Raggedy Andy Stories/Project Gutenberg

Click here.

Baseball ABC/Project Gutenberg

Click here.

The school reader. First book : containing easy progressive lessons in reading and spelling/19th Century School Books

Click here for direct link. You cannot download the entire book without permission from the university. You are allowed to print each page.

Milly and Olly/Project Gutenberg

Click here.

Round-about Rambles in Lands of Fact and Fancy

"There will be considerable variety in our rambles. We shall walk about familiar places, and we shall explore streets and houses that have been buried for centuries. We shall go down deep into the earth, and we shall float in a balloon, high up into the air. We shall see many beasts of the forest; some that are bloody and cruel, and others that are gentle and wise. We will meet with birds, fishes, grand old buildings, fleas, vast woods, bugs, mummies, snakes, tight-rope dancers, gorillas, will-o'-the-wisps, beautiful blossoms, boomerangs, oceans, birds' nests, and I cannot tell you what all besides. We will also have some adventures, hear some stories, and have a peep at a fairy or two before we are done."

Click here.

Lives of the Saints 1894 Edition

Click on title.

The King's English

Click on title.

Jimmy, Lucy, and All/Project Gutenberg

Click here. Moral and family tales for young children.

Also by the same author, Sophie May:

Dotty Dimple at Her Grandmother's
Dotty Dimple at Play
Dotty Dimple Out West
Dotty Dimple's Flyaway
Jimmy, Lucy, and All
Little Folks Astray
Little Prudy's Dotty Dimple
Little Prudy's Sister Susy
Prudy Keeping House

Kernel Cob And Little Miss Sweetclover/Project Gutenberg

Click here.

Within the Deep: Elementary School Science/Project Gutenberg

Click here. Text also has a few questions at the end of each chapter.

Sketches of Japanese Manners and Customs/Project Gutenberg

Click here. For older high school children, skim it first as there is some mild talk about execution and bathing customs which might need censoring by some families. Interesting study on old Japanese customs. Nice colorful illustrations.

Mother Stories/Project Gutenberg

Click here. A moral fairy tale book.

HT to In Beauty and in Grace.

Aesop, in Rhyme/Project Gutenberg

Click Here.

Beginnings of the American People/Project Gutenberg

Click Here.

R.M.Ballantyne's Adventure Classics

Some are listed twice on Project Gutenberg as plain text and HTML versions.

Away in the Wilderness
The Battery and the BoilerAdventures in Laying of Submarine Electric Cables
Battles with the Sea
The Big Otter
Black Ivory
Blown to Bitsor, The Lonely Man of Rakata
Blue LightsHot Work in the Soudan
The Butterfly's BallThe Grasshopper's Feast
The Butterfly's BallThe Grasshopper's Feast
Charlie to the Rescue
The Coral Island
The Coral IslandA Tale of the Pacific Ocean
The Coral Island A Tale of the Pacific Ocean
The Coxswain's Bridealso, Jack Frost and Sons; and, A Double Rescue
The Crew of the Water Wagtail
Deep Down, a Tale of the Cornish Mines
Digging for GoldAdventures in California
The Dog Crusoe and his Master
The Dog Crusoe and His MasterA Story of Adventure in the Western Prairies
Dusty Diamonds Cut and PolishedA Tale of City Arab Life and Adventure
Erling the Bold
Fighting the Whales
Fighting the Whales
The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands
Fort DesolationRed Indians and Fur Traders of Rupert's Land
The Garret and the Garden
Gascoyne, The Sandal Wood TraderA Tale of the Pacific
The Giant of the NorthPokings Round the Pole
The Golden DreamAdventures in the Far West
The Gorilla Hunters
The Hot Swamp
Hudson Bay
Hunted and Harried
Hunting the Lions
In the Track of the Troops
The Iron Horse
The Island Queen
Jarwin and Cuffy
Jeff Benson, or the Young Coastguardsman
The Lifeboat
Life in the Red BrigadeLondon Fire Brigade
The Life of a Ship
The Lighthouse
The Lighthouse
The Lonely IslandThe Refuge of the Mutineers
The Madman and the Pirate
Man on the OceanA Book about Boats and Ships
Martin Rattler
Martin Rattler
The Middy and the MoorsAn Algerine Story
My Doggie and I
The Norsemen in the West
The Ocean and its Wonders
Personal Reminiscences in Book Makingand Some Short Stories
Philosopher Jack
The Pioneers
The Pirate CityAn Algerine Tale
Post Haste
The Prairie Chief
The Red Eric
The Red Man's RevengeA Tale of The Red River Flood
Red RooneyThe Last of the Crew
Rivers of Ice
The Rover of the AndesA Tale of Adventure on South America
The Settler and the Savage
Shifting WindsA Tough Yarn
Silver Lake
Six Months at the Cape
Twice Bought
Ungava
Up in the CloudsBalloon Voyages
The Walrus HuntersA Romance of the Realms of Ice
The World of Ice
The World of Ice
The Young Fur Traders
The Young Fur Traders
The Young Trawler

