Ancient Greece

You know, one of the things that had become more apparent to me this year is that the study of history is not as linear as I'd like. Peoples and empires who I thought came 'right after each other' really lived side by side until circumstances allowed one or the other to take a more prominent place in world affairs. If you'd like to read or study history, it is helpful to do so with a timeline or book of centuries at hand; a way to make a quick note about who was doing what when as you read through this list:

On the Shores of the Great Sea by M.B. Synge. I could tell you that Greece starts in chapter 15, or you could just start at the beginning; you won't regret it.

The Story of the Greeks by Helene A. Guerber - this very excellent book could be used as a survey of Greek history or as history tales; either way, it is definitely worth your time.

Augustus Caesar's World by Genevieve Foster - if you ever come across any of Foster's books in a used book store, pick them up. This one surveys the happenings in Rome, Greece, Israel, Egypt, China, India, and Persia during a roughly 60 year time span. Perfect for ages 10+, but younger children could enjoy it too.

The Chilldren's Plutarch: Tales of the Greeks by F.J. Gould. I could do a whole 'nother post on Plutarch, and maybe someday I will, but I wanted to list this book here as a particularly good resource for younger students (1st - 4th grades) learning about ancient Greece, though that's not to say that older readers won't enjoy it as well. There is also a second volume titled Tales of the Romans.

Thereas and his Town by Caroline Dale Snedeker - an easy read for ages 9-12, this book will take readers from Athens to Sparta, and back again.

Archimedes and the Door of Science by Jeanne Bendick - Beware: you may pick up more math and science from this biography than history!

Herodotus and the Road to History by Jeanne Bendick - reads will discover a lot about ancient Greek customs in this fascinating book.

The Librarian Who Measured the Earth by Kathryn Lasky - I enjoyed this picture book about Eratosthenes, and what's more, I learned something too! Suitable for all ages, though younger kids might get lost in the 2-3 pages that describe his method and discovery.

The First Marathon; The legend of Pheidippides by Susan Reynolds - a fun picture book.

The Trojan Horse: How the Greeks Won the War by Emily Little - always a favorite with our children; perfect for early elementary. 

Myths and Legends

You cannot study the history or literature of the western world without familiarizing yourself with Greek mythology - it is that influential. And like versions of Plutarch, renditions of Greek Myths abound. I will list a few of our favorite compilations here, and leave you free to discover titles that tell of individual heroes or episodes on your own.

The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus by Aliki - perfect gentle introduction to the topic.

D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire  - more detailed than the previous title, this offering is probably more suited to the aged 10 and up set.

Black Ships Before Troy, and The Wanderings of Odysseys by Rosemary Sutcliff - If you can, get a hardcover version of these full length text, they come fully illustrated, though a less expensive, not illustrated mass market paperback version is also available. Suitable for middle-graders and up.

The Golden Fleece: And the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles, and The Children's Homer: The Adventures of Odysseus and the Tale of Troy by Padraic Colum - more vocabulary rich offerings for 
readers around age 12 and older.