History is often taught to kids chronologically. This isn’t a bad thing. There’s an element of cause and effect you can see if you approach it this way. However, a lot of kids find history boring and this breaks my heart because history is full of fantastic stories. It is a subject with something for anyone!
The books on this list approach history in a different way. They focus on unique aspects, cool stories, different perspectives and more. Hopefully you will find the perfect window or doorway into history for the kids in your life.
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Windows into History:
Non-Fiction Picture Books about History for Kids
TIMELINE: A VIRTUAL HISTORY OF OUR WORLD
By Peter Goes
Published by Gecko Press
This oversized book is built to be poured over. From the dinosaurs in the Mesozoic Era to the 2020s, this covers earth’s history in timeline format. The text is limited to a brief paragraph about each spread and a few subtitles per page to add a little more information. The majority of the information is provided through comic like illustrations as you move through history. It’s perfect for the visual learner.
RISE AND FALL: Great Empires that Shaped the World
By Peter Allen
Published by Cicada Books
This large sized nonfiction book explores the rise and fall of nine civilizations starting with the Minoan Civilization and ending with the Kingdom of Ayutthaya or Siam in 1767 AD. Each civilization is covered over several spreads that talk about how they came to power, various things about how they lived, what they added to our world and more, and ends with their decline. I like that it covers some lesser known civilizations alongside more commonly covered groups like the Vikings and Aztecs. With older kids it could be fun to add your own sections with more modern civilizations as you learn more.
COOKING UP CHANGE
By Michael Platt
Illustrated by Alleanna Harris
Published by AbramsKids
Celebrate Black history with this book not just during Black History Month, but all year long. The author breaks the book into months and offers readers a holiday or moment in Black history paired with a recipe for each month of the year. For instance, in September you celebrate Labor Day, read about Mary McLeod Bethune and Nannie Helen Burroughs who worked to improve education for young women, paired with a recipe for Sweet Potato Pie based on the sweet piece Mary McLeod Bethune sold to raise money for her schools. It is a clever, tasty and fun way to explore Black history and try some new recipes along the way.
A HISTORY OF FASHION
By Celia Joicey and Dennis Nothdruft
Illustrated by Rose Blake
Published by Thames&Hudson
From “what is fashion” to how clothes have changed over time and details about the Fashion Industry itself, this book covers a wealth of areas related to fashion. Illustrated with a combination of photos, artwork and illustration, I love that this uses primary sources to demonstrate fashion through time. A unique and fascinating lens through which to view history.
UP, UP, AND AWAY: THE HISTORY OF AVIATION
By Tomas Smot Svoboda
Published by Albatros
Explore history from Ancient Greece to modern time through the world of aviation. This book begins with Icarus and early human attempts to understand how birds fly. Famous flight highlights like Leonardo’s early ideas, hot air balloons, the Hindenburg and the Wright brothers are all included, but so are many more facts and inventions that are less discussed. This is a truly detailed and remarkable collection of information about aviation of all kinds.
