L.E.D.™ Resources & Recommendations

Sweet Land of Liberty
By Charles C. Coffin / Maranatha Publications, Inc

Probably our favorite overview of Early American History - Columbus to pre-War for Independence. For Jr. High and above, or as a family read aloud. Written in the 1800's.

"...Are we doing a good enough job of teaching our children what America is and what she represents in the long history of the world?...We've got to do a better job of getting across the idea that America is freedom-freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of enterprise. And freedom is special and rare. It's fragile and it needs protection...So we've got to teach history based not on what's in fashion, but on what's important, on why the pilgrims came here...If we forget what we did we won't know who we are-I am warning of an eradication of the American memory that could result ultimately in an erosion of The American Spirit." President Ronald Regan Farewell Address Surely there is a meaning of history, else what are we living for? In this volume you will see how Tyranny and Wrong have fought against Liberty and Justice but how Tyranny and Wrong have gone down before it. Men die, generations come and go but ideas live on. Through all the narratives of wars, massacres, and bloodshed, you will see Right, Justice, and Liberty ever advancing. Softcover, 458 pages.

The Light and the Glory
By Peter Marshall & David Manuel / Baker

This is a good overview too. Recently written Providential history of early America. Columbus through War for Independence.

From the first cries of "Land! Land!" on the Pinta to the modern age, the authors make their case that America has been afforded a divine destiny. Columbus' view that God was calling him to bear the light of Christ, the Euro-American victory over Metacomet, King Phillip, and the preachers of the Great Awakening are all seen in light of God's plan for His new nation...a new Israel.

At varience with the teachings in many public schools and academic institutions today, the authors present copious amounts of research to support their opinions. Were the Puritans sin-obsessed hypocrites that modern writers depict them? Did they believe they were a new chosen people? And was it God's will for Christians in the Colonies to take up arms against England or was it rebellion? Countering these claims and more, The Light and the Glory presents a uniquely Christian lens through which to view the founding, settling and current state of America. 384 indexed pages, softcover.

The Light and the Glory for Children
By Peter Marshall / Baker

Has America seen the last of its courageous Christian heroes? Put your kids on horseback with evangelist George Whitefield, in Valley Forge with president George Washington, and in many other historical places where believers stood for righteousness---and they'll be inspired to continue God's work in America! Includes study activities. For ages 9 to 12. 174 pages, softcover from Revell.

The Light and the Glory Activity Book

Mr. Pipes Comes to America
By Douglas Bond / Christian Liberty Press

The Mr. Pipes series is one of our favorite music resources. We love learning about the hymns written during the time periods we are studying.

Cultivate a love of traditional hymns in your young believers as they follow Mr. Pipes from his cozy English cottage to America! From Plymouth to Amesbury, Princeton to Boston, Mr. Pipes leads Annie and Drew on a delightful historical adventure, teaching them about the lives and music of John Eliot, Phillips Brooks, John Greenleaf Whittier, and other great hymn writers. Includes music and lyrics. 194 pages, softcover.

A Child's Story of America, Second Edition: Grades 4-5
By Michael McHugh / Christian Liberty Press

Reprint of an 1800's text for children. Nice if you want a short overview that's a bit more lively and conversational than most textbooks today. Michael McHugh has added a bit about the 1900's. Columbus to recent times.

From the launching of the Santa Maria to the landing of the space shuttle, U.S. history has unfolded under divine authority. Introduce your fourth and fifth graders to heroic figures and important events including John Winthrop, George Washington, Sam Houston, the signing of the Mayflower Compact, the Great Awakening, the Boston Tea Party, and more. Includes end-of-chapter study questions. 202 pages, softcover.

The Christian History of the Constitution of the United States of America, Volume 1, Revised
By F.a.c.e.

Excellent primary sourcebook for your studies.

The Christian History of the Constitution of the United States of America, Volume 2
By F.a.c.e.

Excellent primary sourcebook for your studies, companion to above.

The Christian History of the American Revolution: Consider and Ponder
By F.a.c.e.

The third in this primary sourcebook series.

• Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language
• The Bible and the Constitution
• The Christian History of the American Revolution: Consider and Ponder
• The Christian History of the Constitution: Christian Self-Government, Vol. 1
• The Christian History of the Constitution: Christian Self-Government with Union, Vol. 2
• George Washington: The Character and Influence of One Man
• The Noah Plan Self-Directed Study in the Principle Approach
• Rudiments of America's Christian History and Government
• Teaching and Learning America's Christian History
• The King James Bible
• A Republic if You Can Keep It: America's Authentic Liberty Confronts Contemporary Counterfeits

With consistent historical depth and an engaging narrative style, Heroes of History chronicles the remarkable true stories of fascinating men and women who changed the course of history. Paperback, 190 pages.

The World of Columbus and Sons
By Genevieve Foster / Beautiful Feet Books

Interesting narratives of history with people and events from around the world woven together, but not from a providential viewpoint.

