Homeschooling Downunder
Europe - Allan Fowler
A large print photographic book introducing the old and new character that is Europe. Ages 5 -8 yrs
Papa Piccolo - Carol Talley
A story about a cat in Venice. Piccolo travels the narrow alleys of Venice and you can mark his journey on a map of the city. Wonderful illustrations of Venetian landmarks and architecture and an endearing storyline make this a great keeping book. Also used in FIAR 1. HB Ages 4 - 10 yrs
Angelo - David Macaulay
High above the rooftops of (modern) Rome, Angelo begins his work restoring the facade of a once glorious church. A
heartwarming story of the plasterer and a pigeon. Wonderful warm illustrations. Also in FIAR 4. HB Ages 4 - 9 yrs
Angelina of Italy - Maya Angelou
A children's story about a little girl who lives in Italy. Ages 4 - 7 yrs
The Small War of Sergeant Donkey - Maureen Daly
A heroic story of Chico, an Italian boy in the days of the German occupation, and his daring rescue of an American officer with his surefooted donkey. Bethlehem Book. Ages 7 - 14 yrs
Daughter of Vencie - Donna Jo Napoli
It is 1592. Donata lives in her family palazzo on Venice's Grand Canal. As the second daughter, she is to be sent to a convent. Donato plans her escape from the palazzo and encounters a Venice she never knew existed, changing her family's life forever. Engrossing and exotic. Ages 11 - 14 yrs
Snow Treasure - Marie McSwigan
Mercy at Midnight - Lois Dick
The Royal Diaries: Kristina, the Girl King - Carolyn Meyer
The life of this princess in the days where the rich wore wigs with entire landscapes in them, while the poor starved daily. Understand the lead up to the French Revolution and Marie's tragic end. Ages 10 - 16 yrs
My Family and Other Animals - Gerald Durrell
When the Durrell family can no longer endure the damp, grey English climate, they do what any sensible family would do: sell their house and relocate to the sun-soaked Greek island of Corfu. Here Gerald, the youngest boy, spends idyllic years, developing a deep love and knowledge of natural science. The family fun is what makes this book worth re- reading many times. Note: some of the fun is rowdy at times and not entirely suited to young chidlren's reading, so we read it aloud and missed a small number of paragraphs. It was school reading for me in Grade 7 in the 1970's. Ages 8 yrs - Adult
Agincourt
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 1413. Ages 11 - 16 yrs
My Tudor Queen
The sad story of Catherine of Aragon, first a bride of Prince Arthur, brought from Spain to foreign England, and her life there. After he died, she became Henry VIII's first wife. Told through the eyes of one of her servant girls. Ages 13 - 17 yrs
The Bloody Tower - 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 11- 17yrs
Armada - Jim Eldridge
Fictional diary of a young boy, set during the the reign of Elizabeth I when the British Fleet under Sir Francis Drake routed the entire Spanish Armada causeing Britania to 'rule the waves'. The story of the greatest battle of 1588. Ages 10 - 15 yrs
Civil War
The amazing events that led to the rise of Cromwell the beheading of King Charles. Ages 10 - 17 yrs
Waterloo
Mill Girl - Sue Reid
It is 1882. Eliza Helsted of Manchester, England is swallowed up up in the industrial revolution as she begins work at the local mill as a factory hand. The fictional diary of her first year there. Ages 9 - 16 yrs.
The Hunger - Carol Drinkwater
A fictionalized story of the real Irish potato famine. Good coverage of the English politics, Robert Peel, the Irish freedom movement, the prison, the landlords` lives and the cruel laws that caused the famine. Light romance at one point. Ages 9 - 16 yrs.
Workhouse - Pamela Oldfield
In the easy to read diary style, read about the (fictional) life of one girl, Edith Lorrimer, who goes to visit the English workhouse her mother patronises in 1871. here the poor work as virtual slaves in laundries hour after hour, day after day. Ages 11 - 17 yrs.
Crimea - Bryan Perret
What really happened in the Crimean war? Michael Pope of the 110th British Regiment tells his (fictional) story of the years between 1853 and 1857 when he fought in the Crimea. Maps and pictures included. Ages 10 - 17 yrs.
Indian Mutiny- Pratima Mitchell
Between 1857 and 1858 the Indian army mutinied against their English officers who represented the British Crown. Some call these the first wars of Indian Independence. Fictitious story from the view of an Indian soldier boy. Ages 9 - 16 yrs.
