After many hours, I’ve finally finished updating our Cycle 2 Booklist! I have not reviewed or read all of these books, although I have sorted through book reviews and recommendations by others I trust in order to compile this list, including (but not limited to) suggested resources from Honey for a Child’s Heart, Timeline of Classics, The Classical Reader, Sonlight, Tapestry of Grace, Veritas Press, and Classical Conversations, as well as the 1000 Good Books List, Gospel Coalition, Old-Fashioned Education, IEW’s Books for Boys and Other Children Who Would Rather Build Forts All Day, and Ambleside Online. (I have a ream-of-paper I reference along with an assortment of catalogs when I make my booklists.)
Many of our favorite books related to this cycle are offered here in our store. We offer these books in our store, along with a reading plan, because we believe they are worth the investment. You can read more about our reading plan loosely related to Cycle 2 on this area of our website.
This is a “book buffet.” The links below will take you to descriptions of each book on Amazon, which includes our affiliate link tag and thus provides a small commission to us; for our disclosure policy, please click here. (Your use of these links ensures that CC resources remain on this website.) These books are loosely sorted by age group. Please keep in mind that I have not reviewed all the books listed but have researched reviews on-line and in catalogs in helping with these selections.
I invested many hours in putting this together and post it here in hopes that the work I’ve put into it will also benefit others in the longrun. Please do not copy, paste, or upload this list (or parts of this list) on other websites or social media. If you wish to share it with others, please send them a link to this blog post. For more information, refer to my Terms of Use.
Our family does not use this entire list. Visit our Cycle 2 Reading Plan post for specific book selections from six years ago. A reading plan that includes readings related to Cycle 2 memory work, Mission: Faith Forgers, provides a more thorough framework for studying church history in context along with astronomy & physical science, world history/geography & missions, and fine arts.
Note: Although Mission: Faith Forgers is not directly correlated to the memory work, it includes a more complete study of astronomy, physical science, and history. For families who use Classical Conversations®, the readings assigned in the Mission: Faith Forgers study overlap much of the memory work studied during Cycle 2 but is not correlated week by week. This provides an opportunity for ongoing review and integration of the memory work throughout the year.
A formatted pdf of this booklist is available in our Cycle 2 Planning Resource Packet.
Cycle 2 History: Middle Ages to Modern World History
Overall World History
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
Romans Reformers Revolutionaries: Resurrection to Revolution Elementary Activity Book by Diana Waring
World Empires World Missions World Wars Activity Book by Diana Waring,
Everything You Need to Know About World History Homework by Anne Zeman,
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia
Streams of Civilization Vol. 2: Cultures in Conflict Since the Reformation by Garry J. Moes
When on Earth
The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child Volume 2: The Middle Ages: From the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Renaissance (Second Revised Edition)
The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child Volume 3: Early Modern Times
The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child Volume 4: The Modern Age: From Victoria’s Empire to the End of the USSR
Mystery of History Volume 2
Mystery of History Volume 3
Mystery of History Volume 4
Usborne Encyclopedia of World History
A Child’s History of the World. Hillyer.
Window on the World: When We Pray God Works
Pages of History Volume 1
Pages of History Volume 2
Calendar Quest & Western Civ
Medieval Period (Week 1-5)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
Marguerite Makes a Book by Bruce Robertson,
Saint George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges,
A Medieval Feast by Aliki,
Design Your Own Coat of Arms by Rosemary A. Chorzempa,
Draw and Write Through History: The Vikings… by Carylee Gressman,
The Art of the Catapult by William Gurstelle,
The Middle Ages (Cultural Atlas for Young P… by Mike Corbishle,
Saint Francis by Brian Wildsmith,
Dragons: Legends & Lore of Dinosaurs by Laura Welch,
Starting Chess (First Skills) by H. Castor,
You Wouldn’t Want to Live in a Medieval Castle by Jacqueline Morley,
You Wouldnt Want to Work on a Medieval Cathedral by Fiona MacDonald,
Medieval Towns Trade and Travel (Medieval… by Lynne Elliott,
Food and Feasts in the Middle Ages (Medieva… by Lynne Elliott,
Science and Technology in the Middle Ages (… by Joanne Findon,
Manners And Customs in the Middle Ages (Med… by Marsha Groves,
Illuminated Manuscripts Coloring Book,
Great Medieval Projects You Can Build Yourself by Kris Bordessa,
Kings and Queens of England (Dover History … by John Green,
Caedmon’s Song,
Chanticleer and the Fox,
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
A Child’s Geography – Explore Medieval Kingdoms (download first three chapters free!)
