It's important for students to have knowledge about the people,
ideas, and themes involved in the Age of Discovery from before 1491 which led to the colonization
in the Americas. To help students engage in their study of the pre-colonial period
in American history, I am sharing some of my top choices for
historical fiction books in this category: Oldies, But Goodies: Pre-Colonial Period.
Teachers, with the
emphasis on reading informational texts, be sure to balance the inclusion of historical fiction with non-fiction texts and primary sources.
These historical fiction stories provide a worthwhile
reading experience because students can get caught up in the excitement of the
story; learn the big picture of the historical period; and gain background
knowledge, which can help students interpret and make sense of the facts.
I've included some books which were award winners; and since I feel it is important for
historical fiction to support and foster multicultural understanding, I've included
some books that offer an alternative perspective on the historical event. My other criteria
for including a book are:
1. I read the book and enjoyed it.
2. The
book could possibly be in many school libraries in the school district (making
it easier for interlibrary loan
purposes), or the books could be housed in a school book room.
When possible, I am providing you with the author's name,
title, illustrator, publishing company, ISBN, page numbers, reading level (R), interest
level (I), and a short blurb. This information can help you consider books for
your curriculum. I'd like to acknowledge that much of the information was taken
from Recreating the Past and Literature Connections to American History, both by Lynda G. Adamson.
Before 1600
Conrad, Pam. Pedro's
Journal: A Voyage with Christopher Columbus. 0-590-46206-7.
81 p. R=6; I=6. Chosen to be cabin boy
because he reads and writes, Pedro accompanies Christopher Columbus on the
Santa Maria in 1492 and records what he learns.
Illus. Peter Koeppen. Paper,
Scholastic (Apple), 1992.
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Dorris, Michael. Morning
Girl. Hyperion, 1992.
1-56282-285-3. 74p. R=6;I=4.
Morning Girl and Star Boy live with their parents on a Bahamian island in 1492
before Columbus finds them. Even in their simple culture, they have an
understanding of the world.
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O'Dell, Scott. The King's
Fifth. Illus Samuel Bryant. Houghton Mifflin, 1966. 0-395-06963-7. R-4; I=7.
The black slave, Esteban, is held in a
prison in 1541 and will be tried for hoarding the king's fifth of gold taken on
Mendoza's expedition. Newbery Honor, 1967.
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Yolen, Jane. Encounter.
Illus. David Shannon. Paper, Harcourt Voyager, 1996. 0-15-225962-7. Picture
book. The story of Columbus' landing in
the Americas, as told by a boy of the Taino people who lived there.
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The American Colonies
1700-1774
Anderson, Joan. Spanish Pioneers
of the Southwest. Photographs by George Ancona. Dutton, 1989.
0-525=67264-8. 48p. Grades 3-6. In this photo essay, a young boy in Santa Fe,
New Mexico or New Spain, is to guard the pueblo and call for the gates to be
closed in case of Native American attacks .
Anderson, Joan. A
Williamsburg Household. Photos by George Ancona. Clarion, 1988. Paper,
1990. 0-395-54791-1. 48 p. R=7;I=2. In 1770, Rippon and his family are slaves to
Williamsburg families.
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Dalgliesh, Alice. The
Courage of Sarah Noble. Illustrator Leonard Weisgard. Scribner's, 1987.
64p. Paper, Macmillan, 1991. 0-689-71540-4. R=3, I=3. In 1707, Sarah stays goes
with her father to build a new house in Massachusetts and stays with the Native
American family while her father return for her mother. Sarah's mother refuses
to believe Native Americans can care for her child better than she can. Newbery
Honor, 1955.
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Rinaldi, Ann. The
Fifth of March: A Story of the Boston Massacre. Harcourt Brace, 1993. 333p.
Paper, 0-15-227517-7. R-4; I-7. Rachel is an indentured servant to John and
Abigail Adams around 1770 in Boston and hears the news from the British and the
colonists.
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Speare, Elizabeth George. The Sign of the Beaver. Houghton Mifflin, 1983. 144p. Paper, Dell,
1984. 0-440-47900-2. R=4; I=5. Matt is left alone in Maine to watch over their
new house and someone steals his gun. The Indians nearby help him and Matt
reciprocates by teaching them to read. Newbery Honor, 1984. Scott O'Dell Award
for Historical Fiction, 1984.
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Speare, Elizabeth George. The Witch of Blackbird Pond. Houghton
Mifflin, 1958. Paperback, Dell, 1978. 256 p. R=6, I=6. In 1687, Kit, an orphan,
travels from Barbados to New England to live with her aunt and is accused of
witchcraft, when she is actually teaching a child to read. Newbery Medal, 1959.
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