American Revolution: Introduction

American Revolution: Introduction

Why study the American Revolution? This period of time lays the foundation for the principles that govern our country. While many books make it appear as though our country was united in the war against Britain, it was not. While it would be nice to believe that the patriots were always good and noble, that was not always the case. By reading a variety of sources, the student gains a fuller and more accurate picture of history.

What's different about this list? Using a variety of sources, I have compiled an extensive list of fascinating titles to enliven the study of the American Revolution. This list focuses primarily on books that are currently in print or easy to locate in the library.

Because book stores generally carry more paperbacks and children's books go out of print rather quickly, I have used both book stores and the library for research. If you are looking for information on a specific person or topic, then the library offers a wealth of information.

The purpose of this list is not for you to read every book, but to allow you to read a number of choices. There are many more not listed.

As always, the parent is the best judge of what is appropriate. The Gr. 10 and up age group is particularly challenging because some authors deal with sensitive and mature topics or use objectionable language.

When creating a unit study, it is best to begin with an overview. An interesting textbook or a history book about this time period can provide a synopsis. A Catholic textbook is preferred because it provides information about Catholics that would otherwise be omitted.

The amount of time you spend on studying this period will depend on the objective you have in mind. You may wish to cover the lives of many people or just study one or two in great depth. For the older child, he may wish to take one person and read several biographies and do a research paper. On the other hand, if you are just choosing books to create a feel for the time, a few good books, such as Johnny Tremain may be what you are interested in. If you are looking for a particular slant, such as women in the American Revolution, there are many more choices available in the library.

The age categories are not limited to one age group. Although a book may be listed under one age group, it may be of interest to another. For example, The Reb and the Redcoats would be of interest to all age groups.

After a child has finished reading or listening to books about this time period, he or she has several options. The child can narrate to you the most interesting story, create a diorama, write a story or report with or without illustrations or maps, or make a lap book. There are many other possibilies mentioned in the activity books included in this list.

The books currently in print are subject to change at any time.

Happy Reading!