THE AMERICAN GIRL SERIES IS MADE UP OF SEVERAL SETS OF HISTORICAL FICTION BOOKS BASED ON THE LIVES OF YOUNG GIRLS SET IN DIFFERENT TIME FRAMES. WHILE THE INTEREST LEVEL APPEARS TO BE FROM GRADE ONE TO GRADE 6, THE READABILITY LEVEL BEGINS AT SECOND HALF OF GRADE 3 AND CAN BE AS HIGH AS 6TH GRADE. THEY ARE EXCELLENT BOOKS TO EXPOSE CHILDREN TO SOCIAL STUDIES AND ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR THIS PURPOSE.
FELICITY, An American Girl
by Janet Beeler Shaw
Set in 1764
This series of Felicity tells story of a young girl living in colonial Williamsburg before the revolutionary war. It is full of detail of life in those days from the foods, clothing, social life, education, to politics and more. Beautifully written with stories that children will remember forever. Highly recommended.
SAMANTHA , An American Girl
by Catherin Gourley
Set in 1904
Samantha is an orphan who lives with her wealthy Grandmother. She is a sweet Victorian girl, and these books tell what it was like to live at the turn of the century in New York City. The detail of the Victorian era with its beautifully romantic costumes, customs, family life and politics of the time gives children a real close up look of this period in Ameican history. Highly recommended.
Rosa
by Nikki Giovanni, Bryan Collier
This book offers the magnificent story of Rosa Parks, the woman who helped to begin the Civil Rights movement by refusing to give up her seat on a bus. A wonderful picture book for children in grades 3-5, this book tells the personal story of Rosa and the effect her life has had on the lives of so many people.
Molly
Set in 1944
This book tells the story of Molly, a young girl whose father is a doctor in England treating the wounded soldiers while her mother works for the Red Cross. It tells what life was like during the Second World War, the rations, the victory gardens, and the wearing of second hand clothes, to name a few. It is a wonderful way for children to really get a feeling of this period in American history. This is a period of time when most children of today's grandmothers were alive. A wonderful way for children to learn about their
grandparent's childhood experiences.
The Diary of Anne Frank
Grade 5 and up
A popular true story of a thirteen year old Jewish Dutch girl who hides from the Nazis with her family, another family and an old dentist. Ann writes in her diary her personal story of the details of life during the war. While Ann died in a Bergin Belsen concentration camp, her diary serves as a symbol of how good does triumph over evil. A great book to help children develop an empathy and sympathy.
A Series of Unfortunate Events Book One
The Bad Beginning
Children ages 10-14 are often hooked on this series of books. They tell the adventures of the three Baudelare children who are left alone after a fire destroys their home. They fall into the hands of people who are after their wealth and experience one unlucky adventure after another, only to find that nothing is ever hopeless. These books are full of delightful, funny, and intriquing events.
Series of the Unfortunate Events Book 12
The Penultimate Peril
The twelfth in a series of books about the three Baudelaise children and their adventures at a hotel. Misfortune occurs again but the Baudelaise children somehow seem to be stronger than ever in their endeavor to come out ahead. Very popular. The modern day Nancy Drew.
Click here for a more extensive listing of educational books for children.
The Tinker Bell movie has sparked children's interest in the classic story of Peter Pan. Tinker Bell sometimes is ill tempered but generally is kind and helpful especially when she spreads her fairy dust on people. A delightful imaginary story that children adore.
Sleeping Beauty, a wonderful old fairytale being revived again by Disney Movies. The story involves a wicked witch, a lovely princess and, of course, the handsome prince whose kiss wakes her from a sleeping spell. A classic charmer.
