Here are some great history book reviews to feed your childrens imaginations with the exploits of men and woman of days gone by.

On this history book reviews page I have reviewed for you a selection of books, that should you tuck into them, you will never find history boring again. Enjoy a bit of time travel with your children.

Charlotte Mason says:"In these early years...let them get the spirit of history into them by reading at least one old Chronicle written by a man who saw and knew what he wrote about and not get it at second hand."

The Great History Tour, Usborne

Subtitled as Look-Puzzle-Learn, this book is a visual feast for young and older children as they visit different eras in history. The border of the double page spreads asks the child to identify two pyramids or two temples etc.

The Great Geography Tour, Usborne

The same as the history book but this time your children take an armchair trip around the world to the Antarctic, the desert, a city, an island and a whole host of other places.

Usborne Time Traveler

This is an omnibus version of the 4 original Usborne books titled Knights and Castles, Viking Raiders, Rome and Romans and Pharaohs and Pyramids. It is a young child’s delight for looking at ancient history. All pictures are done cartoon style with a vast amount of information about each era in history. There are also in depth sections covering more historical detail. Each section looks at manners and customs, food and entertaining, battles and wars and rights of passage. We have enjoyed it thoroughly on and off for the last few years.

I loved history up until Grade 5, when someone came and squashed the joy out of it with a whole lot of facts and dates. This following history book reviewed for you, has been instrumental in lighting that fire again in my own heart. Mr Hillyer has told the story of the world as a granddad would tell his grandchildren stories of his life as a young child.

A Child’s History of the World by VM Hillyer

We have loved and enjoyed all of Mr Hillyer's narratives and have had our historical-literature taste buds whetted for more. The first three chapters are written from an antiquated world view, but the rest of the book is full of delicious details for young minds to hang other information on. Some of those details are: The Russian Tzar - Peter the Great - overcoming his intense fear of water and then building one of the greatest shipping fleets or the amazing inventions of the Arabs. What about the great acts of justice by Justinian the Just? Tempted - believe me, this book is worth every cent!

The Sword in the Tree, Clyde Robert Bulla

Set in the time of King Arthur. A young boy and his mother go on a quest to ask this great king’s help to regain their castle from his father’s brother. This author has many other great historical novels for children. Be sure to keep your eye out for them, or you can take a look here: Clyde Robert Bulla

The Little Riders, Margaret Shemin

Set in Holland during the Second World War, 11yr old Johanna is charged with taking care of the “Little Riders” These are 12 metal figures in the clock tower across the road from her home. When a Nazi general takes up forced residence in her home, she has to learn to overcome fear and prejudice too.

Usborne Book of Greek Myths

Our son of 9 has been so delighted with this book. It is a gentle but thorough introduction to the world of Greek myth. The outcome that amazed us all was how much of Greek myth is used today in general conversation, other stories and advertising. Really a worthwhile investment.

Horrible History

Our 11 year old son’s “history-books-of-all-time”. These book are full of slightly grisly details and sweeps some well known and some unknown events in history. Some of the events are highly comical, and will help those with a history block to embrace history. If you are South African, rather search at Kalahari.net

Detectives in Togas, Henry Winterfield

Here is a perfect example of learning history in a non confrontational way. The story features 5 school friends living at the height of the Roman Empire. They are forced into the situation of being boy detectives to help prove the innocence of their school friend who is accused of defacing a temple. The story is full of details of Ancient Rome and is definitely worth the read. Please note that there is an incident of the boys visiting a soothsayer.

---

Return to top of History Book Reviews