Ambleside Classical

A Basket of Books

To require or inspire? Since I don't really 'assign' reading books, but let dd chose from our library basket, I thought it would be fun to publish what she has decided to read and view this year so far in our TruthQuest studies. They are a mix of chapter books, picture books and videos. We have a few weeks of history left, so she may finish another book or two -- but this is the majority of her history 'meals' from this year.

I have to admit that it was hard to let go of the control in the reading area, but the reading basket method has worked out extremely well at our house. No more assigning pages or chapter numbers, no more anguishing over which book is 'best' to assign, no more groans when a book is assigned! How freeing. I call it the Old Country Buffet History Method. In truth, more seems to be read when "inspired"than when "required." What a blessing to find a method that works with a more reluctant reader!

• A New Nation by Joy Hakim

• Liberty for All? by Joy Hakim

• War, Terrible War by Joy Hakim

• George Washington (CFA) by Augusta Stevenson

• Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin by Margeurite Henry

• Sightseers: Paris, 1789 (Kingfisher) - French Revolution

• Sacagewea: Girl of the Shining Mountains by Roop

• Meet Thomas Jefferson (Landmark)

• VIDEO: Lewis and Clark (National Geographic)

• VIDEO: Sacagewea: Heroine of the Lewis and Clark Journey (Questar)

• Oceola (CFA) by Electa Clark

• Nightbird: A Story of the Seminole Indians by Kathleen Kudlinski

• The Seminole by Lepthien, Emilie U (New True Book)

• Native Crafts by Maxine Trottier

• Traditional Native American Arts and Activities by Arlette N. Braman

• Dolly Madison (Childhood of Famous Americans) by Monsell

• Robert Fulton: Boy Craftsman (Childhood of Famous Americans) by Margeurite Henry

• John Quincy Adams (Childhood of Famous Americans) by Weil

• South America (A New True Book)

• Capyboppy by Peet

• Canals (A New True Book) by Elaine Landau

• Iron Horses by Nerla Kay

• Erie Canal: Canoein America’s Great Waterway by Peter Lourie

• VIDEO: Xavier in India (AIMS Multimedia)

• VIDEO: Religions of the World: Hinduism (United Learning)

• Story of the Trail of Tears (COF)

• VIDEO: How the West Was Lost (Discovery School)

• Welcome to Josephina’s World 1824: Growing Up on America’s Southwest Frontier (American Girls)

• The Story of the Santa Fe Trail (COF) - RA

• Jed Smith: Young Western Explorer by Olive Burt (CFA)
• Jim Bridger: Mountain Boy by Gertrude Winders (CFA)
• Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie: The Oregon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell-1847 by Kristiana Gregory
• Cowboy by David Murdoch (Eyewitness Books)

• Pony Express by Steven Kroll

• Pony Bob’s Daring Ride: A Pony Express Adventure by Joe Bensen

• Buffalo Bill by d’Aulaire

• Yippee-Yay: A Book About Cowboys and Cowgirls by Gail Gibbons

• Born to Be a Cowgirl: A Spirited Guide through the Old West by Candace Savage

• Bufffalo Gals by Brandon Marie Miller

• Frederick Remington by Mike Venenzia

• Caddie Woodlawn by Brink - RA

• Video: ‘Texas Legacy’ by Rainbow Education
• How I Survived the Oregon Trail by Laura Wilson

• Oregon Trail Cooking by Mary Gunderson

• West by Covered Wagon by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent

• Roughing It on the Oregon Trail by Diane Stanley

• I’m Sorry. Almira Ann by Jane Kurtz

• The Donner Party by Scott P Werther

• The Story of Gold at Sutter’s Mill (COF)

• Almost to Freedom by Nelson

• Who Owns the Sun? By Chbosky

• Under the Quilt of Night by Hopkinson

• Aunt Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky by Ringgold

• Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Hopkinson

The Patchwork Path by Stroud

• Escape from Slavery by Rappaport

• A Picture Book of Sojourner Truth by Adler

• The Tales of Uncle Remus by Julius Lester

• A Picture Book of Harriet Beecher Stowe by Adler

• VIDEO: Uncle Tom’s Cabin

• Grace’s Letter to Lincoln by Roop

• Abe Lincoln: Frontier Boy by August Stevenson (CFA)

• Behind Rebel Lines by Reit

• The Boys' War by Murphy

• Who Comes With Cannons? - RA

View reading list as PDF file