Following the Draw Write Now approach of integrated learning, author Carylee Gressman and illustrator Peggy Dick have created a series that reinforces what students are studying in history, art and handwriting. Draw and Write Through History offers six volumes covering Creation through the 20th century and offers fun exercises in which students draw pictures relating to historical events and figures and write short essays in cursive about each particular era.

The drawing instruction is more advanced than what is found in the Draw Write Now series, though still very doable. Each stage of each picture is demonstrated in detail, with previous stages appearing in black and every new stage in red. Students learn the building blocks of good drawing as they integrate perspective, shading, and more into their own work. History is covered chronologically in a series of lessons directed by the illustrated Dr. Doodle character.

This is by no means a stand-alone history program. The whole scope of history is covered in brief, but there is not enough information on any particular period to replace a more standard curriculum. The benefit of Draw and Write Through History is that it makes history instruction more attractive as young children (ages 8+ preferably, though the material can be adapted for younger students) interact with the past on a more personal and entertaining level than textbooks provide.

Each text is full-color and non-consumable, so you can enjoy them with successive generations. Gressman and Dick are Christians, and biblical history is integrated with world history (did you know Jonah was a contemporary of the first Olympic Games?). Basic Christian doctrine is included, though this isn't a character curriculum, the authors keeping actual history as the focus. An excellent supplement, Draw and Write Through History can help make history-lovers out of art lovers, and capable artists out of history buffs.

Professionally Published Books

• Laminated Softcover
• 64 Full-Color Pages
• Lay-Flat Binding
• Non Consumable

Product Samples: Click to enlarge sample images

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.