |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Coal Miner's Bride, A: The Diary of Anetka Kaminska
In journal format, the life of a thirteen year old girl in 1896 comes to life. Anetra Kaminska is sold to an older widower of three children in a mining town, for the price of her and her brother's tickets from Poland to America. Her life is extremely ha
Author: Bartoletti, Susan Campbell |
HSE Descriptors:
language arts - reading | language arts - writing | social studies
|
Colonial Voices: Hear Them Speak
Ethan, a printer's errand boy, is carrying a message from business to business in Boston It is to gather the Patriots at the Old South Meeting House on December 16, 1773. As he goes to each business,we find out about tha various occupations and the histo
Author: Winters, Kay |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Colonial Voices: Hear Them Speak
Ethan, a printer's errand boy, is carrying a message from business to business in Boston It is to gather the Patriots at the Old South Meeting House on December 16, 1773. As he goes to each business,we find out about tha various occupations and the histo
Author: Winters, Kay |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Fever 1793
This is a very compelling fictionalization of life for one teenaged girl, her family, and her friends during the yellow fever outbreak in Philadelphia in 1793.
Author: Anderson, Laurie Halse |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!
This Newberry Award winner gives voice to residents of a medieval English village circa 1255. Poems in monologue form interspersed with explanatory passages bring the village to life. The book includes a map locating the characters in the village and an
Author: Schlitz, Laura Amy |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Harlem Stomp!
Subtitled "A cultural history of the Harlem Renaissance," this book has 10 chapters that address how Harlem came to be a cultural "magnet" in the 1920s. The book interweaves history, poetry, and archival photos that brings the cultural history of Harlem t
Author: Hill, Laban Carrick |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies | language arts - reading
|
In the Days of the Vaqueros
Russell Freedman has created another interesting non-fiction book, this time on the vaqueros, who were the forerunners of cowboys. As usual, the author illustrates his essays with paintings, archival photographs and includes useful resources in a bibliog
Author: Freedman, Russell |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Indian School
Subtitled "Teaching the White Man's Way," this book chronicles efforts to "civilize" Native American children and youth in the late 19th and early 20th century. Archival photographs, an index, a reading list, a bibliography, and a list of web sites comple
Author: Cooper, Michael L. |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
It Is a Good Day to Die
A brief introduction explains why the account of Custer's battle at Little Bighorn is told through individual recollections long after the encounter. In addition to the personal accounts, the book includes a helpful chronology of events, short biographie
Author: Viola, Herman |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Kinderdike
In this dramatically illustrated book, a Dutch town is flooded and mostly destroyed, although one child in a cradle and a cat are found after the flood waters recede. Together people work to rebuild and name the town Kinderdike (kinder=child in Dutch).
Author: Fisher, Leonard Everett |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Legend of Sleepy Hollow, The
This book is a wonderfully retold version of the classic story by Washington Irving. The illustrations contribute to the mysterious mood.
Author: Irving, Washington |
HSE Descriptors:
language arts - reading | social studies
|
Library Book, The
Although the title is a clever pun, this book recounts the history of storing language from tablets to information systems, highlighting famous libraries in the process. Side bars include additional facts and many web sites are included in the resources.
Author: Sawa, Maureen |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy
This coming-of-age novel is a Newbery Honor Book. It tells the story of people in Maine in the early 1900s, a friendship between a minister's son and an island girl, and the ways greed and prejudice change all their lives.
Long Way From Chicago, A
Subtitled "A Novel in Stories," this is a book about Joey and Mary Alice, who leave their home in Chicago each summer during the Depression to spend a week with Grandma Dowdel, who lives in a very small downstate town and who is, to say the least, an unfo
Lugalbanda
This retelling of the oldest recorded story ever found from Sumer (now Iraq) recounts the journey of a young prince as he crosses the mountains to join a war and find his brothers, overcoming obstacles on his way. The book includes interesting historical
Author: Henderson, Kathy |
HSE Descriptors:
language arts - reading
|
Maritcha: A Nineteenth Century American GIrl
Based on an unpublished memoir, this picture book tells the story of daily life for a middle-class African American girl in New York in the 19th century. Maps and photographs illustrate the story.