The Story of Europe: From the Fall of Roman Empire to the Reformation by HE Marshall
The Minstrel in the Tower (Stepping Stone) by Gloria Skurzynski
Castle Diary: The Journal of Tobias Burgess by Richard Plat
Gabriel and the Hour Book by Evaleen Stein
The Sword in the Tree (Trophy Chapter Book) by Clyde Robert Bulla
Built to Last by David Macaulay
The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman
The Apple and the Arrow by Conrad Buff
The Medieval Cookbook: Revised Edition by Maggie Black,
Medieval Tales by Lorna MacDonald Czarnota
Tales of King Arthur (Usborne Classics Retold)
Famous Men of the Middle Ages by John Henry Haaren
Knights of the Round Table (Stepping Stone) by Gwen Gross
The Red Keep (Adventure Library) by Allen French
Tales of Court and Castle by Joan Bodger
The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow by Allen French
Ransom for a Knight (The Nautilus Series) by Barbara Leonie
King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Ta… by Roger Lancelyn
The Middle Ages by Morris Bishop
Men of Iron by Howard Pyle
The Kingfisher Atlas of the Medieval World … by Simon Adams
The Fall of Constantinople by Ruth Tenzer Feldman
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a … by Laura Amy Schlitz
The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights by Sir James Knowles
Favorite Medieval Tales by Mary Pope Osborne
The Knight at Dawn (Magic Tree House No. 2) by Mary Pope Osborne
Knights and Castles: A Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House #2
The Story of Beowulf by HE Marshall
Building Big. Macauley.
Built to Last. Macauley.
Castle by David Macaulay
Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction
Kingdom Series by Chuck Black
*Also see Week 3 for Knights
Charlemagne (Week 1)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
The Story of Roland by James Baldwin
Son of Charlemagne by Barbara Willard
Trial and Triumph: Stories from Church Hist… by Richard M. Hannula
The Magic Runes: A Tale of the Times of Charlemagne by Emma Leslie
Charlemagne by Richard Winston
Charlemagne and the Paladins by Julia Cresswell
Voyage with the Vikings (AIO Imagination Station Books)
Viking Ships At Sunrise (Magic Tree House No. 15)
Vikings: A Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House #15: Viking Ships at Sunrise (Magic Tree House (R) Fact Tracker)
Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve
The Knight at Dawn (Magic Tree House No. 2)
Night of the Ninth Dragon (Magic Tree House (R) Merlin Mission)
Christmas in Camelot
Revenge of the Red Knight (AIO Imagination Station Books)
Knights and Castles: A Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House #2: The Knight at Dawn (Magic Tree House (R) Fact Tracker)
Dogs in the Dead of Night (Magic Tree House (R) Merlin Mission)
Peril in the Palace (AIO Imagination Station Books)
William the Conqueror (Week 2)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
Illustrated history of 1066: Why Edward Ha… by Mr Charles Jones,
The Bayeux Tapestry: The Comic Strip by Pivard
Kings and Queens of England (Dover History … by John Green ,
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
Henty’s Wulf the Saxon narrated by Jim Weiss
Guts & Glory: The Vikings by Thompson
The King’s Shadow by Elizabeth Alder
Wulf the Saxon A Story of the Norman Conquest by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty
The Bayeux Tapestry by Lucien Musset
The Crusades (Week 3)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Crusader!: A War by Fiona MacDonald,
Kings and Queens of England (Dover History … by John Green,
The Squire and the Scroll: A Tale of the Rewards of a Pure Heart by Jennie Bishop,
The Kitchen Knight: A Tale of King Arthur by Margaret Hodges,
The Making of a Knight: How Sir James Earne… by Patrick O’Brien,
Knights Treasure Chest: The Age of Adventur… by Marilyn Tolhurst,
Knights – Internet Referenced (Usborne Begi… by Stephanie Turnbull,
Picture That: Knights & Castlesby Alex Martin,
Days of Knights and Damsels: An Activity Gu… by Laurie Carlson,
Knights & Castles: 50 Hands-On Activiti… by Avery Hart,
If You Lived In The Days Of The Knights by Ann Mcgovern,
