I have been on the search for the perfect spine books to complement the Classical Conversation Cycles. Something that could be read each week. I love looking into many books and having many wonderful resources available, but sometimes a “spine” book is best, and simpler! I have made lists of living books for each of the cycles, if you’d like to see them:
Cycle 1: Living Books for Ancient & World History
Cycle 2: Living Books for Medieval & Modern History
Cycle 3: Living Books for American History
So sometimes, you just want to have it all right there. What supplements can you provide for your child that are engaging, thought-provoking, living, and most of all, easy?!
These three choices are the best of the best. Each focuses primarily in one cycle, but they also weave their way into others, which is very neat!
Cycle 1: A Child’s History of the World by V. M. Hillyer
Cycle 2: Our Island Story by H.E. Marshall
Cycle 3: A Child’s First Book of American History by Earl Schenk Mier
Let’s take a look at these three amazing books, and then see below (and the included PDF for printing!) to see how the Cycles and Weeks will break down for you!
My sister was reading A Child’s History of the World when I was in college. I wish I had read it to. I do not believe that a better (albeit, brief) account of World History has every been written. Villyer relates events to one another in a wonderful, engaging way that keeps children wanting more. I highly recommend books written for children to be read by adults — there is so much to learn here and it should not be missed.
Our Island Story by H. E. Marshall is an incredibly captivating account of British History, from the time of the Romans through the Victorian time period. Written by Henrietta Marshall, who had to use the pen name “H. E.” to have her books published, her beautiful prose has my kids asking for more! She writes dialogue into her stories of King Alfred and Henry II, John Lackland, and many others. An absolute treasure for any young American child. British history IS our history!
And A Child’s First Book of American History by Earl Schenck Mier is what I have chosen for Cycle 3, American History. There are other books! (This Country of Ours, also by Marshall., America First by Evans, American History Stories by Pratt.) I have each of these, but cannot recommend them as the best book to pair with Classical Conversations Cycle 3. (Marshall was British, so doesn’t have the type of passion you read in Our Island Story. Evans stories are rich and this is my second favorite, but he does not touch on many of the CC history sentences. And Pratt is just dry and I do not care for her writing.) But Miers! This is rich text, and the illustrations by the ever-amazing Daugherty will captivate you and your child. The text may be deeper than you would hope, but do not underestimate the power of bigger concepts and words with your child!
See below to see how the Cycles and Weeks will break down for you using our three spine books! I’ve made a printable list of these as well!
Living Spine Books to use for Classical Conversations History
Cycle 1: Ancient & World History
Weeks 1 & 2: 10 Commandments
Week 3: Greek & Roman Gods
Our Island Story, Chapter 1
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 10
Week 4: Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 18
Week 5: Romans
Our Island Story, Chapter 2-6
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 16, 23, 32-38
Week 6: Greeks
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 14-15, 24 & 30-31 (Alexander the Great)
Week 7: Hinduism and Buddhism in India
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 20 (Indus River Valley)
Week 8: Age of Imperialism
Our Island Story, Chapter 101-110
Week 9: China
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 21, 58-59
Week 10: Japan’s Heian Period
Week 11: Emperor Constantine & Byzantine Empire
Our Island Story, Chapter 8
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 39-42
Week 12: Muslim Empire
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 45-46
Week 13: Kush
Week 14: Trade in Africa
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 55
Week 15: Prince Henry of Portugal
Week 16: Mesoamerica Civilizations
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 64
Week 17: Aztecs
Week 18: Mound Builders
Week 19: Anasazi
Week 20: Mexican Revolution
Week 21: Canada
Our Island Story, Chapter 21
Week 22: British North America Act of 1867
Week 23: Liberation of South America
Week 24: Portugueses Empire
Cycle 2: Medieval & Modern History
Week 1: Charlemagne
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 4-7
Week 2: William the Conqueror, King Harold, Feudalism
Our Island Story, Chapter 21-26
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 50, 52
Week 3: Crusades, Richard the Lion Hearted
Our Island Story, Chapter 33-34
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 53-54
Week 4: Magna Carta
Our Island Story, Chapter 35-36
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 57
Week 5: Hundred Years’ War
Our Island Story, Chapter 45-54
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 60
Week 6: Renaissance
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 66, 69
Week 7: Reformation
Our Island Story, Chapter 63
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 61
Week 8: European Explorers
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 63-64
Week 9: Absolute Monarchs
Our Island Story, Chapter 62-64 (Henry VIII)
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 67-68 (Henry VIII), 73 (Peter the Great), 74 (Frederick the Great)
Week 10: Russia
Week 11: French Revolution
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 76
Week 12: Napoleon Bonaparte and Battle of Waterloo
Our Island Story, Chapter 97-98
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 77
Week 13: Industrial Revolution
Our Island Story, Chapter 96 (invention of spinning wheel)
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 82-83)
Week 14: World War I Leaders
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 84
Week 15: World War I Countries
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter Week 85
Week 16: World War II
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 86
Week 17: World War II Leaders
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 87
Week 18: United Nations
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 88
Week 19: Korean War
Week 20: Vietnam War
Week 21: Cold War
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 89-90
Week 22: Fall of Communism
Week 23: Gulf War
Week 24: End of Apartheid
Cycle 3: American History
Week 1: Columbus
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 62
A Child’s First Book of American History, Chapter 2
Week 2: Pilgrims
Our Island Story, Chapter 74-75
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 70
A Child’s First Book of American History, Chapter 5
Week 3: Boston Tea Party
Our Island Story, Chapter 95
A Child’s First Book of American History, Chapter 11
Week 4: Declaration of Independence
Our Island Story, Chapter 95
A Child’s History of the World, Chapter 75
A Child’s First Book of American History, Chapter 13
Week 5: George Washington
A Child’s First Book of American History, Chapter 14, 16-18
Week 6: Louisiana Purchase
A Child’s First Book of American History, Chapter 19
Week 7: Monroe Doctrine
A Child’s First Book of American History, Chapter 20
Week 8: Missouri Compromise
A Child’s First Book of American History, Chapter 20-21
Week 9: Secession of Southern States
A Child’s First Book of American History, Chapter 25
Week 10: Manifest Destiny
A Child’s First Book of American History, Chapter 29
Week 11: Civil War
A Child’s First Book of American History, Chapter 32-33
Week 12: General Robert E. Lee
A Child’s First Book of American History, Chapter 34
Week 13: Fourteenth Amendment
Week 14: Tycoons
A Child’s First Book of American History, Chapter 42
Week 15: Immigration
Week 16: World War 1
A Child’s First Book of American History, Chapter 45
Week 17: Nineteenth Amendment
Week 18: Pearl Harbor
A Child’s First Book of American History, Chapter 48-50
Week 19: NATO
Week 20: Brown v. Board of Education
Week 21: U.S. Astronauts
Week 22: September 11, 2001
Week 23: Preamble to the U.S. Constitution
Week 24: Bill of Rights
I hope you have enjoyed this list and these suggestions. I highly recommend each of these books. Happy reading!
Cycle 1: A Child’s History of the World by V. M. Hillyer
Cycle 2: Our Island Story by H.E. Marshall
Cycle 3: A Child’s First Book of American History by Earl Schenk Mier
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