THE CIVIL WAR

 The Civil War is a very important part of American History. There are a great number of children’s books available on the American Civil War. The Civil War hold’s a special place in Americans hearts, and these books are a great way to introduce history into the classroom.  There is such a variety of books available I only chose a few to discuss. All the books have very important ideas and have meaning to children. Children will take a lot of information and personal meaning away after learning about the Civil War.

Chapter Books (Novels)

Brenaman, Miriam. Evvy’s Civil War. New York: G.P. Putman’s Sons, 2002.
 It is 1860 when Evvy turns fourteen, when the civil war begins. Evvy sees the restrictions that her society and family has placed on women and slaves. Evvy is determined to prove she can do whatever men can do and still be a woman.

Matas, Carol; The War Within. New York: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Company, 2001
 In 1862, the Union moves into Holly Springs, where Hannah Green and her family have lived for years. The Union army is forcing the Green family to move from Holly Springs, Mississippi because they are Jews. Hannah looks at her views regarding slavery and the war.

Osborne, Mary Pope; Civil War on Sunday. New York: Random House, 2000
 Annie and Jack travel back in time to the Civil War. They help some nurses at a battlefield hospital run by Clara Barton.

Osborne, Mary Pope; After the Rain. New York: Scholastic Inc.
 In the final months of the Civil War, Ginny and her family move to Washington
D.C. These times bring difficult times, especially the assassination of Ginny’s hero, President Lincoln. This is a very good book which educates children about US history. Also helps children relate to difficult times that they are faces with.

Pinkney Davis Andrea; Silent Thunder: A Civil War Story. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 1999
 It is in 1862 when eleven year old Summer and her thirteen year old brother Rosco describe Virginia and the plantation they work on. Summer and Rosco describe how the civil war is affecting the slaves on the plantation.

Rinaldi, Ann; Numbering All the Bones. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2002
 It is 1864 and the civil war is coming toward an end when Eulinda is faced with some hard decisions. Eulinda is left alone when her brothers have left the plantation, in search for a better life. She meets Clara Barton (founder of Red Cross) who she becomes close with and works aside her.

http://scils.rutgers.edu/~kvander/rinaldi.html

Picture Books

Brenner, Martha; Abe Lincoln’s Hat. New York: Random House, 1994
 This story is about Abraham Lincoln when he was a lawyer and how he worked for the people. This also tells about Abraham Lincoln’s life and his trials and triumphant in his life.

Brill Targ Marlene; Allen Jay and the Underground Railroad. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books Inc, 1993
 Allen Jay is a Quaker living in Ohio during the 1840s. His family’s farm is a stop on the Underground Railroad. The story is about how he helped Henry James, a fleeing slave escape his master and make it to freedom using the Underground Railroad.

Lincoln, Abraham; The Gettysburg Address. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1995
 This story is the speech President Abraham Lincoln gave for the Gettysburg Address. It is very meaningful and relevant today as it was in 1863. Children will not only take a part of history with them but also a meaning of what the world was like.

Polacco, Patricia; Pink and Say. New York: Philomel Books, 1994
 Say Curtis describes his meeting with Pinkus Aylee, a black soldier, during the Civil War. Pink is a slave whose master taught him how to read. They became the best of friends and get captured by the Confederate Army. They eventually get torn apart.  

Turner, Ann; Abe Lincoln Remembers. Windell Minor, 2001
 This book tells the story of President Abraham Lincoln. While waiting for his wife he looks back on his life and his long journey from the log cabin to the White House.

Informational

Dolan F Edward; The American Civil War: A House Divided. Connecticut: The Millbrook Press, 1997
 This book is an accurate battle by battle book. The book tells about all the battles of the civil war, and gives children a good idea of what exactly took place during this time in America history. This book tells the story of the different battles that took place, and the different generals. I believe this book to be very educational, and children will learn many important details in American history.

Stanchak John; Civil War. New York: A Dorling Kindersley Book, 2000.
 This book is a very informational book for children. Eyewitness books give information about the civil war. In this book children learn about the Underground Railroad, different battles that took place during the civil war, what soldiers carried into battles, Abraham Lincoln, and learned about the north and south. I believe this book to be excellent and caught children’s attention.

Biographies

Becker, Helaine; Frederick Douglass. Connecticut: Blackbirch Press Inc, 2001.
 This book is a biography of Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass was a slave. Who did a lot for African American’s. This book tells about his life.

Sullivan, George; Abraham Lincoln. New York: Scholastic Inc, 2000
 This book is a biography of Abraham Lincoln’s life. This book tells about his childhood, Lincoln the lawyer, congress, presidency, and Gettysburg. This book is excellent in telling the story of famous Abraham Lincoln. I believe this book to be educational and very important for children to read because of Lincoln’s contributions to America.

Traditional Literature

Ransom F Candice; Children of the Civil War. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books Inc, 1998
 This book looks at the lives of the youngest Americans- the buglers, drummer boys who played for the troops, and the boys and girls who stayed at home or became homeless. I believe this book to be very important and give children a very vivid idea of what children went through during this time in American history.

Clayton, Nancy; Civil War Stories. Los Angeles: Lowell House Juvenile, 1999
 This book is about very interesting stories of the civil war. The stories are about extraordinary events that took place during the civil war. These events are all true and will amaze and keep children’s attention.

Hamilton, Virginia; The People could fly: American Black folktales. New York: Random House, 1985
 This book is a collection of black folktales of the slaves and fugitives who were in the United States. The tales were created out of sadness, but the people who “founded” them and passed them on were full of love and hope.

Lester, Julius; Black Folktales. New York: R.W. Baron, 1969
 This book includes tales of African and Afro-American origin. This book gives children stories of want people went through during the civil war. I believe that children will take a lot of information out of these stories.
http://www.childrenslit.com/f_lester.html
Professional Sources

  Perry, Douglas; The Civil War as Photographed by Mathew Brady. The Constitution Community: Civil War and Reconstruction. (1850-1870).Washington: National Archives and Records Adminstration,2001
    This article talks about the main battles of the civil war and how they can be taught in a classroom, so that students understand each event. Also this article examines how the Civil War threatened the future of the U.S. There are lessons and resources for teachers.

Lohman, Elsa & Frye, Janice; Chatham Plantation: Witness to the Civil War. Teaching with Historical Places. Washington: National Register of Historic Places, 2001
    This article is about Chatham Plantation. Four major Civil War battles were fought surrounding Chatham. This would be a great lesson for teachers to teach their students.