History: Grades 2 - 8
H.A. Grueber History Series for Children
Author: H.A. Grueber, compiled and edited by Christine Miller
Publisher: Nothing New Press
For More Information or to Order: www.homeschoolingfromtheheart.com

Nothing New Press has brought a series of classic history texts back into print for a new generation of students.  Now children of all ages can enjoy the works of 19th century author Helene A. Grueber.  Titles in the series are: The Story of the Greeks, The Story of the Romans, The Story of the Middle Ages, The Story of the Thirteen Colonies, and The Story of the Great Republic.  The Story of the Renaissance and Reformation and The Story of the Ancient World are also in the process of being made available by the publisher.  Each volume offers easy-to-read, engaging narratives of the lives and times of the most important people of the period, arranged chronologically.

In an effort to preserve the work of Grueber, publisher Christine Miller has been true to the original texts whenever possible.  With the exception of a few updates, each book in the series is faithfully reprinted as it was published in 1896.  Where changes were necessary, the publisher carefully explains the reasons for any deviation from the original text. As with most books written prior to the 20th century, use of these texts enables children to build a biblical worldview and a rich vocabulary.  As you might guess, some volumes are more challenging to read than others, with those covering The Story of the Greeks and Romans offering the most challenge.  Thankfully, the author provides pronunciation guides for places and names the first time they are encountered (this is done in every book in the series).  Each reprinted volume includes additional maps, a timeline for the period the book covers, a reading list keyed to the chapters, and an exhaustive index.  Another helpful feature is the addition of illustrations and photos not available when the books were originally published.  Each volume includes the original preface from the author explaining her goals for writing the text and ideas for the teacher to implement in the classroom. 

As you explore the titles in this series, you will quickly see that these are not your ordinary "textbooks".  There are no lesson plans, comprehension questions or fill-in-the-blank worksheets.  Instead you are free to use the books as an exciting narrative of history, stopping whenever you desire for discussion or digging deeper with books from the library.  The rich vocabulary gives plenty of opportunities for dictionary work and for using context to find the meaning of words.  The reading list provided with each book is keyed to the chapters, so one can easily find more "living books" to cover each time period.  Those implementing the teaching methods of Charlotte Mason or the Classical model, will appreciate the short paragraphs, which are perfect for copywork and dictation exercises. Use of a wall or notebook timeline would also help to make the people and events covered come to life, as your child is able to see the "big picture".  As the author states in her preface, these books may be used as your main textbook, or as a supplement to any history curriculum.  To help you decide if these books are right for you, the publisher has provided several sample pages and the table of contents for each volume at the website listed above.

Christine Miller has gone to great lengths to reprint this classic series and in doing so has provided a wonderful history resource for homeschool families to enjoy and treasure for years to come!

Making the Grade: A+
Cost: $21.95 - $27.95 depending on the title
Value for Your Homeschool Dollar: 9
Review provided by Cindy Prechtel, Editor