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SeaStar Forum Moderator
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Posted: Sept 29 2012 at 9:47am | IP Logged
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We are currently studying US geography at my house, and I have challenged myself to read/listen to one living book per state with the kids over the next two years.
My original plan was to study one state per week this year, but that is feeling too rushed, so I am spreading it all out over two years. Last year we did our own version of Tour a Country, and we spent a whole month per country (some of which were smaller than say, Texas). So I think we can have more time with the states.
Anyway, my plan is to enjoy one living book for each state. This is very doable for us, since we listen to tons of books in the car.
I was hoping that you all could help me generate a list of great books that could cover all the 50 states. If you have a book to recommend for a particular state, please add a response, Multiple books per state is fine. I will compile an alphabetical list at the end. I am looking for chapter books here, not picture books (though we read plenty of those as well.)
Thanks for your help!
So far,
We have read :
"By the Great Horn Spoon" for California
"A Gathering of Days" for New Hampshire.
"Cheaper by the Dozen" for New Jersey
"Stone Fox" for Wyoming
"Little Britches" and "Man of the Family" for Colorado
"Caddie Woodlawn" for Wisconsin
"The Adventures of Ali Baba Bernstein" for New York
__________________ Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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JennGM Forum Moderator
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Posted: Sept 29 2012 at 10:02am | IP Logged
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What a wonderful project! Melinda, have you looked through Lois Lenski or Marguerite d'Angeli for titles?
The link for the Lenski American Regional series is no longer available. I'll have to find a list. Strawberry Girl is Florida, but I'm drawing a blank on the rest.
"Hitty" by Rachel Field covers different states, so if you're lacking, you could pull that book.
The Velvet Room, California.
__________________ Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Mary K Forum All-Star
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Posted: Sept 29 2012 at 10:03am | IP Logged
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Hi,
Call of the Wild- Alaska?
Journey to Nowhere by Mary Jane Auch (New York, not NYC)
God bless,
Mary-NY
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SeaStar Forum Moderator
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Posted: Sept 29 2012 at 10:36am | IP Logged
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Forgot to add that we read
"Mr. Revere and I" for MA
__________________ Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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claireg Forum Newbie
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Posted: Sept 29 2012 at 3:14pm | IP Logged
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The Story of William Penn by Aliki for Pennsylvania
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SeaStar Forum Moderator
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Posted: Sept 29 2012 at 3:25pm | IP Logged
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JennGM wrote:
What a wonderful project! Melinda, have you looked through Lois Lenski or Marguerite d'Angeli for titles?
The link for the Lenski American Regional series is no longer available. I'll have to find a list. Strawberry Girl is Florida, but I'm drawing a blank on the rest.
"Hitty" by Rachel Field covers different states, so if you're lacking, you could pull that book.
The Velvet Room, California. |
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"Skippack School" would be great for Pennsylvania- we have already read it, but we could revisit it, especially on cd. I can pair it with the William Penn book- love Aliki.
__________________ Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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lapazfarm Forum All-Star
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Posted: Sept 29 2012 at 7:58pm | IP Logged
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Little House in the Big Woods--Wisconsin
Balto--Alaska
__________________ Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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stellamaris Forum All-Star
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Posted: Sept 29 2012 at 9:00pm | IP Logged
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Song of the Pines (Wisconsin)--a Newberry winner about a Norwegian immigrant boy who finds a new life and work in the Wisconsin lumber industry in the early 19th century
On to Oregon (Oregon)--based on the true story of the Sager family, whose teenaged son lead his eight brothers and sisters on the Oregon Trail to the Willamette Valley after their parents died.
Cornstalks and Cannonballs (Delaware)-- a short, illustrated, early reader style story of the attack by the British on Lewes, Delaware during the War of 1812 and the ingenious defense of the Americans.
__________________ In Christ,
Caroline
Wife to dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
Flowing Streams
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guitarnan Forum Moderator
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Posted: Sept 29 2012 at 9:33pm | IP Logged
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The Witch of Blackbird Pond - Connecticut
Constance - Massachusetts/Plymouth Colony (there are two kissing scenes in this book - not graphic at all - but I'm just mentioning them for the good of the order)
Betsy-Tacy and subsequent books - Minnesota
The Great Brain - Utah
O the Red Rose Tree - Oregon (out of print, by Patricia Beatty, but oh, so good!)
Henry Reed, Inc. - New Jersey
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - Missouri
The View From Saturday - New York and Florida
Homer Price - Ohio (remember the doughnut chapter?!!!)
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler - New York (esp. New York City)
__________________ Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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MaryM Board Moderator
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Posted: Oct 01 2012 at 12:13am | IP Logged
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Love 2 Learn - the Catholic homeschool blog/website has a list of books by state. It is primarily chapter books so fits your request. There are a few picture books included (and most are labeled as such) but like I said it is mostly chapter books.
Bethlehem Books can be sorted on their site by country. So if you pick their US books you can then read the summaries to find out the states they are set in. There are lots of good classics there - many have been listed above, but this is a good way to sort through them all. The Latsch Valley Farm series set in Wisconsin is like an immigrant Little House series.
__________________ Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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SeaStar Forum Moderator
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Posted: Oct 01 2012 at 1:42pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for the links, Mary. What a gold mine! But even the Love2Learn list is missing books for a few states.
I'd still love to hear what our members here can recommend... what are your favorites?
I had thought of "The Mitchells" for Washington, DC
And for sure I am stumped for places like Iowa...
__________________ Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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pmeilaen Forum All-Star
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Posted: Oct 01 2012 at 3:29pm | IP Logged
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Simply Stated has long lists of picture books and chapter books for older children for each state.
For New York we like Indian Captive and Jonica's Island.
__________________ Eva
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NMMountainMom Forum Newbie
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Posted: Oct 18 2012 at 4:47pm | IP Logged
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Death Comes for the Archbishop for New Mexico. Definitely high school level, though. The characters and the places are so rich. For younger kids, Tree in the Trail is very delightful!
__________________ Danielle, making it work (some days better than others) with five boys, a family business and homeschooling.
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CrunchyMom Forum Moderator
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Posted: Oct 18 2012 at 6:58pm | IP Logged
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Yeah, Iowa and Delaware are stubborn.
The only thing I can think of for Iowa is maybe cheating and watching a movie, The Music Man, instead and eat some popCORN
Delaware still eludes me.
__________________ Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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jawgee Forum All-Star
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Posted: March 11 2013 at 9:44am | IP Logged
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Coming here to add:
The Great Stone Face - New Hampshire
I've never read the original story by Hawthorne, but this book was delightful. My kids really enjoyed it. (I'm a little biased, also, because the granddaughter on the last two pages looks just like my 4YO daughter. It really captured my heart).
__________________ Monica
C (12/2001), N (11/2005), M (5/2008), J (8/2009) and three angels
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SeaStar Forum Moderator
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Posted: March 11 2013 at 5:36pm | IP Logged
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jawgee wrote:
Coming here to add:
The Great Stone Face - New Hampshire
I've never read the original story by Hawthorne, but this book was delightful. My kids really enjoyed it. (I'm a little biased, also, because the granddaughter on the last two pages looks just like my 4YO daughter. It really captured my heart). |
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My library doesn't have the edition you read- or any other
But the one by Hawthorne is available free as a Kindle download.
__________________ Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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