Historical Audiobooks

Pink and Say

When Sheldon Russell Curtis told this story to his daughter, Rosa, she kept every word in her heart and was to retell it many times. I will tell it in Sheldon's own words as nearly as I can. He was wounded in a fierce battle and left for dead in a pasture somewhere in Georgia when Pinkus found him. Pinkus' skin was the color of polished mahogany, and he was flying Union colors like the wounded boy, and he picked him up out of the field and brought him to where the black soldier's mother, Moe Moe Bay, lived. She had soft, gentle hands and cared for him and her Pink. But the two boys were putting her in danger, two Union soldiers in Confederate territory! They had to get back to their outfits. Scared and uncertain, the boys were faced with a hard decision, and then marauding Confederate troops rode in. In this Civil War story passed from great-grandfather to grandmother, to son, and finally to the author-artist herself, Patricia Polacco once again celebrates the shared humanity of the peoples of this world.

Patricia Polacco (Author), Hal Hollings, Melba Sibrel (Narrator)

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Pioneer Doctor of the Prairie

Helena Wink was a devoted, skillful doctor to Dakota Territory settlers.

Karen Blumhagen (Author), Highlights For Children (Narrator)

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Pioneer Trails

Pioneers experienced hardships during their journey through the West, which led them on the Oregon Trail and the Santa Fe Trail. The moving and travels of these pioneers affected not only their lives, but also the American Indians, America’s animals, and the country.

Christi Parker (Author), Teacher Created Materials (Narrator)

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Pirate Queen: A Story of Zheng Yi Sao

The most powerful pirate in history was a woman who was born into poverty in Guangzhou, China, in the late eighteenth century. When pirates attacked Zheng Yi Saos town and the captain took a liking to her, she saw a way out. She agreed to marry him only if she got an equal share of his business. When her husband died, she took command of the fleet. On land and sea, Zheng Yi Saos power rivaled that of the emperor himself. Over the next decade, the pirate queen built a fleet of more than 1,800 ships and 70,000 men. Time and again, her ships triumphed over the emperors ships. When she was ready to retire, the pirate queen surrendered on her own terms, of course. Zheng Yi Saos story is told in lyrical prose by award-winning author Helaine Becker. Liz Wongs colorful, engaging illustrations capture the courage and grit of this remarkable woman. An authors note provides historical context and outlines the challenges of researching a figure about whom little is known.

Helaine Becker (Author), Catherine Ho (Narrator)

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Plague: A Cross on the Door

Spring 1665, London. Sam was just a young boy when his master took him out of the orphanage. When he was old enough, he was going to become his master's apprentice. But that was before the plague arrived. Now, Sam finds himself nailed into his workshop home with only his dying master and pet dog Budge for company. Can Sam escape? And even if he does, will he be able to survive?

Ann Turnbull (Author), Christopher Webster (Narrator)

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Pledge of Allegiance

Children are taught to respect the symbols of America from their first day of school. The Pledge of Allegiance provides teachers an easy-to-read picture book explaining the creation, history, and meaning of the oath that represents loyalty to our nation.

Amanda Doering Tourville (Author), Ken Marlow (Narrator)

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Pocahontas

Pocahontas was the daughter of the great Chief Powhatan. Pocahontas was instrumental in helping Jamestown settlers survive a difficult winter and literally keeping peace between two diverse cultures.

Marie Patterson (Author), Teacher Created Materials (Narrator)

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Poison in the Colony: James Town 1622

