Below is a list of chapter books for kids that pertain to various time periods in history. Some of these books are no longer in print, but I am still listing them because they can still be purchased used or perhaps found in local libraries. If you click on the titles of the books, they are linked to either Amazon or other places where you can read more information about them. These links are there solely for people to find more information, not because I make any money from linking to Amazon (I don’t). You will need to use the “back” button to return to the list if you click on any of the links. This list is a work in progress, so I will be continually adding more books to it. If you have any chapter books that you think should be on this list, send your suggestions as a comment, and I may add them to the list.
Historical Chapter Books
American History
Our Strange New Land: Elizabeth’s Jamestown Colony Diary, Book One by Patricia Hermes
The Starving Time: Elizabeth’s Jamestown Colony Diary, Book Two by Patricia Hermes
Season of Promise: Elizabeth’s Jamestown Colony Diary, Book Three by Patricia Hermes
Pocahontas: Young Peacemaker (Childhood of Famous Americans) by Leslie Gourse
The Pilgrim Adventure (Our America Series) by Susan Kilbride
The Journal of Jasper Jonathan Pierce (My Name is America) by Ann Rinaldi
The King Philip’s War Adventure (Our America Series) by Susan Kilbride
Justice for All: December 5, 1773-September 5, 1774 (Liberty’s Kids) by Amanda Stephens
Freedom at Any Price: March 1775-April 19, 1775 (Liberty’s Kids) by Amanda Stephens
Paul Revere: Boston Patriot (Childhood of Famous Americans Series)by Augusta Stevenson
Benjamin Franklin: Young Printer (Childhood of Famous Americans)by Augusta Stevenson
George Washington: Young Leader (Childhood of Famous Americans)by Augusta Stevenson
Thomas Jefferson: Third President of the United States (Childhood of Famous Americans)by Helen A. Monsell
Thomas: 1778, Patriots on the Run by Bonnie Pryor
Thomas in Danger: 1779 by Bonnie Pryor
Five Smooth Stones: Hope’s Revolutionary War Diary, Book One by Kristiana Gregory
My America: We Are Patriots: Hope’s Revolutionary War Diary, Book Two by Kristiana Gregory
The Journal of Augustus Pelletier: The Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804 (My Name is America) by Kathryn Lasky
Meriwether Lewis: Boy Explorer (Childhood of Famous Americans) by Charlotta M. Bebenroth
Sacagawea: American Pathfinder (Childhood Of Famous Americans) by Flora Warren Seymour
Westward To Home: Joshua’s Oregon Trail Diary by Patricia Hermes
As Far As I Can See: Meg’s Prairie Diary by Kate McMullan (My America series)
For This Land: Meg’s Prairie Diary (My America series) by Kate McMullan
A Fine Start: Meg’s Prairie Diary by Kate McMullan
The Journal of James Edmond Pease a Civil War Union Soldier (My Name is America) by Jim Murphy
American Adventures: Joseph: 1861–A Rumble of War by Bonnie Pryor
American Adventures: Joseph’s Choice: 1861 by Bonnie Pryor
Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipator (Childhood of Famous Americans)by Augusta Stevenson
Harriet Tubman: Freedom’s Trailblazer (Childhood of Famous Americans)by Kathleen Kudlinski
Mystery of the Lost Canteen by Nancy Bestul
Corey’s Underground Railroad Diary, Book One by Sharon Dennis Wyeth
Flying Free: Corey’s Underground Railroad Diary, Book Two by Sharon Dennis Wyeth
My Brother’s Keeper: Virginia’s Civil War Diary, Book One by Mary Pope Osborne
After the Rain: Virginia’s Civil War Diary, Book Two by Mary Pope Osborne
A Ballad of the Civil War by Mary Stolz
Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt
Luke on the High Seas by Bonnie Pryor
Luke: 1849–On the Golden Trail by Bonnie Pryor
Little Britches by Ralph Moody An excellent book that I think should be required reading in school. There is one problem; the name of one of their horses is “Nig.” The book is so good though that it is worth having your child read it anyway, perhaps explaining to your child that back when this book was written that folks didn’t know any better. This is the first in book in a series about this incredible family.
Summer Spies by Nancy Bestul
Escape from Warsaw by Ian Serraillier
Martin Luther King, Jr. Boy With a Dream (Childhood of Famous Americans Series) by Dharathula H. Millender
Chinese History
China’s Son by Da Chen
Egyptian History
Cleopatra VII: Daughter of the Nile (The Royal Diaries Series) by Kristina Gregory
The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
English History
Patience, Princess Catherine (Young Royals Series) by Carolyn Meyer
Doomed Queen Anne (Young Royals Series) by Carolyn Meyer
Mary, Bloody Mary (Young Royals Series) by Carolyn Meyer
Beware, Princess Elizabeth (Young Royals Series) by Carolyn Meyer
Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor (The Royal Diaries Series) by Kathryn Lasky
Victoria: May Blossom of Britannia (The Royal Diaries Series) by Anna Kirwan
When London Burned by G.A. Henty
The Door in the Wall by Marguerite De Angeli
Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray
French History
Marie Antoinette: Princess of Versailles (The Royal Diaries Series) by Kathryn Lasky
Russian History
Catherine: The Great Journey (The Royal Diaries Series) by Kristiana Gregory
Russian Revolution
Days of Terror by Barbara Smucker
Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess, Russia, 1914 (The Royal Diaries Series) by Carolyn Meyer
Vikings
The Viking Tales by Jennie Hall
Just wanted to let you know that I clicked through the first several links and they all link to a book about Marie Antoinette. I do appreciate the list, though! I think my daughter will especially enjoy the books about Elizabeth in Jamestown!
Hi Nikki!
Thank you so much for letting me know about this problem. That is not where the links should be doing! It may take me a few days to figure out what is going on, but in the meantime, I’m glad that you like the list!
Sue
Just wanted to let everyone know that the links have been fixed. I’m still not sure how they got messed up in the first place, but they should all work now!
Sue