Medieval World – Internet Linked (World His… by Jane Bingham,
You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Medieval Knight: … by Fiona MacDonald,
Knight: A Noble Guide for Young Squires by Dugald A. Steer,
Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angl… by Cindy Neuschwande (and other Sir Cumference books for math tie-in),
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
Eleanor: Crown Jewel of Aquitane by Gregory
Queen Eleanor: Independent Spirit of the Me…by Polly Schoyer Brooks
The Great and Terrible Quest by Margaret Lovett
Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray
The Boy Knight A Tale of the Crusades by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty
The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric Kelly
The White Stag by Kate Seredy
A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Minivera by E.L. Konigsburg
Medieval Tales by Lorna MacDonald Czarnota
The Canterbury Tales retold by Geraldine McCaughrean
Stories from the Crusades by J Kelman
The Discovery of New Worlds by MB Synge
Magna Carta (Week 4)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
Rupert’s Parchment: Story of Magna Carta by Cameron,
The Magna Carta: Cornerstone of the Constitution by Baxter,
Robin Hood (Scribner Storybook Classics)by Paul Creswick,
Robin Hood And The Golden Arrow by Robert D. San Souci,
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
The Magna Charta by James Daugherty
The Lost Baron by Allen French
Big John’s Secret by Eleanore M. Jewett
The Adventures of Robin Hood (Puffin) by Roger Green
The Stories of Robin Hood Told to the Children by HE Marshall
Hundred Years’ War (Week 5)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
Joan of Arc by Diane Stanley,
You Wouldn’t Want to Be Joan of Arc! by Fiona MacDonald,
Joan of Arc: Heroine of Franceby Ann Tompert,
Joan of Arc by Josephine Poole,
Joan of Arc by Demi,
Medieval Medicine and the Plague (Medieval … by Lynne Elliott,
Plagues Pox and Pestilence by Richard Platt
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
The Door in the Wall by Marguerite De Angeli
Joan of Arc DK Biography
Joan of Arc: Warrior Saint by Jay Williams
Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi
Joan of Arc (Step into Reading) by Shana Corey
Who Was Joan of Arc?
The White Company by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Renaissance (Week 6)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
Michelangelo (Getting to Know…) by Mike Venezia
Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare by Diane Stanley
William Shakespeare & the Globe by Aliki
Shakespeare for Kids: His Life and Times with 21 Activities
Will’s Words: How William Shakespeare Changed the Way You Talk by Sutcliffe
Michelangelo by Diane Stanley
You Wouldnt Want to Work on a Medieval Cathedral
You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Shakespearean Actor by Jacqueline Morley
Leonardo da Vinci for Kids: His Life and Id… by Janis Herbert
Leonardo: Beautiful Dreamer by Robert Byrd
Leonardo Da Vinci by Diane Stanley
Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself by Maxine Anderson
Nicolaus Copernicus: The Earth Is a Planet by Dennis B. Fradin
Renaissance Art Book by Wenda O’Reilly
Renaissance Artists Who Inspired the World … by Gregory Blanch
The Renaissance (History Opens Windows) by Jane Shuter
The Renaissance (Understanding People in th… by Mary Quigley
Pippo the Fool (Junior Library Guild Select… by Tracey E. Fern
Leonardo and the Flying Boy (Anholt’s Artis… by Laurence Anholt
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
Tales From Shakespeare by Tina Packer
The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood
Shakespeare’s Scribe by Gary Blackwood
Shakespeare’s Spy by Gary Blackwood
How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare by Ken Ludwing
Along Came Galileo by Jeanne Bendick
Monday with a Mad Genius (Magic Tree House No. 38) by Mary Pope Osborne
Tales from Shakespeare (Comic Book) by M Williams
Leonardo da Vinci Monday with a Mad Genius: A Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House Merlin Mission #10
Who Was Leonardo Da Vinci?
Who Was William Shakespeare?
