Historical Picture Books

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Some of the best illustrations aren't realistic, at least not in the way the Digital Age generation has come to define realism (i.e., as perfect photographic replication). And we're not promoting Modern Art, either: far be if from us to prefer squiggles or big shapeless color patches to depictions of actual landscapes and people. What we are promoting is the exercise of the artist's art and skills, not simply as an imitator, but as a revelator and interpreter of facts.

This emphasis on artistic creativity has largely informed our selection of historical picture books. Do all of the d'Aulaire illustrations perfectly resemble key figures and events of the past? Not at all, but they do consistently capture the spirit of American history and historical figures, portraying each as they were perceived and not necessarily how they actually were. Purists may balk at this approach, but rest assured that the textual content of these books is accurate and trustworthy.

Which brings us to one of the essential aspects of history study: interpretation. If it's pure authenticity you want, photographs will do just fine, whether of individuals, places, artifacts, or buildings. But facts are only one side of history, and as far as one's worldview goes, probably not even the most important part. Not that you can do without them, but learning to read the facts and interpret them is the only reason learning about the past is a worthwhile endeavor.

Good historical picture books can help you cultivate this skill, especially when teaching younger students who aren't ready to make abstract connections between seemingly disparate facts. For instance, a picture book about the American Civil War could simply depict images of battle....or, the artist could use dark colors and heavy strokes to show both the evils of warfare as well as the deep racial themes and animosities shared by both sides throughout the War Between the States.

Some of our favorite books of the latter kind are those by Ingri and Edgar d'Aulaire. Each of these volumes is dedicated to an important American historical figure like Abraham Lincoln, Buffalo Bill Cody, and Leif Erickson, and each is well-known for its lovely lithograph prints. The accompanying text is poetic and accessible, offering a child's-eye view of people history has generally turned into mythic characters.

In a similar vein, though with cartoon-y illustrations, the Jean Fritz books are perennially popular, and justly so. These are a little more fact- and text-heavy, though still written in story form, and often focus on the more eccentric elements of famous peoples' personalities. Many of the figures covered in this series are heroes of the American War for Independence, and make excellent supplements to a study of the Colonial and New Nation eras.

A newer series from Banner of Truth Trust is destined to be among our favorites: the Heroes of the Faith books by Sinclair B. Ferguson, a Presbyterian pastor and theologian. Each book covers a covers an important church father (Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp, Irenaeus) and is illustrated with somewhat stylized full-color pictures. Kids are introduced to famous saints, as well as to their basic ideas and significance, all in a format they'll welcome.

There are so many other excellent historical picture books we'd like to introduce you to, but it's probably easier for us and you to just let you browse our collection. For the most part, only narrative histories (history in story form) have made their way into this category, though there are a few exceptions. The important thing to remember is that it's never too early to introduce kids to the study of the past, and when they're particularly interested in pictures is as good a time as any to start.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur.Read more of his reviews here.

