Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Arkansas History: Journey through Time with a Living Education Book List

***DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a commission if you order through these links, at no additional cost to you.*** 

There are many different styles of homeschooling, and my own approach to homeschooling has evolved through the years. What I keep going back to though year after year is reading rich, living books aloud with my children. With this approach I can immerse my little learners in the subject matter, ignite their imagination, and increase their empathy. This year we are studying Arkansas History and Science through a series of two unit studies: one on Arkansas State Symbols and one that will take us on a Journey Through Time. Join us as we read living books through 8 Time Periods in Arkansas History.

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FIRST ARKANSANS

“Bandits, Bears, and Backaches: A Collection of Short Stories Based on Arkansas History” by Velma B. Branscum Woody (https://amzn.to/4lpbfiT) 78 page

“Arkansas Indians: Learning and Activity Book” by Berna Love (https://amzn.to/3GIv1XJ) 32 pages

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TERRITORIAL PERIOD

“How we Crossed West: The Adventures of Lewis and Clark” by Rosalyn Schanzer (https://amzn.to/4eScwN1) 48 pages

”The Louisiana Purchase: A History Just for Kids” by KidCaps (https://amzn.to/3UcXEzf) 45 pages

“Only the Names Remain: The Cherokees and the Trail of Tears” by Alex Bealer (https://amzn.to/4ltYJPf) 80 pages

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CIVIL WAR PERIOD

“Sarah Campbell: Tale of a Civil War Orphan” by Nancy Dane (https://amzn.to/44ZJk3n) 162 pages

”Weary Road: Based on the True Story of a Dog and His Soldier” by James Babb (https://amzn.to/4nKWaKl) 298 pages

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NEW SOUTH

“The Legend of Bass Reeves” by Gary Paulson (https://amzn.to/4mfrBuP ) 160 pages

”Green Grows the Prairie: Arkansas in the 1890s” by Charlie May Hogue Simon (https://amzn.to/3IrPxfL ) 192 pages

”When the Old Bell Rang” by William Redwine and Timothy Kinnard (https://amzn.to/4lSpE70 ) 216 pages

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PROGRESSIVE ERA

”Journey to Little Rock” by Fred Sanderlin (https://amzn.to/473Zr1i) 284 pages

“Rise! From Caged Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou” by Bethany Hegedus (https://amzn.to/3ImYQO6 ) 48 pages

”Rock, Rosetta, Rock! Roll, Rosetta, Roll” by Tonya Bolden (https://amzn.to/4lrDqxD ) 40 pages

“King of Ragtime: The Story of Scott Joplin” by Stephen Costanza (https://amzn.to/44W1xir) 56 pages

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WAR TIMES

“The Red Scarf: A Country Boy’s Christmas Story” by Richard Mason (https://amzn.to/4nTW4QI ) 155 pages

”Summer of my German Soldier” by Bette Greene (https://amzn.to/3Isw5zs ) 208 pages

”Under One Flag: A Year at Rohwer” by Liz Parkhurst (https://amzn.to/4nUHh8k ) 32 pages

”The Girl with a Mind for Math: The Story of Raye Montague” by Julia Finley Mosca (https://amzn.to/46KxJGB ) 40 pages

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CIVIL RIGHTS

“Cracking the Wall: The Struggles of the Little Rock Nine’ by Eileen Lucas (https://amzn.to/4lZcllE ) 48 pages

”March Forward Girl: From Young Warrior to Little Rock Nine” by Melba Pattillo Beals (https://amzn.to/4lQaUFL ) 224 pages

”Fire from the Rock” by Sharon Draper (https://amzn.to/40My0oM ) 240 pages

”The Lions of Little Rock” by Kristine Levine  (https://amzn.to/4eMpA6A ) 320 pages

”What is the Civil Rights Movement?” by Sherri Smith (https://amzn.to/46bTwqz ) 112 pages

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MODERN ARKANSAS

“Arkansas Razorbacks” by Alex Moning

”Bill Clinton” by Josh Gregory (https://amzn.to/3ISt0J6 ) 64 pages

”Tornadoes” by Seymour Simon (https://amzn.to/45300a9 ) 32 pages

“Who was Johnny Cash” by Jim Gigliotti (https://amzn.to/4nQLNEy ) 112 pages


You can purchase the complete Unit Study, which includes a writing activity and field trip ideas on Teachers Pay Teachers. Or, get the Bundle which includes Arkansas State Symbols.

For more Homeschooling inspiration ideas, check out the Homeschooling Tab!

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