American History overview for read-aloud?

[Calming Tea]

Does anyone have a good suggestion for a good American history overview as read-alouds?

My kids will be 1st and pre-K but they love to listen to some pretty heavy stuff- Narnia, Gary Paulsen (sign of the beaver, etc.) and such...

Ideas?

[angela in ohio]

I don't knwo of one book that I have particularly liked that covers all of American history. We tend to just read historical fiction and biographies in order and discuss the timeline. I like to really dig into each time period. For example, this was our "Discovery to Revolution" list for last year.

Columbus D'Aulaire
Jamestown: New World Adventure Knight
Lion to Guard Us, A Bulla
Finding Providence Watling
Landing of the Pilgrims, The Daugherty
Pilgrims of Plimoth, The
Stories of the Pilgrims Pumphrey
Pocahontas D'Aulaire
N.C. Wyeth's Pilgrims San Souci
Thanksgiving Story, The Dalgliesh
William Bradford, Pilgrim Boy
Boys and Girls of Colonial Days
Courage of Sarah Noble, The Dalgliesh
Calico Captive Speare
Indian Captive Lenski
Matchlock Gun, The Edmonds
Sign of the Beaver, The Speare
Justin Morgan Had a Horse Henry
Winter at Valley Forge, The Knight
George Washington D'Aulaire
George Washington's Breakfast
Buttons for General Washington Roop
Heroes of the American Revolution Adler
Johnny Tremain Forbes
America's Paul Revere Forbes
Mr. Revere and I Lawson
Patrick Henry: Voice of the American Revolution
Phoebe the Spy Griffin
Bears on Hemlock Mountain, The Dalgliesh
Toliver's Secret Brady
Ben and Me Lawson
Poor Richard Daugherty
Ben Franklin in Old Philadelphia Cousins
Benjamin Franklin D'Aulaire
More Perfect Union, A Maestro
Star-Spangled Banner, The D'Aulaire
Fourth of July Story, The Dalgliesh

[cajun.classical]

Does anyone have a good suggestion for a good American history overview as read-alouds?

My kids will be 1st and pre-K but they love to listen to some pretty heavy stuff- Narnia, Gary Paulsen (sign of the beaver, etc.) and such...

Ideas?

I really like Geurber's Story of the Thirteen Colonies and The STory of the Great REpublic as a read aloud, but it's probably too much for the ages you needed. I haven't used this, but lots of people use This Country of Ours by H.E. Marshall for younger kids. You can view the entire text at www.mainlesson.com. This book will take you through President Wilson.

For very young children, I've also used Stories of Great Americans for Little AMericans by Eggleston, also available at www.mainlesson.com.

[Donna A.]

Take a look at the Heart of Dakota website. They use the Eggleston books in "Bigger..." However, the "Beyond..." package might be more of what you're looking for right now. (Not saying you have to use the whole package... just take a peek at the books they use.) ;)

[Johanna]

History for little pilgrims by CLP sounds like a perfect fit. You can even get a coloring book to accompany it!

[chiguirre]

Take a look at the American Story:

http://www.amazon.com/American-Story-True-Tales-History/dp/0375812563/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205267941&sr=8-1

[Kate in VA]

I'm going to be using American History Stories (http://www.yesterdaysclassics.com/catalog/displaycatalog.php?catalog=history) Vol 1-2 by: Mara Pratt this coming year and Vol 3-4 the next year..... I will use them as a spine and then add additional books on each chapter or so.... along with other activites.... I thought these books look better for my daughters age and she would grasp more info then say An Island Story (which she listens to from Audio book while she plays)

If you click the link they are towards the bottom....
HTH,
Kate

[Calming Tea]

thank you all!