Author: Bolden, Tonya |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Mary Smith
Before the advent of alarm clocks, Mary Smith's job was to wake the workers of her village with her trusty peashooter.
Matilda Bone
Sometime in medieval Europe, a sombre-minded priest leaves a 14-year-old orphaned girl to be a bonesetter's apprentice. She reads and writes Latin but knows very little about the world and the people in it.
Author: Cushman, Karen |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Metropolis
This book provides a detailed look at 10 cities, from 11th century Jerusalem to 20th century New York City. Readers will learn about culture, architecture, and everyday life over the centuries as well as historical information about the cities themselves.
Author: Lorenz, Albert |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
My Great Aunt Arizona
Based on the author's great aunt, Arizona was born in a log cabin. All her life she dreamed of visiting far-away places. She became a teacher and never left the area, but taught several generations of children to share her dreams.
Author: Houston, Gloria |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Native Americans
Rather than focus on individual tribes, the editors chose to organize the text and illustrations by cultural topics such as dress, transportation, rituals, and livelihood. Information boxes augment the brief text, giving the appearance of an intermediate
Author: Thomas, David & Pendleton, Lorann (Eds.) |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
New Year Be Coming!
Through beautiful colored woodcuts and rhythmic gullah dialect, this book describes happenings for each month of the year in the South Carolina low country. A recipe, a glossary, and an introduction to the Gullah dialect are included. Some students migh
Author: Boling, Katharine |
|
Nickommoh! A Thanksgiving Celebration
The Native American harvest celebration, Nickommah, is described in simple text accompanied by interesting illustrations. Other information about Native American culture is also shared; a glossary of Native American terms concludes the book.
Author: Koller, Jackie French |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
One More River to Cross
This is a photographic chronicle of African American life. The text is very simple. The photos are very powerful. The author includes an index of the photos.
Author: Myers, Walter Dean |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Perilous Journey of The Donner Party, The
The Donner Party, consisting of 81 people who set out for a new life in California in the mid 1850's, got trapped in the mountain snows with diminishing supplies. Harrowing tales of survival followed the few who made it out alive. The book includes archi
Author: Calabro, Marian |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Rabbits, The
A myth/allegory about rabbits who take over a country and destroy the environment. The illustrations are simultaneously thought-provoking, beautiful, and ominous. The type face may confuse new readers although it is large and easy to read.
Religion in 19th Century America
This book, part of a larger series on religion in America, focuses on U.S. religious history in the 19th century. Illustrations complement the text. A chronology, sources for further reading, and index are included.
Author: Wacker, Grant |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Roanoke
Based on extensive research, this book explores the political intrigue surrounding the disappearance of the first American colony at Roanoke, in what is now North Carolina. The suspenseful text is supplemented with archival photographs and paintings, a t
Author: Miller, Lee |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Romeo and Juliet, (The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of)
This lively, clear, prose retelling of
Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet follows the original story very closely.
Author: Shakespeare, William |
HSE Descriptors:
language arts - reading
|
Run Far, Run Fast
When a mother tells a young girl in 14th C Europe to "run far, run fast" to escape the pestilence, the girl discovers that she cannot outrun the plague but is helped by a friendly man. The exquisite pen and ink drawings are integral to the story. The on
Author: Decker, Timothy |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Run Far, Run Fast
When a mother tells a young girl in 14th C Europe to "run far, run fast" to escape the pestilence, the girl discovers that she cannot outrun the plague but is helped by a friendly man. The exquisite pen and ink drawings are integral to the story. The on
Author: Decker, Timothy |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Salt: A Story of Friendship in Time of War
Set in the Indiana Territory, this story of two friends - Anikwa, a Miami Indian and James, the son of a white trader become friends despite the conflict of their heritage. This book is uniquely crafted in two style of poetic verse. Salt plays a symbolic
Author: Frost, Helen |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies | language arts - reading
|
Second Mrs. Gioconda
In this fictionalized story of real people, Salai, servant of Leonardo da Vinci, tells how the painting of Mrs. Gioconda known as the Mona Lisa came to be painted.
