Elementary Ancient Literature List

In honor of the back to school phase of life we're finding ourselves in, here's my list of ancient literature for elementary grades. We did ancient history and literature last year and we read A LOT of books. These were our favorites. Be prepared that sometimes the myths and battle stories get a bit strange or gruesome--I occasionally edit as I read aloud. ;)

1. Complete Book of Bible Stories, Jesse Hurlbut (Judaism and Christianity - long)
2. Gilgamesh the King, Ludmila Zeman (Mesopotamia)
3. The Revenge of Ishtar, Ludmila Zeman (Mesopotamia)
4. The Last Quest of Gilgamesh, Ludmila Zeman (Mesopotamia)
5. The Trojan War, Emily Little (Greece)
6. The Flying Horse, Jane Mason (Greece)
7. Book of Greek Myths, D’Aulaire (Greece - long)
8. Once a Mouse, Marcia Brown (India)
9. One Grain of Rice, Demi (India)
10. The Elephant’s Friend, Maria Williams (India)
11. Black Ships Before Troy, Rosemary Sutcliff (Greece - long)
12. Rhinos for Lunch and Elephants for Supper, Tolowa Mollel (Africa)
13. The Adventures of Spider, Joyce Cooper Arkhurst (Africa)
14. Tutankhamen’s Gift, Robert Sabuda (Egypt)
15. Exodus, Brian Wildsmith (Egypt and Judaism)
16. The Wanderings of Odysseus, Rosemary Sutcliff (Greece - long)
17. The Legend of the Persian Carpet, Tomie dePaola (Persia)
18. Forty Fortunes, Aaron Shepherd (Persia)
19. The Hero and the Minotaur, Robert Byrd (Crete)
20. King Midas and the Golden Touch, Charlotte Craft (Crete)
21. Roman Myths, Geraldine McCaughrean (Rome - long)
22. The Lost Horse, Ed Young (China)
23. The Dragon Prince, Laurence Yep (China)
24. Lord of the Cranes, Kerstin Chen (China)
25. Da Wei’s Treasure, Margaret and Raymond Chang (China)
26. Dragon Kites and Dragonflies, Demi (China)
27. In the Eyes of the Cat, Demi (Japan)
28. Miracles of Jesus, Tomie dePaola (Christianity)
29. Parables of Jesus, Tomie dePaola (Christianity)
30. Aeneas, Emily Frenkel (Rome – long)