The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It/Project Gutenberg

These newspapers for children were published between 1897 and 1898, and are wonderful for studying this era. The articles make you feel as if you are there in the 19th century.

There was no way to link to these other than a search because the authors are listed under "various". Click here.

Historic girls; stories of girls who have influenced the history of their times/University of Virginia Library

Contents:

ZENOBIA OF PALMYRA: THE GIRL OF THE SYRIAN DESERT 1

HELENA OF BRITAIN: THE GIRL OF THE ESSEX FELLS 22

PULCHERIA OF CONSTANTINOPLE: THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN HORN 45

CLOTILDA OF BURGUNDY: THE GIRL OF THE FRENCH VINEYARDS 61

WOO OF HWANG-HO: THE GIRL OF THE YELLOW RIVER 79

EDITH OF SCOTLAND: THE GIRL OF THE NORTHERN ABBEY 98

JACQUELINE OF HOLLAND THE GIRL OF THE LAND OF FOGS 114

CATARINA OF VENICE: THE GIRL OF THE GRAND CANAL 134

THERESA OF AVILA: THE GIRL OF THE SPANISH SIERRAS 151

ELIZABETH OF TUDOR: THE GIRL OF THE HERTFORD MANOR 174

CHRISTINA OF SWEDEN: THE GIRL OF THE NORTHERN FIORDS 192

MA-TA-OKA OF POW-HA-TAN: THE GIRL OF THE VIRGINIA FORESTS 208

Click here.

The Basics of Screenwriting

Click on title.

Locusts and Wild Honey/Project Gutenberg

A nature essay by American naturalist, John Burroughs. More by Burroughs here.

Elementary Latin Readers

Click on title.

Arm Chair Traveller

Here are some fun old travel books.

This one for Corsica, Itinerary through Corsica by its Rail, Carriage & Forest Roads is from 1888. Step back in time and do the Grand Tour.


Familar Spanish Travels, 1911. Needs the zip file download to view pictures.

Europe—Whither Bound? Being Letters of Travel from the Capitals of Europe in the Year 1921


A Traveller in War-Time, Winston Churchill, very direct writer, easy to speed read. Interesting!

English Travellers of the Renaissance, a history of traveling for culture and education.

The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain

Sunny Memories of a Foreign Land, Volume I and II by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Normandy Picturesque, 1870, travels in France. Very Grand Tourish and interesting, and much is still the same.

How to Enjoy Paris in 1842
Intended to Serve as a Companion and Monitor, Containing
Historical, Political, Commercial, Artistical, Theatrical
And Statistical Information

John Locke, author of Concerning Humane Understanding(books 1 and 2), and (books three and four) popularized the idea of didactic travel for young people. The Grand Tour was a European travel itinerary that flourished from about 1660 until the arrival of mass rail transit in the 1820s. It was popular amongst young British upper-class men and served as an educational rite of passage for the wealthy. Similar trips were made by the wealthy of other Northern European nations. Its primary value lay in the exposure both to the cultural artifacts of antiquity and the Renaissance and to the aristocratic and fashionable society of the European continent. A grand tour could last from several months to several years.

