Teacher Resources
If your school uses Renaissance Learning's Accelerated Reader (a computerized
testing program), reading practice quizzes are now ready for the following:
Alvin Fernald, Foreign Trader (#132909)
Alvin Fernald, Mayor for a Day (#132910)
Alvin's Secret Code (#132911)
A Day on Skates by Hilda van Stockum (#120829)
Downright Dencey by Caroline Snedeker (#19012)
Archimedes and the Door of Science by Jeanne Bendick (#120348)
Beowulf the Warrior by Ian Serraillier (#120349)
Galen and the Gateway to Medicine by Jeanne Bendick (#120350)
Happy Times in Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren (#120351)
Hittite Warrior by Joanne Williamson (#120352)
John Treegate’s Musket by Leonard Wibberley (#120353)
The Mystery of the Periodic Table by Benjamin D. Wiker (#120355)
Red Falcons of Tremoine by Hendry Peart (#120354)
The Winged Watchman by Hilda van Stockum (#120356)
Year of the Black Pony by Walt Morey (#120357)
Secret Agents Four by Donald Sobol (#120764)
The Hidden Treasure of Glaston by Eleanore M. Jewett (#120765)
The Miracle of Saint Nicholas by Gloria Whelan (#120766)
Bethlehem Books Core Knowledge Titles
"Core Knowledge" schools and homeschools use the Core Knowledge
Sequence, K-8 as a grade-by-grade guide to important knowledge. Core Knowledge
is based on the work of Dr. E.D. Hirsch, Jr., author of Cultural Literacy
and The Schools We Need and Why We Don't Have Them. Many of our historical
fiction and nonfiction titles have now been aligned to the Core Knowledge Sequence.
Readability Level (RL):
Readability formulas estimate how difficult text is to read. Most are based
on word length, word familiarity, and sentence length. RL can help match readers
to appropriate books, but other factors such as interest in the subject and
background knowledge of the subject are equally important for comprehension.
The Flesch-Kincaid formula we use is based on grade level. Books at a higher
grade level can still be used as read-alouds or books to read with help.
Interest Level:
Bethlehem Books' age recommendations consider the style of writing and type
of stories which appeal to various age groups. Some of our books are placed
in higher age groups (12-up, 14-up) because of mild romantic references or episodes
of violence, usually associated with battles or wars.
Bethlehem Books which support the Core Knowledge Curriculum:
Grade 3
Away Goes Sally by Elizabeth Coatsworth
RL: 5.8, Interest Level: Ages 8-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1790's New England
History and Geography (of interest for New England history, although not before
the Revolution)
Use: Read aloud
Five Bushel Farm by Elizabeth Coatsworth
RL: 6.8, Interest Level: Ages 8-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1790's New England
History and Geography (of interest for New England history, although not before
the Revolution)
Use: Read aloud
Galen and the Gateway to Medicine by Jeanne Bendick
RL: 8, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Biography / 129 Rome
History and Geography / Ancient Rome / The Empire / Life in the Roman Empire
Use: Read aloud (especially "Galen and the Gladiators" and "Galen
Goes to Rome")
Grade 4
Augustine Came to Kent by Barbara Willanrd
RL: 5, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 597 Britain
History and Geography / Europe in the Middle Ages / Developments in the History
of the Christian Church
Use: Read with help, read alone
Becky Landers: Frontier Warrior by Constance Lindsay Skinner
RL: 5.1, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1778 American Frontier
American History and Geography / American Revolution
Use: Read with help, read alone
Big John's Secret by Eleanor M. Jewett
RL: 5.1, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1218 England, Holy Land
History and Geography / Europe in the Middle Ages / England in the Middle Ages
/ King John
History and Geography / Spread of Islam and the "Holy Wars" / Wars
Between Muslims and Christians / The Crusades
Use: Read with help, read alone
God King by Joanne Williamson
RL: 4.3, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 700 B.C. Egypt, Judea
History and Geography / Early and Medieval African Kingdoms / Early African
Kingdoms / Kush (in a region also called Nubia): Once ruled by Egypt, then became
rulers of Egypt
Use: Read alone
Hidden Treasure of Glaston by Eleanor M. Jewett
RL: 6.5, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1171 England
Language Arts / Fiction / Myths and Mythical Characters / Legends of King Arthur
and the Knights
Use: Read aloud, read with help
If All the Swords in England by Barbara Willard
RL: 5.9, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1164-1170 England
