Jayne J Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 I am just about at the end of my rope seaching for a good, readable, living US history spine, so I am busily creating my own US history I lessons for next year. I've got tons and tons of read alouds for the early exploration and colonial eras, but I am having a hard time coming up with good pioneer/frontier stories. I have the Little House series, and Sarah Plain and Tall. I'd like several more, especially with boy protagonists (although if you know of one I must not miss, gender doesn't matter!) Old west, cowboys, gold rush, pioneers, Oregon trail, mountain men, whatever. (I am cutting off just before the Civil War, so war stories will have to wait til next year...) :bigear: ETA: My dc will be 8 and 6, but can listen to RA's above their level... Just no mature content please. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 Check out A Book in Time. I love, love, love their site. They also have links to crafts, activities, etc. They recommend books by grade/age level, and there's usually a brief description of the book as well. Paula's Archives is another great source for book lists. American history is listed just under world history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwena Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 What about A Pioneer Sampler? The following is a description: Combining fact and fiction effectively, this appealing book offers a window into the lives of pioneers. Greenwood offers fictional episodes about one family, the Robertsons, but between chapters about their adventures' there are sections giving background information about the period. For instance, in one story Meg goes to the general store to buy ribbons but decides to spend her money to help a neighbor who can't afford the postage due on a letter. The next few pages show what might be found at a village store; explain how to make a balance scale from yogurt containers and a coat hanger; discuss the post office and letter writing during pioneer days (including the information that the U.S. began using postage stamps in 1847); and give a recipe for homemade ink. Profusely illustrated with attractive pencil drawings, this book will prove a valuable resource for children studying the period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom31257 Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 I pm'd you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 Not sure if all of these are applicable but some that come to mind are: Addy Across The Prairie The Sign of the Beaver (male character) Little House On The Prairie, which you said you have maybe some stories about Buffalo Bill Children of the Wild West American Diaries has one about pioneer/frontier life, and so does the Dear America series, though those will both have female characters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meet me in paris Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 A couple that come to mind: By the Great Horn Spoon (gold rush story - boy protag. - excellent) The Birchbark House (girl protag, Little House period from Native Am. perspective - one of my all time favorites) The Great Turkey Walk (boy protag - very funny, 1860's trek from MO to CO) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaJo Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 Little Britches series Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 I've also got an American History booklist going on my blog. It sn't completed yet, but I work on it here and there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 You know, I saw this from Elizabeth Foss: http://ebeth.typepad.com/serendipity/us-history-geography.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 My kids have liked the Tucket series by Gary Paulsen. Not great literature but engaging with a boy separated from his wagon train a mountain man, Spanish settlers, gold and lots of other adventure. When the normal stuff left them cold this captured their imagination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkermamaof4 Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 Have you checked the guesthollow lists? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayne J Posted December 12, 2010 Author Share Posted December 12, 2010 (edited) A great big thank you to everyone who posted! I am busily bookmarking, printing, and loading up my Amazon cart.:001_smile: There are alot of good leads here! Edited December 12, 2010 by urpedonmommy subject verb agreement. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 The Ballad of Lucy Wipple by Karen Cushman. I love Karen Cushman. I also recently read The Water Seeker by Kimberly Holt Willis. It's pretty new and was really good - but probably above their level. Not so much in terms of content, but in themes and plot. But I recommend it for older kids - more like 12+. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sasharowan Posted December 13, 2010 Share Posted December 13, 2010 Seven Alone by Honore Morrow about 7 kids orphaned on the way out west and their adventures trying to find their way across 1000 miles to Oregon because that was were Father wanted to go before he died. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted December 13, 2010 Share Posted December 13, 2010 Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder is another story, this time with a boy as the main protagonist (the childhood of her future husband). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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