Lots of parents read to their kids when they’re little, but did you know that big kids need to be read to as well? Even after they can read on their own, continuing to read aloud to older kids helps to build vocabulary, improves comprehension and listening skills, and provides a positive parent/child bonding experience. Reading aloud to your older child is also a great way to tackle a challenging book that your child might not choose to read on his own.
Books about history can be a good choice for reading aloud to older kids. Both historical fiction and nonfiction books about history can pique your child’s curiosity and spark interest in learning more about past cultures and historical events. If your kids are like mine, they’ll ask lots of questions as you read which is a great opportunity to do a little research and find the answers together.
There are many amazing historical fiction and nonfiction history book series for kids. Here are a few of my family’s favorites.
Fiction
- Magic Tree House Series
The Magic Tree House book series features the adventures of siblings Jack and Annie as they travel around the world in a magic tree house to many different historical time periods and places. There are many books in the series covering topics such as ancient Egypt, the first Olympic games, the American Revolution, and the pilgrims, just to name a few. Many of the books have nonfiction companion “Fact Trackers” that provide more in-depth information about a topic.
- American Girl Books
The American Girl books tell the stories of fictional girls who live at key points in American history. Readers will learn about what daily life would have been like during historical time periods such as the Revolutionary War, pioneer times, the Civil War, the Great Depression, and more.
- Adventures in Odyssey: Imagination Station Series
This Adventures in Odyssey book series features cousins Beth and Patrick as they travel back in time in the Imagination Station. Readers will enjoy traveling along with the cousins to meet the Vikings, visit ancient Rome, assist in the Revolutionary War, and many other exciting adventures.
- I Survived Series
Each book in the I Survived series tells an exciting story from history from the perspective of a fictional child that lived through the event. The series covers topics such as the sinking of the Titanic, the Battle of Gettysburg, the attacks of September 11, 2001, and more.
Non-Fiction
- If You Lived… Series
The books in the If You Lived… series describes what it was like to live during a specific point in the past. Readers can step back in time to learn what it was like to sail on the Mayflower, to travel on the Underground Railroad, to live with the Iroquois, and many more.
- Who Was?/What Was? Series
The Who Was? books are a series of biographies that tell the stories of many historical figures including Anne Frank, Sacagawea, Alexander the Great, and Blackbeard, just to name a few. The What Was? Series covers key historical events including the Boston Tea Party, the Titanic, the Great Depression, and many others.
