I grew up learning history from textbooks, and sadly I thought it was boring and irrelevant to my life. The dates, the names, the endless lists of battles and treaties – all of it felt disconnected from the world I knew and the stories that truly mattered to me. History was something to memorize for a test, then forget as soon as it was over. It seemed like just a series of facts and figures, devoid of the human experience and the stories that could truly inspire and teach us.

It wasn’t until I started reading aloud historical fiction to my children that I began to fall in love with history. As I immersed myself in stories about real people – soldiers, explorers, everyday living in various eras – I realized history is really about people. It’s about their hopes, fears, struggles, and triumphs. When I saw history come alive through these narratives, I found myself captivated by the lessons they carried and the connections they revealed to my own life. Suddenly, history wasn’t just a list of dates; it was a collection of human stories that could inspire us, teach us empathy, and deepen our understanding of the world around us. I was convinced that if I present history to my children with this perspective, they would fall in love with it too. 

In this blog post I am sharing my favorite historical fiction read-alouds for families, including a free booklist.

In this blog post:

• Charlotte Mason perspective on history
• What is historical fiction?
• Why historical fiction read-alouds matter
• Tips for including younger children in family read-alouds
• 40+ favorite historical fiction read-alouds for kids [Free booklist]
• Read-aloud book studies from Treehouse Schoolhouse

Charlotte Mason perspective on history

A Charlotte Mason education is built on the foundation of reading living books. These books are named for their ability to bring a subject to life through a passionate and strong narrative voice, drawing a child into a story rather than presenting a list of dry, disconnected facts. This approach ensures that the child is not just memorizing, but is absorbing and forming a personal connection with the material.

Mason believed children should be exposed to a “feast” of ideas across a wide variety of subjects, including history, literature, and the arts. History is taught by focusing on the lives of individual figures, which allows children to “experience” an era through their eyes. This method of using great storytelling is reinforced by the practice of narration, where a child recounts a lesson in their own words, ensuring they are actively engaging with and comprehending the ideas.

Charlotte Mason advocates for teaching history through overviews, biographies, and historical fiction. She also recommends the practices of creating timelines (I love these books) or a Book of Centuries as you study history to keep track of different dates and times. She also encourages children to practice narration and notebooking as they learn.

What is historical fiction?

Historical fiction is a genre of literature that is set in the past and combines fictional characters and plotlines with real historical events, people, or settings. It immerses readers in a specific time period, offering a vivid and often personal perspective on a historical era. 

While the main characters and their stories are invented, the backdrop—including the social customs, political climate, and major events—is based on factual research, giving the reader a sense of what life was truly like during that time. This blend of authentic detail and imaginative storytelling makes historical fiction a powerful tool for bringing history to life and helping readers connect with the past.

Historical fiction, when well-written and based on solid research, can be considered a living book.

Why historical fiction read-alouds matter

One of my favorite memories was reading Pocahontas and the Strangers by Clyde Robery Bulla to my children when they were in 1st and 3rd grade. It was a special time filled with wonder and imagination as we delved into the story of Pocahontas and her world. As I read aloud, my children didn’t just listen, they became part of the story, envisioning themselves as Pocahontas, exploring her adventures, and experiencing her feelings.

My daughter especially loved immersing herself in the character. After we finished reading each afternoon, she would run out into the woods nearby, dressed in makeshift costumes and acting as if she was Pocahontas herself. She would pretend to talk to the animals, navigate the river, or meet new visitors – completely lost in her own little world of imagination. Watching her transform into the brave and curious girl from the story made me realize how much these stories could ignite a child’s sense of adventure, empathy, and connection to history.

For her, wielding an imaginary bow and arrow or chatting with woodland creatures wasn’t just play, it was a way of living the story, of understanding a different time and culture through her own creative lens. Those moments in the woods became more than just play; they became treasured memories of how books can turn history into living, breathing stories that foster curiosity and inspire young hearts.

As I have experienced in my own home, reading historical fiction aloud is a wonderful way for families to connect through a shared narrative. As children follow a story, they begin to notice and understand the differences between the past and their present. These lessons can be small, like learning how people lived without electricity or traveled by horse, or they can be major, like understanding how wars and political events shaped the course of an entire family’s life. Historical fiction acts as a lens into the past, offering a rich, personal perspective that brings history to life.

By reading together, families can use historical fiction as a springboard for meaningful conversations. Families can discuss new time periods and compare and contrast what life was like then versus now. A book might even serve as a connection to a family’s own history—perhaps a grandparent lived through a depicted war, or a family story mirrors an event in the book. Reading together may inspire field trips or new experiences. Ultimately, these read-alouds are an avenue for developing empathy, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of the world and our own place in history.

Tips for including younger children in family read-alouds

Read-alouds are a wonderful addition to a family rhythm and including younger children into stories can be a wonderful opportunity for whole-family learning. Some stories will have more mature themes, such as hardship, death, violence, and various spiritual beliefs. Read reviews or pre-read each selection to decide if it’s a good fit for your children.