Irish Folklore/Project Gutenberg

Click here.

Elements of Structural and Systematic Botany for High Schools and College Courses/Project Gutenberg

Click here.

The Madonna in Art/Project Gutenberg

HT to Catholic Mom in Hawaii.

Click here.

Copy Work, Decorative List or Assignment Page

I made a lined page with the vintage picture to the left of a girl reading in an apple tree.

Printing tip: In order to get rid of the extra print on the top and on the bottom of the page which shows the document title and web page address, go to print preview and delete the header and footer before printing. Here are the directions for versions of IE and Fire Fox at Google Documents.

Far Off, Social Studies/Project Gutenberg

Interesting conservative Bible based Christian social studies for elementary or early middle school. Published in 1852, some countries do not have their modern names, like Thailand was known as Siam. The work of missionaries is frequently mentioned.

Early Britain--Roman Britain/Project Gutenberg

Click here.

Lord Dolphin/Project Gutenberg

Story about a dolphin with a happy ending.

Northland Heroes(Vikings)/Project Gutenberg

Click here.

The Pot of Gold and Other Stories/Project Gutenberg

Click here.

Animal Children The Friends of the Forest and the Plain/Project Gutenberg

Click here.

Copywork Pages for Poetry/Early Elementary

I've made a few free copy work pages with classic children's poetry in public domain. These are free for personal use, enjoy! I'll be adding to this list as I make new ones. Note: These forms print correctly, even though they appear differently online.

The Months

The Wind by Christina Rossetti

The Rainbow by Christina Rossetti

Words, about using them wisely.

Little Things

Printing tip: In order to get rid of the extra print on the top and on the bottom of the page which shows the document title and web page address, go to print preview and delete the header and footer before printing.

Here's the directions for other version of IE and Fire Fox at Google Documents.

Girl's Adventure Series: The Campfire Girls/Project Gutenberg

How Ethel Hollister Became a Campfire Girl (Benson)
Ethel Hollister's Second Summer as a Campfire Girl (Benson)
Campfire Girls at Twin Lakes; The Quest of a Summer Vacation (Francis)
Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains; or, A Christmas Success against Odds (Francis)
The Camp Fire Girls at Camp Keewaydin; Or, Paddles Down (Frey)
The Camp Fire Girls at School; Or, The Wohelo Weavers (Frey)
The Camp Fire Girls Do Their Bit; Or, over the Top with the Winnebagos (Frey)
The Camp Fire Girls in the Maine Woods; Or, The Winnebagos Go Camping (Frey)
The Camp Fire Girls Go Motoring Or, Along the Road That Leads the Way (Frey)
A Campfire Girl's First Council Fire; The Camp Fire Girls In the Woods (Stewart)
The Camp Fire Girls at Long Lake; Bessie King in Summer Camp (Stewart)
The Camp Fire Girls on the Farm; Or, Bessie King's New Chum (Stewart)
The Camp Fire Girls on the March Bessie King's Test of Friendship (Stewart)
The Camp Fire Girls at Sunrise Hill (Vandercook)

Boy's Adventure Series/Project Gutenberg

Bobby of the Labrador
Left on the Labrador A Tale of Adventure Down North
The Long Labrador Trail
The Lure of the Labrador Wild
The Story of Grenfell of the Labrador
Troop One of the Labrador
Ungava BobA Winter's Tale

The Lincoln Story Book/Project Gutenberg

A Judicious Collection of the Best Stories and Anecdotes of the Great President. Click here.

A Little Cook Book for a Little Girl

Click on title.

How to Teach Phonics/Project Gutenberg

Click on title.

Arthur Scott Bailey Bedtime Stories/Project Gutenberg

Click here for list.

Tom, Dot and Talking Mouse and Other Bedtime Stories/Project Gutenberg

Click Here.

A Guide to the Best Historical Novels and Tales/Project Gutenberg

A Guide to the Best Historical Novels and Tales by Jonathan Nield is featured on Project Gutenberg with a link list to free texts from Nield's suggested course of study. How neat! The list is geared toward adult and high school level study; however, there are two suggested courses of study for boys and girls.

