Children's American History Books

AN AMERICAN PLAGUE: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 [Newberry Honor Book]
by Jim Murphy. B&W era newspaper reports, art, drawings, city maps, and photos. Excellent documentation. Condition: NEW 2006 Scholastic trade paperback, 4th printing. Content: History, science, politics, and public health come together in this dramatic account of the disastrous yellow fever epidemic that hit the nation's capital more than 200 years ago. Drawing on firsthand accounts, medical and non-medical, Murphy re-creates the fear and panic in the infected city, the social conditions that caused the disease to spread, and the arguments about causes and cures. With archival prints, photos, contemporary newspaper facsimiles that include lists of the dead, and full, chatty source notes, he tells of those who fled and those who stayed--among them, the heroic group of free blacks who nursed the ill and were later vilified for their work. Murphy chronicles this frightening time with solid research and a flair for weaving facts into fascinating stories, beginning with the fever's emergence on August 3, when a young French sailor died in Richard Denny's boardinghouse on North Water Street. As church bells rang more and more often, it became horrifyingly clear that the de facto capital was being ravaged by an unknown killer. An afterword explains the yellow fever phenomenon, its causes, and contemporary outbreaks, and source notes are extensive and interesting. Grades 6 - 12. Questions welcome. [1 left]
$ 4.89 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

AMERICAN SAILING SHIPS COLORING BOOK
by Peter F. Copeland. B&W drawings illustrate. Condition: NEW 1987 Dover soft cover (stapled wraps), no printing given. Tiny edge wear. Content: Forty-five magnificent ready-to-color illustrations depict USS Constitution, sloops, whalers, frigates, clippers, more. Informative captions. Ages 8+, Questions welcome. [1 left]
$ 4.00 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

ANTLER, BEAR CANOE: A Northwoods Alphabet Year
text and adorable illustrations by Betsy Bowen. Condition: NEW 1995 Little Brown soft cover, first printing. Content: An alphabet book that is novel in overall concept, ABC words, and illustrations. Bowen has taken as her theme ordinary life in the Minnesota northwoods from January ("Aa" for "Antler") to December ("Zz" for "Zero" temperature). Each letter-word pair is accompanied by a brief, explanatory anecdote. Above it is a -page full-color woodblock illustration that contains true-to-life details that increase effectiveness. There are good find-it-in-the-picture text clues for pre-readers, while older children--especially those familiar with northwoods life--will reread and enjoy the book for Bowen's bold accuracy of concept and presentation. Ages 4 - 8. [1 copy available]
$ 5.00 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

ATTACK ON FORT McHENRY (Reading Level 7)
by David R. Collins. Color illustrations by James Noel Smith. Condition: NEW 2001 Rigby soft cover (stapled wraps), 4th printing. Content: This is the story of the British attack on Fort McHenry and the writing of the Star Spangled Banner. Perfect for home schooling. Ages 6+. [1 copy available]
$ 3.98 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

CAN'T YOU MAKE THEM BEHAVE, KING GEORGE?
by Jean Fritz. Color and B&W pictures by Tomie dePaola. Condition: UNREAD c. 1990s Coward-McCann soft cover, 14th printing. Tiny edge wear. Content: This is a very clever intro to the American Revolution and England's kings for young readers. Reviewer: "Jean Fritz has created many fabulous books for children. This book is one of my favorites. It shows the beginning of the American Revolution from the eyes of King George. The book is humerous and historically correct. Kids and adults will enjoy reading it together!" [1 copy available]
$ 4.59 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

A Coloring Book of the CIVIL WAR
by Allan Archambault. B&W drawings by the Author. Condition: NEW 1983 Bellerophon large soft cover, no printing given. Tiny edge wear. Content: The interesting uniforms of the different units were far more colorful than just blue and gray. Line drawings of soldiers wearing these uniforms are included along with a coloring key. Uniforms from Zouaves to Hampton's Legion to Rhode Island Detaached Militia to the Drummer Boys - they are all here. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.59 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