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Historical Picture Books

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	Abraham Lincoln by Edgar & Ingri D'Aulaire 75th Anniversary Edition from Beautiful Feet Books Picture Book Biography for 3rd-6th grade 1940 Caldecott Medal winner in Biographies (Location: BIO) $17.95
	Alexander Graham Bell An Inventive Life by Elizabeth MacLeod from Kids Can Press Biography for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Amazing Impossible Erie Canal by Cheryl Harness from Aladdin Paperbacks Historical Non-Fiction for 3rd-6th grade in Western Expansion (1800-1898) (Location: HISA-19WES) $7.99
	America's Paul Revere by Esther Forbes from Sandpiper Books Biography for 2nd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $12.99
	Andy Warhol by Mike Venezia from Children's Press for 4th-6th grade in Artists & Illustrators (Location: ELE-ARTISTS)
	Bard of Avon Story of William Shakespeare by Diane Stanley & Peter Vennema from William Morrow & Company Biography for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $7.99
	Battle of the Little Bighorn by Mark Henckel 1^st edition from Falcon Press Publishing for 5th-8th grade in Native Americans (Location: HISA-19NAT) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Before There Was Mozart The Story of Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-George by Lesa Cline-Ransome and James Ransome 2nd ed. from Beautiful Feet Books for 1st-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $12.95
	Benjamin Franklin by Edgar & Ingri D'Aulaire from Beautiful Feet Books Picture Book Biography for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $17.95
	Benjamin Franklin, American Genius His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities by Brandon Marie Miller from Chicago Review Press for 4th-6th grade in Colonial America (1690-1765) (Location: HISA-17COL)
	Bill Peet An Autobiography by Bill Peet from Houghton Mifflin Biography for 4th-8th grade 1990 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $18.99
	Brendan the Navigator A History Mystery about the Discovery of America by Jean Fritz from Penguin Putnam for 4th-6th grade in Age of Exploration (1450-1700) (Location: HISA-16EXP)
	Buffalo Bill by Edgar & Ingri D'Aulaire from Beautiful Feet Books Picture Book Biography for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $17.95
	Buffalo Hunt by Russell Freedman from Holiday House Historical Non-Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Native Americans (Location: HISA-19NAT)
	Cleopatra by Diane Stanley & Peter Vennema from William Morrow & Company Biography for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $7.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Columbus by Edgar & Ingri D'Aulaire from Beautiful Feet Books Biography for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $17.95
	Confucius: The Golden Rule by Russell Freedman from Scholastic Inc. for 4th-8th grade 2003 NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Copper Lady On My Own History by Alice Ross, Kent Ross from First Avenue Editions for 2nd-5th grade in Immigration & Emigration (Location: HISA-20IM)
	Discovery of the Americas by Betsy & Giulio Maestro from HarperTrophy for 3rd-6th grade in Age of Exploration (1450-1700) (Location: HISA-16EXP) $9.99
	Duke Ellington by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney from Scholastic Inc. for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	Duke Ellington by Andrea Davis Pinkney 1^st edition from Hyperion/Madison Press for 3rd-6th grade 1999 Caldecott Honor Book in Biographies (Location: BIO) $6.99
	Empire State Building by Elizabeth Mann from Mikaya Press for 3rd-8th grade 2004 NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC)
	Eric the Red & Leif the Lucky by Barbara Schiller from Avyx, Inc. for 3rd-6th grade in Middle Ages (Location: HISW-MID) $4.50 (3 in stock)
	Exploration and Conquest TOS The Americas After Columbus: 1500-1620 The American Story Series by Betsy & Giulio Maestro from HarperCollins for 3rd-7th grade in Age of Exploration (1450-1700) (Location: HISA-16EXP)
	Frontier Village by Catherine E. Chambers from Troll Communications for 2nd-5th grade in Pioneer & Frontier Life (Location: HISA-19PIO)
	George vs. George The American Revolution as Seen from Both Sides by Rosalyn Schanzer Reprint from National Geographic for 3rd-6th grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $6.95
	George Washington by Edgar & Ingri D'Aulaire from Beautiful Feet Books Picture Book Biography for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $17.95
	George Washington by Cheryl Harness from National Geographic for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $8.99
	Great Wonder The Building of the Great Pyramid by Annabelle Howard from Soundprints Picture Books for 2nd-5th grade in Ancient Egypt (Location: HISW-ANEG)