Many children can be drawn into historical fiction read-alouds by giving them activities that connect to the story. Some ideas include:

• Print coloring pages to correlate with themes your older children are learning through the story.
• Invite them to draw or trace pictures of the story. Have them narrate what they are learning and write down what they say. Instruct them to copy it if they are able.
• Spend some time baking together or making a craft that is related to the story you are reading.

40+ favorite historical fiction read-alouds for kids [Free booklist]

Here are some of my favorite historical fiction read-alouds for kids. 

Pocahontas and the Strangers by Clyde Robert Bulla (7+) – Simple prose recaptures the life of Pocahontas focusing on her struggles to bring peace between her tribe and the English settlers.

The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli (9+) – This story is set in medieval England. It follows a young boy named Robin, the son of a nobleman, who dreams of becoming a knight. When Robin falls ill and becomes paralyzed, losing the use of his legs, he learns to adapt to his new circumstances and finds a way to serve his kingdom despite his disability, proving his courage and worth. (Treehouse Book Study, Newbery Medal winner)

The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh (6+) – The Courage of Sarah Noble tells the true story of a young girl in 18th-century Connecticut who travels with her father to help him build a new home in the wilderness. She learns to overcome her fears by remembering her mother’s words: “Keep up your courage, Sarah Noble.”

The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare – This historical novel follows 13-year-old Matt Hallowell, an 18th-century American settler in Maine. After he and his father build a log cabin in the wilderness, Matt goes on many adventures as he is left alone to guard the cabin when his father leaves to retrieve the rest of their family. (Treehouse Book Study, Newbery Medal winner)

The Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls – Fourteen-year-old Jay Berry Lee is walking through the Ozark Mountains of Oklahoma in search of a lost cow when he encounters a tree full of monkeys. When Jay learns from his grandpa that the monkeys have escaped from a traveling circus, and there’s a big reward for the person who finds and returns them, he is thrust into a story of heart, humor, and excitement. (Treehouse Book Study)

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder – This historical fiction novel follows the Ingalls family as they leave their home in the Big Woods of Wisconsin and travel west to settle on the Kansas prairie. The story chronicles their daily lives, struggles, and triumphs as they build a new home and community in the challenging, yet beautiful, frontier.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott – Little Women follows the lives of the four March sisters as they come of age during the American Civil War in Concord, Massachusetts. The novel chronicles their individual struggles and triumphs as they navigate love, loss, and their own aspirations.

Looking for more historical fiction read-alouds for your family? Download the FREE Historical Fiction Read-Aloud Booklist here.

Engaging read-aloud book studies from Treehouse Schoolhouse

Treehouse Book Studies are digital download book studies of children’s literature for ages 5-13. Use in your homeschool as a literature curriculum or as book study with a small group. Create lasting connections through rich stories while you study themes such as science, nature, geography, history, and language arts. Each download includes: Book Study with weekly lesson plans, recipes, Book Report Template, Extension Book List, Multimedia Reference Materials links, and Book Club Meet-up Guide.

Historical Fiction Collection

Make lasting connections through the power of stories with The Historical Fiction Collection, a curated set of three classic children’s books. This digital download features four-week book studies for each title, making it a perfect resource for your homeschool curriculum or a group book study. Explore themes of science, nature, geography, history, and language arts as you travel back in time. Follow the adventures of a feisty pioneer girl in the Wisconsin wilderness in Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink. Journey to medieval England to witness a young boy’s struggle with a disabling illness in The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli. Or, join a young boy in colonial America as he learns to survive on his own in The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare. This collection offers more than just tales of the past; it’s an opportunity to discover history in a deeply personal and engaging way.

Classics Collection

Create lasting connections with your children through rich stories with The Classics Collection, a curated set of three beloved children’s books. This digital download features four-week book studies for each title, making it the perfect resource for your homeschool curriculum or a group book study. Explore themes of science, nature, geography, history, and language arts as you delve into the magical world of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Soar through the skies with a trumpeter swan and a young boy in E. B. White’s enchanting tale, The Trumpet of the Swan, or gallop into a thrilling adventure with a wild Arabian horse and a teenage boy in Walter Farley’s classic, The Black Stallion. This collection is more than just stories; it’s a journey of discovery that will deepen your child’s love for reading.

Survival Skills Collection

Give your young reader the tools to brave the great outdoors with The Survival Skills Collection, a curated set of three classic children’s books that spark imagination and build resilience. Your child will be captivated by the tales of young protagonists who use their wits and resourcefulness to survive in the wilderness. Follow Matt as he learns to live with a Native American tribe in The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare; join Sam Gribley as he tames a falcon and forages for food in the Catskills in My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George; and sail along with Karana as she fends for herself on an isolated island in Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. This collection doesn’t just tell a story; it teaches courage, independence, and a deep appreciation for nature.