Nicholas Copernicus: And the Founding of Modern Astronomy (Renaissance Scientists)
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
Shakespeare’s Stories for Young Readers (Do… by E. Nesbit
The Apprentice by Pilar Molina Llorente
The Second Mrs. Giocondaby E.L. Konigsburg
Tales from Shakespeare by Mary Lamb
Beautiful Stories from Shakespeareby E. (Edith) Nesbit
Poetry for Young People: William Shakespeare by Kastan
Science in the Scientific Revolution by Jay Wile
Science in the Age of Reason by Jay Wile
Stage Fright on a Summer Night (Magic Tree House #25)
Reformation (Week 7)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
John Calvin Little Lights: What is the Truth by Catherine MacKenzie
John Calvin (Christian Biographies for Youn… by Simonetta Carr
Martin Luther Little Lights: What Should I … by Catherine MacKenzie
Martin Luther: A Man Who Changed The World by Paul L. Maier
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
Courage and Conviction: Chronicles of the R… by Brandon Withrow
Trial and Triumph: Stories from Church Hist… by Richard M. Hannula
Morning Star of the Reformation by Andy Thomson
The Beggars’ Bible by Louise A. Vernon
Monks and Mystics: Chronicles of the Mediev… by Mindy Withrow
The Bible Smuggler by Louise A. Vernon
Thunderstorm in Church by Louise A. Vernon
Luther the Leader by Virgil E. Robinson
Reformation Heroes by D. M. Kleyn
Mr. Pipes and Psalms and Hymns of the Reformation by Douglas Bond
The Awakening of Europe by MB Synge
Hawk That Dare Not Hunt by Day by Scott O’Dell
Dangerous Journey (The Story of Pilgrim’s Progress) by John Bunyan
Hero Tales: A Family Treasury of True Stories from the Lives of Christian Heroes by Jackson
European Exploration (Week 8)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
Maps & Globes (Reading Rainbow)
Exploration and Conquest: The Americas Afte… by Betsy Maestro
A World of Wonders: Geographic Travels in Verse and Rhyme
Ferdinand Magellan: Circumnavigating the Wo… by Katharine Bailey
Explorers of the New World: Discover the Golden Age of Exploration With 22 Projects (Build It Yourself) by Mooney
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
To the Edge of the World by Michelle Torrey
Explorers Who Got Lost by Diane Sansevere-Dreher
The World of Columbus and Sons by Genevieve Foster
The Look-It-Up Book of Explorers by Elizabeth Cody
The King’s Fifth by Scott O’Dell
Spice and the Devil’s Cave by Hewes
Magellan’s World by S Waldman
The Discovery of New Worlds by MB Synge
DK Eyewitness Explorers
A Book of Discovery: The History of the World’s Exploration From the Earliest Times to the Finding of the South Pole by MB Synge
Age of Absolute Monarchs (Week 9)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
Peter the Great by Diane Stanley
Brilliant Brits: Henry VIII by Richard Brassey
The King’s Day: Louis XIV of France by Aliki
Henry VIII and His Wives Paper Dolls (Dover Royal Paper Dolls)
Palace Of Versailles: France’s Royal Jewel
Good Queen Bess : The Story of Elizabeth I of England
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
Lady Jane Grey (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)
The King of Prussia and a Peanut Butter Sandwich by Alice Fleming
Coronation of Glory: The Story of Lady Jane… by Deborah Meroff
Mary Bloody Mary by Carolyn Meyer
England under the Tudors by Arthur Innes
The World of William Penn by Genevieve Foster
Who Was Henry VIII?
Who Was Queen Elizabeth?
Where Is the Tower of London?
History of Russia (Week 10)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
The Littlest Matryoshka by Corinne Bliss
Russia ABCs: A Book about the People and Places of Russia by Berge
The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship: A Russian Tale
Eyewitness: Russia by Kathleen Berton Murrell
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
Catherine: The Great Journey Russia 1743 … by Kristiana Gregory
Where is the Kremlin?
Angel on the Square (Russian Saga) by Whelan (but setting is during WWI)
French Revolution (Week 11)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
The French Revolution (Witness to History) by Sean Connolly
The French Revolution (Cornerstones of Freedom) by Josh Gregory
Stone Soup by Marcia Brown
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
Huguenot Garden by Douglas Jones
The Escape: The Adventures of Three Huguenot… by A. Van Der Jagt
Les Miserables (A Stepping Stone Book) by Victor Hugo
Beneath the Cat’s Claw by Jennifer Garrity
Hammer of the Huguenots (Heroes & History) by Douglas Bond
George Washington’s World by Joanna Foster
In the Reign of Terror by George Alfred Henty
No Surrender! A Tale of the Rising in La Ve… by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty
Saint Bartholomew’s Eve A Tale of the Hugue… by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty
In Search of Honor by Donnalynn Hess
A Tale of Two Cities (Illustrated Classics; abridged)
The Struggle for Sea Power by MB Synge
Who Was Marie Antoinette?
Marie Antoinette: Princess of Versailles by Lasky
Who Was Napoleon?
Modern World (Week 12-24)
The Kingfisher Atlas of the Modern World by Simon Adams
The Story of the World Volume 4 by Susan Wise Bauer
Battle of Waterloo (Week 12)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
The Heroic Symphony
My Napoleon by Catherine Brighton
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
Napoleon: The Story of the Little Corporal by Robert Burleigh
The Story of Napoleon by H. E. Marshall
Betsy and the Emperor by Staton Rabin
Napoleon to Lady Liberty: The World of the 1800’s (Draw and Write Through History Book 5)
One of the 28th A Tale of Waterlooby G. A. (George Alfred) Henty
Through Russian Snows A Story of Napoleon’s… by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty
At Aboukir and Acre A Story of Napoleon’s I… by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty
The Struggle for Sea Power by MB Synge
Out of Darkness: The Story of Louis Braille by Russell Freedman (1800s France)
Louis Braille: The Boy Who Invented Books for the Blind by Davidson
Industrial Revolution (Week 13)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
George Muller Faith to Feed Ten Thousand (Heroes for Young Readers)
The Bobbin Girl
Smokestacks and Spinning Jennys by Sean Stewart Price
Eli Whitney and the Cotton Gin
The Industrial Revolution for Kids: The People and Technology That Changed the World with 21 Activities,
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
George Müller: The Guardian of Bristol’s Orphans by Janet Benge
William Booth: Soup, Soap, and Salvation (Christian Heroes: Then and Now)
The Hallelujah Lass. Lawton.