	Gregor Mendel The Friar Who Grew Peas by Cheryl Bardoe Reprint from Harry N. Abrams, Inc. for 4th-6th grade 2007 NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book in Biographies (Location: BIO) $9.95
	Henry VIII Brilliant Brits by Richard Brassey for 4th-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $8.95
	If You Grew Up With Abraham Lincoln If You Were There by Ann McGovern from Scholastic Inc. Historical Non-fiction for 2nd-5th grade in Pioneer & Frontier Life (Location: HISA-19PIO) $4.00 (2 in stock)
	If You Lived at the Time of the Civil War If You Were There by Kay Moore from Scholastic Inc. Historical Non-fiction for 2nd-5th grade in American Civil War (1860-1865) (Location: HISA-19CW) $3.00 (2 in stock)
	If You Lived with the Indians of the Northwest Coast by Anne Kamma from Scholastic Inc. for 4th-6th grade in Native Americans (Location: HISA-19NAT)
	If You Lived With the Iroquois by Ellen Levine from Scholastic Inc. for 1st-5th grade in Native Americans (Location: HISA-19NAT) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	If You Lived With the Sioux Indians If You Were There by Ann McGovern from Scholastic Inc. for 2nd-5th grade in Native Americans (Location: HISA-19NAT) $4.00 (2 in stock)
	If You Sailed On the Mayflower in 1620 If You Were There by Ann McGovern from Scholastic Inc. Non-Fiction for 2nd-5th grade in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL)
	If You Traveled On the Underground Railroad If You Were There by Ellen Levine & Larry Johnson from Scholastic Inc. Historical Non-fiction for 2nd-5th grade in Slavery & the Underground Railroad (Location: HISA-19SL)
	If You Traveled West in a Covered Wagon If You Were There by Ellen Levine from Scholastic Inc. Historical Non-fiction for 2nd-5th grade in Pioneer & Frontier Life (Location: HISA-19PIO) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	If You Were There When They Signed the Constitution If You Were There by Elizabeth Levy from Scholastic Inc. Non-Fiction for 2nd-5th grade in New Nation (1783-1800) (Location: HISA-18NN) $7.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	If Your Name Was Changed at Ellis Island If You Were There by Ellen Levine & Wayne Parmenter from Scholastic Inc. Historical Non-Fiction for 2nd-5th grade in Immigration & Emigration (Location: HISA-20IM) $6.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Joan of Arc by Diane Stanley from HarperCollins Picture Book Biography for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $11.99
	Joan of Arc by M. Boutet De Monvel from Beautiful Feet Books for 4th-7th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $13.95
	John Calvin: A Children's Story w/CD Behind the Legacy by Kerry L. Tittle, illustrated by Larry Waggoner, audiobook narrated by Jim Hodges from ReformationKidz Publishing for 3rd-5th grade in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Journey That Saved Curious George The True Wartime Escape of Margaret and H. A. Rey by Louise W. Borden from HMH Books for Young Readers for 3rd-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $8.99
	Journey That Saved Curious George The True Wartime Escape of Margaret and H. A. Rey by Louise W. Borden, illustrated by Allan Drummond from The PJ Library for 3rd-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Leif the Lucky by Edgar & Ingri D'Aulaire from Beautiful Feet Books Biography for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $17.95
	Leif the Lucky by Edgar & Ingri D'Aulaire from University of Minnesota Biography for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $17.95
	Leonardo da Vinci by Diane Stanley from HarperCollins Biography for 3rd-6th grade 1997 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award in Biographies (Location: BIO) $11.99
	Listening to Crickets A Story about Rachel Carson by Candice F. Ransom from Carolrhoda Books, Inc. for 3rd-5th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $6.00 (4 in stock)
	Little Ships The Heroic Rescue at Dunkirk in World War II by Louise Borden from Aladdin Paperbacks for 2nd-6th grade in WWII: European Theater (Location: HISA-20WW2E) $8.99
	Lives of the Musicians Good Times, Bad Times (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull from Sandpiper Books for 4th-6th grade in Music History (Location: ELE-MUSHIS) $7.00 (1 in stock)
	Lives of the Musicians Good Times, Bad Times (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull from Sandpiper Books for 4th-6th grade in Music History (Location: ELE-MUSHIS) $8.99
	Lives of the Presidents Fame, Shame (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull & Kathryn Hewitt from Scholastic Inc. for 5th-Adult in American Presidency (Location: HISV-PRE) $5.00 (3 in stock)
	Lost City The Discovery of Machu Picchu by Ted Lewin Reprint from Puffin Books for 3rd-7th grade in Latin & South America (Location: HISMC-LAT) $8.99
	Louis Braille by Margaret Davidson from Scholastic Inc. for 2nd-5th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $1.50 (1 in stock)
