Best Children’s History Books
A working knowledge of history helps people learn from the mistakes of the past in hopes of avoiding them. Learning about history is simply fascinating, as it treats the mind to other cultures, how people of yore did things, and why. The 10 best children’s history books of 2017 provide your children with a gateway to the past to help them understand the world they live in and who has helped shape it.
Here you will find books about infamous individuals such as Abraham Lincoln’s assassin and Typhoid Mary, that deadly cook. The top 10 best children’s history books also features some of the most brilliant people ever born, such as Leonardo da Vinci and George Washington. History’s unsung heroes are also found here, including the boys who challenged Hitler in a war-torn country.
Let your children explore the past, question the present, and think about the future with this collection. The top 10 best children’s history books does all of this and more! Have fun!
What’s here: This fantastic compilation of the 10 best history books for children for the spring and summer months of 2017 was created by real moms and educators who enjoyed these books themselves or taught them in class. Numerous types and themes of books are included in the list to keep your youngin’ stimulated.
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What’s Here:
1. The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club by Phillip Hoose
2. I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World by Malala Yousafzai
3. The Boys in the Boat (Young Readers Adaptation) by Daniel James Brown
4. Terrible Typhoid Mary: A True Story of the Deadliest Cook in America by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
5. Bomb: The Race to Build–and Steal–the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin
6. Who Was Leonardo da Vinci? by Roberta Edwards
7. The Boy on the Wooden Box: How the Impossible Became Possible . . . on Schindler’s List by Leon Leyson
8. Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson
9. The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child – Volume 1: Ancient Times by Susan Wise Bauer
10. Who Was George Washington? by Roberta Edwards
1. The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club by Phillip Hoose
Ages: 12 – 17
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Coming in at #1 of the top 10 history books for kids in 2017 is The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club by Phillip Hoose.
This award-winning read is a historic account of the Churchill Club; a group of adolescents who opened the proverbial door to a revolt against Hitler in World War II.
Riveting and well-documented. Their efforts began a full-fledged, war-ending Danish resistance.
2. I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World by Malala Yousafzai
Ages: 10 – 17
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Holding a strong place among this year’s best history books for kids is I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World by Malala Yousafzai.
Recent from 2017, I am Malala is about a little girl, only 10 years old, whose town is overtaken by the Taliban.. Her neighborhood, once peaceful, is thrown into chaos. And one day, while riding the bus home, she was shot point-blank…and survived. This is her story of heroic perseverance.
3. The Boys in the Boat (Young Readers Adaptation) by Daniel James Brown
Ages: 10 – 14
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Third in line on the list – The Boys in the Boat (Young Readers Adaptation) by Daniel James Brown.
In 1936, a team of eight working-class young men set out to shock, rock, and surprise the world as Olympic rowers. But that isn’t the kicker. The real excitement and awe came when these boys pitted themselves against the German rowing team; those who dedicated their victories to Adolf Hitler
4. Terrible Typhoid Mary: A True Story of the Deadliest Cook in America by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Ages: 10 – 14
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Terrible Typhoid Mary: A True Story of the Deadliest Cook in America by Susan Campbell Bartoletti makes it to 4th place of the top children’s history books in 2017.
If your kiddo is a history buff, they might be familiar with Typhoid Mary; a household cook who faced persecution after it was discovered her body naturally produced the bacteria that causes typhoid fever. This true story explores who Mary was, minus the hateful rumors. Quite a gripping bibliographic read.
5. Bomb: The Race to Build–and Steal–the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin
Ages: 10 – 14
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Also managing a place among 2017’s “best of” kids’ history books is Bomb: The Race to Build–and Steal–the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin.
1931 marked a historic event in the labs of a German chemist. This was the year when the world was struck with the genius and horror of a single scientist; one who discovered the atom bomb. For history-loving kiddos, Bomb is a must-read, packed with facts, discoveries, and global emotion.
6. Who Was Leonardo da Vinci? by Roberta Edwards
Ages: 8 – 12
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My personal favorite on this year’s “best history books for kids” books — Who Was Leonardo da Vinci? by Roberta Edwards.
The title of this book says it all. Who was Leonardo da Vinci? Well, he was a talented painter, scientist, inventor, and musician; a jack of all trades, if you will. He lived in Italy during the height of the Renaissance; an adventurous, inspired era for artists and historians alike.
7. The Boy on the Wooden Box: How the Impossible Became Possible . . . on Schindler’s List by Leon Leyson
Ages: 9 – 14
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Next, at 7th on the list – The Boy on the Wooden Box: How the Impossible Became Possible . . . on Schindler’s List by Leon Leyson.
Schindler’s List is a world-renowned historic document that became famous for saving the lives of thousands of concentration camp prisoners. In this true story, a 10-year-old boy leaves the dangers and horrors of the concentration camp, becoming one of the saved on that aforementioned list. Remarkable and heartbreaking at once.
8. Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson
Ages: 12 and up
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Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson is marked at 8th among children’s history books this year.
After John Wilkes Booth murdered Abraham Lincoln, he went on the run, leading police officers and investigators on a chaotic chase across three states. This book recounts, in vivid detail, the twelve-day manhunt that ended in the wilderness of Virginia.
9. The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child – Volume 1: Ancient Times by Susan Wise Bauer
Ages: 8 – 12
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HItting the 9th spot on the list – The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child – Volume 1: Ancient Times by Susan Wise Bauer.
Consider this one of the best history books your little one will ever read. It tells the stories of earlier civilizations in engaging ways, leading historians-to-be from the pre-evolved Nomads to the last Roman emperor. This narrative answers fun, quirky, intriguing questions that would normally be absent from history books.
10. Who Was George Washington? by Roberta Edwards
Ages: 8 – 12
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The final pick among the 2017 top ten kids’ history books is Who Was George Washington? by Roberta Edwards.
Another great from the Who Was collection. This book is all about George Washington. From his childhood, to his stint as America’s first president in 1789, to the honor of being placed on the dollar bill. Lovin’ the quirky illustrations!