Ancient History: Grades 1-4
We welcome suggestions regarding additions or changes to this list. If a book listed here is out of print and cannot be found online, please let us know. We will consider scanning and posting out-of-print content with a "fair use" statement if there are enough requests (keeping within the parameters of copyright law). Email us at stkosmashomeschoolcommunity@gmail.com with "Ancient History Book List" in the subject line. Thank you!
On Creation (Ancient: grades 1-4)
*The Heavenly Garden: The Story of the Garden of Eden
copyright: Nicholas Fotiou
author and publisher: St. Nicholas Orthodox Educational Society (1978)
*A Visual Catechism of the Orthodox Church
author: Metropolitan Hierotheos (Vlachos) of Nafpaktos
publisher: Birth of the Theotokos Monastery (1999)
On the Old Testament (Ancient: Grades 1-4)
*The Illustrated Synaxarion
free pdf download here
*The Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints
author: St. Demetrius of Rostov
publisher: Chrysostom Press
"The Great Collection by St. Demetrius of Rostov is the best literature available for young Orthodox children. It is written in the form of a story, in a way that is very engaging for elementary age readers. Some accounts of saints' lives intended for children are "dumbed-down" either in content or language, or both. Other collections of saints' lives for adults are written in a style more like an encyclopedia, which generally does not hold the interest of young children. The stories in this collection convey profound truths of our faith while still being accessible and captivating to the minds and hearts of young children." see more on The Great Collection by St. Demetrius of Rostov and how to incorporate it into your early elementary curriculum.
Prophet Moses, the God-seer (Sept. 4; page 86)
Prophet Zacharias, father of the Fore-runner (Sept. 5; page 98)
The Nativity of Panagia (Sept. 8; page 151)
Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna (Sept. 9; page 160)
Prophet of Jonah (Sept. 22; page 352)
Conception of St. John the forerunner
Prophet Joel (October)
Prophet Obadiah (November)
Prophet Nahum (December)
Prophet Habakkuk (December)
Prophet Zephaniah (December)
Prophet Haggai (December)
Prophet Daniel and the Three Youths (December)
Joseph the Betrothed (December)
14,000 Infants Slain in Bethlehem (December)
Prophet Malachi
Synaxis of St. John the Forerunner
Annunciation of Panagia
Joseph the All-comely
[Books by Potamitis Publishing]
author: Dionysios Potamitis
publisher: Potamitis Publishing
*Stories from Scripture
author: Archimandrite Vasilios Bakoyannis
publisher: St. Tikhon's Seminary Press (2001)
A Sacred History for Children
author: Fr. P. Vozdvizhensky
publisher: Saint John of Kronstadt Press (2000)
The Children's Bible Reader
publisher: American Bible Society (2006)
review: Included are 74 stories from the Old Testament and 81 from the New Testament. Clergy and lay leaders of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit were involved the editing and production of this American edition.
Preview or buy the book on Amazon
*The Holy Prophet Moses and the People of Israel
author: Catalin Grigore
publisher: Iona Publishing House (2012)
US distributor: St. Nectarios Press
*Wise Joseph and His Brothers
author: Catalin Grigore
publisher: Iona Publishing House (2013)
US distributor: St. Nectarios Press
The Great Flood
author: Susan Crowder
publisher: Saint John of Kronstadt Press (1987)
Abraham and Sarah
author: Susan Crowder
publisher: Saint John of Kronstadt Press
Daniel in the Lion's Den
author: Susan Crowder
publisher: Saint John of Kronstadt Press
The Three Children in the Furnace
author: Susan Crowder
publisher: Saint John of Kronstadt Press (1984)
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST AND PANAGIA (Ancient: Grades 1-4)
*The Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints
author: St. Demetrius of Rostov
publisher: Chrysostom Press
*A Visual Catechism of the Orthodox Church
author: Metropolitan Hierotheos (Vlachos) of Nafpaktos
publisher: Birth of the Theotokos Monastery (1999)
*Rejoice, Panagia: Offering to Children the Akathist Hymn
author and publisher: Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Theotokos, the Life-Giving Spring (2014)
*Feasts of Christ and the Theotokos and Miracles of the Lord
author and publisher: Spiritual Fragrance Publishing (2012)
*The Parables of Christ
author and publisher: Spiritual Fragrance Publishing (2012)
[Books by Potamitis Publishing]
author: Dionysios Potamitis
publisher: Potamitis Publishing
A Sacred History for Children
author: Fr. P. Vozdvizhensky
publisher: Saint John of Kronstadt Press (2000)
The Illustrated Life of the Theotokos for Children
author: Georgia and Helen Hronas
publisher: Light and Life Publishing Company (1990)
The Children's Bible Reader
publisher: American Bible Society (2006)
review: Included are 74 stories from the Old Testament and 81 from the New Testament. Clergy and lay leaders of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit were involved the editing and production of this American edition.
Preview or buy the book on Amazon
The Holy Nativity of Our Lord
author: Euphemia Briere
publisher: St. Nectarios Press (1993)
The Baptism of Our Lord
author: Euphemia Briere
publisher: St. Nectarios Press (1994)
Holy Week and Pascha
author: Euphemia Briere
publisher: St. Nectarios Press (2007)
The Story of Icons
Part 2: On the Icons of the Twelve Great Feasts (pages 33-74)
author: Mary Hallick
publisher: Holy Cross Orthodox Press (2001)
Other Recommendations (Ancient: Grades 1-4)
The Librarian Who Measured the Earth
author: Kathryn Lasky
publisher: Little, Brown and Company (1994)