Printing and Binding books

Printing can get very expensive, so I bought the Brother HL5150D(duplex printer, prints both sides) which is recommended by Robinson Homeschool . I got a good deal for a refurbished model online from Office Depot two years ago. Robinson Homeschool curriculum is vintage books all on cd's, and they require quite a bit of printing, so I thought they would have good recommendations for low cost copies.

The Brother HL5150D is a laser printer which runs less expensive copies than ink jets. It got excellent reviews across the net, especially at PriceGrabber.com. This site which sells the replacement laser toner cartridges reports that the printing cost per page is .011 cents! A very good price for copies, especially two sided copies which would run you half that amount per page, about .0055 cents per page.

You can always bind the books yourself. Here are some home book binding helps:

Book binding tutorial Skip to step 3 if you are making your own copies. This looks very labor intensive, but you might pick up a few helpful tips even if you don't make a book from scratch.

Homemade leather or book binding glue


Office Depot charges .08 cents a copy, so I won't be asking them to copy a book for me. They will do a nice comb binding for $2.39. You can punch holes in pages and use brads, but a comb binding makes turning pages so much easier. I plan to try this with a few books soon. I'll post when I do.

Another idea would be to punch holes in a book and place it into a ring binder. This would be especially good for books which you plan to just use for school, rather than reading books you plan to keep in your library.

Feel free to add ideas for binding books.

A Hive of Busy Bees/Project Gutenberg

A Hive of Busy Bees By Effie Mae Hency Williams.

The Little Red Hen/Project Gutenberg

The Little Red Hen An Old English Folk Tale

Little Black Sambo/Project Gutenberg

Classic Black Americana, Little Black Sambo

Willie Mouse/Project Gutenberg

Willie Mouse

Girl's Adventure Stories, The Girl Aviators /Project Gutenberg

The Girl Aviators' Motor Butterfly

The Girl Aviators on Golden Wings

The Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise

A History of Painting/Project Gutenberg

A Text-Book of the History of Painting 110 black and white illustrations(some in color online), published in 1909.

FIG. 45.—SODOMA. ECSTASY OF ST. CATHERINE. SIENNA.








FIG. 46—CORREGGIO. MARRIAGE OF ST. CATHERINE AND CHRIST. LOUVRE.

Rollo at Play & Rollo in the Woods by Jacob Abbott/Project Gutenberg

"Although this little book, and its fellow, "ROLLO AT WORK," are intended principally as a means of entertainment for their little readers, it is hoped by the writer that they may aid in accomplishing some of the following useful purposes:—
1. In cultivating the thinking powers; as frequent occasions occur, in which the incidents of the narrative, and the conversations arising from them, are intended to awaken and engage the reasoning and reflective faculties of the little readers.
2. In promoting the progress of children in reading and in knowledge of language; for the diction of the stories is intended to be often in advance of the natural language of the reader, and yet so used as to be explained by the connection.
3. In cultivating the amiable and gentle qualities of the heart. The scenes are laid in quiet and virtuous life, and the character and conduct described are generally—with the exception of some of the ordinary exhibitions of childish folly—character and conduct to be imitated; for it is generally better, in dealing with children, to allure them to what is right by agreeable pictures of it, than to attempt to drive them to it by repulsive delineations of what is wrong."

Rollo in the Woods
Rollo at PlaySafe Amusements

The Common People of Ancient Rome Studies of Roman Life & Literature/Project Gutenberg

Click on title.

Books by Jane Austen/Project Gutenberg

Emma , Emma audio book
Lady Susan
Love and Friendship
Mansfield Park
Northanger Abbey , audiobook Northanger Abbey
Persuasion
Pride and Prejudice , audiobook Pride and Prejudice
Sense and Sensibility


Memoir of Jane Austen by James Edward Austen-Leigh 1798-1874

About Jane Austin

The New Vertical Script Primer/19th Century Books

According to the Introduction, this primer is both a penmanship and beginning reader. For modern day purposes, all but the first few sections is advanced for first grade, and could easily be used a section at a time from grades one through three.