DAILY LIFE ON A SOUTHERN PLANTATION 1853
by Paul Erickson. Beautiful, historically correct color illustrations by Paul Gabbey. Color photos, as well. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 2000 Lodestar over-sized hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), second printing. Problem: While the book is perfect, the DJ has nics and 2 "repaired" tears. It has been price-clipped. Content: In this handsome book, you will meet the Hendersons, who live on a Southern plantation with their children in 1853. You'll also meet Daddy Major, Rosena, Scipio, and Cicero, slaves who work in the Big House and in the cotton fields. Full-color photographs of interiors, clothing, and objects, plus artwork and oral history, document a typical day on a plantation. You will see the stately bedrooms and dining room of the plantation house, as well as the simple slave quarters and cabins. Inside the Big House, morning chores are done and the children readied for school (or play); in the kitchen house, food is cooked and bread is baked; and in the sugar house, cane is crushed. Readers will learn about mealtimes, leisure hours, doctors and disease, and bedtimes. They'll also learn about attitudes toward slavery, slave meetings in the woods, and much more in this unique visit to a restored Southern plantation in New Iberia, Louisiana. Ages 9 - 12+. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 8.59 + $ 3.39 media shipping.

THE DAY MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WAS SHOT: A Photo History of the Civil Rights Movement
by Jim Haskins. B&W era photos and era art reproductions throughout. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1992 Scholastic large soft cover, 4th printing. Light edgewear. Content: A readable and attractive photo essay recounting the struggle for civil rights in the U. S. Haskins's clearly written text and archival black-and-white photographs trace the long, hard road to equal rights for African-Americans from the earliest days of the slave trade; through the desegregation battles; to The Day Martin Luther King, Jr., Was Shot , which Haskins cites as the ``end of the civil rights era.'' Brief accounts of brave individuals, both black and white, are included: abolitionists; students who integrated Central High School in Little Rock in 1957; demonstrators who sat-in at a lunch counter in Greensboro in 1960; civil right workers who were murdered in Mississippi in 1964; and many, many more. This is an excellent overview. [1 copy available] Questions welcome.
$ 3.09 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

An Educational READ & COLOR BOOK OF COLONIES
edited by Linda Spizzirri. Detailed B&W illlustrations by Peter Spizzirri. Condition: NEW 1994 Spizzirri large soft cover, no printing given. Content: Actually, the drawings and the excellent history text made for a good supplement book for homeschooling elementary kids. The book covers the history of each of the 13 colonies plus revolution and independence. Some junior high school kids will find this interesting as well, but may not cotton to the coloring of the pages. Nifty, IMHO. [1 copy available]
$ 9.69 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

FROM ANTIETAM TO GETTYSBURG: A Civil War Coloring Book
text and B&W illustrations by Peter F. Copeland. Condition: NEW 1983 Dover large paperback (stapled wraps), no printing given. 1983 was the original Dover issue, but I believe this to be a later printing, c. 1995. Content: Forty-five precise black-and-white illustrations document great battles, generals of the War Between the States. Pickett's charge at Cemetery Ridge; Union Army retreat from Fredericksburg; portraits of Lee, Meade, Hood, other generals. Detailed, informative captions. Valuable learning tool, enjoyable coloring experience. These Dover coloring books are a perfect way to introduce youngsters to history. Ages 6 - 9. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.59 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

THE HEROINE OF THE TITANIC:
A Tale Both True and Otherwise of the Life of Molly Brown
by Joan W. Blos. Watercolor illustrations by Tennessee Dixon. . Condition: Very good 1991 William Morrow hardcover (pictorial boars - probably library binding), first printing. This is an ex-library book with all markings, but it is unread. Shelfwear top spine. Content: Told in exuberant verse, this story of "the unsinkable Molly Brown" is scattered throughout with wit, tall tales and exaggeration, much like the hearty heroine herself. Molly Brown is best remembered for refusing to go down with the Titanic , but Blos presents this episode as only one part of a full, unusual life -- focusing instead on her youth, marriage and later travels. Relying on an abundance of brown hues for a beguiling period tone, Dixon's robust watercolors admirably depict Molly's childhood in Missouri, while the artist's attention to detail, particularly fashions, complements Mrs. Brown's ascension to high society. Both appealing and accessible, this collaboration makes Molly Brown's love of life and straightforward nature a cause for celebration. Ages 6-up.
$ 4.89 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

HIROSHIMA: The Story of the First Atom Bomb
by Clive Lawton. B&W and color era photos illustrate. . Condition: NEW 2004 Candlewick hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: A large, profusely illustrated account of the development and use of the atomic bomb. Lawton presents the basics of the nuclear theory behind it; the Manhattan Project; the progress of World War II and V-E Day; Truman's decision to use the bomb; the mission of the Enola Gay and the results of the Hiroshima explosion; and the subsequent use of the bomb on Nagasaki. The book also looks at the aftermath, including the surrender of Japan, the survivors, the rebirth of Hiroshima, and the continuing influence of nuclear weapons on the world. The text is clearly written though superficial in places, especially the passage on the complexities of the decision to use this weapon. Brief biographical entries on the primary characters and a chronology enhance the text, while outstanding black-and-white and full-color photos and drawings convey as much of the story as the text. Questions welcome. [1 copy left]
$ 5.89 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