History and Geography / Europe in the Middle Ages / Developments in History
of the Christian Church
History and Geography / Europe in the Middle Ages / England in the Middle Ages
/ Henry II / Murder of Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral
Use: Read aloud, read with help
The Lost Baron by Allen French
RL: 4.4, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1200 England
History and Geography / Europe in the Middle Ages / Feudalism / Life on a manor,
castles
History and Geography / Europe in the Middle Ages / Feudalism / Lords, vassals,
knights, freedmen, serfs
History and Geography / Europe in the Middle Ages / Feudalism / Code of chivalry
History and Geography / Europe in the Middle Ages / Feudalism / Knight, squire,
page
Use: Read alone
The Reb and the Redcoats by Constance Savery
RL: 6.2, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1780's England
History and Geography / American Revolution / The Revolution / Benedict Arnold
(briefly)
Use: Read aloud, read with help
Red Falcons of Tremoine by Hendry Peart
RL: 5.8, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1100's England
History and Geography / Europe in the Middle Ages / Feudalism / Life on a manor,
castles
History and Geography / Europe in the Middle Ages / Feudalism / Lords, vassals,
knights, freedmen, serfs
History and Geography / Europe in the Middle Ages / Feudalism / Code of chivalry
History and Geography / Europe in the Middle Ages / Feudalism / Knight, squire,
page
Use: Read aloud, read with help
The Red Keep by Allen French
RL: 4.7, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1165 Burgundy
History and Geography / Europe in the Middle Ages / Feudalism / Life on a manor,
castles
History and Geography / Europe in the Middle Ages / Feudalism / Lords, vassals,
knights, freedmen, serfs
History and Geography / Europe in the Middle Ages / Feudalism / Code of chivalry
History and Geography / Europe in the Middle Ages / Feudalism / Knight, squire,
page
Use: Read alone
Shadow Hawk by Andre Norton
RL: 7.3, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1590 B.C. Egypt
History and Geography / Early and Medieval African Kingdoms / Early African
Kingdoms / Kush (in a region also called Nubia): Once ruled by Egypt, then became
rulers of Egypt
Use: Read aloud
Son of Charlemagne by Barbara Willard
RL: 5.6, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 780's France
History and Geography / Europe in the Middle Ages / Developments in History
of the Christian Church / Charlemagne
Use: Read aloud, read with help
Grade 5
Archimedes and the Door of Science by Jeanne Bendick
RL: 5.0, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Biography / 200 B.C. Greece
Math / Geometry / Circles, Area
Math / Numbers and Number Sense / Large numbers, Exponents
Use: Read alone
Madeleine Takes Command by Ethel C. Brill
RL: 6.0, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1692 Canada
History and Geography / European Exploration, Trade, and the Clash of Cultures
/ European Exploration, Trade, and Colonization / England and France / Colonies
in N America
Use: Read with help, read alone
The Mystery of the Periodic Table by Benjamin D. Wiker
RL: 9.1 (early chapters lower), Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Science History / Across History
Science / Chemistry: Matter and Change / Atoms, Molecules, and Compounds
Science / Chemistry: Matter and Change / Elements
Science / Chemistry: Matter and Change / Chemical and Physical Change
Use: Read aloud, read with help (chapters 1-12 or 13)
Nacar, the White Deer by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino
RL: 7.1, Interest Level: Ages 9-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1630 Mexico
History and Geography / European Exploration, Trade, and the Clash of Cultures
/ European Exploration, Trade and Colonization / Spain
Use: Read aloud, read with help
Red Hugh, Prince of Donegal by Robert T. Reilly
RL: 6.1, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1580's Ireland
History and Geography / England from the Golden Age to the Glorious Revolution
/ England in the Golden Age / Elizabeth I (relationship to Ireland)
Use: Read with help, read alone
The Texas Panhandle Series by Loula Grace Erdman
The Wind Blows Free
The Wide Horizon
The Good Land
RL: 4.5-5.0, Interest Level: Ages 11-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1890's Texas
History and Geography / American History / Westward Expansion / Westward Expansion
after the Civil War / Homestead Act, Railroads
Use: Read alone
Year of the Black Pony by Walt Morey
RL: 3.6, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / early 1900's Oregon
