Unique History Books for Kids Who Hate History
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Sometimes I hear parents say that their kids don’t like studying history. I don’t think this is totally true. Instead, I think that maybe these kids haven’t found a history they find interesting. These unique history books for kids will hopefully help them find an area of history that they find fascinating and want to study.
Over my decade of homeschooling, I have taught history in a few ways. Sometimes we used a curriculum like Story of the World. Some years I put together a series of history unit studies. We generally enjoyed all of these methods for studying history.
One year we tried something a little different.
I asked my kids to each choose one topic to study for history. They could choose any subject – after all, everything has a history. My daughter chose to study chocolate, and my son chose to learn about the history of video games. It was one of our favorite years of history!
Julie Bogart says in her book, The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life, that “anything can teach everything and everything can teach anything”. I believe it.
Perhaps kids don’t actually hate history. They just like the traditional history that is traditionally taught. History does not have to be taught in the conventional sequence. It also doesn’t need to be taught in isolation. Let history overlap with subjects your kids naturally find interesting. These unique history books for kids might help find that overlap.
If your kids think they don’t like history, try including some of these unique history books in your homeschool lesson plans. You might be surprised and find that your kids actually do like history.
Unique History Books for Kids Who Hate History
The History of Money: From Bartering to Banking by Martin Jenkins
- Amazon Kindle Edition
Last update on 2026-10-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
People have not always used our current monetary system. This book walks kids through the history of money. Many children are fascinated with money, so this might be a great way to get kids interested in history.
Related: History of Money Lesson Plans for Kids
What’s New? The Zoo!: A Zippy History of Zoos by Kathleen Krull
Last update on 2026-10-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This picture book is a great choice for children who love animals. Each page includes information about the history of zoos around the world. The timeline might spark interest in other areas of history and even geography.
After finishing this book, take a virtual zoo field trip! You can visit zoos all over the country from the comfort of your own home.
A History of Pictures for Children: From Cave Paintings to Computer Drawings by David Hockney
Art is intrinsically tied to history, so this book about the history of pictures sneaks into a variety of traditional history topics. This is a great way to introduce history to kids who love creating art.
The Very Short, Entirely True History of Mermaids by Sarah Laskow
Last update on 2026-10-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
When my daughter was about 8, she insisted mermaids were real. I wish I had this unique title to share with her then! This book explains the history, myths, and science surrounding mermaids. It does, of course, explain that mermaids are not real, but it explains why generations of seafarers believed that they were real.
I think this might be one of my favorite history books for kids!
The Very Short, Entirely True History of Unicorns by Sarah Laskow
Last update on 2026-10-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Asking children if they wanted to learn about the history of unicorns is sure to pique their interest! Meet your children where they are and teach from there.
This book is similar to the book about mermaids by the same author. It explores the real history, myths, and science of unicorns.
Hot Diggity Dog: The History of Hot Dogs by Adrienne Sylver
- Amazon Kindle Edition
Last update on 2026-10-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
I feel like this is one of those history books for kids that proves we can learn about the history of anything.
This picture book follows the history of hot dogs from sausage in the Roman Empire to the hot dogs kids eat and love today.
How Sweet It Is (and Was): The History of Candy by Ruth Freeman Swain
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Hardcover Book
Last update on 2026-10-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
How Sweet It Is (and Was) is a fun way to learn a little history under the guise of candy. I read this book with my kids a few years ago, and we had a lot of fun. We read the book, constructed a candy timeline, and even made some candy of our own.
Check out all of the activities we enjoyed – The History of Candy.
Loaves of Fun: A History of Bread with Activities and Recipes From Around the World by Elizabeth M Harbison
Last update on 2026-10-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Did your family jump on the sourdough bandwagon during quarantine? Do your kids enjoy baking (or playing with bread dough)?
If you answered yes to either of those questions, this book might be a great way to sprinkle in a little history.
The Wright Brothers for Kids: How They Invented the Airplane, 21 Activities Exploring the Science and History of Flight by Mary Kay Carson
Last update on 2026-10-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
My son went through a phase a few years ago where he was fascinated by airplanes. He constructed paper airplanes all day long. We read books about airplanes. We even went on a field trip to the Museum of Flight.
This book about the Wright Brothers is a great way to teach history through a common interest – airplanes. This is one of the history books for kids that includes hands-on activities to extend learning.
Game On!: Video Game History from Pong and Pac-Man to Mario, Minecraft, and More by Dustin Hansen
Last update on 2026-10-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This chapter book takes kids through the world of video games. My family read this book as part of a longer unit study on the history of video games. We learned about the game developers, their creative and technical processes, and the evolution of gaming.
My gamer really enjoyed this book, and I bet yours will too.
I Feel Better with a Frog in My Throat: History’s Strangest Cures by Carlyn Beccia
Some kids are attracted to gross things. If that is your kid, they might like learning about history through weird medical history. This might be a good fit if your child is also fascinated by medical or health issues.
My daughter always enjoyed visiting the apothecary in Colonial Williamsburg, so this is another one of those unique history books for kids that I wish I had years ago.
Bees: A Honeyed History by Piotr Socha
Last update on 2026-10-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This book about bees is part science and part history. Kids will learn about the role of bees in different eras of history around the world.
Smart About Chocolate: A Sweet History by Sandra Markle
Last update on 2026-10-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Chocolate can make a great entry point for teaching history. One of our favorite history units was all about chocolate! It is amazing what you can learn through chocolate.
For more unique history books for kids all about chocolate, check out this book list: Sweet Books About Chocolate.
True Colors! The Story of Crayola (History of Fun Stuff) by Jesse Burton
Last update on 2026-10-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This beginning reader chapter book is perfect for young artists! This book takes kids through the history of drawing instruments and art supplies. The History of Fun Stuff series includes additional activities in the back of the book.
The Hole Story of the Doughnut by Pat Miller
- Hardcover Book
Last update on 2026-10-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
My family loves doughnuts, so I couldn’t resist grabbing this book from the library as soon as I saw it. We read the book, baked gluten-free doughnuts, and did a few other educational activities.
Related: The Hole Story of the Doughnut
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Keep reading . . .
- Inspiring Women’s History Books
- Historic Salem Witch Trial Books for Kids
- Alexander Hamilton for Kids: Educational Resources
- Exploring the History of Popcorn
- 5 Free History Curriculum Options
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