The fascinating companion title to the award-winning historical novel Blood on the River: James Town 1607. After the colony of James Town is founded in 1607. After Captain John Smith establishes trade with the Native Americans. After Pocahontas befriends the colonists. After early settlers both thrive and die in this new world . . . a girl is born. Virginia. Virginia Laydon, an infant at the end of Blood on the River, has now grown up in a colony that is teetering dangerously on the precipice of conflict with the native Algonquins. Virginia has the gift, or the curse, of the knowing-an ability that could help save the colony, and is equally likely to land her at the burning stake as an accused witch.  Virginia struggles to make sense of her own inner world against the backdrop of pivotal years in the Jamestown colony. The first representative government is established, the first enslaved Africans arrive, and the self-righteousness of the colony's leaders angers the Algonquin.  When Virginia's mother first learns of her gift, she is terrified. Kill it, her mother says, or they will kill you. When accusations and danger threaten, Virginia learns that she is on her own; her mother must protect her young sisters rather than stand up for her. So begins a journey of self-realization and increasing strength, as Virginia goes from being a self-protective young girl to someone who knows she must live her own truth even if it will be the end of her. Includes a PDF map of James Town and the surrounding area, circa 1622.

Elisa Carbone (Author), Fiona Hardingham (Narrator)

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Poisoned Water: How the Citizens of Flint, Michigan, Fought for Their Lives and Warned a Nation

Based on original reporting by a Pulitzer Prize finalist and an industry veteran, the first book for young adults about the Flint water crisis In 2014, Flint, Michigan, was a cash-strapped city that had been built up, then abandoned by General Motors. As part of a plan to save money, government officials decided that Flint would temporarily switch its water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River. Within months, many residents broke out in rashes. Then it got worse: children stopped growing. Some people were hospitalized with mysterious illnesses; others died. Citizens of Flint protested that the water was dangerous. Despite what seemed so apparent from the murky, foul-smelling liquid pouring from the city's faucets, officials refused to listen. They treated the people of Flint as the problem, not the water, which was actually poisoning thousands. Through interviews with residents and intensive research into legal records and news accounts, journalist Candy J. Cooper, assisted by writer-editor Marc Aronson, reveals the true story of Flint. Poisoned Water shows not just how the crisis unfolded in 2014, but also the history of racism and segregation that led up to it, the beliefs and attitudes that fueled it, and how the people of Flint fought-and are still fighting-for clean water and healthy lives.

Candy J. Cooper, Marc Aronson (Author), Karen Chilton (Narrator)

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Polaris

A crew of children must pilot a ship across unfamiliar seas while a strange creature lurks belowdecks in this fast-paced survival story from New York Times bestselling author Michael Northrop. Alone at sea, with only the stars to guide them . . . The Polaris is on a mission to explore new lands, and its crew is eager to bring their discoveries back home. But when members of the advance landing party mysteriously disappear, the remaining adults abandon ship, leaving behind the young cabin attendants and deckhands -- none of them older than twelve. With whispers of mutiny, a strange tropical illness, and perhaps even a wild beast shadowing them, the young sailors are desperate to steer the vessel to safety. When one of their number goes missing, and a strange but sweet smell drifts up from belowdecks, the young crew begins to suspect that someone -- or something -- else is onboard. Having steeled themselves for the treacherous journey home, they now have more to fear than the raging waters of the Atlantic . . .

Michael Northrop (Author), Steven Kaplan (Narrator)

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Police Officers Then and Now

For over two hundred years, individuals have protected and served their communities as lawmen. Today, people who help enforce the law are called police officers because both men and women can serve in the police force.

Melissa A. Settle (Author), Teacher Created Materials (Narrator)

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Pollyanna

When Pollyanna Whittier becomes orphaned, she goes to live with her rather strict Aunt Polly. And Aunt Polly is not at all prepared for Pollyanna! With her infectious energy and her determination to see the best in every situation, Pollyanna brings sunshine into the lives of everyone around her. But not everyone wants it - and she has a lot of work to do to persuade some of them that there is a good side to everything. But will being glad be enough for Pollyanna herself when she faces the biggest struggle of her life? This irrepressible book, first published in 1913, has entertained and absorbed each generation of girls since, and was the subject of a famous 1960 film with Hayley Mills in the title role. But it was also done as a silent film in 1920 starring Mary Pickford, and a TV film in 2003 - further evidence of its continuing popularity.

Eleanor H Porter (Author), Laurel Lefkow (Narrator)

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