History and Geography / American History / Westward Expansion / Westward Expansion
after the Civil War
Use: Read Alone
Grade 6
Archimedes and the Door of Science by Jeanne Bendick
RL: 5.0, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Biography / 200 B.C. Greece
History and Geography / Lasting Ideas from Ancient Civilizations / Ancient Greece
/ The classical ideal of human life and works
Math / Geometry / Circles, Area
Math / Numbers and Number Sense / Large numbers, Exponents
Use: Read alone
Beowulf the Warrior retold by Ian Serrallier
RL: 7.3, Interest Level: Ages 9-up
Genre: Epic Poetry / 500's Denmark
English / Fiction and Drama / Literary Terms / Epic, Literal and Figurative
Language
English / Fiction and Drama / Classical Mythology
Use: Read with help, read alone
The Fair American by Elizabeth Coatsworth
RL: 5.7, Interest Level: Ages 8-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1790's France
History and Geography / French Revolution
Use: Read alone
First Farm in the Valley by Ethel Pochocki (available fall 2008)
RL: 4.6, Interest Level:
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1876 Wisconsin
History and Geography / American History / Immigration / Immigrants arrive from
eastern Europe
Use: Read alone
The Flying Ensign: Greencoats Against Napolean by Showell Styles
RL: 7.0, Interest Level: Ages 12-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / early 1800's Spain
History and Geography / French Revolution / Napolean Bonapart and the First
French Empire
Use: Read with help, read alone
Galen and the Gateway to Medicine by Jeanne Bendick
RL: 8.0, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Biography / 129 Rome
Science / The Human Body / The circulatory and lymphatic systems
History and Geography / Lasting Ideas from Ancient Civilizations / Ancient Rome
/ The Roman Republic
Use: Read aloud, read with help, read alone
God King by Joanne Williamson
RL: 4.3, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 700 B.C. Egypt, Judea
History and Geography / Lasting Ideas from Ancient Civilizations / Judaism and
Christianity / Judaism: central ideas and moral teachings
History and Geography / Lasting Ideas from Ancient Civilizations / Judaism and
Christianity / Geography of the Middle East
Use: Read alone
Hittite Warrior by Joanne Williamson
RL: 5.4, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1200 B.C. Judea
History and Geography / Lasting Ideas from Ancient Civilizations / Judaism and
Christianity / Judaism: central ideas and moral teachings
History and Geography / Lasting Ideas from Ancient Civilizations / Judaism and
Christianity / Geography of the Middle East
Use: Read alone
Victory on the Walls: A Story of Nehemiah by Frieda Clark Hyman
RL: 5.3, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 445 B.C. Israel
History and Geography / Lasting Ideas from Ancient Civilizations / Judaism and
Christianity / Judaism: central ideas and moral teachings
History and Geography / Lasting Ideas from Ancient Civilizations / Judaism and
Christianity / Geography of the Middle East
Use: Read alone
Grade 7
Archimedes and the Door of Science by Jeanne Bendick
RL: 5.0, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Biography / 200 B.C. Greece
Math / Geometry / Three-dimensional objects
Math / Measurement / Circumference and area of circle
Use: Read alone
Beowulf the Warrior retold by Ian Serrallier
RL: 7.3, Interest Level: Ages 9-up
Genre: Epic Poetry / 500's Denmark
English / Elements of Poetry / Review: onomatopoeia, alliteration
English / Elements of Poetry / Review: narrative form
Use: Read alone
Enemy Brothers by Constance Savery
RL: 4.9, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / WWII England
History and Geography / World War II / WWII in Europe and at Home, 1939-45
Use: Read alone
The Miracle of Saint Nicholas by Gloria Whelan
Interest Level: All Ages
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1900's Russia
History and Geography / Russian Revolution
Use: Read alone
The Mitchells: Five for Victory by Hilda van Stockum
RL: 5.0, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / WWII Washington D.C
History and Geography / World War II / WWII in Europe and at Home, 1939-45 /
Home Front in America
Use: Read alone
The Mystery of the Periodic Table by Benjamin D. Wiker
RL: 9.1, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Science History / Across History
Science / Atomic Structure / Early theories of matter / Greek theory of four
elements
Science / Atomic Structure / Early theories of matter / Alchemy in the Middle
Ages
Science / Atomic Structure / Start of modern chemistry / Lavoisier and oxygen
Science / Atomic Structure / Start of modern chemistry / John Dalton revives
