History "Spine" Texts

Those studying history through the use of living books (biographies, historical fiction, etc.) sometimes find a textbook useful as an overview to turn back to on occasion and tie things together. In order to make time for all that reading, you can take a textbook and divide it out over two or three (or more) years or just use selections from the textbook as needed. Grade levels are quite flexible and the text can be used as a read-aloud (this is especially useful for encouraging discussions about history). This is not yet an exhaustive list of Catholic texts.

Grade School:


The Catholic Schools Textbook Project (Catholic Textbook Project)

• From Sea to Shining Sea: The Story of America (copyright 2003 - grade range 5-9)


• All Ye Lands: World Cultures and Geography (copyright 2002 - grade range 6-9)


• (additional texts planned in the future)

Fr. Philip Furlong's Texts (TAN Books and Publishers)

• The Old World and America (copyright 1937 - grade range 5-8)


• Our Pioneers and Patriots (copright 1940 - grade range 5-8)

Land of Our Lady Series (Neumann Press)

• Founders of Freedom (copyright 1954)


• Bearers of Freedom


• Leaders of Freedom


• Challenge of Freedom

• Guardian of Freedom

High School:

Anne Carroll's Texts: (TAN Books and Publishers)

• Christ the King, Lord of History (copyright 1994 - third edition)

• Christ and the Americas (copyright 1997)