Tanakh/Early Ancient

Beginning of recorded history through 350 BCE (3,410 on the Jewish calendar)

This page provides an overview of book options for History and Literature for both Jewish and Secular studies. The Jewish studies on this page provide only an overview of Jewish history and Jewish texts written during this time. For a more in depth study of Jewish texts please see our separate page for textual study.

• For a Pre-Planned Guide, please see Ani VeAmi Curriculum Guide: Tanakh (review), which is broken down into monthly and weekly units including copywork, maps, literature, music, and art.
• For a Custom Plan to fit your family’s needs, an Ani ve-ami Planning Guide is in the works in conjunction with A Charlotte Mason Plenary. Consultations specific to Ani ve-ami are also available through A Charlotte Mason Plenary.

History

Jewish History

Secular History

Note: When studying the history of any people group, it is important to choose authentic sources written by and respected by that group. We have opted for traditionally respected Jewish sources as opposed to including works that represent a conflict of interests (ie. Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews) Elementary: Understanding Jewish History, Volume 1 by Sol Scharfstein   Middle Grades: Brief Biblical History by I. Jacobs Judges, Prophets, and Kings by I. Jacobs   High School: Am Olam: The History of the Eternal Nation, Vol. 1 by Rav Shlomo Rotenberg Am Olam: The History of the Eternal Nation, Vol. 2 by Rav Shlomo Rotenberg

Note: It was imperative to choose history selections that represented both the West and the East as Jewish history is very much tied to both. Susan Wise Bauer was the only narrative author of history that we felt met this criteria and also represented a secular view of history. Some families may wish to skip certain sections depending on the ages and needs of their families. Elementary/Middle Grades The Story of the World, Volume 1: Ancient Times by Susan Wise Bauer (chapter 1 thru 24) The Story of the World, Activity Book 1: Ancient Times by Susan Wise Bauer High School/College The History of the Ancient World by Susan Wise Bauer (chapter 1 thru 67) Study and Teaching Guide: The History of the Ancient World by Julia Kaziewicz

Literature

Jewish Literature

Secular Literature

Elementary: Original Tanakh Period Texts The Artscroll Children’s Book of Ruth Artscroll Childrens Megillah The Artscroll Children’s Book of Yonah The Artscroll Children’s Tehillim Interpretations of the Original Texts The Little Midrash Says series (review) The Family Midrash Says series (review) Noah & the Rainbow by Shoshana Lepon The Ten Tests of Avraham by Shoshana Lepon Joseph the Dreamer by Shoshana Lepon The Ten Makkos by Shoshana Lepon Books about Tanakh Period My Last Year in Mitzrayim: A Jewish Boy’s Ancient Diary  by Greenbaum Shpeter I: A Latecomer in Early History by Meir Uri Gottesman Shpeter II: From the Depths to the Heights by Meir Uri Gottesman The Desert Diary by Gadi Pollack Dovid Hamelech by Nachman Seltzer The Money in the Honey: A Midrash About Young David, Future King of Israel by Aidel Backman The Miracles of Elisha by Sterna Citron The Secret Tunnel by Joy Nelkin Wieder   Middle Grades: Original Tanakh Period Texts Tanakh Interpretations of the Original Texts Let My World Survive  by Rabbi Deutsch Let My Nation Descend by Rabbi Deutsch Let My Nation Go  by Rabbi Deutsch Let My Nation Serve Me  by Rabbi Deutsch Let My Nation Wander by Rabbi Deutsch Let My Nation Ascend  by Rabbi Deutsch Let Me Join Your Nation by Rabbi Deutsch Let My Nation Be Warned by Rabbi Deutsch Let My Nation Live by Rabbi Deutsch Books about Tanakh Period Dual Discovery ; a Historical Drama by Zecharia Hoffman The Lamp of Darkness: The Age of Prophecy Book 1  by Mason & Feuer   High School: Original Tanakh Period Texts Tanakh The Living Torah (English & Hebrew) The Living Nach: Vol 1- Early Prophets The Living Nach: Vol 2 – Later Prophets The Living Nach: Vol 3- Sacred Writings Interpretations of the Original Texts and Study Aids People of the Book: From Adam to Yehoshua by Osher Chaim Levene The Navi Journey Sefer Yehoshua  by Rabbi Ilan Ginian The Navi Journey: Shoftim by Rabbi Ilan Ginian The Navi Journey, Shmuel 1 by Rabbi Ilan Ginian Navi Journey, Shmuel 2 by Rabbi Ilan Ginian The Navi Journey, Megillas Rus  by Rabbi Ilan Ginian The Navi Journey, Sefer Yonah  by Rabbi Ilan Ginian Books about Tanakh Period The Young Moses: Prince of Egypt  by Asher Lehmann Uncovering Sefer Yirmiyahu: An Archaeological, Geographical, Historical Perspective by Rabbi Yehuda Landy The Gilded Cage: Queen Esther’s untold story  by Sorale Brownstein Purim and the Persian Empire (English and Hebrew Edition) by Rabbi Yehuda Landy The Decree; A Historical Novel Set During the Persian Rule  by Rebbetzin Sarah Feldbrand

