Colonial America Learning Resources for Purchase

For Younger Scholars

• Samuel Eaton's Day, Sarah Morton's Day, On the Mayflower, and Tapenum's Day by Kate Waters. This series is brimming with pictures of historical interpreters at the Plimoth Plantation and Patuxet Village Living History Museum and brings the lives of Pilgrim and Wampanoag Indian children to life.

• Colonial Times and American Revolution by Joy Masoff

• Three Young Pilgrims by Cheryl Harness. Beautifully illustrated, this story follows the stories of Allerton children through the first year while they establish Plymouth Colony.

• If You Lived in Colonial Times by Ann McGovern. This book has a wonderful way of allowing a reader to picture stepping foot in the Colonial Era of New England Colonists.

• 6 Felicity books of the American Girl series. Set in Williamsburg, Virginia, Felicity was one of the first of the American Girl series and brings the Colonial Capital of Virginia to life!

• If You Grew Up with George Washington by Ruth Belov Gross. This personalizes the "Father of his Country", George Washington.

• Life of Washington in Words of One Syllable by Josephine Pollard. Written in the late 1800s, this reprint in a beautiful rendition makes the life of Washington accessible to young readers.

• If You Were There When They Signed the Constitution by Elizabeth Levy. This book inspires imagination to consider being at such a powerful time in world history!

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Jean Fritz Books — a beloved, character-driven series that makes the Founders approachable for younger readers:

• And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?

• Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?

• Will You Sign Here, John Hancock?

• Where Was Patrick Henry on the 29th of May?

• What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin?

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For Older Scholars

• William Bradford: Plymouth's Faithful Pilgrim by Gary D. Schmidt. This book follows the life of William Bradford from a young age. It illustrates the faith of the Pilgrims in overcoming adversity and how it shines in a powerful, yet easy to understand way. Highly recommended!

• Guns for General Washington by Seymour Reit. This books portrays the herculean task of bringing 59 great guns (cannon) from upstate New York to Boston across snow and ice to drive the British out of Boston. Excellent historical fiction!           

• America's Ethan Allen by Stewart Holbrook & Lynd Ward. This book portrays the rugged and bold independence that allowed Fort Ticonderoga and the cannon referenced above to be captured in the first place.

• Give Me Liberty: The Uncompromising Statesmanship of Patrick Henry  by David Vaughan. A fantastic read that portrays what an impact of the life of a believer in Jesus Christ may have!

• Private Yankee Doodle: Memoirs of Private Joseph Plumb Martin, an eyewitness to the war. Powerful primary accounts from a young Patriot soldier.

• The Fighting Ground by Avi. Vivid historical fiction of a young Patriot soldier.

• Spies on the Devil's Belt by Betsy Haynes. Historical fiction portraying daring secrecy in gaining intelligence in New England.

• They Made a Revolution: 1776  by Jules Archer. A detailed look at the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.

• Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes. Set in Boston, this classic historical fiction tells of a 14 year old silversmith who serves with the Sons of Liberty.

• Carry on, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham. A venerated classic book for young adult readers of historical fiction based on the figure of Nathaniel Bowditch, a New England astronomer and mathematician who founded modern navigation.

• A Spy in Williamsburg by Isabelle Lawrence. A riveting historical fiction book.

• Duel in the Wilderness by Karin Clafford Farley. Based upon Washington's Journal of his Journey to the Forks of the Ohio River to a warning to the French by King George II of Britain, this a stirring adventure of historical fiction writing!

• The Bulletproof George Washington by David Barton. This is a fantastic book that describes the remarkable, accurate history of what transpired with George Washington during the French and Indian War.

• America's Providential History by Mark A. Beliles & Stephen K. McDowell. An outstanding book that places events in context and includes powerful descriptions of defining moments.

• 1776 by David McCullough. A sweeping narrative that describes a pivotal year in rich detail.

• The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates: A Proper Resistance to Tyranny and a Repudiation of Unlimited Obedience to Civil Government by Matthew J. Trewhella. This book is based upon the Bible and the historical writing by Reformers, such as Lex Rex and the 1550 Magdeburg Confession. It does clearly presents the four levels of tyranny and fitting response to each level.

• Declaring Liberty  by Doctor Pastor Paul Jehle. An easy to read and profound description the history and principles in the Declaration of Independence in the context of American history. Having heard Dr. Jehle's sharing of history in person, his writing conveys his love for history and gift for storytelling.

• The Delaware Continentals by Christopher Ward. An outstanding, authoritative work that traces the service of the Delaware Continentals. Many of our engaging, living history learning adventures bring the events described to life!

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Illustrated Books

• The American Revolution: A Visual History by Dorling-kindersley. An extraordinary compilation of 500 images from the War, including original artifacts and paintings. A museum collection in a book!

