Mary of Plymouth (Online Vintage Children's Book and Audiobook)

From Mary of Plymouth: A Story of the Pilgrim Settlement by James Otis, 1910:

"My name is Mary, and I am setting down all these things about our people here in this new world, hoping some day to send to my dear friend, Hannah, who lives in Scrooby, England, what may really come to be a story, even though the writer of it is only sixteen years old, having lived in Plymouth since the day our company landed from the Mayflower in 1620, more than eleven years ago."

You can read the rest of the classic children's book online here. There are several formats to choose from and the "Read Online" option has the text nicely laid out as though you were looking at an open book. Just click to turn the page! The book also has a lovely assortment of illustrations throughout.

This book is also available as an audio book (which our family is currently enjoying!) from BlueBehemoth.com.

Free Thanksgiving Resources!

Stories of the Pilgrims (A wonderful classic children's book that our whole family enjoys. If you haven't read this one yet you are in for a treat!)

Landing of the Pilgrims Notebooking Page at DonnaYoung.org (Scroll down to see the page entitled "The Mayflower")

Thanksgiving Notebooking Pages (w/Recipe and Label Cards)

Simple Schooling Thanksgiving Cursive Copywork

Free Online Previews of Two Books by Holling C. Holling

Here are links to online preview copies of two of Holling's books. You can read parts of the books online and look at some of the beautiful, full color illustrations.

Tree in the Trail ( Note: I have not read this book yet, but in browsing through it though it seems that Native American medicine men and superstition are portrayed in a positive light. I'd use caution with this book, though it is possible you may be able to edit it as you read it aloud. Again, I haven't read this one yet, so perhaps it is not a large part of the story. If you have read this book and have any input on this please leave a comment! It is worth looking at the pictures if nothing else! Please see my note at the end of this post on Holling's books.)

Pagoo (I haven't read this one either so I can't vouch for it 100%!)

American History Stories Vol. 2 (Online Vintage Children's Book and Audio Book)

From American History Stories Vol. 2

The Declaration of Independence

"At the beginning of the war the colonists had not expected to be free from British rule: indeed they did not wish to be. All they did ask was that they might be treated fairly. But since they had begun to fight, they grew more and more convinced that now nothing less than perfect independence of the mother-country ought to satisfy them.

Then the leading men of the colonies met together at Philadelphia to draw up a writing, in which they declared themselves no longer subject to English rule. Five men, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingstone, were appointed to write it out; and when this was done every man in the Congress signed it.

It had been agreed that as soon as the Declaration was adopted the old bell-man should ring the big “Liberty-bell” that hung in the tower of the old State House, in order that the great throng of people outside might know it. This, as I suppose you all know, happened July 4, 1776. "

Click here to read or listen to the the whole book !

The New Engand Primer (Online Vintage Children's Book)

From the New England Primer:

"Good children must,
Fear God all day, Love Christ alway,
Parents obey, In secret pray,
No false thing say, Mind little play,
By no sin stray, Make no delay,
In doing good. "

Click here for the online version.


"The New England Primer is the single most influential Christian textbook in history. Most scholars agree that most, if not all, of the Founding Fathers were taught to read and write using this volume which is unsurpassed to this day for its excellence of practical training and Christian worldview. First published in 1690, the goal of the Primer was to combine the study of the Bible with the alphabet, vocabulary, and the reading of prose and poetry."

Click here for more information or to order a beautiful reproduction from Vision Forum.

Stories for Children (Online Vintage Children's Book)

From Stories for Children by Cousin Sarah

"The Nuts
The fine Nuts in the basket looked very tempting, but Eddie's mother had given him some, and told him not to take any more. But after she had left the room, he ran to the table, and by standing on tiptoe, got enough to fill his pocket, and then ran back to his play in the corner. But Eddie knew he had done wrong, and when his mother came in, he did not like to stay where she was, so he put up his blocks and went into the garden. But here he felt very unhappy, for he had disobeyed his kind mother; he wandered about for a while, feeling very uneasy, but, at last, he thought he would do what he knew was right--go and tell his mother what he had done, and how sorry he was. When he told her, she felt very sad to think that eddie should do so, but was glad that he was so willing to confess his fault. Children should obey their parents."

Click here for the whole book: Stories for Children by Cousin Sarah

A Child's Garden of Verses (Online Vintage Children's Book)

From " A Child's Garden of Verses :

Bed in Summer

In winter I get up at night,
And dress by yellow candle light.
In summer quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.

I have to go to bed and see

The birds still hopping on the tree,

Or hear the grown-up people's feet,

Still going past me in the street.

And does it not seem hard to you,

When all the sky is clear and blue,

And I should like so much to play,

To have to go to bed by day?

Robert Louis Stevenson

Click here for the whole book!: A Child's Garden of Verses

Easy Lessons for the Little Ones at Home (Online Vintage Children's Book)

From Chapter 1 of Easy Lessons for the Little Ones at Home :

"M Y DEAR CHILD ---Can you tell who made you? Who gave you your little hands and feet, and your bright eyes and soft hair?
Was it your dear papa, or mamma? No. They could not make your little body, or put the breath in your mouth.
God made you, and gave you to your dear parents; and God has kept you alive every day since he first made you."

Click here for the whole book: Easy Lessons for the Little Ones at Home