This page contains the books and materials (plus reviews) used in our American history curriculum topic 27. In this topic of our history curriculum you will learn about Abraham Lincoln, slavery, "bloody" Kansas, the Civil War and more.

Books and Materials for Topic 27

Icon Key and Explanations

Abraham Lincoln (by D’Aulaire)
I don’t remember a single other book we read in first grade (other than our phonics “reader”) but I DO remember this one. Our teacher was sick for about a week and a substitute read D’Aulaire’s Abraham Lincoln to us. I remember absolutely delighting in the entire story and the illustrations (especially the one where muddy footprints were being made on the ceiling of Lincoln’s boyhood home). It was one of the books that helped to spark in me an early love for history. I was so happy to find this book as an adult. Now my kids can enjoy this classic too!

Topic 27

Gettysburg: A Day That Changed America (by Shelley Tanaka)

Topic 27

If You Grew Up With Abraham Lincoln (by Ann Mcgovern)

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If You Lived When There Was Slavery in America (by Anne Kamma)

Topic 27

Up Before Daybreak: Cotton And People In America (by Deborah Hopkinson)
This book is a about the men, women and children who worked in the cotton industry (not just slaves but also sharecroppers and mill girls). Some of the stories are heartbreaking. It’s worth obtaining to really understand the role cotton had in shaping our history.

Topic 27

Abe Lincoln's Hat (Step into Reading 3) (by Martha Brenner) 

Topic 27

If You Traveled on the Underground Railroad  (by Ellen Levine)

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Slavery and the Underground Railroad: Bound for Freedom (Civil War Library) (by Carin T. Ford)

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Up the Learning Tree  (by Marcia K. Vaughan)

Topic 27

Our Kansas Home (book 3) (by Deborah Hopkinson) *optional
I scheduled this book because understanding what happened in Kansas is important in understanding part of why the Civil War erupted. You may want to Google “bloody Kansas” to get more background information. Here is a site with some info: Kansas-Nebraska Act.

Topic 27

*Note for the above book, you may want to start the entire series of 3 with the following two books:

Prairie Skies: Pioneer Summer (book 1) (by Deborah Hopkinson)

Topic 27

Prairie Skies: Cabin in the Snow (book 2) (by Deborah Hopkinson)

Topic 27

Escape North! : The Story of Harriet Tubman (Step into Reading 4) (by Monica Kulling)

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 Meet Addy An American Girl Book 1 (by Connie Porter)

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Welcome to Addy's World, 1864: Growing Up During America's Civil War (by Susan Sinnott)

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A Ballad of the Civil War (Trophy Chapter Book) (by Mary Stolz)

Topic 27

This Country of Ours Selections
*This is an optional read-aloud from a free online text.
79. FILLMORE–THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
80. PIERCE–THE STORY OF "BLEEDING KANSAS"
81. BUCHANAN–THE STORY OF THE MORMONS
82. BUCHANAN–THE FIRST SHOTS
83. LINCOLN–FROM BULL RUN TO FORT DONELSON
84. LINCOLN–THE STORY OF THE FIRST BATTLE BETWEEN IRONCLADS
85. LINCOLN–THE BATTLE OF SHILOH AND THE TAKING OF NEW ORLEANS
86. LINCOLN–THE SLAVES ARE MADE FREE
87. LINCOLN–CHANCELLORSVILLE–THE DEATH OF STONEWALL JACKSON
88. LINCOLN–THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG
89. LINCOLN–GRANT'S CAMPAIGN–SHERIDAN'S RIDE
90. LINCOLN–SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA–LINCOLN RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT
91. LINCOLN–THE END OF THE WAR–THE PRESIDENT'S DEATH

Abraham Lincoln [videorecording] / a production of Schlessinger Media, a division of Library Video Company ; produced by JWM Productions, LLC. Wynnewood, PA : Schlessinger Media, c2003. 

Topic 27

Harriet Tubman [videorecording] / a production of Schlessinger Media, a division of Library Video Company ; produced by JWM Productions. Wynnewood, PA : Schlessinger Media, c2003. 

Topic 27

PLUS

Wee Sing America Book and CD

Colonial America

American Adventures True Stories From America’s Past 1770-1870

The Story of the U.S.A Book 2: A Young Nation Solves Its Problems

American Kids in History Pioneer Days

A Pioneer Sampler

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