The world literally bursts forth out of its deep sleep and is lifted from the dark ages. With Columbus as the principal character, Prince Henry the Navigator, Ivan III, Gutenberg, Queen Isabella, Leonardo da Vinci, Mohammed II, Nomi Mansa, Martin Luther, Vasco de Gama, Copernicus, and a host of others all come to life as foster weaves this pageantry of history. It is out of the increasing enlightenment of this era of religious, cultural and scientific change that discovery and exploration began which would forever change the world as it was known.

The World of Capt. John Smith
By Genevieve Foster / Beautiful Feet Books

Interesting narratives of history with people and events from around the world woven together, but not from a providential viewpoint.

This book is the story of the world. It is a slice of history measured by the lifetime of Captain John Smith, a small, courageous Englishman who was born in the days of Queen Elizabeth I and whose heart, he said, "had been forever set on brave adventure."

Freedom & Simplicity™ Thanksgiving Study - a Me and My House Exclusive;

a biblically principled study guide of Thanksgiving - both the attitude of gratitude and the holiday, jam packed full of ideas of what to study (in reliable primary source documents and living books) and how to study it (by R Road to Biblical Wisdom) and how to document your study (into a Book of Remembrance Journal or MyMini Book of Remembrance lapbook.)

Use this resource to help guide your study, whether it is a one day study or a one month study. You can download and start this study TODAY! Click here for More Info and to order.

Of Plymouth Plantation, Hardcover
By William Bradford / The Vision Forum, Inc

If you want to know what really happened, go to the source. This history of the Plymouth settlement, written one who was a major figure in it, is a "don't miss" resource for adults and youth. It can be used as a family read aloud, but allow for plenty of discussion and narration to help the younger ones.

A firsthand account of the Plymouth settlement! In this 1909 modern English translation, Governor William Bradford chronicles the hardships the Pilgrims faced. Their persecution in Europe and subsequent journey to the New World for religious freedom are clearly presented, and their endurance stands as great testimony for our children today. Includes rare excerpts from correspondence of the time. Recommended for middle and high school grades. 353 pages, hardcover.

The Mayflower Pilgrims
By Edmund Janes Carpenter / Christian Liberty Press

Want something more geared toward the younger ones? This one's been waiting on my shelf for this season. We are reading and enjoying it as our family read-aloud now.

Huddled aboard a small ship plowing the Atlantic, 102 passengers sailed their way into history in 1620. Carpenter's well-researched narrative captures the physical hardships, spiritual challenges, and emotional toll William Bradford, Miles Standish, Samuel Fuller, William Brewster, and other Mayflower voyagers experienced as they struggled to found a Christian settlement in an untamed land. 117 pages, softcover.

Stories of the Pilgrims, Second Edition
By Margaret B. Pumphrey / Christian Liberty Press

A simpler, fictionalized story based on the real events. This can be read alone by younger children. CLP has added "comprehension questions" and such to this book that was originally written in 1910. Also available on audio from Jim Hodges Audiobooks.

Faith, bravery, perilous journeys, hardships---the stories of the Pilgrims make for exciting reading! This illustrated text follows the Pilgrims from England to Holland to the New World. Your students will meet William Brewster, Miles Standish, John Alden, Massasoit, and others, and learn how our nation was founded on Christian principles. Includes comprehension questions throughout. Grade 4. 244 pages, softcover. Stories of the Pilgrims, 2nd Edition Answer Key available separately.

The Mayflower Secret, Trailblazer Series #26 (William Bradford)
By Dave & Neta Jackson / Bethany

Another fictionalized account based on real events. My children love this series.

Thirteen year old Elizabeth Tilley and her family have been waiting for this day for months; the day the Mayflower sets sail from England. The trip seems especially rough for Dorothy Bradford, the frail young wife of William Bradford. One night, Elizabeth discovers Dorothy alone on deck. Thinking the woman wants to be alone, Elizabeth returns to bed. But the next morning, she awakes to the news that Dorothy has disappeared! Afraid that William Bradford will blame her for his wife's death, Elizabeth tells no one what she saw that night.

When they finally arrive in the New World, many passengers become very ill. Several of them die before the new colony is established, including Elizabeth's parents. Left an orpahan, Elizabeth must deal with her terrible secret alone. If she dares tell the truth, will it ruin her chance for happiness in the new colony? Recommended for ages 8 to 12.

Teaching Providential History: Bradford and the Pilgrims
By Rosalie J. Slater / F.a.c.e.

Syllabus for teaching Bradford's history of Plimouth Plantation, from the excerpts in Christian History of the Constitution above.

This syllabus complements the 55-page excerpt of William Bradford's classic History "Of Plimouth Plantation" found in The Christian History of the Constitution, Volume I. As a major link on the Chain of Christianity and the prime example for teaching the Hand of God in history, Bradford's work is an important resource for every grade. The historic background of the English reformation and important events of America's founding are presented, as well as the application of The Principle Approach and Seven Principles of America's Christian History to the study of Bradford's masterpiece. A directed study is outlined with readings in Christian History, Vol. I, Teaching and Learning, and other resources. The Old South Leaflet No. 77, "Cotton Mather's Lives of Bradford and Winthrop" from Magnalia Christi Americana is included.

