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Suggested Historical Fiction for First Grade

 

Interested in reading a story that takes place in a different time period? Try checking out one of these historic tales. Books are suggested for First Grade, but remember that each Reader is different, and might find something interesting at another level.

Back of the bus by Aaron Reynolds

From the back of the bus, an African American child watches the arrest of Rosa Parks.

In 1801, in Chesire, Massachusetts, Elder John Leland organizes his fellow townspeople to make a big cheese for President Jefferson who up until that time had been forced to eat inferior cheeses.

Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming

After a young Dutch girl writes to her new American friend in thanks for the care package sent after World War II, she begins to receive increasingly larger boxes.

The lotus seed by Sherry Garland

A young Vietnamese girl saves a lotus seed and carries it with her everywhere to remember a brave emperor and the homeland that she has to flee.

A brief, fictionalized account of what life was like for Theodore Roosevelt during his political career, with his oldest daughter, Alice.  A strong-willed and somewhat wild young woman, Alice loved to do things that shocked the public, even when she lived in the White House.

Mirette on the high wire by Emily Arnold McCully

Mirette learns tightrope walking from Monsieur Bellini, a guest in her mother's boarding house, not knowing that he is a celebrated tightrope artist who has withdrawn from performing because of fear.

Players in pigtails by Shana Corey

Katie Casey, a fictional character, helps start the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which gave women the opportunity to play professional baseball while America was involved in World War II.

Based on a true story, a vibrant, inspirational picture book about self-reliance and the power of creativity and music, in which a group of hungry homeless kids in 19th century New Orleans build their own musical instruments from discarded items and become a successful band.

Waiting for Pumpsie by Barry Wittenstein

In 1959 Bernard is a young Red Sox fan, troubled by the lack of Black players in major league baseball, especially as there are none at all on his favorite team--but change is coming in the form of a rookie named Pumpsie Green.