Homeschooling Downunder
This booklist has been provided by Mary Collis from A Living Education
The Door in the Wall - Marguerite de Angeli
Robin, the son of a medieval English nobleman, becomes Crippled on the eve of beginning his page's training. How he becomes the saviour of a town besieged by the Welsh is the amazing and challenging story. Newbery Honour book. Ages 7 —13 yrs.
Agincourt: My Story — Michael Cox
Hundred Years War between England and France (time of Joan of Arc, but a different major battle). A diary story of a young English boy who fought there in I4 13. Ages I I - I 6 yrs
Otto of the Silver Hand — Howard Pile
Born into a baronial family that is already engaged in a blood feud with another noble house, motherless Otto is sent to live with monks while still an infant. Reclaimed at age 12 by his militant, but loving father, the gentle-natured boy is kidnapped and mutilated by the rival family. Fortunately, Otto finds comfort with his captor's daughter, Pauline, who helps him escape. His father's courage and cunning allow the lad's safe return to the monks who place him under the emperor's protection. His silver hand is a replacement for the one Otto lost while in captivity, but his injury does not prevent him from maturing wisely and marrying Pauline. Ages 10-14
The Beggars' Bible - Louise Vernon
The story of John Wycliffe the famous Oxford professor who wants the common man to be able to read the Bible in their own language. Told through the eyes of a young lad who hastroubles of his own. Ages 10-14
The Apple & the Arrow - Mary & Conrad Buff
The inspirational story of William Tell and his son's courage and the birth of the nation of Switzerland in 1291. Beautiful illustrations. Newbery honour book 1952. Ages 6- 13 yrs.
Who in the World Was the Secretive Printer? The Story of Johannes Gutenberg - Robert Beckham
A large print chapter book about the amazing work of Gutenberg who had to print in secret, fearing for his life. A Peace Hill Press book. Ages 7 - 12 yrs
Fine Print - Joanne Burch
The story of the man who invented the printing press, printed the first Bible making it accessible to many for the first time in history, which resulted in fuel for the Reformation. Ages 8 —14 yrs.
Joan of Arc - Diane Stanley
A beautifully illustrated biography of France's champion in the time of the Hundred Years War with England. Ages 7 —14 yrs
The Trumpeter of Krakow -Eric Kelly
Set around the discovery of the Great Tarnov Crystal in Renaissance Krakow (Poland), this story portrays the growing influence of the universities, of Renaissance thinking, the work of alchemists and the temptation of greed while weaving in a brief history of Poland and the Eastern lands. Ages 10 — 17 yrs.
Secret of the Andes -Ann Clark
A story about an Inca boy. Relevant here because it was during the Renaissance that Pizzaro conquered the Incas and their civilisation ended. Ages 8 — 13 yrs.
The Apprentice - Pilar Llorente
Italian Renaissance Paper Dolls - Tom Tierney
Clothing for a man and a woman paper doll (cardboard in book) —lots of outfits for each. See how the great artists dressed, and the royalty of the time. Appendix has details of when each was worn and by whom.
Blood Secret—Kathryn Laskey
Abandoned by her irresponsible mother, Geraldine Luna goes to live with her great aunt in New Mexico (USA). She discovers her own family's history in an old trunk hidden in her great-aunt's cellar. In this trunk are mementos from her Spanish ancestors - Jews who suffered, generation after generation for 500 years under the Inquisition, moving from city to city in 1391, to Portugal, then to Mexico where the brutality followed them - right to 1826. After generations of spiritual subterfuge, these Jews forgot they were Jews and became practising Catholics, yet clung unwittingly to Jewish customs, like lighting a candle on Friday night. This book portrays the crushing effects of those blood-saturated centuries and the dawning realisation of a teenage girl of how this has affected her. Masterful! Ages 14 -18 yrs.
Michelangelo - Diane Stanley
The Man Who Laid the Egg -Louise Vernon
The English professor, Erasmus, who questioned the way things were done in the Catholic Church in England, despite having no obvious intentions of breaking away from it, sowed the seeds that started the Reformation. Told from the viewpoint of a boy caught up in the drama. Ages 7 — 14 yrs.
Spy for the Night Riders -Dave & Neta Jackson
Exciting fictional children's story, based on truth, about the life of Martin Luther, told dramatically from the point of view of his trusted young servant. I found it gave a great picture of the life and times of Luther, and also what a courageous man he was. Ages 8-13 yrs.
Leonardo Da Vinci - Diane Stanley
Beautifully illustrated story of the life of the prime Renaissance man: artist, inventor, thinker. Ages 7 — 14 yrs.
The Second Mrs Giaconda -E.L. Konigsburg
A story is woven about the life of the great painter, Leonardo da Vinci, from the viewpoint of his main apprentice. Exciting, moving and memorable. Forms a relationship between the reader and the artworks of Leonardo. Ages 10 —16 yrs.