	Ludwig van Beethoven by Mike Venezia from Children's Press for 2nd-5th grade in Music History (Location: ELE-MUSHIS)
	Making It Go: The Life and Work of Robert Fulton Physical Science by Don Herweck from Teacher Created Materials, Inc. for 4th-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $7.00
	Mill by David Macaulay from Houghton Mifflin for 4th-8th grade in Oversized History Books (Location: HISW-OVER) $12.99
	More Perfect Union The Story of Our Constitution The American Story Series by Betsy & Giulio Maestro from HarperCollins Historical Reference for 2nd-6th grade in New Nation (1783-1800) (Location: HISA-18NN) $11.99
	Mummies Made in Egypt by Aliki from HarperCollins Non-fiction for 2nd-6th grade in Ancient Egypt (Location: HISW-ANEG) $7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Mummies Made in Egypt by Aliki from HarperCollins Non-fiction for 2nd-6th grade in Ancient Egypt (Location: HISW-ANEG)
	Nettie's Trip South by Ann Turner from Aladdin Paperbacks for 2nd-5th grade in American Civil War (1860-1865) (Location: HISA-19CW)
	Nobody Gonna Turn Me 'Round Stories and Songs of the Civil Rights Movement by Doreen Rappaport Reprint from Candlewick Press for 3rd-7th grade in Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968) (Location: HISA-20CIV) $6.50 (1 in stock)
	Peaceful Protest The Life of Nelson Mandela by Yona Zeldis McDonough Reprint from Walker Books for 3rd-5th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Picture Book of Lewis and Clark by David A. Adler from Holiday House for 3rd-6th grade in Lewis & Clark (Location: HISA-19L&C) $4.50 (2 in stock)
	Pocahontas by Edgar & Ingri D'Aulaire from Beautiful Feet Books Picture Book Biography for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $17.95
	Pyramid by David Macaulay from Houghton Mifflin Ancient Egyptian Architecture for 4th-8th grade in Oversized History Books (Location: HISW-OVER) $12.99 $7.00 (4 in stock)
	Revolutionary John Adams by Cheryl Harness Reprint from National Geographic for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $7.95
	Signers by Dennis B. Fradin from Scholastic Press for 4th-6th grade in New Nation (1783-1800) (Location: HISA-18NN)
	So You Want To Be President? by Judith St. George Reprint from Philomel Books for 2nd-5th grade 2001 Caldecott Medal winner in American Presidency (Location: HISV-PRE) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Star-Spangled Banner by Peter Spier from Yearling American History for 2nd-6th grade in Oversized History Books (Location: HISW-OVER) $10.99
	Starry Messenger Galileo Galilei by Peter Sis from Square Fish Publishing Picture Book Biography for 3rd-6th grade 1997 Caldecott Honor Book in Biographies (Location: BIO) $8.99
	Story of the Pony Express Cornerstones of Freedom by R. Conrad Stein from Children's Press for 4th-6th Grade in Cornerstones of Freedom (Location: VIN-CORN) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	Ten Mile Day And the Building of the Transcontinental Railroad by Mary Ann Fraser from Henry Holt and Company Historical Non-Fiction for 3rd-6th grade in Transcontinental Railroad (Location: HISA-19TRR) $10.99
	They're Off! The Story of the Pony Express by Cheryl Harness from Aladdin Paperbacks Historical Non-Fiction for 2nd-5th grade in Pony Express (1860-1861) (Location: HISA-19PEX) $7.99
	Thomas Jefferson by Cheryl Harness Reprint from National Geographic for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $7.95 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Voice of Her Own The Story of Phillis Wheatley, Slave Poet by Kathryn Lasky, Illustrated by Paul Lee from Candlewick Press for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $6.99
	War to End All Wars World War I by Russell Freedman from HMH Books for Young Readers for 4th-8th grade in World War I (1914-1919) (Location: HISA-20WW1) $11.99
	We the People The Story of Our Constitution by Lynne Cheney Reprint from Simon and Schuster for 4th-6th grade in New Nation (1783-1800) (Location: HISA-18NN) $9.99 $5.50 (1 in stock)
	We the People The Constitution of the United States by Peter Spier from Doubleday & Company for 2nd-6th grade in Government & Civics Resources (Location: GOV-REF) $10.99
	Westward With Columbus by John Dyson from Scholastic Inc. for 4th-6th grade in Age of Exploration (1450-1700) (Location: HISA-16EXP) $3.50 (1 in stock)
	Who's That Stepping on Plymouth Rock? from PaperStar Books in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $6.99
	Wildheart from Yosemite Conservancy for 2nd-5th grade in Comic Books & Graphic Novels (Location: FIC-COMIC) $12.99
	You Wouldn't Want to be Pyramid Builder! A Hazardous Job You'd Rather Not Have You Wouldn't Want To... by Jacqueline Morley from Franklin Watts for 3rd-6th grade in Ancient Egypt (Location: HISW-ANEG)

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