Zulu War
The Trenches - Jim Eldridge
Battle of Britain - Chris Priestley
Katie's War - Aubrey Flegg
Nory Ryan's Song - Patricia Reilly Giff
Mary Jones and Her Bible - author unknown
The story of the Welsh girl who walked barefoot over 50 miles to get a Bible in her own language. The beginnings of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Ages 7 - 13
James Herriot's Treasury for Children
Beautifully illustrated true animal stories by the famous English vet. Blossom Comes Home, Only One Woof and The Christmas Day Kitten are some of the memorable tales included. Great gift. HB Ages 4 yrs - adult
The Martha Years - Melissa Wiley
The story of the great-grandmother of Laura Ingalls Wilder, as she grows up in the
Scotland of the 1 700s. Four books: Down to the Heather Hills, Down to the Bonny Glen, The far Side of the Loch, Little House in the Highlands. Ages 9 - 15 yrs
King's Shadow - Elizabeth Adler
Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
The Impossible Journey - Gloria Whelan
The Miracle of Saint Nicholas -Gloria Whelan
The Kingfisher Book of Tales from Russia - James Mayhew
Tales from Russian folklore about tsars, firebirds, minstrels and snowmaidens. Illustrated in sparkling, rich colours. Lge Pb Ages 7- 12 yrs
The Royal diaries; Catherine, The Great Journey - Kristiana Gregory
Russia, 1743. This is a fictional diary based on known facts about the life of Catherine, to become Tsarina Catherine the Great of Russia. HB. Ages 11 - 16 yrs
The Endless Steppe - Esther Hautzig
In June 1941 the Rudomin family is arrested by the Russians. They are capitalists - "enemies of the people". Forced from their home in Poland they are sent in exile to Siberian steppes, only the strength of their family sustains them and gives them hope for the future. Ages 10 - 17 yrs
Letters from Rifka - Karen Hesse
Rifka and her family have fled Russia's brutal treament of Jews for America. But the path to freedom is full of deadly obstacles, resulting in Rifka not being allowed on the ship. An unforgettable story of immigrant courage by a Newbery award winning author. Winner of the Jewish Book Award. Ages 9 - 16 yrs
Only A Matter of Time - Stewart Ross
God's Smuggler - Brother Andrew
The exciting story of a mission into the USSR that delivered Bibles and encouragement to the persecuted church. Don't miss this book. Ages 10 yrs - adult.
A Place Not Home - Eva Wiseman
The Good Master - Kate Seredy
The Singing Tree - Kate Seredy
Winged Watchman - Hilda van Stockum
The Boy Who Held Back the Sea - Thomas Locker
The famous story of the little boy who put his finger in the dike in Holland, and so, saved his country. Ages 5 - 9 yrs
The Wheel on the School - Meindert DeJong
A whole Dutch village sets out to overcome many obstacles to bring the storks back to their village. Newbery Medal winner. Ages 6 - 11 yrs
Otto of the Silver Hand - Howard Pyle
A marvellous old story about a boy caught up in the murderous lives of Germany's robber barons of the late middle ages by circumstances beyond his control. How a child's innocence creeps into the chinks of a hard heart and wrests change. Fabulous illustrations. Ages 9 — 15 yrs
Madeline - Ludwig Bemelmans
The famous story of the confident little girl in Paris, the old house with vines and their excurions around the city. Ages 3 — 7 yrs
The Glorious Flight - Alice & Martin Provensen
A pioneer of flight goes through a variety of prototypes of planes before finding something that flies. Ages 4 — 8 yrs
Twenty and Ten - Claire Bishop
Les Miserables - Victor Hugo
The Silver Donkey - Sonya Hartnett
Renee Marie of France - Maya Angelou
A story for young children about a little girl who lives in Paris. Ages 4 - 7 yrs
My Story: Spy Smuggler
13 year old Paul LeLaud joins the French resistance against the German occupation of his country after his best friend is taken away to a concentration camp. This is his story. Ages
11 - 17 yrs
Toro! Toro! - Michael Morpurgo
Antonito lives an idyllic life on his parent' bull farm in Spain. When he finds his beloved bull calf is destined for the bloody struggle of the bull-ring, her concocts a daring plan to save the bull. It is 1936 and the drums of Spain's Civil War are beginning to roll across the land. In this setting Antonito sees his courageous plan through. By a Children's Laureate author. Ages 7- 14 yrs
Shadow of a Bull - Maia Wojciechowska
Winner of 1965 Newbery Medal. A suspenseful book about how the cowardly son of Spain's greatest bullfighter finds courage to face a bull with honour. Ages 8 - 14 yrs