I KID YOU NOT: A Kid's Guide to the Land of the Free and the Home of the Strange!
by Hammond Road Atlas. Color cartoons & illustrations by Dave Winter. Condition: UNREAD 1994 large softcover with small shelfwear in form of diagonal crease bottom back cover. Interior perfect. Content: This is the best traveling companion for kids I've ever seen. Broken down into map regions (New England, Plains states, Mountain states, etc.), each state has cartoon representations of unusual sites kids (and probably adults, too) would enjoy seeing. Information on the state is also included in the text. Excellent data and clever.
$ 3.59 + $ 2.89 media shipping.

IF YOU SAILED ON THE MAYFLOWER IN 1620
by Ann McGovern. Clever, cute color illustrations by Anna DiVito. Condition: NEW c. 2000+ Scholastic paperback, 56th printing (wow!). Content: If you sailed on the Mayflower: What could you take with you?; How would you keep clean?; What would you do when you first got to shore? Get ready to go back in time to 1620 to discover what it was like to sail the Mayflower! Reviewer: " I learned things about the Pilgrims I'd never known. And, the content is fascinating for children. It covered such curious topics as Did they bathe on the Mayflower?, What did they eat?, How were people who broke the law punished?, What did children do? It was written to entertain anyone over the age of 4. It's a question/answer book and exceptionally well done. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 2.49 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

IN 1776
by Jean Marzollo. Bright fun color illustrations by Steve Bjorkman. Condition: NEW 2009 Scholastic paperback, first printing. Content: When the American colonists felt they were being treated unfairly by the British, they decided to do something about it. With the help of brave citizens like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, America won the Revolutionary War and the Declaration of Independence was born. With fun and fact-filled verse and playful illustrations, IN 1776 is perfect for introducing young readers to America's early history and the importance of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. The book is in clever iambic pentameter text. Fun and educational. Who could resist? AGes 7 - 10. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.69 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

JOSHUA CHAMBERLAIN AND THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR (Robert F. Kennedy, Jr's American Heroes series)
by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Wonderful color paintings by Nikita Andreev. Condition: NEW 2007 Hyperion hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: This book on Joshua Chamberlain proves to be a well written and pretty interesting book for school level between third grade to eighth grade level of student interested in the American Civil War or American history. Chamberlain was a college professor (languages) in Maine who enlisted and led his troops from Antirtam to Appomattox. He was wounded several times but is most remembered for his gallant stand at Gettysburg which saved the Union army. (Ages 7 and older) [1 copy available.]
$ 4.25 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

American Girls Pastimes: KIRSTEN'S CRAFT BOOK: A Look at Crafts from the Past with Projects You Can Make Today
by Jodi Everett. Cover art by Renee Graef. Interior illustrations by Geri Bourget. Condition: UNREAD, but perused on the shelf, 1998 Pleasant soft cover, 9th printing. No major problems, just perused. Tiny edge wear. Content: Grade 3-6-An unusual craft book. Introductions to each chapter provide a historical perspective, transporting readers to Kirsten's 19th-century world. The 16 activities are then categorized by household items: braided rugs and quilted potholders; toys yarn dolls; and Indian arts, such as clay beads. The individual projects list materials needed and step-by-step directions. In most instances, they are clear and will require little adult interpretation. Adult assistance is suggested when sharp tools are needed. Full-color photographs and diagrams further assist young crafters, and full-size patterns are provided. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.99 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

THE LEWIS & CLARK EXPEDITION (Highlights from American History series)
by Sanna Porte Kiesling. Color illustrations by Dan White. Condition: UNREAD 1990 TwoDot Trade Paperback, first printing. Perfect but for light edgewear bottom page corners. Warm & appropriate color illustrations. Content: Nice way to introduce kids to American History and exploration of the continent. In 1804 two young Americans set out to explore the land between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean, a land no white man had ever seen. What awaited them? Prehistoric monsters? Fire-breathing dragons? Meriwether Lewis and William Clark intended to find out. Their travels were full of dangerous encounters, narrow escapes, and hardships that would have made other men give up in despair. Yet they succeeded. Their two-year journey took them from St. Louis, Missouri, up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, across the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis and Clark lived one of the most exciting chapters in American history, and their expedition shaped America's destiny. Recommended for grades 4 - 7.
$ 1.59 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