This is the seventh lesson:

Click here to view the book.

An improved grammar of the English language by Noah Webster/19th Century Books

An advanced grammar book, especially the Syntax sections. Click here.

Noah Webster's American Spelling Book/19th Century Books

The American spelling book : containing the rudiments of the English language : for the use of schools in the United States / by Noah Webster.
Very thorough multi-grade spelling book which looks as if it could be used in sections from elementary through early middle school. It would also be useful for review and remediation for older students.

The American drawing-book/19th Century Books

The American drawing-book : a manual for the amateur, and basis of study for the professional artist : especially adapted to the use of public and private schools, as well as home instruction / by J.G. Chapman.

I found this at 19th Century Books, part of University of Pittsburgh Digital Library System. It's quite a thorough and professional drawing course. The first section is just learning lines, and if you skip to the next section on rudimentary drawing, you'll see why you need to master this.

"Mary Louisa Molesworth typified late Victorian writing for girls. Aimed at girls too old for fairies and princesses but too young for Austen and the Brontës, books by Molesworth had their share of amusement, but they also had a good deal of moral instruction. The girls reading Molesworth would grow up to be mothers; thus, the books emphasized Victorian notions of duty and self-sacrifice."

The Cuckoo Clock

Grandmother Dear, A Book for Boys and Girls

The Rectory Children

Rosy

The Tapestry Room A Child's Romance

Us, An Old Fashioned Story

The Meadow-Brook Girls Mystery Series By Janet Aldridge/Project Gutenberg

The Meadow-Brook Girls Afloat

The Meadow-Brook Girls by the Sea by Janet Aldridge

The Meadow-Brook Girls in the Hills by Janet Aldridge

The Meadow-Brook Girls Under Canvas

The History of Tom Thumb and Other Stories/Project Gutenberg

Click Here.

Saving Texts

Project Gutenberg's texts are very easy to save, just download the zip file, or go to the HTML or plain text. Once the text loads, right click, select all and save to your computer. This can take up a lot of space on your computer. As mentioned here, you can save it to a flash drive, or use Google Documents to store it online, and/or convert to another file type.

Google documents allows you to upload the Project Gutenberg text with just the url. Then you can amend it for personal use, like edit out extra print, and save it as a zipped HTML, RTF, pdf, Open Office, Word or plain text. You save the text to these different file type by clicking on "file" in the edit mode of your saved documents at Google Documents.

The only negative aspect of doing this is that the pictures do not load, so you'd have to add them back if you upload non-plain text. In this case, it would be easier to download the zip file text off Project Gutenberg, or just have a large file of the HTML stored.

Another helpful Google Documents function under "file" in edit mode is Word Count. This analyzes the documents word count and readability level. I'm not sure how accurate it is, but it will give the grade level. You can analyze children's vintage texts with Word Count if you are curious about the reading level.

Here is another free place to turn documents into pdf files.

Alphabet Copywork for Preschool - Kindergarten

I'm having a bit of fun making copy work pages with vintage illustrations. These are free to share and print for personal use. Please give me a link back if you post these on the net. I'll do the entire alphabet as I find pictures.

Printing tips: I suggest that you click "print preview" on your computer before you print, and change the setting to "portrait" for best results. Also, you may have to change the print settings. Most are fine at 100% - lines at margins will be even upon printing.

Letter A

Letter B

Letter C

Letter D

Letter E

Letter F

Letter G

Letter H

Letter I

Letter J

Letter K

Letter L

Letter M

Letter N

Letter O

Letter P

Letter Q

Letter R

Letter S

Letter T

Letter U

The Good Shepherd A Life of Christ for Children/Project Gutenberg

About a third to fourth grade reading level. Many helpful illustrations. Click here.

Webster's 1828 Dictionary, online only.

William Strunk, Jr. Elements of Style Grammar Guide, online only

Stories of Birds/Project Gutenberg

A nice little reader with educational bird stories and poetry. Looks like a third grade level reader with b/w illustrations, and suggestions for field studies. Click here.