The Steam Engine (Inventions That Shaped the World) by Orr
The Story of Inventions by Anna Claybourne
The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois
The Story of Eli Whitney and the Cotton Gin by Perry
The Story of Eli Whitney by Latham
Industrial Revolution: The 20th Century (Primary Source Readers)
The Story of Inventions by Michael McHugh
World War I Leaders & World War I Countries (Week 14 & 15)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear
The Poppy Lady: Moina Belle Michael and Her Tribute to Veterans
Rags: Hero Dog of WWI: A True Story by Margot Raven
Pigeon Hero! (Ready-to-Reads) by Shirley Redmond
Fly Cher Ami Fly!: The Pigeon Who Saved the Lost Battalion
Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon
Marven of the Great North Woods (U.S. flu epidemic of 1918),
World War I (DK Eyewitness Books) by Simon Adams
The World Wars: An Introduction to the Firs… by Paul Dowswell
Where Poppies Grow: A World War I Companion by Linda Granfield
In Flanders Fields: The Story of the Poem b… by Linda Granfield
War Game Village Green to No Man’s Land (Illustrated) by Michael Foreman
World War I for Kids: A History with 21 Activities
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
War Horse by M Morpurgo
Sergeant York (Christian Encounters Series)
Sergeant York and the Great War (Men of Cou… by Tom Skeyhill
Alvin York: A New Biography of the Hero of the Argonne
Sergeant York And His People by Sam K. Cowan
A Cup of Cold Water: The Compassion of Nurs… by Christine Farenhorst
Fanny Crosby: Queen of Gospel Songsby Rebecca Davis
Hero Over Here: A Story of World War I by Kathleen V. Kudlinski
The Good Master by Kate Seredy
The Singing Tree by Kate Seredy
Philomena by Kate Seredy
Lord of the Nutcracker Men by Ian Lawrence
The War to End All Wars: World War 1 by Freedman
The Night Flyers by Elizabeth Jones
When Christmas Comes Again: The World War I Diary of Simone Spencer – New York City to the Western Front 1917 by Levine
World War I: An Interactive History Adventure (You Choose: History)
The Story of the First World War for Children: 1914-1918
How World War II Began & World War II Leaders (Week 16 & 17)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
Torchlighters: The Corrie Ten Boom Story (Animated Video)
Corrie Ten Boom: Shining in the Darkness (H… by Renee Meloche
The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco
The Little Ships: The Heroic Rescue at Dunk… by Louise Borden,
One Candle by Eve Bunting
Lily’s Victory Garden (Tales of Young Ameri… by Helen Wilbur,
You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Secret Agent During World War II by John Malam,
Franklin and Winston: A Christmas That Chan… by Douglas Wood
War Dogs: Churchill & Rufus
Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming
Rebekkah’s Journey: A World War II Refugee … by Ann Burg,
Terrible Things: An Allegory of the Holocaust by Eve Bunting,
DK Readers: D-Day Landings: The Story of th… by Richard Platt,
DK Readers: The Story of Anne Frank (Level … by Brenda Ralph Lewis,
Willy and Max: A Holocaust Story by Amy Littlesugar,
The Good Fight : How World War II Was Won by Stephen E. Ambrose,
World War II for Kids: A History with 21 Activities by Richard Panchyk
Great World War II Projects You Can Build Yourself by Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt,
DK Eyewitness Books: World War II by Simon Adams,
Star of Fear Star of Hopeby Jo Hoestlandt,
Always Remember Me: How One Family Survived… by Marisabina Russo,
I Will Come Back for You: A Family in Hidin… by Marisabina Russo,
A Boy Named FDR: How Franklin D. Roosevelt …by Kathleen Krull,
Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story,
Torchlighters: The Gladys Aylward Story (Animated Video)
Gladys Aylward: Daring to Trust (Heroes for Young Readers) by Renee Meloche
Torchlighters: The Eric Liddell Story (Animated Video)
Eric Liddell: Running for a Higher Prize (Heroes for Young Readers)
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
Corrie ten Boom: Keeper of the Angels’ Den … by Janet Benge
Gladys Aylward: The Adventure of a Lifetime (Christian Heroes: Then & Now)
Winston Churchill: The 20th Century (Primary Source Readers)
Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy
The House of Sixty Fathers by Meindert Dejong
The Upstairs Room (Winner of the Newbery Ho… by Johanna Reiss
Shadow on the Mountain by Margi Preus
A Coming Evil by Vivian Vande Velde
The Winged Watchman by Hilda Van Stockum
Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan
Escape from Warsaw by Ian Serraillier
The Chestry Oak by Kate Seredy
Hey Mac! This is serious business! by William F. McMurdie
Corrie Ten Boom: The Watchmaker’s Daughter … by Jean Watson
The Little Riders by Margaretha Shemin
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
If I Perish by Esther Ahn Kim
Dietrich Bonhoeffer: In the Midst of Wicked… by Janet Benge
Twenty and Ten (Puffin story books) by Claire Huchet Bishop
I am David or North to Freedom by Anne Holm
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes (Puffi… by Eleanor Coerr
A Father’s Promise by Hess
The Devil’s Arithmetic (Puffin Modern Class… by Jane Yolen
Eric Liddell: Something Greater Than Gold (Christian Heroes: Then & Now)
I Never Saw Another Butterfly: Children’s Drawings and Poems from the Terezin Concentration Camp 1942-1944
October ’45: Childhood Memories of War by Besson
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr
A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus
What Was D-Day? By Demuth
Who Was Winston Churchill?
Who Was Franklin Roosevelt?
What Was Pearl Harbor?*
Who Was Albert Einstein?
What Was the Holocaust?
Who Was Anne Frank?
Who Was Dr. Seuss?
Who Were the Tuskegee Airmen?
Terezin: Voices from the Holocaust (Illustrated)
Danger in the Darkest Hour (Magic Tree House (R) Super Edition) (World War II)
World War II: A Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House Super Edition #1: World at War 1944
Escape to the Hiding Place (AIO Imagination Station Books)
United Nations (Week 18)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot by Margot Raven
Christmas from Heaven by Tom Brokaw,
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
Candy Bomber: The Story of the Berlin Airlift’s “Chocolate Pilot” by Michael Tunnell
Stalin: Russia’s Man of Steel by Albert Marrin (also covers Korean War & Cold War)
Korean War (Week 19)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
Peacebound Trains by Haemi Balgassi,
Torchlighters: The Robert Jermain Thomas Story (Animated DVD)
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
Vietnam War (Week 20)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
Fighting the Vietnam War (On the Front Line) by Brian Fitzgerald
The Wall (Reading Rainbow Books) by Eve Bunting
The Civil Rights Movement & Vietnam: 1960-1976- Graphic U.S. History,
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
What Was the Vietnam War?
Cracker!: The Best Dog in Vietnam by Kadohata
Escape from Saigon: How a Vietnam War Orphan Became an American Boy by Warren
America and Vietnam: The Elephant and the Tiger by Albert Marrin
Last Airlift: A Vietnamese Orphan’s Rescue from War
Goodbye Vietnam by Gloria Whelan
Little Cricket by Jackie Brown
The Land I Lost: Adventures of a Boy in Vietnam by Huynh
Water Buffalo Days by Huynh Quang Nhuong
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Patrol: An American Soldier in Vietnam by Walter Dean Myers
DK Eyewitness Books: Vietnam War
10000 Days of Thunder: A History of the Vi… by Philip Caputo
End of the Cold War (Week 21)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
Ronald Reagan: Fortieth President 1981-1989 (Getting to Know the U.S. Presidents) by Venezia
Spying and the Cold War (Freestyle Express:… by Michael Burgan
The Cold War (20th Century Perspectives) by David Taylor,
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
Who Was Ronald Reagan? by Joyce Milton
Ronald Reagan: Young Leader (Childhood of Famous Americans)
BOMB: The Race to Build – and Steal – the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin
Fall of Communism (Week 22)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
Brother Andrew: Taking Bibles to the World by Renee Taft Meloche
The Wall: Growing Up behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
God’s Smuggler (Young Reader’s Edition) by Brother Andrew
Brother Andrew: God’s Secret Agent (Christi… by Janet Benge
What Was the Berlin Wall?
