History For Young Readers
© Meg Greene Malvasi
Finding interesting history books for children in preschool to second grade age range once was a difficult chore. Thankfully, many publishers have begun to recognize that there is a need for books in this area. As a result, there are more choices available today than ever before , but there still is a great need for good and interesting history books for this age group.
One of the best places to begin looking for history books is the many reading series that are aimed toward the youngest readers. Although fiction titles still dominate many publisher's series, more and more nonfiction works are appearing. Series such as All Aboard Reading from Grosset & Dunlap and Dial Easy-To-Read from Dial Books offer graduated reading approaches as a child develops his or her reading skills.
From the All Aboard Reading come the following history titles in the Level 1 (Preschool-Grade 1) and Level 2 (Grades 1-3):
The story of Johnny Appleseed and his place in American history is engagingly told to Level 1 Readers in Johnny Appleseed by Patricia DeMuth. For Level 2 readers come a varied and diverse group of books including Linda Haywood's Cave People, in which young readers "travel back" to the Ice Age and meet the Neanderthals. Haywood's descriptions of how early man lived and survived are vivid and absorbing.
Henry Baker's Egyptian Gods and Goddesses along with Joyce Milton's Mummies provide wonderful introductions to the world of Ancient Egypt. Baker takes readers on a fascinating journey into the world of Egyptian religion. Besides his discussion of the many different religious figures, youngsters will find themselves transported to the Egyptian Underworld to meet them and witness the mysterious ritual known as the Weighing of the Heart. The three-dimensional paper cutouts found in Mummies only add to this appealing study of "mummy facts." Not only do children learn what mummies are, but also learn a little bit about how scientists study them today.
For a creepier, but no less,
informative look at history, try Jennifer Dussling's Gargoyles: Monsters in Stone. Dussliing's engrossing work not only tells the history of the stone monsters that adorned so many medieval structures, but also shows why gargoyles were developed with a few words on modern-day gargoyles as well. Peter Church's intricate artwork only adds to the atmosphere with his renderings of eerily glowing gargoyles perched atop stone churches peering out at the reader.
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