Sunday, September 16, 2007

50 Famous People A Book of Short Stories/Project Gutenberg

"Every boy and girl should remember the name of Benjamin Franklin. He was a great thinker and a great doer, and with Washington he helped to make our country free. His life was such that no man could eversay, 'Ben Franklin has wronged me.' "

Click here.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

The American Class Book/19th Century School Books

The American class book, or, A collection of instructive reading lessons : adapted to the use of schools : selected from Blair's class book, etc. by Thomas Kimber.

Wonderful short writings covering various topics. All have a high moral tone. I plan to use some of these when my son gets a little older.


Click here.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

The Story of the Pony Express/Project Gutenberg

"This little volume has but one purpose - to give an authentic, useful,
and readable account of the Pony Express. This wonderful enterprise
played an important part in history, and demonstrated what American
spirit can accomplish. It showed that the "heroes of sixty-one" were not
all south of Mason and Dixon's line fighting each other. And, strange to
say, little of a formal nature has been written concerning it."

Click here.

Friday, September 7, 2007

Fun and Nonsense/Project Gutenberg

"Fun and Nonsense are a pair
Of merry little twins,
And when they come to visit us
They bring their friends, the Grins.
They're coming now to visit you.
This page we'll call the door.
To open wide, just turn the leaf.
Why, we have met before!"

Click here.

Thursday, September 6, 2007

History of the United States by Beard/Project Gutenberg


Topical approach, interesting big picture wide swath coverage of history from Migration and American Colonization to Progressive Democracy and the World War. Comprehension questions at the end of sections. Click here.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

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.

Monday, August 13, 2007

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.