Note: There are no original texts for this time period because all of the original texts had to be translated into English, thus making them interpretations. Elementary: Interpretations of Original Texts Aesop for Children King Midas and the Golden Touch by Charlotte Craft Books About Early Ancient Period Croco’Nile by Ron Gerrard Seeker of Knowledge: The Man Who Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphs (Rise and Shine) by James Rumford Who Was King Tut? by Roberta Edwards Boy of the Pyramids: A Mystery of Ancient Egypt* by Ruth Fosdick Jones What’s Your Angle, Pythagoras? by Julie Ellis Pythagoras and the Ratios: A Math Adventure by Julie Ellis Herodotus and the Road to History by Jeanne Bendick Theras: The Story of an Athenian Boy** by Caroline Dale Snedeker The Trojan Horse: How the Greeks Won the War by Emily Little The Empress and the Silkworm by Lily Toy Hong Middle Grades: Interpretations of Original Texts Aesop for Children Books About Early Ancient Period The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone by James Cross Giblin Pyramid by David Macaulay National Geographic Investigates: Ancient Egypt: Archaeology Unlocks the Secrets of Egypt’s Past The Curse of the Pharaohs : My Adventures with Mummies by Zahi Hawass The Golden Goblet** by Eloise Jarvis McGraw National Geographic Investigates: Ancient Greece: Archaeology Unlocks the Secrets of Ancient Greece by Marni McGee The Hero Schliemann: The Dreamer Who Dug for Troy by Laura Amy Schlitz National Geographic Investigates: Ancient China: Archaeology Unlocks the Secrets of China’s Past National Geographic Investigates: Ancient India: Archaeology Unlocks the Secrets of India’s Past by Anita Dalai Warrior Scarlet** by Rosemary Sutcliff National Geographic Investigates: Ancient Celts: Archaeology Unlocks the Secrets of the Celts’ Past*** by Jen Green The Golden Bull: A Mesopotamian Adventure by Marjorie Cowley High School: Six Great Dialogues: Apology, Crito, Phaedo, Phaedrus, Symposium, The Republic by Plato The Art of War by Sun Tzu Books About Early Ancient Period National Geographic The Greeks: An Illustrated History by Diane Harris Cline * This novel normalizes slavery, but we decided to include it, since slavery was considered normal in that time period. ** Contains elements of mythology *** Mentions human sacrifice; use parental discretion

While this list represents the best stories from this specific time period, you will likely need to add more literature selections from our Jewish Reading List and our Secular Reading List as your children/family have time.

For those families that need/choose to add Mythology resources this year, we have created a separate page for Mythology that offers several different levels of content so you can choose the level that best meets the needs of your family.

Additional Resources

Jewish Resources

Secular Resources

Audiovisual Young Abraham Out of Egypt – The Passover Story Queen of Persia The Return of King David’s Harp by House of Harrari Crash Course in Jewish History by Rabbi Berel Wein Books Bedtime Stories of Torah Values by Shmuel Blitz King David & Akavish the Spider by Sylvia Rouss Shimri’s Big Idea by Elka Weber Adventure in the City of David by Ahron Horovitz Elisha Davidson and the Letters of Fire by M. R. Attar Elisha Davidson and the Ispaklaria by M.R. Attar Elisha Davidson and the Shamir by M.R. Attar

Audiovisual Ancient Mesopotamia 101 by National Geographic Ancient Egypt 101 by National Geographic Ancient Greece 101 by National Geographic Books Ms. Frizzle’s Adventures: Ancient Egypt by Joanna Cole You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Sumerian Slave! by Fiona McDonald You Wouldn’t Want to Be an Egyptian Mummy! by Fiona McDonald You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Greek Athlete! by Fiona McDonald You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Slave in Ancient Greece! by Fiona McDonald Hot on the Trail in Ancient Egypt by Linda Bailey Adventures in Ancient Greece by Linda Bailey Mummies in the Morning by Mary Pope Osborne Mummies and Pyramids: A Nonfiction Companion by Mary Pope Osborne Hour of the Olympics by Mary Pope Osborne Ancient Greece and the Olympics: A Nonfiction Companion by Mary Pope Osborne