momtolgd Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 (edited) We will be doing SOTW 2 starting in the fall, and I'd really like to have a list of books that were well liked to look for before we get started. Also, how could I add some church history to SOTW 2 fairly easily? (We are Lutheran, and I am definatlely looking for some Reformation resources.) This will be for a 4th grader and a 2nd grader (with a preschool tagalong!) I appreciate any responses! Thanks. :001_smile: Edited July 1, 2009 by momtolgd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohmel Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 I am on a similar quest and came across this list today: http://bringinguplearners.com/mosaic/mosaic-2/resource-list-for-mosaic-2-adventures-in-the-middle-ages/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs.W Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 I recently blogged about this very thing: What we read for history this year Hope this helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manamana Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 I recently blogged about this very thing: What we read for history this year Hope this helps! Thanks, this is very helpful. I'm also in the midst of creating our reading list for SOTW2 next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllSmiles Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Jennefer at Smooth Stones Academy has a great list on her blog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momtolgd Posted July 1, 2009 Author Share Posted July 1, 2009 Thank you for the great lists! That is very helpful! :001_smile: Any specific reformation titles that are good for the ages of my kids? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 I'm also working on my list. I've been using Smooth Stone blog, and now I have two blogs to refer to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Lutheran here too. I like Paul Maier's picture book on Martin Luther and I don't think it's too young for 4th grade. We also read Spy for the Night Riders by Dave and Neta Jackson. I personally learned a lot from The Teaching Company's Luther: Gospel, Law, and Reformation with Prof. Philip Cary. But that's way beyond elementary level! We use Biblioplan and I think their note that there isn't a lot out there on the Reformation for younger kiddos is pretty accurate. A week or two on it would suffice. Another book that I thought added a lot to SOTW is Rats, Bulls, and Flying Machines put out by the Core Knowledge folks and available at Rainbow Resource last I checked. SOTW is pretty light on the Renaissance believe it or not and this added a lot. We did it as a read-aloud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 We will be doing SOTW 2 starting in the fall, and I'd really like to have a list of books that were well liked to look for before we get started. Also, how could I add some church history to SOTW 2 fairly easily? (We are Lutheran, and I am definatlely looking for some Reformation resources.) This will be for a 4th grader and a 2nd grader (with a preschool tagalong!) I appreciate any responses! Thanks. :001_smile: We just finished Three Swords for Granada: http://www.amazon.com/Three-Swords-Granada-Walter-Myers/dp/0823416763/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246465377&sr=8-1 which is a cat/dog story which parallels the defense Moorish Granada had to put up against Catholic Spain. We loved it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs.W Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 The Paul Maier book was the only picture book I was able to find. But I think some of the chapter books from the Veritas Press catalog could work well as read alouds for younger children. I will update the list on my blog and put the Reformation titles in bold. Something my younger children enjoyed was memorizing the 5 Pillars of the Reformation Faith: Sola Scriptura, Solo Christo, Solo Gratia, Sola Fide, and Soli Deo Gloria. We played matching games with Scripture verses. And here's a helpful website I found: http://www.homeschoolhelperonline.com/units/martin_luther.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Great thread! Made some changes to my second grade plans ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momtolgd Posted July 2, 2009 Author Share Posted July 2, 2009 Thank you all! Paul Maier's book looks great. This is very helpful to me! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Here are some we've liked: These are in order by the SOTW spreads. Literature/reading follows the history list: Gladiator, Richard Watkins (good) I Wonder Why Romans Wore Togas and other Questions about Ancient Rome, Fiona MacDonald The Celts, Hazel Martell The Story of Writing and Printing, Anita Ganeri The King who was and will Be, Kevin Crossley-Holland In the Heart of the Village: The World of the Indian Banyan Tree, Barbara Bash Ramadan, Susan Douglass The Story of Religion, Maestro Mohammad, Demi The Arabs in the Golden Age, Mokhtar Moktefi The Gods and Goddesses of Ancient China, Leonard Everett Fisher Japan the Culture, Bobbie Kalman Look into the Past: The Japanese, Clare Doran Destination Australia, Grupper (good) Charlemagne and the Early Middle Ages, Miriam Greenblatt Eirc the Red and Leif the Lucky, Barbara Schiller The Grandchildren of the Vikings, Matti Pitkanen Growing up in Viking Times, Dominic Tweddle Who were the Vikings? Usborne The Battle of Hastings, William Lace The Tower of London, Leonard E. Fisher The Middle Ages, Jane Shuter Knights, Philip Steele Castle at War, Andrew Langley (DK) A Medieval Feast, Aliki In the Time of Knights, Shelley Tanaka St. Francis, Brian Wildsmith A Samurai Castle, Fiona Macdonald Saladin Noble Prince of Islam, Diane Stanley The Story of Britain: Magna Carta, C. Walter Hodges Blessed are You: Traditional Everyday Hebrew Prayers, Michelle Edwards Dance, Sing, Remember: A Celebration of Jewish Holidays, Leslie Kimmelman The Golden City, Jerusalem's 3000 Year History, Neil Waldman Masada, Neil Waldman Milk and Honey, A Year of Jewish Holidays, Jane Yolen Chingis Khan, Demi The Silk Route: 7000 Miles of History, John S. Major Ancient China, Robert Nicholson Marco Polo and the Wonders of the East, Hal Marcovitz Plague, Katie Roden Kids in the Middle Ages, Lisa Wroble Life During the Black Death, John Dunn Joan of Arc, Angela Bull (DK) Women in Medieval Times, Fiona Macdonald Isabella of Castille: Queen on Horseback, Joann Burch Traveling Man: The Journey of Ibn Battuta, James Rumford Sundiata: Lion King of Mali, David Wisniewski Mansa Musa, Khephra Burns Sacred River, Ted Lewin Where do you think You're Going, Christopher Columbus? Jean Fritz A Long and Uncertain Journey, the 27,000-mile Voyage of Vasco da Gama, Joan Goodman Who Really Discovered America? Stephen Krensky The Story of Amerigo Vespucci: Forgotten Voyager, Ann Alper The Great Adventure of Christopher Columbus, a pop-up book, Jean Fritz Exploring the World, Magellan, Michael Burgan Growing up in Aztec Times, Marion Wood The Aztecs, Peter Chrisp Hands of the Maya, Villagers at Work and Play, Rachel Crandell The Incas, Tim Wood Cortes: Conqueror of Mexico, William Jacobs The Middle Passage, Tom Feelings (VERY strong; pre-read!) King Henry VIII, Robert Green Luther the Leader, Virgil Robinson A Medieval Cathedral, Fiona Macdonald Journey through History: The Renaissance, Carme Peris Breaking into Print, Stephen Krensky Gutenberg, Leonard Fisher How a Book is Made, Aliki Watched Getting to Know the Worlds Greatest Artists: Rembrandt and Da Vinci Lives of the Artists, Kathleen Krull Leonardo da Vinci, Diane Stanley Michelangelo, Diane Stanley Introducing Michelangelo, Robin Richmond Leonardo da Vinci, Norman Marshall Science in the Renaissance, Brendan January Galileo, Fisher Good Queen Bess, Diane Stanley Bard of Avon, Diane Stanley A Child's Portrait of Shakespeare, Lois Burdett Sir Walter Raleigh, Artuhur M. Schlesinger, Jr. John Cabot and the Rediscovery of North America, Charles Shields Famous Explorers: Jacques Cartier, Jeff Donaldson-Forbes Fast Forward Shipwreck, Claire Aston See Inside a Galleon, Jonathan Rutland Exploring the World: Cartier, Jean Blashfield Inside Story a 16th Century Galleon, Richard Humble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 And here's the rest of the story, because that was too long: Literature: Roman Myths, Geraldine McCaughrean Rome Antics, David Macaulay The Roman Twins, Roy Gerrard Beowulf the Warrior, Ian Serraillier Celtic Myths, Sam McBratney The Holy Twins, Benedict and Scholastica, Kathleen Norris The Last Snake in Ireland: a story about St. Patrick, Sheila Macgill-Callahan Across a Dark and Wild Seak, Don Brown (re: Columba) The Man Who Loved Books, Jean Fritz (re: Columba) Otto of the Silver Hand, Howard Pyle Favorite Medieval Tales, Mary Pope Osborne (used this book several times during year) The Baker's Dozen: a Saint