Author: Konigsburg, E. L. |
HSE Descriptors:
language arts - reading
|
shadow spinner
1
Author: fletcher, susan |
HSE Descriptors:
literature and arts | literature and arts | literature and arts | literature and arts | literature and arts
|
Shakespeare, His World and His Work
This book explores the world of William Shakespeare through beautiful illustrations and diagrams, quotations from plays, a detailed timeline, a bibliography, and a closer look at five plays--A Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth, King L
Author: Rosen, Michael |
HSE Descriptors:
language arts - reading
|
Stone Lamp, The
This book of poems and accounts gives a personal and historical perspective of the meaning of lighting the Menorah lamps representing the eight nights of Hanukkah. The author tells in prose and poetry of real events from 1190 to 1995. Brian Pinkney's vi
Author: Hesse, Karen |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Stranded at Plimoth Plantation 1626
This is the fictitious journal of a 13-year-old orphan stranded at Plimoth (sic) Plantation. Bowen constructed the 80-page journal from historical records and illustrated the words with marvelous woodcuts. The end pages too feature fascinating maps. Te
Author: Bowen, Gary |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Street Through Time, A
From the Stone Age to the Modern Age, the same location is depicted on double-page layouts filled with cultural details and daily activities. Endmatter includes a time-traveling quiz and a glossary. The illustrations are visually very busy.
Author: Millard, Anne |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Sundiata
With roots in the 13th Century history of Mali in West Central Africa, the legend of Sundiata and how he gains the kingship prophesied at his birth is illustrated with exquisite cut paper artwork. Historical facts are included in the endmatter and a beau
Author: Wisniewski, David |
HSE Descriptors:
language arts - reading
|
Till Year's End
Following the format of a medieval book of hours, the book describes the labors of peasants month by month. The illustrations were inspired by those in early printed books. An Author's Note explains the calendar of medieval feast and holy days which was
Author: Nilola, Lisa W. |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
To Every Thing There Is a Season
The extraordinarily beautiful art from different cultural and historic periods illustrates a Bible passage from Ecclesiastes. An end section describes the historical/geographical information about the art work.
Author: Dillon, Leo and Dianne |
HSE Descriptors:
language arts - reading
|
Travels of Benjamin of Tudela, The
In 1159, Benjamin Tudela, a Jew, left Tudela, Spain, set off to see Jerusalem and as many places mentioned in the Bible as possible. Fourteen years later he returned to tell of his travels. The author extensively researched the period to fill in details
Author: Shulevitz, Uri |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Trouble Don't Last
This is the story of 11-year-old Samuel and "cranky old Harrison," who leave the Kentucky farm where they are slaves and head north to freedom, encountering non-stereotypical members of trhe Underground Railroad. The author is the historian at Hale Farm a
Author: Pearsall, Shelley |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys
This is a recounting of a true family story about Virgie, who wants to go to school with her big brothers, despite her young age, the fact that girls were thought not to need an education, and the distance she must travel (7 miles).
Author: Howard, Elizabeth |
|
Way Things Never Were, The
The eight chapters of this interesting book, subtitled "The Truth About the 'Good Old Days,'" contrast life in the 50s and 60s with today. Topics addressed include communication, health, transportation, education, world events, etc. The print insets for p
Author: Finkelstein, Norman |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
We The People
American history from Colonial times to the present is presented through 65 poems about individuals--some real and some imaginary. A timeline of historic events runs across the lower part of the page and a note about writing the book appears at the end.
Author: Katz, Bobbi |
HSE Descriptors:
language arts - reading | social studies
|
When Thunder Comes: Poems for Civil Rights Leaders
This book features 17 figures who fought against injustice and oppression all over the world. Against overwhelming odds and heartbreaking loss, they stood, they hoped, they spoke! These well and lesser known leaders are portrayed in poetry as heroes who h
Author: Lewis, J. Patrick |
HSE Descriptors:
language arts - reading | social studies | language arts - writing
|
Winter People, The
Historical Fiction: As the French and Indian War rages in October of 1759, Saxso, a 14 year old boy, pursues the English rangers who have attacked his village and taken his mother and sisters hostage.
Author: Bruchac, Joseph |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Words West: Voices of Young Pioneers
Diary and journal excerpts and archival photographs enliven a well-written text about the Westward Movement as seen from the perspective of children. The book includes short biographies of the children who are quoted often as well as a chronology, furthe
Author: Wadsworth, Ginger |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Written in Bones
This thoroughly researched book explores human history through the study of bones. Maps, photographs, and archival materials illustrate the text. The text is complex and the print small.