The Curious Book of Birds/Project Gutenberg

Short fanciful stories about birds. Click here.

The Illustrated Alphabet of Birds/Project Gutenberg

A Preschool-Kindergarten alphabet reader with black and white illustrations of birds. Click here.

Boys Adventure Series: The Hilltop Boys by Cyril Burleigh/Project Gutenberg

The Hilltop Boys On Lost Island

The Hilltop Boys on the River

The Nest in the Honeysuckles, and other Stories/Project Gutenberg

Click here.


Published in 1855 by the American Sunday School Union in Eastern Pennsylvania. Moral tales and character education. "No books are published by the American Sunday-School Union without the sanction of the Committee of Publication, consisting of fourteen members, from the following denominations of Christians, viz. Baptist, Methodist, Congregational, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Reformed Dutch. Not more than three of the members can be of the same denomination, and no book can be published to which any member of the Committee shall object."

This book reminds of the Pathway Mennonite readers. Good wholesome teaching stories; however this one also has discussions. There is one story for boys which discusses how to be a gentleman by following the example of George Washington. They just don't make books like this anymore.

The Summer Holidays/Project Gutenberg

Published in 1850, contains moral, science and nature teachings. I guess you could call it didactic children's fiction for early elementary. Click here.

Boys Adventure Series: The Outdoor Chums/Project Gutenberg

By Captain Quincy Allen

The Outdoor Chums After Big GameOr, Perilous Adventures in the Wilderness

The Outdoor Chums at Cabin Pointor The Golden Cup Mystery

The Outdoor Chums on the Gulf

The Outdoor ChumsThe First Tour of the Rod, Gun and Camera Club

Digital History, American history with a free online textbook.

Free Spelling Course, Grades 6-8

Click on title.

The History of Tom Thumb & Others Stories/Project Gutenberg

The History of Tom Thumb to which are added the stories of the Cat and the Mouse and Fire! Fire! Burn stick!

Aunt Mary's Primer(K-First)/Project Gutenberg

Click here.


"A FEW WORDS TO THE TEACHER.
When Little Mary (or any other little girl or boy) knows all the letters perfectly, let the teacher turn over a page and pronounce one of the mono-syllables. Do not say a, m, am—but say am at once, and point to the word. When the child knows that word, then point to the next, and say as, and be sure to follow the same plan throughout the book. Spelling lessons may be taught at a more advanced age; but it will be found that a young child will learn to read much more quickly if they be dispensed with in the Primer. In words of more than one syllable, it is best to pronounce each syllable separately, car, pet,—po, ker,—and so on. In the lesson on "Things in the Room," point out each thing as the child reads the word, and indeed, wherever you can, try to associate the word with its actual meaning. Show a child the word coach as a coach goes past, and she will recollect that word again for ever. In the "Lesson on the Senses," make the child understand how to feel cold and heat, by touching a piece of cold iron or marble, and by holding the hand to the fire,—how to smell, to hear, to see, and to taste. In the "Lesson on Colours," be sure to show each colour as it is read; and endeavour to make every Lesson as interesting as you can. Never weary a child with long lessons. The little poem at the end is intended to be read to the child frequently, that she may gradually learn it by heart. " ~ Aunt Mary's Primer, published in 1851.

Note: Don't hold child's hand to fire(which means near)! This is an old book(pre-electricity), and safety meant something different back then. I'm sure most people know this, but since it's quoted here I feel obliged to mention this.

Devotions: The Rosary

The Excellence of the Rosary, Conferences for Devotions in Honor of the Blessed Virgin by Frings, Math Josef, 1819-1895.

The Rosary by Barclay, Florence L. (Florence Louisa), 1862-1921
Audio Version here.

Algonquin Indian Tales/Project Gutenberg

Click here.

Young Folks' History of Rome/Project Gutenberg

Click here.

Abe Lincoln Gets His Chance/Project Gutenberg

A 1959 Children's Book Club reader for young readers. Click here.