Middle Ages - Books

We read many wonderful books about the middle ages during our unit study.

In our favorite books we learn while being entertained with stories. Historical fiction has so much to offer. Here are some great books covering the middle ages.

Overview

• The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child: The Middle Ages: From the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Renaissance (Second Revised Edition) (Vol. 2) (Story of the World) by Susan Wise Bauer contains many chapters covering world history of the middle ages.

• Story of the Middle Ages by Samuel B Harding, free on Librivox, covers the history of the middle ages in Europe. The various groups which moved into Europe are explained.

• Medieval Projects You Can Do! (Medieval World) is filled with simple projects. The stained glass windows we created turned out stunning.

• Heros of the Middle Ages by Eva March Tappan is a story free on Librivox. It tells stories of the lives of many people from the middle ages such as Clovis, Charlemagne, Alfred the Great and William the conqueror.

• When Knights were Bold, also by Eva March Tappan and free on Librivox tells what life was like during the middle ages. From tournaments to education and how to capture a castle; this book paints a good visual picture of medieval life.

Life in the Middle Ages - Picture Books - Great for younger children

• The Minstrel and the Dragon Pup by Rosemary Sutcliff tells the story of a minstrel who adopts a dragon. When the dragon is stolen he travels throughout the land searching for him. A fun story for children ages 5-12.
• Castle Diary: The Journal of Tobias Burgess by Richard Platt follows the journey of a young boy sent to live with his uncle as a page in his castle. This picture book is great for children ages 6-12.
• The Middle Ages (Journey Through History) - This short picture book gives a brief introduction to middle age history in Europe.
• Ms. Frizzle's Adventures: Medieval Castle - On the Magic School Bus, the kids in Ms. Frizzle's class journey to a middle ages castle and learn how castles were built, what life was like and how to deal with a siege.
• Adventures in the Middle Ages (Good Times Travel Agency) by Linda Baily and Bill Slavin - When a modern family visit a time travel agency and head back to the middle ages, they learn what life really was like. The experience sleeping together on beds of straw, bugs, peasant and castle life. This is a great book for kids ages 5-10.

Life in the Middle Ages - Historical Fiction - Chapter Books

• The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman is about a young girl, without parents, struggling to survive. Her willingness to work hard and cleverness earn her a home with a midwife.
• Catherine, Called Birdy (rpkg) (Trophy Newbery) by Karen Cushman is written in diary format. Catherine doesn't want to get married, but her father is determined to find her a suitor. She does everything in her power to prevent it, including very humorous things such as drooling.
• The Great and Terrible Quest by Margaret Lovett
• Otto of the Silver Hand (Dover Children's Classics) by Howard Pyle
• The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli
• The Trumpeter of Krakow takes place in Poland. The care of a beautiful jewel entrusted to one family spans generations. When the secret of the stone's whereabouts becomes known the family is in danger. They escape to Krakow, where the father and son work together as the town trumpeters, but their troubles are not over.
• The Sword in the Tree (Trophy Chapter Book) by Clyde Robert Bulla is an easy to read book about a boy who's bad uncle returns after many adventures. He then kills the father and attempts to take over the castle.

Minstrels - Adam of the Road (Puffin Modern Classics) by Robert Lawson - When Adam's dog is stolen, he tracks the thief throughout the country playing and entertaining as he goes.
Knights and Castles - Castle by David Macaulay - The book provides details into how medieval castles were constructed using a fun story format.
Printing - Breaking into Print: Before and After the Printing Press - The invention of the printing press marked the end of the middle ages. This book tells Gutenberg's story.



Religion

• Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction by David Macaulay - Like castle and mosque, Cathedral gives details of how gothic churches were constructed using a story format.
• Mosque by David Macaulay (Hagia Sophia Church in Istanbul)
• Francis, the Poor Man of Assisi by Tomie de Paola - This story follows Francis from a rich childhood to a monk who gives away all of his possessions.
• Pascual and the Kitchen Angels by Tomie de Paola - Pascual wants to become a Franciscan, but is put to work in the kitchen. He can't cook, but angles help him.
• Monks and Monasteries in the Middle Ages (World Almanac Library of the Middle Ages)

Legends

• Of Swords and Sorcerers (King Arthur)
• The Story of King Arthur and His Knights (Sterling Unabridged Classics) by Howard Pyle
• Chancer's Canterbury Tales Retold And Illustrated by Marcia Williams by Marcia Williams (great version for younger kids)
• The Kitchen Knight: A Tale of King Arthur by Margaret Hodges (A story of King Arthur's Knight Sir Gareth)
• Canterbury Tales by Barbara Cohen- These stories are best for ages 9 and up.
• Saint George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges - Each day the people of a small village have to give up one resident to the dragon until Saint George comes to the rescue.
• The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (Sterling Unabridged Classics) by Howard Pyle
• Hansel and Gretel
• Fairy Tales by the Brother's Grimm - Many of Grimm's fairy tales are set in the middle ages.

Moors

• Geometric Patterns: From Islamic Art & Architecture - This small book describes geometric patterns found throughout the Islamic world.

Venice

• The Lion of St. Mark by GA Henty - A young boy from England has many adventures in Venice. He becomes a hero after saving a wealthy merchant's daughter from being kidnapped and goes on to perform many more heroic deeds.
• Daughter of Venice by Donna Jo Napoli - A merchant's daughter does everything in her power to escape the life planned for her and have her own adventures.
• Marco Polo by Demi
• Animals Marco Polo Saw (Explorer Series) by Sandra Markle - This story puts a different perspective on the travels of Marco Polo which is very enjoyable for children.

Normans (Battle of Hastings)

• The Little Duke by Charlotte Mary Yonge is part of the Ambleside On-Line curriculum. The story covers the Vikings settling in Normandy before William the Conqueror takes England.
• The Bayeux Tapestry: The Norman Conquest 1066 - This picture book explains all of the scenes of the tapestry.

Art

• Art of the Middle Ages (Art in History) by Jennifer Olmsted provides a brief overview of art.

* I did not receive any compensation for this recommendation. I'm just a homeschooling mom who has found many products that I like. If you're interested in the products I recommend on this blog I want to make it easy for you to find them. 
** I am an Amazon associate and receive a small portion of the sales on orders made after clicking in from this site, which I promptly spend on homeschooling books and supplies for my children.