Mourt's Relation: A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth
Forward by Dwight B. Heath / Applewood Books

Rerpint of the first published firsthand account of the Pilgrims. I've not read this version.

From the slave auctions in Spain to the luxurious splendor of an English manor house, Squanto endured great cruelty yet discovered remarkable kindness at the hands of the white men. He had been forcibly taken by those who thought he was no better than a dumbstruck savage and prized for his brute strength. When at last he had earned the right to go home, it was a much different journey. As he willingly boarded their ship westward in 1619, he brought the one thing these Englishmen didn't possess: a voice that could bring understanding between Native Americans and those who wished to conquer them.

As he faced the salty winds, his mind raced to the reunion ahead and the certain welcome he would receive as a brave warrior who had seen more in a few years than most would in a lifetime.

At the first signs of familiar land his heart pounded ... but where was the smoke from the village fires? Why was a cold silence the only sound to greet him?

The Legend of Squanto is more than a story about an honest man who triumphed over tragedy. It is also a tribute to forgiveness, integrity and the ability to look beyond the color of a man's skin. 100 Minutes. 2 CDs.

Guns of Thunder: Faith & Freedom Trilogy #1
By Douglas Bond / P & R Publishing

We love this series! It's one of our favorite family read alouds, and we can't wait for the next book to come out. Christian historical fiction.

In this sequel to the Crown & Covenant series, the Faith & Freedom Trilogy chronicles new generations of the M'Kethe family who find freedom in 18th-century America. Adventure is afoot as Old World tyrannies clash with New Words freedoms. Douglas Bond waves together fiction character with historical figures from Scottish and American History.

The M'Kethe clan finds itself in pre-Revolutionary War Connecticut weathering a storm of religious and political upheaval. Ian M'Kethe is forced to make a choice against enormous odds in the face of rising conflict between the Colonists and the French with their Indian allies. Ian makes an unlikely friendship with Watookoog, an Indian, and risks everything but gains something he thought he had lost forever. Recommended for ages 10 to 14.

Independence, Drums Of War Series #1
By Peter Reese Doyle / Providence Foundation

Another Christian history fiction series. We didn't care for it as much as Guns of Thunder, but it's good.

First in a series (entitled Drums of War) of historical novels for youth and young adults designed to teach in an enjoyable way the principles, events, and persons behind America's independence. Independence is set in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1775 when the Royal Governor sent British troops to steal gunpowder form the town's public magazine. The colonists are alerted and the drama builds to a climax as Patrick Henry leads Patriot militiamen toward a dramatic showdown with the British Governor.

George Washington's World
By Genevieve Foster / Beautiful Feet Books

Interesting narratives of history with people and events from around the world woven together, but not from a providential viewpoint.

This classic not only provides the reader a true biography of the great American, but a view of the world in which he lived. Marvel at the lives of Benjamin Franklin, Frederick the Great, Voltaire, Napoleon, Catherine of Russia, Eli Whitney, Mozart, Bach, young Napoleon and many other notables of the 18th century. Portrayed as a whole, political, industrial, and scientific revolutions of the 1700's come to life as never before. Laced with vivid illustrations and carefully researched maps and charts, this timeless work is enhanced by the contribution of the author's daughter, Joanna Foster, with recently discovered stories about people whom she knew her mother would want to include. Recommended for ages 9 and up, 355 pages. A 1942 Newbery Honor book.

Included in this audio album:

• Lutzen-1632 King Gustavus Adolphus vs. Count Wallenstein (The Thirty Years War) Sweden and German Protestants engaged against the Imperial Forces of the Holy Roman Empire.
• Naseby-1645 Oliver Cromwell vs. King Charles I (English Civil War) The Parliamentarians and Puritans under Cromwell against King Charles's Royalists forces in England.
• New York City-1776 George Washington vs. Lord William Howe (American War for Independence) The newly raised American troops lay siege against the world's power-the English Redcoats.
• Gaines Mill-1862 Robert E. Lee vs. George B. McClellan (War for Southern Independence) The Confederate States of America in a unique engagement with the "United States of America."
• Sedan-1870 Helmut Von Moltke vs. Louis Napoleon III (Franco-Prussian War) Prussian forces battle with royal troops of France.
• Tsushima-1905 Zinovi P. Rozhestvensky vs. Togo Heihachiro (Russo-Japanese War) The Russian army and forces of the Empire of the Rising Sun collide in a little-known important campaign.
• Normandy-1944 Dwight D. Eisenhower vs. Erwin Romell (World War II) Allied forces of England and the United States of America engage the Germans in an epic battle.
• Six Day War-1969 Israel vs. The Arab Nations The Israeli nation against the the united power of Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Algeria.