History books for kids

[Jalapeñomel]

DS and I are currently reading a book about the plague, and we want more history books for kids. He’s 9, 4th grade.

Any recommendations are welcome!

[devonpow]

Hazardous Tales series is pretty good, as is the “I Am” biography series.,DS2 really likes the Science Comics series also (not history but he did read one on plagues and germs)

[Deleted]

My daughter really liked the History Smashers when she was younger.

[nicolewi]

Guts and Glory series!

Also second Hazradous Tales

[Deleted]

My kids also love Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales. Some of the I survived books. The little house on the prairie series.

[jamaicam]

Horrible histories!

[smock]

Fiction or nonfiction? All the 3rd graders at my kid's school are obsessed with the "I Survived" books (which also come in graphic novels). That seems to go along with the plague theme.

On the non-fiction side, the "Who Was" series seems like the older version of the "I am . . ." books. I also have a major soft spot for the Laura Ingalls Wilder books.

[Saudade]

My 3rd grader likes the I Survived series

[tealblue]

Just chiming in on the I survived series of books. DS1 (now 10) still loves them and DS2 (6) is listening to some on Epic at school

[kdubs923]

Oooh following. DS is 9 (3rd grade) and read through the whole I survived series. He has enjoyed the History Smasher books as well. I know there's a Plague & Pandemic one!

After reading History Smashers - American Revolution, DS asked for books on Benedict Arnold & Hercules Mulligan. I found Who Was Benedict Arnold, but couldn't find a kid book for Mulligan specifically, so I also ordered George Washington's Spies (Totally True Adventures). They come in tomorrow, I hope they're good!

He also enjoyed this Alexander Hamilton graphic novel. It looks like there are more in the Show Me History series. www.amazon.com/gp/product/168412543X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Jalapeñomel]

Mar 1, 2023 19:38:57 GMT -5 smock said:

Fiction or nonfiction? All the 3rd graders at my kid's school are obsessed with the "I Survived" books (which also come in graphic novels). That seems to go along with the plague theme.

On the non-fiction side, the "Who Was" series seems like the older version of the "I am . . ." books. I also have a major soft spot for the Laura Ingalls Wilder books.

Non Fiction

We have read a bunch of the I Survived, and he enjoyed those. I do not think he’d like the Little House on the Prairie type books.

[abs]

Alan Gratz. Refugee was one of DD’s favorites.

[smock]

Mar 1, 2023 19:54:52 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Mar 1, 2023 19:38:57 GMT -5 smock said:

Fiction or nonfiction? All the 3rd graders at my kid's school are obsessed with the "I Survived" books (which also come in graphic novels). That seems to go along with the plague theme.

On the non-fiction side, the "Who Was" series seems like the older version of the "I am . . ." books. I also have a major soft spot for the Laura Ingalls Wilder books.

Non Fiction

We have read a bunch of the I Survived, and he enjoyed those. I do not think he’d like the Little House on the Prairie type books.

Maybe check out the "Big Ideas that Changed the World" series––we've read the one on the history of vaccines, and the other two are about rocket building and computer history. I haven't read any, but the "Epic Fails" series might be good too, especially for kids with some perfectionist instincts (*cough* that's my kids *cough*). "History Smashers" also sounds good!

[meanie]

Another vote for the I Survived books, my 4th grader likes them a lot

[m15]

My 4th grader got a couple of the Battles for Boys books for Christmas and he loves them. Idk why they are titled that as they are all just historical battle type books, but he's a history nut and recently asked me to find some other ones.

ETA: I actually recall reading that they are called battles for boys to spark interest in boys, who historically read less than girls or something. I vaguely am remembering that.

[maloney]

My kids loves the Who Was book series.

[namasteak]

Mar 1, 2023 19:26:15 GMT -5 jamaicam said:

Horrible histories!

Yes! My 9yo has loved these for about a year & almost died when we did a horrible histories tour in London .

[redheadk]

In addition to the ones listed here, DD loved the "Show Me History!" series when she was in 3rd/4th. They are graphic novels.

[imimahoney]

March by John Lewis.

It's a series of graphic novels that he put out before he passed and they are excellent. The language is explicit so preview and talk to him before he reads it by himself.

[Jalapeñomel]

Thank you all!

[fortnightlily]

Ditto the "Who Was" series. They're more biographies but we also love the "Ordinary People Change the World" series by Brad Meltzer.

The Magic Treehouse series is fiction but in a lot of books the kids time travel back to certain historical periods and events and are very informative, and there are factual companion books.

[shananagins]

The History Smashers books are great and the same author has a historical fiction series called Ranger in Time that is great too.

They’re more middle school focused, but if he’s a strong reader Steve Sheinkin books are really fantastic.
A graphic novel edition of his book Bomb about the development of the atomic bomb was just released.
King George What Was His Problem about the American Revolution and Two Miserable Presidents about the Civil War are probably the most access for a younger reader and they’re really good.

[cleo29]

Does he have the John Lewis books? March and Run, I think. They are graphic novels, so not sure if that is his thing.

[InBetweenDays]

DS used to love the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales books.

[chickadee77]

You could also check out the "You Wouldn't Want to Be" series.

[sonrisa]

They Called Us Enemy

George Takei's graphic novel memoir of his childhood in an internment camp.

www.amazon.com/They-Called-Enemy-George-Takei/dp/1603094504