• Liberty: Don Troiani's Paintings of the Revolutionary War by artist Don Troiani. In my humble opinion, the greatest contemporary artist of military history alive today! Mr. Troiani has an extensive private collection of artifacts and includes living historians as models to create incredibly detailed and accurate depictions of defining moments and descriptions of the War.

• Story of the American Revolution and Uniforms of the American Revolution coloring books by Peter F. Copeland

• A Coloring Book of the American Revolution by Bellephron Books

• Betsy the Colonial Girl Sticker Paper Doll   by Marty Noble. From the book's description: Betsy is a girl originally from Europe who has settled in the New World during the Colonial period. She loves to dress up in her beautiful clothes made of rich fabrics. You can help Betsy get ready for a day of picking flowers, knitting, or playing with her doll with these quaint outfits. Just lift off the stickers and place them on Betsy on the inside back cover. The stickers can be used over and over, so be sure to put them back on the pages of the book to store them. 23 full-color reusable stickers.

• Colonial and Early American Fashions (Coloring Book) by Tom Tierney. From the book's description: This entertaining and educational coloring book provides a fascinating glimpse of clothing styles worn by Colonial Americans — from the early years of colonization to the onset of the American Revolution. Carefully researched and meticulously rendered by illustrator Tom Tierney, 45 excellent, ready-to-color illustrations present an exciting panorama of wearing apparel spanning nearly 150 years of fashion history. Descriptive, fact-filled captions accompany each finely detailed illustration. Engaging, full-page displays of shoes, headgear, hairstyles, and powdered wigs complete this collection — sure to appeal not only to coloring book fans but to costume historians and designers as well.

• George Washington Coloring Book by Peter F. Copeland. From the book's description: George Washington devoted his life to the establishment and success of America as an independent nation. A surveyor at 16 and a lieutenant colonel in the French and Indian War at 22, he managed to spend a few years as a gentleman farmer on his Mount Vernon estate before the Revolutionary War began. Elected commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in 1775, Washington led the Patriot forces in battle against Britain for eight turbulent years before helping the colonies gain their independence. Later, with the fledgling nation in need of firm leadership, Washington was unanimously elected the first president of the United States of America.
  Artist Peter Copeland captures these outstanding events in the life of this revered American. Forty-two ready-to-color illustrations depict such memorable scenes as his participation in the war between Britain and France, his proposal of marriage to Martha Custis, his appointment as commander of the patriot forces, his election to two terms as the American president, and his funeral in Mount Vernon. Informative captions accompany detailed illustrations in an entertaining coloring book that will also serve as a practical reference for young students of American history.

• Heroes and Heroines of the American Revolution Coloring Book by Peter F. Copeland. From the book's description: The American Revolution ended two centuries of British rule over most of the North American colonies and led to the creation of the United States of America. Military leaders, statesmen, and ordinary people played important roles in this momentous victory. Artist Peter Copeland provides dramatic ready-to-color illustrations of 44 of these men and women, among them: Nathan Hale, an American spy captured and executed by the British; Margaret Corgin, who followed her husband to the battlefront and took his place as a gunner when he was killed; Col. Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox,” who resorted to guerrilla warfare in the forests and swamps of South Carolina to regain the initiative against superior British forces.
  Also included are scenes with George and Martha Washington, John and Abigail Adams, Molly Pitcher, the Marquis de Lafayette, Crispus Attucks, and 34 other legendary figures. Captions accompany each illustration.

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​​​Science and Nature

• Dragonflies of North America (Princeton Field Guides) by Ed Lam - A beautifully illustrated and authoritative compilation of these fascinating creatures

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​​Recommended Viewing

• Townsends 18th Century Life - An outstanding ongoing series exploring daily life in the 1700s!

• Colonial Fort Michilimackinac - Demonstrations of 18th Century soldier's uniforms and equipment, along with women's period clothing

• Townsends and Samson Historical  - Excellent sources for reproduction clothing, tools, and goods, along with rich visual references

• A visit to a Colonial chandler (candlemaker) - A fun, hands-on look at an essential Colonial trade

• American Battlefield Trust's animated Revolutionary War Map - An outstanding visual summary of the entire War for Independence

• Washington's War (short film shown at Mount Vernon) - Note: contains intense battle scenes; discretion advised for younger viewers

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Feature-Length Films

• A Great Awakening by Sight & Sound Theatres in Lancaster, PA - One of the best movies we've ever seen! It features the unlikely friendship of evangelist George Whitefield and Founding Father Dr. Benjamin Franklin and portrays the impact of the Great Awakening on the American Revolution through the Constitutional Convention. A Great Awakening Trailer

• "The Patriot" by Mel Gibson. Loosely based on Patriot Brigadier General Francis Marion of SC, known as the "Swamp Fox." Hollywood-style with graphic battlefield violence; viewer discretion advised for younger audiences

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