Around the World in a Hundred Years - Jean Fritz
Who Was Ferdinand Magellan? - Sydelle Kramer
A large print chapter book (10 chapters) about the great world explorer, first to circumnavigate the globe. Detailed line drawings. Ages 6 — 13 yrs.
Christopher Columbus - Peter & Connie Roop
The exciting story of Columbus's life using the journals he kept while traveling to the New World. Illustrated. Ages 7 — 13 yrs.
The Royal Diaries: Isabel: Jewel of Castilla
This interesting diary tells the early life of one of the most influential women of medieval Europe. She sent out Columbus, rid Spain of the Moors and supported the Spanish Inquisition. Ages 12 - 17 yrs
Starry Messenger - Peter Sis
*Great for a science reader also.
The life and genius of the famous scientist, mathematician, astronomer, philosopher and physicist, Galileo Galilei, are portrayed in this picture book that includes maps, events and a world view of the times Galileo’s times. Large print for younger readers, and small print “sidebars” for older readers. Ages 5—11 years.
Johannes Kepler - John Hudson Tiner
*Great for a science reader also
Thrilling story about the life of one of the greatest scientists of all time. He began the process that gradually replaced superstition with reason. Newton said he could see further for he stood on the shoulders of giants like Kepler. Sower series. Ages 8—17 years
Mary, Bloody Mary - Carolyn Meyer
The story of the childhood of Queen Mary, remembered for her brutality. Shows her as a small child, wanting her father's approval but receiving only neglect. Mentions some of her father Henry's lifestyle excesses, but I found it a wonderful opportunity to talk about such things with my daughters. A worthwhile book. Ages II —17 yrs.
The Bloody Tower (My Story) -Valerie Wilding
A fascinating story from the viewpoint of the daughter of a warden of the Tower of London. Tilly Middleton tells about the various comings and goings to and from the Tower during the reign of Queen Mary: the reign and death of Lady Jane Grey and other contenders for the throne, and the long imprisonment of Princess Elizabeth. Photos and historical explanation at the end. Fiction based upon true events. Ages I I —17 yrs
Bard of Avon - Diane Stanley
Midsummer Night's Dream for Kids - Lois Burdett
Perhaps the most famous Shakespeare play to read with children, this one combines humour, some fairies and one of Shakespeare's famous love-triangles. Even the youngest will catch the humour in it. Written in verse, it maintains much of the original phrasing. (Also available: Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, The Tempest, Twelfth Night and Much Ado About Nothing) Ages 7 — 13 yrs
The Shakespeare Stealer —Garry Blackwood
A young orphan named Widge is sent to the Globe Theater to steal the script of "Hamlet" from Shakespeare's own company of players. When he becomes friends with the actors, he must decide whether to disobey his sinister master or betray his new friends. Ages I 0 —14 yrs
Shakespeare's Scribe — Gary Blackwood
When an outbreak of the deadly plague closes the Globe Theater, Shakespeare's acting troupe sets off on a tour of England--and finds some real drama long the way. Ages 10 —14 yrs
Shakespeare's Spy — Gary Blackwood
Intrigue, betrayal, and romance abound in Blackwood's third installment of his series. Queen Elizabeth has died, and the Bard has begun a new play about political intrigue. Real intrigue, however, is close at hand for Shakespeare and Widge. Ages 10 — 14 yrs
Royal Diaries: Elizabeth Tudor, Red Rose of England -Kathryn Lasky
Good Queen Bess - Diane Stanley & Peter Vennema
A lavishly illustrated HB story for children about Queen Elizabeth I. Top notch. Ages 6 - 12 yrs
Mary Queen of Scots Paper Dolls
Dress cardboard dolls. Tasteful, elaborate clothing of the day for men and women. Lots of choices.
You Wouldn't Want to Explore with Sir Francis Drake! — David Stewart
Drake, the pirate who sailed the Spanish Main in the Golden Hinde, and Queen Elizabeth's favourite adventurer, allows an investigator to join his crew and find out the truth about his voyages. Ages 5 — 10 yrs
Armada: The Story of Thomas Hobbs, England 1587-1588 (My Story Series.) by Jim Eldridge
Fictional diary of a young boy, set during the reign of Elizabeth I when the British Fleet under Sir Francis Drake routed the entire Spanish Armada causing Britannia to 'rule the waves'. The story of the greatest battle of 1588. Ages 10 — 15 yrs
Mary Queen of Scots (My Royal Story)
No story of the reign of Queen Elizabeth can be complete without the story of the tragic Mary, Queen of Scots. A story of the childhood of the girl who was a queen but never reigned. Leads up to a true retelling of the end of her life. Ages I I — 17 yrs