LIGHTHOUSES OF NORTH AMERICA!: Exploring Their History, Lore & Science
by Lisa Trumbauer. Clever, colorful, comic illustrations by Michael Kline. Condition: NEW 2007 Williamson Books large softcover, no printing given. Content: This book is suitable for ages 9 to 12 years. With fun, hands-on activities, dramatic play, and creative thinking, children will discover the wonder of lighthouses and the geography that made lighthouses necessary, as well as the science that improved the strength of the light itself. See specific lighthouses of North America, while you light an (indoor) cliff, make a rocky reef and a rough current, name a lighthouse, write a captain's log entry and a lighthouse poem, learn the colour codes of lighthouses, and explore lighthouse shapes. Learn the strengths and weaknesses of tower lighthouses, screw piles, caissons, skeleton lighthouses, and more. Let it Shine! Learn all about the kinds of lights including the spider lamp, reflected light, fresnel light, lights of different brightness, occult lights, fixed and flashing lights, and making a blinking beacon. Let there be light! Explore the science of light and see how both sound and light travel, bend a light, reflect light, and diffuse light in water. Be a Keeper! Learn all about living in a lighthouse and growing up in one, too. Chronicle a storm, write about a daring rescue, imagine living far from all others, and write lighthouse poetry. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 5.00 + $ 3.19 media shipping. International shipping available - please use the drop-down menu.

MRS. KENNEDY GOES ABROAD
by Vibhuti Patel. Intro by John Kenneth Galbraith. Beautiful color paintings by Jacqueline Duheme. Decorated end pages. Condition: Gently pre-read, IF at all, 1998 Artisan hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. No problems, just may be pre-read. Content: This is a wonderful piece of Camelot for the younger generation - and even adults who remember the magic of the White House then will love this book. Jacqueline Kennedy - American icon and inimitable symbol of strength and beauty. Her majestic elegance is captured in this delightful gift book, Mrs. Kennedy Goes Abroad, by French painter, illustrator, and lifelong friend of the First Lady, Jacqueline Duheme. When President and Mrs. Kennedy traveled to Paris in 1961 Mme Duheme began painting scenes from their historic trip. These intricate miniatures impressed President Kennedy, and so Mme Duheme offered the series as a gift. Delighted, Mrs. Kennedy, who herself always enjoyed painting as a pastime, invited Mme Duheme to visit her at the White House and in Cape Cod. Later, upon Jacqueline's request, Mme Duheme accompanied the First Lady and her sister Princess Lee Radziwill on their diplomatic tour through India and Pakistan via Rome. From a visit with the pope at the Vatican to a walk through Nehru's gardens, from a camel ride in Karachi to lunch with Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace, Mme Duheme illustrated the unforgettable moments of the trip. Now in Mrs. Kennedy Goes Abroad, these exquisite watercolors are published for the first time--along with line drawings, photographs from Mme Duheme's collection, and nostalgic text drawn from the recollections and reportage of the time. Also included is an introduction by John Kenneth Galbraith, who was a personal friend of Mrs. Kennedy's and, as ambassador to India, accompanied her on her 1962 trip. Beautifully designed and printed, this intimate portrait is a treasure for all those who appreciate the style and grace of the Kennedy era. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 7.59 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

MYSTERIOUS JOURNEY: Amelia Earhart's Last Flight
byMartha Wickham. Color illustrations by David Lund. . Condition: NEW 1997 Soundprints/Smithsonian hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. Content: Lucy, Tomas, Emma, and Kevin are visiting the Amelia Earhart exhibit at the National Air and Space Museum when Lucy is transported through time and becomes Amelia Earhart at the airplane controls?with navigator Fred Noonan beside her - on the last leg of that fateful journey. Lucy hopes to find out what really happened to Earhart, but is transported back to the present before that occurs. The text is clear and concise, and the illustrations have a scratchy, textured look using rich, warm colors and a smoky affect. The map illustration marking all the stops on Earhart's final flight shows just how close the aviatrix came to attaining her goal. The story may spark interest in Amelia Earhart or aviation history. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.69 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