Richard Wurmbrand: Love Your Enemies by Benge
Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Re… by Ji-li Jiang
Children of the Storm: The Autobiography of… by Natasha Vins
Breaking Stalin’s Nose by Eugene Velchin
Gulf War (Week 23)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
George Bush: Forty-First President 1989-1993 (Getting to Know the U.S. Presidents) by Venezia,
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
The Persian Gulf War (We the People: Modern America)
DK Eyewitness: Oil
America at War: Desert Storm
The 1990s Decade in Photos: The Rise of Technology
Tensions in the Gulf 1978-1991 (The Making… by J. E. Peterson
Apartheid Ending (Week 24)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
The Soccer Fence: A story of friendship hope and apartheid in South Africa by Bildner
Peaceful Protest: The Life of Nelson Mandela by Yona Zeldis McDonough
National Geographic Readers: Nelson Mandela (Readers Bios)
DK Biography Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
Who Was Nelson Mandela?
Nelson Mandela: The Authorized Comic Book
Waiting for the Rain by Gordon
U.S. Presidents (Week 24 Timeline)
Illustrated or Activity Books (Grade K-3)
Don’t Know Much About the Presidents by Kenneth Davis
The President’s Stuck in the Bathtub: Poems About the Presidents
Have Fun with the Presidents: Activities Projects and Fascinating Facts
Yo Millard Fillmore!: (And all those other Presidents you don’t know)
So You Want to Be President?
American Presidents Coloring Book (Dover History Coloring Book)
Smart About the Presidents (Smart About History)
Read Alouds or Independent Reading (Grade 3 and Up)
The Look-It-Up Book of Presidents. Blassingame
The New Big Book of U.S. Presidents: Fascinating Facts about Each and Every President Including an American History Timeline
U.S. Presidents (Ken Jennings’ Junior Genius Guides)
Science, Fine Arts, Geography Math & English
The following list includes picture books, readers, reference books and read alouds.
Ecology (Week 1-7)
Everything You Need To Know About Science Homework by Anne Zeman
Properties of Ecosystems (God’s Design for … by Debbie Lawrence
Afternoon on the Amazon (Magic Tree House No. 6)
Rain Forests (Magic Tree House Research Guide)
Astronomy (Week 8-13)
There’s No Place Like Space: All About Our Solar System
The Moon Book
The Stars by H.A. Rey
Look to the Stars by Edwin Aldrin
Glow-in-the-Dark Constellations
Find the Constellations by H.A. Rey
Exploring Creation With Astronomy (Young Ex… by Jeannie K. Fulbright
Exploring the World of Astronomy: From Center of the Sun to Edge of the Universe by John Hudson Tiner
Science in the Beginning by Jay Wile
Science in the Ancient World by Jay Wile
Johannes Kepler: Giant of Faith and Science (Sowers)
Destination Moon: The Spiritual and Scienti… by James Irwin
Moonwalk: The First Trip to the Moon (Step-… by Judy Donnell
Godspeed John Glenn by Richard Hilliard
Team Moon: How 400000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon
History of Space Exploration Coloring Book … by Bruce LaFontaine
You Wouldn’t Want to be on Apollo 13!
Midnight on the Moon (Magic Tree House No. 8)
Space (Magic Tree House Research Guide)
Physical Science
Exploring the World of Physics: From Simple Machines to Nuclear Energy by Tiner
Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics (Young Explorer Series) by Fulbright
Heat & Energy (God’s Design for the Physical World)
Science in the Scientific Revolution by Jay Wile>
Our Universe (God’s Design for Heaven & Earth)
Isaac Newton and the Laws of Motion (Inventions and Discovery)
The Ocean Of Truth: The Story Of Sir Isaac … by Joyce McPherson
Isaac Newton: Mastermind of modern science (A First biography) by David Knight
Isaac Newton: Inventor Scientist and Teacher (Sower Series)
Isaac Newton and Physics for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities
Drawing (Week 1-6)
Ish by Peter Reynolds
The Dot by Peter Reynolds
Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg
Harold and the Purple Crayon 50th Anniversary Edition (Purple Crayon Books)
Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
Not a Stick by Antoinette Portis
Lines That Wiggle
Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse
The Turn-Around Upside-Down Alphabet Book (ALA Notable Children’s Books. Younger Readers (Awards))
The Pencil by Allan Ahlberg
The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art
Draw 3-D (Learn to Draw)
The Art Lesson by Tomie dePaola
Great Artists (Week 13-18)
Art Masterpieces to Color: 60 Great Paintings from Botticelli to Picasso (Dover Art Coloring Book)
Art Fraud Detective: Spot the Difference – Solve the Crime!
Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters
Lives of the Artists: Masterpieces Messes (and What the Neighbors Thought)
Degas and the Little Dancer (Anholt’s Artis… by Laurence Anholt
Rembrandt and the Boy Who Drew Dogs: A stor… by Molly Blaisdell
What makes a Rembrandt a Rembrandt?
What makes a Monet a Monet?
What makes a Degas a Degas?
Katie Meets The Impressionists (Scholastic … by James Mayhew
Monet and the Impressionists for Kids: Thei… by Carol Sabbeth
Linnea in Monet’s Garden by Cristina Bjork
Claude Monet: The Painter Who Stopped the Trains by P. I. Maltbie
Rembrandt (Getting To Know The World’s Grea…
Edgar Degas (Getting to Know the World’s Gr… by Mike Venezia
Monet (Getting to Know the World’s Greatest… by Mike Venezia
Rembrandt (Masterpieces Artists and Their W… by Xavier Niz
The Impressionists: A comprehensive visual reference to one of the best-loved periods of art history with over 450 images
Impressionist Art Masterpieces to Color: 60 Great Paintings from Renoir to Gauguin (Dover Art Coloring Book)
Impressionist Art Book by Wenda O’Reilly
Renaissance Art Book by Wenda O’Reilly
Renaissance Artists Who Inspired the World … by Gregory Blanch
The Usborne Art Sticker Books by Sarah Courtauld
Orchestra & Composers (Week 19-24)
The Gift of Music (Expanded and Revised 3rd Edition): Great Composers and Their Influence
Story of the Orchestra : Listen While You Learn About the Instruments the Music and the Composers Who Wrote the Music!
Lives of the Musicians: Good Times Bad Times (and What the Neighbors Thought)
Listen to the Birds: An Introduction to Classical Music
Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin (Aladdin Picture Books)
Meet the Orchestra by Ann Hayes
The Heroic Symphony by Anna Harwell Celenza
Beethoven for Kids: His Life and Music with… by Helen Bauer
Ludwing Van Beeethoven (Getting to Know…) by Venezia
A Coloring Book of Early Composers by Eric Tomb
Great Composers (Dover History Coloring Book) by John Green
Beethoven Lives Upstairs Audio CD
Beethoven Lives Upstairs Illustrated Book
Geography
A World of Wonders: Geographic Travels in Verse and Rhyme
Draw Europe by Kristin Draeger
Draw Asia Vol 1by Kristin Draeger
Maps to Color and Learn – Europe
Window on the World: When We Pray God Works by Daphne Spraggett
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Priceman
Math
Schoolhouse Rock: Multiplication Classroom Edition [Interactive DVD]
Exploring the World of Mathematics: From Ancient Record Keeping to the Latest Advances in Computers. Tiner
Sir Cumference and the First Round Table (A Math Adventure)
Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi (A Math Adventure)
Math Curse
Multiplying Menace: The Revenge of Rumpelstiltskin (A Math Adventure)
The Multiplying Menace Divides (Math Adventures)
Mummy Math: An Adventure in Geometry
Anno’s Mysterious Multiplying Jar
The Grapes of Math
Math-terpieces: The Art of Problem-Solving
English Grammar
Dearly Nearly Insincerely: What Is An Adverb? by Brian P. Cleary
Hairy Scary Ordinary: What is An Adjective? By Brian P Cleary
A Mink a Fink a Skating Rink: What Is a Noun? By Brian P. Cleary
To Root to Toot to Parachute: What Is a Verb? By Brian P. Cleary
I And You And Don’t Forget Who: What Is a Pronoun? by Brian P. Cleary
But and For Yet and Nor: What Is a Conjunction? by Brian P. Cleary
Cool! Whoa! Ah and Oh!: What Is an Interjection? By Brian P Cleary
If You Were a Noun | a Verb | an Adjective | an Adverb | a Pronoun | a Conjunction | an Interjection | a Preposition (Word Fun) by Michael Dahl
Other individual books of the (Word Fun) series
Kites Sail High: A Book about Verbs by Ruth Heller
A formatted pdf of this booklist is available in our Cycle 2 Planning Resource Packet.
Other related posts:
Our Cycle 2 Read Aloud Selections
Favorite Cycle 2 Picture Books
Magic Tree House and Imagination Station World History Book List (Cycles 1 & 2)
Who Was… What Was… Where Was… books for Cycle 1 and Cycle 2
Our Cycle 2 Reading Plans from 6 years ago
Our Cycle 2 Reading Plans from 6 years ago
My hope is that what I’ve provided here is a blessing to you. If you have books that you would like to recommend for the topics on this list, please feel free to email them to halfahundredacrewood @gmail.com.
In His Grace,
Brandy