the theory of the atom
Science / Atomic Structure / Start of modern chemistry / Mendeleev develops
the Periodic Table
Use: Read aloud, read with help, read alone (last 2 chapters more appropriate
for high school age)
A Penny for a Hundred by Ethel Pochocki
RL: 5.5, Interest Level: Ages 8-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1944 Maine
History and Geography / World War II / WWII in Europe and at Home, 1939-45 /
Home Front in America
Use: Read alone
The Small War of Sergeant Donkey by Maureen Daly
RL: 6.8, Interest Level: Ages 9-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / WWII Italy
History and Geography / World War II / WWII in Europe and at Home, 1939-45
Use: Read alone
That Girl of Pierre's by Robert Davis
RL: 6.1, Interest Level: Ages 12-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1946 France
History and Geography / World War II / WWII in Europe and at Home (Recovery
from the war)
Use: Read alone
The Winged Watchman by Hilda van Stockum
RL: 4.9, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / WWII Holland
History and Geography / World War II / WWII in Europe and at Home
Use: Read alone
Grade 8
Archimedes and the Door of Science by Jeanne Bendick
RL:5.0, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Biography / 200 B.C. Greece
Science / Physics / Forces, Density and Buoyancy (esp. the experiment of Archimedes),
Work, Energy
Use: Read alone
Beowulf the Warrior retold by Ian Serrallier
RL: 7.3, Interest Level: Ages 9-up
Genre: Epic Poetry / 500's Denmark
English / Elements of Poetry / Review: onomatopoeia, alliteration, assonance
English / Elements of Poetry / Review: imagery, narrative form
Use: Read alone
The following titles fit into the Core Knowledge Sequence, but are appropriate
for students older than those in grades where the content is studied. They would
help older students reinforce topics from earlier years.
Beorn the Proud by Madeline Polland
RL: 5.1, Interest Level: Ages 10-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 800's Ireland, Denmark
History and Geography / The Vikings
Use: Read with help, read alone
Beyond the Desert Gate by Mary Ray
RL: 5.5, Interest Level: Ages 14-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 70 A.D. Palestine
World History and Geography / Lasting Ideas from Ancient Civilizations
Use: Read alone
The Borrowed House by Hilda van Stockum
RL: 4.9, Interest Level: Ages 14-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1943 Holland
History and Geography / World War II / WWII in Europe and at Home, 1939-45
Use: Read alone
Brave Buffalo Fighter by John D. Fitzgerald
RL: 5.0, Interest Level: Ages 12-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1860 Oregon Trail
History and Geography / American History / Westward Expansion before the Civil
War / Pioneers / Wagon trains, Oregon Trail
History and Geography / American History / Westward Expansion before the Civil
War / Indian resistance
History and Geography / American History / Native Americans: Cultures and Conflicts
Use: Read alone
Downright Dencey by Caroline Snedeker
RL: 4.4, Interest Level: Ages 12-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / early 1800's Nantucket
History and Geography / New England / Massachusetts, development of maritime
economy (of interest for New England history, although not before the Revolution)
History and Geography / Quakers
Use: Read aloud or read with help
The Ides of April by Mary Ray
RL: 7, Interest Level: Ages 14-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 62 A.D. Rome
World History and Geography / Lasting Ideas from Ancient Civilizations / Ancient
Rome / The Roman Republic
Use: Read alone
John Treegate's Musket by Leonard Wibberley
RL: 6.8, Interest Level: Ages 14-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1769 Colonial America
History and Geography / The American Revolution / The Revolution / Bunker Hill
History and Geography / The American Revolution / The Revolution / Loyalists
(Tories)
History and Geography / The American Revolution / The Revolution / European
Helpers
Use: Read alone
Presenting Miss Jane Austen by May Lamberton Becker
RL: 8.7, Interest Level: Ages 12-up
Genre: Biography / 1775-1817 England
World History and Geography / The Enlightenment / Romanticism
Use: Read with help, read alone
With Pipe, Paddle, and Song by Elizabeth Yates
RL: 5.6, Interest Level: Ages 14-up
Genre: Historical Fiction / 1750's Canada
History and Geography / European Exploration, Trade, and the Clash of Cultures
/ European Exploration, Trade, and Colonization / England and France / Colonies
in N America
Use: Read Alone
Lesson Plans:
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