In the rich turbulence of English history, one day stands magnificently apart: June 15, 1215, the day of the signing of the Magna Charta. On this day, the first blow for English freedom was struck and forever affected the Western world. Here is the story of three true men—Stephen Langton, William Marshall, and Hubert de Burgh—whose heroic deeds prevailed against the ever deceitful and crafty King John. The freedom and self-rule established by the Magna Charta set a precedent for other move...

Learn how and why the Pilgrims left England to come to America!In England in the early 1600s, everyone was forced to join the Church of England. Young William Bradford and his friends believed they had every right to belong to whichever church they wanted. In the name of religious freedom, they fled to Holland, then sailed to America to start a new life. But the winter was harsh, and before a year passed, half the settlers had died. Yet, through hard work and stron...

Learn how and why the Pilgrims left England to come to America!In England in the early 1600s, everyone was forced to join the Church of England. Young William Bradford and his friends believed they had every right to belong to whichever church they wanted. In the name of religious freedom, they fled to Holland, then sailed to America to start a new life. But the winter was harsh, and before a year passed, half the settlers had died. Yet, through hard work and stron...

A Caldecott Honor BookWhile walking to school one day, Andy meets a lion and soon makes a new friend. A tale of gratitude and helping out our neighbors, children of all ages will love this retelling of the classic folktale “Androcles and the Lion.”

Twelve-year-old Samuel Collier is a lowly commoner on the streets of London. So when he becomes the page of Captain John Smith and boards the Susan Constant, bound for the New World, he can’t believe his good fortune. He’s heard that gold washes ashore with every tide. But beginning with the stormy journey and his first contact with the native people, he realizes that the New World is nothing like he imagined. The lush Virginia shore where they establish the colony of James Town is both be...

Adapted from the New York Times bestseller Mayflower!After a dangerous journey across the Atlantic, the Mayflower?s passengers were saved from certain destruction with the help of the Natives of the Plymouth region. For fifty years a fragile peace was maintained as Pilgrims and Native Americans learned to work together. But when that trust was broken by the next generation of leaders, a conflict erupted that nearly wiped out Pilgrims and Natives alike. Adapted fro...

Kidnapped at the age of 11 from his home in Benin, Africa, Olaudah Equiano spent the next 11 years as a slave in England, the U.S., and the West Indies, until he was able to buy his freedom. His autobiography, published in 1789, was a bestseller in its own time. Cameron has modernized and shortened it while remaining true to the spirit of the original. It's a gripping story of adventure, betrayal, cruelty, and courage. In searing scenes, Equiano describes the savagery of his capture, the a...

Daughters of the Faith: Ordinary Girls Who Lived Extraordinary Lives.Almost Home is the story of the pilgrims’ journey to America and of God’s providence and provision.Several of the characters in the story—Mary Chilton, Constance Hopkins, and Elizabeth Tilley—were actual passengers on the Mayflower. Mary Chilton was a young girl when she left her home in Holland and traveled to America onboard the Mayflower with her parents. The ...

E. Boyd Smith's "The Story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith" offers a richly illustrated retelling of one of America's most enduring legends. Smith masterfully weaves historical fact with folklore, presenting a narrative that captures the complexities of early colonial encounters between Native Americans and English settlers. The book's literary style is accessible, employing vivid imagery and engaging prose that brings to life the tumultuous era of early 17th-century Virginia. Positio...

A complex and fascinating historical figure illuminated by Newbery Honor-winning Jean Fritz.In a story that is as gripping as it is historical, Newbery Honor-winning author Jean Fritz reveals the true life of Pocahontas. Though at first permitted to move freely between the Indian and the white worlds, Pocahontas was eventually torn between her new life and the culture that shaped her."This book dispels myths and describes with immediacy the life of a girl w...

Now one day to the court of Eric there came Bjarni the son ofHeriulf. This Bjarni was a far traveler. He had sailed many timesupon the seas, and when he came home he had ever some fresh taleof marvel and adventure to tell. But this time he had a tale totell more marvelous than any before. For he told how far away acrossthe sea of Greenland, where no man had sailed before, he had founda new, strange land.But when the people asked news ...

Historical fiction about great Christian heroes.Introducing Governor William Bradford.Thirteen-year-old Elizabeth Tilley and her family have been waiting for this day for months—the day the Mayflower sets sail from England. The late start means uncertain weather and a long, hard journey for everyone. But the trip seems especially rough for Dorothy Bradford, the frail young wife of William Bradford. One night, Elizabeth discovers Dorothy alone on deck. Thinking the woman wan...