Hi Reader,

I'm thrilled to announce that From The Margins to the Center: A People's History of the United States Told Through Children's Books is now available!

I started researching and writing this ebook five months ago after deciding that none of the homeschool U.S. history programs out there were quite what I wanted.

As I searched for engaging non-fiction books and historical fiction that would pull my son into different eras, I wished I could find some type of mega-list of U.S. history books for kids.

And not just any history books - ones that told history from the perspective of ordinary people. Books that didn't repeat tired, inaccurate, whitewashed narratives. Stories and non-fiction resources that told the truth in age-appropriate ways.

I couldn't find a resource like that - so I created it myself!

Now I know, chances are you aren't a homeschooler (few people on my email list are.) I created this resource for ANY family, educator, or community worker who's looking for great historical fiction picture books and novels, as well as engaging, truth-telling non-fiction.

At a time when public schools are under increasing pressure not to teach history truthfully or use a diverse array of voices, we all need to share accurate history with the kids in our lives.

In the past 10 years or so, education and the publishing industry have taken major steps forward in sharing history from the perspectives of groups who'd been ignored in the past.

It hasn't been enough, by any means, but now both sectors are facing pressure to go backwards.

That's why it's so important that we use books that tell history from the perspective of marginalized groups.

Purchasing these books, reading them with our kids, checking them out from the library, and sharing them with our friends is an act of resistance.

Still, finding books like these is no easy task. I should know - that's what I've spent the last 5 months doing!

​From the Margins to the Center includes in-depth reviews of 240 children's books, with stories for kids as young as 5 years old and as old as 14.​

The books I've included center the voices of groups that society has marginalized, telling how they have experienced and shaped U.S. history. You'll find books centering

• Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
• immigrants
• poor people
• women of all races
• disabled people
• LGBTQ people
• religious minorities

Here's what's inside the ebook:

Book reviews that are broken down by historical period (for example Abolitionism and the Civil War, Progressive Era movements, and the Great Depression.) There are book recommendations for periods as far back as Indigenous history before colonization and as recent as the COVID-19 pandemic.

In-depth book descriptions about the plot, historical connections, and other details to help you decide whether the book is one your kids will enjoy.

Bibliographical information including recommended ages, page numbers for chapter books, dates the book takes place in, whether an audio book is available, and the identities of main character and author.

Reading checklists for each time period: As you read through the guide, use these printable checklists for each historical era to note which titles are interesting to you. Then take your checklist to the library or bookstore.

I can't wait to see how you'll use this resource with your family, in your classroom, or in your community.

Happy learning,

Rebekah

P.S. Learn more here about From the Margins to the Center: A People's History of the United States Told Through Children's Books.

You'll find answers to frequently asked questions and you can even download sample pages of the ebook.

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Rebekah Gienapp (she/her/hers) | rebekahgienapp.com | Connect on Instagram | Coffees for Gaza |

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