Nicholas Tale, Aaron Shepard The Legend of Saint Nicholas, Demi Young Arthur, Robert San Souci Lancelot, Hudson Talbott The King's Chessboard, David Birch The Very Hungry Lion, Gita Wolf The Wizard Punchkin, Joanna Troughton The Hundredth Name, Oppenheim The Three Princes: a tale from the Middle East, Kimmel An Arabian Tale: Hosni the Dreamer, Ehud Ben-Ezer (good) Ali, Child of the Desert, Jonathan London (good) The Tale of Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, Eric Kimmel (good) The Tale of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Eric Kimmel Sinbad the Sailor, Stephanie Laslett Cat and Rat: the Legend of the Chinese Zodiac, Ed Young Lord of the Cranes, Kerstin Chen Two of Everything, Lily Toy Hong The Warlord's Puzzle, Virginia Pilegard Yeh-Shen, A Cinderella story from China, Ai-Ling Louie The Emperor and the Nightingale, Hans Christian Anderson (on tape) The Crane Wife, Odds Bodkin The Boy who Drew Cats, Margaret Hodges Little Oh, Jim Lamarche The Seven Gods of Luck, David Kudler Yoshi's Feast, Kimiko Kajikawa Mysterious Tales of Japan, Rafe Martin Kongi and Potgi, a Cinderella Story from Korea, Oki Han Mr. Pak Buys a Story, Carol Farley The Rabbit's Judgment, Suzanne Han The Story of Rosy Dock, Jeannie Baker Going for Oysters, Jeanie Adams (good) Favorite Fairy Tales Told in France, Virginia Haviland Three Golden Oranges, Alma Flor Ada Favorite Fairy Tales told in Spain, Virginia Haviland The Beautiful Butterfly: a Folktale from Spain, Judy Sierra Castles in Spain: From the Alhambra, Jane Watson Puss in Boots, Fred Marcellino Tales from Perraults, Ann Lawrence Toads and Diamonds, Charlotte Huck East o' the Sun and West O' the Moon, P. J. Lynch Leif the Lucky, D'Aulaires Favorite Norse Myths, Mary Pope Osborne Odin's Family: Myths of the Vikings, Neil Philip Castle Diary, the Journal of Tobias Burgess, Page, Richard Platt Till Year's Good End, a Calendar of Medieval Labors, W. Nikola-Lisa Saint George and the Dragon, Margaret Hodges The Reluctant Dragon, Kenneth Grahame The Making of a Knight, Patrick O'Brien The Samurai's Daughter, Robert D. San Souci The Inch-High Samurai, Shiroka Samatsu Sir Cumference and the First Round Table, Cindy Neuschwander Three Samurai Cats, Eric Kimmel (good) Knights of the Round Table, Gwen Gross The Dragons are Singing Tonight, Jack Prelutsky The Gargoyle on the Roof, Jack Prelutsky The Braggin' Dragon, Bill Martin, Jr. The Saracen Maid, Leon Garfield The Legend of Robin Hood, Dami Editore Don't Know Much about the Pilgrim's, Kenneth Davis Pilgrims of Plymouth, Susan Goodman On the Mayflower, Kate Waters The First Thanksgiving, Jean C. George The Rabbit Who Flew, Renate Dollinger Raisel's Riddle, Erica Silverman Snow in Jerusalem, Deborah da Costa The Tale of Meshka the Kvetch, Carol Chapman The Hunter, A Chinese Folktale, Mary Casanova The Dragon Prince, Laurence Yep The Emperor and the Kite, Jane Yolen Beautiful Warrior: The Legend of the Nun's Kung Fu, Emily McCully (good!) Bitter Dumplings, Jeanne Lee The Weaving of a Dream, Marilee Heyer Bestiary: an Illuminated Alphabet of Medieval Beasts, Jonathan Hunt Clay Boy, Mirra Ginsburg The Old Man and His Birds, Mirra Ginsburg Baboushka and the Three Kings, Ruth Robbins The Littlest Matryoshka, Corinne Bliss Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave, Marianna Mayer The White Stag, Kate Seredy (I LOVE this book! totally boybarian!) The Legend of the Persian Carpet, Tomie de Paola The Seven Wise Princesses, Wafa Tarnowska (good! pre-read; might be difficult for youngers to understand) The Duchess Bakes a Cake, Virginia Kahl Little Johnny Buttermilk, Jan Wahl The Acrobat and the Angel, Mark Shannon The Red Balloon, Albert la Morisse Up the Chimney, Margaret Hodges Joan of Arc, Michael Morpurgo A Midsummer Night's Dream, Lesley Sims Tom Thumb and Other Favorites, L. Leslie Brooke Tales from Shakespeare, Charles and Mary Lamb Nanta's Lion, Suse Macdonald Africa Calling, Nighttime Falling, Daniel Adlerman Count Your Way through India, Jim Haskins The Old Woman and the Red Pumpkin, Betsy Banc The Rumor: a Jataka Tale from India, Jan Thornhill So Say the Little Monkeys, Nancy Van Lann Cuckoo, Lois Ehlert Moon Roper, Lois Ehlert My Song is a Piece of Jade, Toni de Gerez Musicians of the Sun, Gerald McDermott Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, John Steptoe Koi and the Kola Nuts, Brian Gleeson This for That, Verna Aardema Starwalk, S. Simon Francis, the Poor Man of Assisi, Tomi