As my kids get older and are growing out of picture books and sometimes get bored with assigned readings, I look for more appropriate books for the entire family to enjoy.
We still gather in the mornings and most evenings for story time. I still read aloud and show any pictures like the library story lady.
We use Tapestry of Grace for our main curriculum and book lists, and I also peruse Ambleside Online and other lists for a well-rounded history curriculum. I want all sides and perspectives. See How We Do History.
We use this text as a guide, especially for younger kids: The Story of the World: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor
For older kids: The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome and The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Civilizations and Warfare in the Classical World.
I go to the library about every week and get what I can. Sometimes, I even rent or buy eBooks to save money.
We expand our home library every year and extensively update every new history cycle.
For ancient history this year, my kids are 14, 13, and 10.
My girls are doing the rhetoric level and we still read aloud together many of their selections because I love to learn too. This is their last cycle with ancient history.
My son is in dialectic level and the girls even though they’re working the rhetoric level often love to hear those readings again.
And we still pull out of some of our well-loved picture books with gorgeous images and lovely stories.
I love, love, love historical fiction or living books. I love how it uses an author’s imagination to bring real life to historical events that are often boring in textbooks.
I often read adult historical fiction alongside my kids’ reading and our read alouds. The Red Tent is still a favorite. Some biblical fiction is hard for me to swallow and others are delightful or informative.
I still love T.L. Higley books. I enjoyed The Restoration Chronicles by Lynn Austin.
The book Pontius Pilate: A Novel by Paul L. Maier was recommended to me by a pastor and I might read it aloud to my family this Easter. Flames of Rome and his Skeleton Series look good too.
It’s often difficult to find engaging historical fiction for ancient times since we only have fragments of history and many ancient peoples had no written records or were wiped out by war or natural disaster. I don’t want to rely solely on religious texts as our reading material.
We’re learning more about parallel histories to the people of the Bible, different voices to fill in the real story. We’re learning about ancient Americas and Asia and Africa. I love seeing the full tapestry.
Favorite Ancient Times Historical Fiction
The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
A Cry From Egypt and A Stand at Sinai by Hope Auer
Tirzah by Travis Lucille
Adara by Beatrice Gormley
Twice Freed by Patricia St. John
Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher
God King by Joanne Williamson
Hittite Warrior by Joanne Williamson
Victory on the Walls by Frieda Clark Hyman
Beyond the Desert Gate by Mary Ray
Within the Palace Gates by Anna P. Siviter
The Pearl-Maiden by Henry Rider Haggard
Pharaoh’s Daughter by Julius Lester
The Eyes of Pharaoh by Chris Eboch
Cleopatra Confesses by Carolyn Meyer
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
Journey for Tobiyah by Barbara E. Morgan
Vinegar Boy by Alberta Hawse
The Corn Grows Ripe by Dorothy Rhoads
Run With Me, Nike! by Cassandra Case
The Ides of April by Mary Ray
Beyond the Desert Gate by Mary Ray
The Roman Britain Trilogy by Rosemary Sutcliff
I’m sure I will add to this list over the next few months as we finish our ancient times history cycle year.
Michele Morin says
Great list! We used a number of these books and I really learned as much as my kids!
Paula Short says
Great list, thank you for sharing. Blessings.
Laurie says
This is quite a list! Looks like you and your crew are enjoying your unit! Read aloud a really help the times to come alive!
Thank you for sharing this week at the Homestead Blog Hop!
Glad we could feature your post!
Blessings,
Laurie
Elena Wiggins says
I really love Francine Rivers’ Mark of the Lion trilogy. I think that counts as ancient (Christian) history? Israel, My Beloved by Kay Arthur is also a great one for Israel’s history
Jennifer Lambert says
Ah, I’ve read and enjoyed Francine Rivers! I’m not familiar with Kay Arthur fiction. Thanks!