Author: Bahn, Paul |
HSE Descriptors:
science | social studies
|
Young Teddy Roosevelt
A biography of the life of Theodore Roosevelt up to the time of his presidency has illustrations that are as interesting as the well-written text.
Author: Harness, Cheryl |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Work Work > historical
Butterfly Seeds, The
When Jake sails with his family for America, his grandfather gives him a gift of special seeds that will evoke memories of his grandfather in his new home.
Author: Watson, Mary |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Colonial Voices: Hear Them Speak
Ethan, a printer's errand boy, is carrying a message from business to business in Boston It is to gather the Patriots at the Old South Meeting House on December 16, 1773. As he goes to each business,we find out about tha various occupations and the histo
Author: Winters, Kay |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Colonial Voices: Hear Them Speak
Ethan, a printer's errand boy, is carrying a message from business to business in Boston It is to gather the Patriots at the Old South Meeting House on December 16, 1773. As he goes to each business,we find out about tha various occupations and the histo
Author: Winters, Kay |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Food
The evolution of the acquisition, distribution, and consumption of food throughout history is described in interesting text and colorful, informative illustrations. The author includes a helpful glossary.
Author: Ventura, Piero |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies | science
|
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!
This Newberry Award winner gives voice to residents of a medieval English village circa 1255. Poems in monologue form interspersed with explanatory passages bring the village to life. The book includes a map locating the characters in the village and an
Author: Schlitz, Laura Amy |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Hoover Dam
This book tells the story of why and how the Hoover Dam was built during the Great Depression with interviews of people who worked on the dam. Illustrations depict the engineering challenges faced by the builders.
Author: Mann, Elizabeth |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Mary Smith
Before the advent of alarm clocks, Mary Smith's job was to wake the workers of her village with her trusty peashooter.
Midwife's Apprentice, The
This award-winning novel, set in 14th century England, tells the story of Brat/Beetle/Alyce, a "homeless waif who became the midwife's apprentice-a person with a name and a place in the world" (book jacket).
Author: Cushman, Karen |
HSE Descriptors:
science | social studies
|
Peppe the Lamplighter
A young Italian immigrant boy has to find a job lighting the lamps to help support his invalid father and many sisters. His proud father thinks it is inferior work until the night the boy refuses to light the lamps, and his little sister does not return
Author: Bartone, Elisa |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Signers, The
A companion to The Founders, this book tells short 2-3 page stories of the Declaration of Independence and the people who signed it. It is organized by state by state.
Author: Fradin, Dennis |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Street Through Time, A
From the Stone Age to the Modern Age, the same location is depicted on double-page layouts filled with cultural details and daily activities. Endmatter includes a time-traveling quiz and a glossary. The illustrations are visually very busy.
Author: Millard, Anne |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Strikemakers & Strikebreakers
Dense but interesting history of the formation of labor unions in the United States. Describes the origin and history of strikes and discusses their purpose and effectiveness. Fairly balanced look at the relationship between labor unions and employers.
Author: Lens, Sidney |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Till Year's End
Following the format of a medieval book of hours, the book describes the labors of peasants month by month. The illustrations were inspired by those in early printed books. An Author's Note explains the calendar of medieval feast and holy days which was
Author: Nilola, Lisa W. |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Twelve Rounds to Glory
This biographical tribute told in rap-inspired verse captures the life of the "Louisville Loudmouth" who was in so many respects the "Greatest of all Time." This amazing account of Muhammed Ali's life is told in twelve chapters, like a 12 round boxing mat
Author: Smith, Charles |
HSE Descriptors:
language arts - writing | language arts - reading
|
Walking the Log
The author paints scenes and reminisces about her childhood in the turn of the century South. The books contains information about daily life, work (especially picking cotton), childhood games, family values, and the author's life long interest in art.
Whale Port
In this book about a fictitious combination of real places, the text and colored-pencil drawings present the chronological development of a New England whaling town and its related businesses. The use of cut away art provides a glimpse inside the building
Author: Foster, Mark |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
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