POCAHONTAS COLORING BOOK
by Brian Doherty. B&W and color illustrations by Thea Kliros. Condition: NEW 1994 Dover large soft cover, no printing given. Tiny loss-of-color spot front cover at spine. Interior perfect. Content: Bring history to life with this educational, entertaining coloring book featuring 48 well-drawn scenes from life of Indian heroine: begging her father to save Capt. Smith, her marriage to John Rolfe, voyage to England, presentation at the British court, much more. Detailed, informative captions. Age 4 - 8. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.59 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

A RIVER RAN WILD
text and color illustratins by Lynne Cherry. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1995 Harcourt Brace hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ , 4th printing. 2 impressions (pale) front cover. School supplemental book. Content: Cherry traces the ecological evolution of New England's Nashua River--how it was respected by generations of Indians, polluted and ultimately deadened in the wake of the industrial revolution and restored in recent years through the efforts of concerned citizens. In the 15th century, when native people first settled on the banks of the river now called the Nashua, it was a fertile and beautiful place. By the 1960s, the river valley had been ravaged by many years of serious pollution , and fish, birds, and other animals were no longer seen in the area. Through the efforts of Marion Stoddart and the Nashua River Watershed Association, laws were passed that resulted in the restoration of this river and the protection of all rivers. The author gets high marks for documenting the negative impact of industry on the environment and for highlighting the difference one determined person can make. However, young readers lacking historical background need more facts and dates than are included here. Cherry uses borders on pages that detail, for example, some of the inventions conceived in the 19th century; inexplicably, most are labeled but only some are dated. Her note and the maps on the endpapers, which include a timeline, also help to place the events in context. The watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations are sweeping in their subject matter and adequately convey the physical deterioration of the watershed. [1 copy available]
$ 2.49 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

SOUTHERN PLANTATION COOKING {Exploring History through Simple Recipes]
by Mary Gunderson. Color Color photos & reprodductions plus B&W era photos. Condition: NEW 2000 Blue Earth hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ issued), first printing. Content: Discusses everyday life, family roles, cooking methods, most important foods, and celebrations of people on southern plantations before the Civil War. Includes recipes. Also includes a typical layout of a plantation and the differences in food between "the big house" and slave quarters. Grades 4 - 9. Questions welcome. [1 copy available.]
$ 5.19 + $ 3.19 media shipping. International shipping available on arrangement - email us.

THE STORY OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL (Cornerstones of Freedom Series)
by David K. Wright. B&W and color photos illustrate. Condition: UNREAD 1990 Children's Press hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ issued), first printing. Content: An account of the inspiration, conception, and construction, after much controversy, of the memorial designed by a college student, Maya Lin, honoring the men and women who served in the Vietnam War. This is a great book for youngsters to learn about the most (IMHO) powerful, beautiful and sad monument in D.C. Also included are some of the "villians" in the attempt to get the monument made - James C. Watt, in particular. [1 copy available]
$ 2.50 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

THANK YOU, SARAH: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving
by Laurie Halse Anderson. Clever and fun color illustrations by Matt Faulkner. Condition: NEW 2005+ Aladdin paperback, 6th printing. Content: We the people of the United States... Almost Lost Thanksgiving. Yes. That's right! Way back when "skirts were long and hats were tall" Americans were forgetting Thanksgiving, and nobody seemed to care! Thankfully, Sarah Hale appeared. More steadfast than Plymouth Rock, this lady editor knew the holiday needed saving. But would her recipe for rescue ever convince Congress and the presidents? Join acclaimed author Laurie Halse Anderson on a journey of a woman and a pen that spanned four decades, the Civil War, and five presidents, all so you could have your turkey and eat it too! [1 copy available]
$ 3.60 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

A VISUAL DICTIONARY OF A COLONIAL COMMUNITY
by Bobbie Kalman. Detailed color illustrations by Barbaa Bedell. Condition: NEW 2008 Crabtree soft cover, no printing given. Content: This is a great overview of American Colonial living - subjects covered: what men and women wore; housing, occupations, slavery, food, travel, etc. Excellent for homeschoolers of grade school kids. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.59 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

THE AMERICAN FLAG BOOKPLATES
art from a photo. Condition: NEW package of 12 bookplates made by pacaritambo books. The peel-off label stock is heavier than most bookplate materials and is matte and not glossy. They are as perfect as possible, and we feel the subject matter is much different than you can get anywhere else. 4.0" H x 3.0" W. Content: This bookplate is a version of the American Flag - with plenty of room for a name or even an inscription. We can personalize your bookplate (the font is BinnerD) - just email us the name. Any questions, click here to email us.
$ 4.00 + $ 2.85 first class shipping.