de Paola The St. Patrick's Day Shillelagh, Janet Nolan Leonardo and the Flying Boy, Laurence Anholt Katie and the Mona Lisa, James Mathew Leonardo's Horse, Jean Fritz Marguerite Makes a Book, Bruce Robertson Pish Posh, Said Hieronymus Bosch, Nancy Willard The Genius of Leonardo, Guido Visconti Brother Wolf of Gubbio, Colony Santangelo Starry Messenger, Peter Sis She was Nice to Mice, Alexandra Sheedy Hear, Hear, Mr. Shakespeare, Bruce Koscielniak Macbeth, Bruce Coville A Midsummer Night's Dream, Coville Romeo and Juliet, Lois Burdett Hamlet, Burdett The Tempest, Ann Beneduce Don Quixote and the Windmills, Leonard Fisher Son's Reading that was related to history topics: Androcles and the Lion, Janet Stevens Romulus and Remus, Anne Rockwell Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland, Tomie de Paola In the Moonlight Mist: a Korean Tale, Daniel San Souci Yo, Vikings! Judith Schachner Felipa and the Day of the Dead, Birte Muller My Mother is the Most Beautiful Woman in the World, Becky Reyher Veronica, Rober Duvoisin Tom Tit Tot, Evaline Ness The Toy Brother, William Steig Joan of Arc, Shana Corry Brendan the Navigator, Jean Fritz African Tales, Uh-Huh, Ashley Bryan Young Christopher Columbus: Discoverer of New Worlds, Eric Carpenter Meet Christopher Columbus, James de Kay A Picture Book of Christopher Columbus, David Adler Christopher Columbus, Stephen Krensky The Cabin Faced West, Jean Fritz Ferdinand Magellan: The First Voyager Around the World, Jim Gallagher The Legend of Lord Eight Deer: An Epic of Ancient Mexico, John Pohl The Last Snake in Ireland: a Story about Saint Patrick, Sheila MacGill-Callahan Saint Patrick, Ann Tompert The Life and Work of Leanardo da Vinci, Sean Connolly Galileo, Jacqueline Mitton Day of the Knights, Christopher Maynard Robin Hood, Angela Bull Uh-oh, Leonardo! Robert Sabuda Elizabeth the First, Carol Greene Welcome to the Globe! Peter Chrisp How Snowshoe Hare Rescued the Sun, Emery and Durga Bernhard The Huron Carol, Frances Tyrrell Do Pirates Take Baths? Kathy Tucker Sir Francis Drake: His Daring Deeds, Roy Gerrard The Princess and the Painter, Jane Johnson Pirates: Robbers of the High Seas, Gail Gibbons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinkgumby Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Wow! Thanks!! We're doing SOTW 2 this Fall along with Sonlight Core 2, and I am taking notes! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 ...and I heartily second the Paul Maier book and "Rats, Bulls, and Flying Machines." The PM book has a Lutheran bias, and I would say that RBFM is not biased at all--very tricky under the circumstances. Avoid the book "The Reformation" that is recommended in the AG. It is extremely biased in the RC direction, and was inaccurate in places. There are two books by Miriam Greenblatt that are particularly good for background for this era and location: "Suleyman the Magnificent" and "Lorenzo De'Medici." Having gone through all of those books, you might want to take a look at "Teh Story oft he REcaissance and Reformation" by Christine Miller. It has a good, long section on Luther's life that is quite well done. I would say that it's at a level too high for your younger child, but if your older one has heard the basics of the story from the other reading, you could use this to take him to a deeper level. I have not read that whole book, so I don't know how good it is overall. I use Concordia Publishing House's series "Voyages" for Bible, and it covers the Reformation quite well in the middle grades. So if you're using it (and it's very good, by the way) you might not need much in the way of separate resources. The old "Luther" movie is still available from Lutheran Hour Ministries--it's black and white and very good. I watched it as a kid, and seeing it as an adult, I'm really impressed with the way that it has stood up historically. Definitely rated G as well--no really alarming violence or anything, unlike the newer movie about Luther that came 4-5 years ago. I would recommend the older one for children your age, for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mompotter Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 I recently blogged about this very thing: What we read for history this year Hope this helps! Great list! Thanks for sharing. I will be hitting this time period again toward the end of next year. There are a few we have not seen before. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.