The nearer a story is to the life and traditions of the child, the more eagerly it is attended. True stories about our own people, about our neighbors and friends, and about our own country at large, are more interesting than true stories of remote places and people. We naturally are interested in our own affairs, and the nearer they are to us the greater the interest we feel.
It is hoped that through appeal to youthful love of adventure, this collection of stories, covering the entire range of American history, will stimulate the ambition and strengthen the patriotism of those young citizens whose education has been the constant concern of the author for many years. .............................................................................. Contents: 1. Leif, the Lucky 2. How the Spaniards Conquered Mexico 3. The Conquest of Peru 4. The Fountain of Youth 5. De Soto Discovers the Mississippi 6. Sir Walter Raleigh 7. The Lost Colony of Roanoke 8. Some Adventures of John Smith 9. More Adventures of John Smith 10. Persecutions of the Pilgrims and Puritans 11. The Adventures of Miles Standish 12. Building a Canoe 13. The Flight of Roger Williams 14. Old Silver Leg 15. William Penn and the Quakers 16. The Charter Oak 17. Bloody Marsh 18. The Saving of Hadley 19. Sir William Phips and the Treasure Ship 20. Hannah Dustin 21. Israel Putnam Captures the Wolf 22. A Young Surveyor 23. The Adventures of Young Washington 24. How the Indians Treated Major Putnam 25. How Detroit was Saved 26. The Story of Acadia 27. Blackbeard, the Pirate 28. The Adventures of Daniel Boone 29. Sunday in the Colonies 30. The Salem Witches 31. Traveling by Stage-coach 32. King George and the Colonies 33. Patrick Henry and the Parson's Cause 34. Paul Revere's Ride 35. The Green Mountain Boys 36. The Father of His Country 37. Nathan Hale 38. The Bravery of Elizabeth Zane 39. Capturing the Hessians 40. How Lafayette Came to America 41. The Patriotism of Lydia Darrah 42. Captain Molly Pitcher 43. Marion, the Swamp Fox 44. Outwitting a Tory 45. Supporting the Colors 46. Nancy Hart, the War Woman of Georgia 47. Mad Anthony Captures Stony Point 48. The Execution of Major Andre 49. How General Schuyler was Saved 50. An Indian Trick that Failed 51. How the Northwest was Won 52. Benjamin Franklin 53. Nolichucky Jack 54. Eli Whitney Invents the Cotton-gin 55. Thomas Jefferson 56. The Burning of the Philadelphia 57. The Expedition of Lewis and Clark 58. Colter's Race for Life 59. Pike Explores the Arkansas Valley 60. How the Pumpkins Saved the Family 61. Old Ironsides 62. Tecumseh 63. The Star-Spangled Banner 64. Traveling by the Canal 65. Lafayette's Return to America 66. Osceola, the Seminole Chief 67. An Early Journey by Railroad 68. Old Hickory 69. Daniel Webster 70. Henry Clay 71. Christmas on the Plantation 72. John C Calhoun 73. The Heroes of the Alamo 74. Sam Houston Wins Freedom for Texas 75. The Invention of the Electric Telegraph 76.
Most recommend to pick and choose from these stories, which is not in my nature. If I start a book I want to read right through it even if it’s not pleasant. My children must endure with me in this antic of mine 😆
I should have made an exception. We enjoyed MUCH of this book but there were a few stories (maybe 20%?) that I wish I had skipped. Either it wasn’t written as well or was just not as interesting. But overall, these are LIVING stories of history and my children and I enjoyed learning of our country’s past.
I should also say, if you use this book, you need to have supplementary material. These stories don’t give much perspective of history from the point of view of Native Americans and African Americans. I used Beautiful Feet books and other materials from Heritage Mom to give my kids a more robust and fuller view of US History from many perspectives!
This book is full of stories that are easy to read aloud with your children. They teach about the great things that were done in the founding of our nation and following years but don’t sugar cost the hard things that happened either. My children were 3 and 5 years old when we read this, and they could understand most stories, with only a few that needed further explanation. I appreciate the stories of great men and women who inspire us to do great things as well when we read of their lives.