Historical Audiobooks

The French and Indian War: 1660–1763

History is dramatic—and the renowned, award-winning authors Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier demonstrate this in a compelling series aimed at young readers. Covering American history from the founding of Jamestown through present day, these volumes explore far beyond the dates and events of a historical chronicle to present a moving illumination of the ideas, opinions, attitudes and tribulations that led to the birth of this great nation. The French and Indian War: 1660-1763 covers much more than the few years during which the English and French fought over the division of the North American continent in one of the most neglected periods of American history. In this volume in The Drama of American History series, authors Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier trace how England’s other rivals for control of America were eliminated over this period until the only source of conflict left would be between the British and their own colonists. This series offers a fairly unique approach to American history by focusing on core content rather than a blizzard of names and dates, giving listeners a good sense of not only what happened, but why, as England eliminated its competition.

Christopher Collier, James Lincoln Collier (Author), Jim Manchester (Narrator)

Audiobook

Andrew Jackson’s America: 1824–1850

History is dramatic—and the renowned, award-winning authors Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier demonstrate this in a compelling series aimed at young readers. Covering American history from the founding of Jamestown through present day, these volumes explore far beyond the dates and events of a historical chronicle to present a moving illumination of the ideas, opinions, attitudes, and tribulations that led to the birth of this great nation.  Andrew Jackson’s America examines the events and personalities, particularly President Andrew Jackson, that shaped the development of the United States during the first half of the nineteenth century. Learn about the influence that Andrew Jackson had on the way America developed, the industrial revolution and the beginning of the two-party system. “Clearly written books… Excellent additions to history collections.”—School Library Journal

Christopher Collier, James Lincoln Collier (Author), Jim Manchester (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Civil War: 1860-1865

History is dramatic—and the renowned, award-winning authors Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier demonstrate this in a compelling series aimed at young readers. Covering American history from the founding of Jamestown through present day, these volumes explore far beyond the dates and events of a historical chronicle to present a moving illumination of the ideas, opinions, attitudes and tribulations that led to the birth of this great nation. The Civil War: 1860–1865 examines the people and events involved in the bloody war that pitted the Northern states against those that seceded to form the Confederacy. “Clearly written books… Excellent additions to history collections.”—School Library Journal

Christopher Collier, James Lincoln Collier (Author), Jim Manchester (Narrator)

Audiobook

Hispanic America, Texas, and the Mexican War: 1835–1850

Hispanic America, Texas, and the Mexican War examines the history of the southwestern area of the United States. Topics covered include the settlement of the area that became the southwestern portion of the United States, detailing how it evolved from land settled by Native Americans, to Spanish territory, to states that were pawns between the North and South prior to the Civil War.

Christopher Collier, James Lincoln Collier (Author), James Lincoln Collier, Jim Manchester (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Jeffersonian Republicans: The Louisiana Purchase and the War of 1812; 1800–1823

History is dramatic—and the renowned, award-winning authors Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier demonstrate this in a compelling series aimed at young readers. Covering American history from the founding of Jamestown through present day, these volumes explore far beyond the dates and events of a historical chronicle to present a moving illumination of the ideas, opinions, attitudes and tribulations that led to the birth of this great nation.  The Jeffersonian Republicans examines various events between 1800 and 1823 that helped to shape the United States. The Louisiana Purchase, the War of 1812, and important Supreme Court decisions are among the discussed events.

Christopher Collier, James Lincoln Collier (Author), Jim Manchester (Narrator)

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The Borning Room

Mothers give birth in the borning room. The dying take their departure there. Outside the Lott family’s Ohio farmhouse, the Civil War rages, slavery falls, and the world marvels at the wonder of electricity. Inside, within the walls of the borning room, Georgina Lott will experience her life’s greatest turnings. Across the years, she discovers womanhood and first love, experiences the mourning that comes with loss, and, as did her mother and grandmother, at last takes her place in the room as another precious life is about to begin. “Lush with similes, metaphors, and allusions so subtly woven into the mesh of the narrative that they enrich without distracting. A memorable novel, rich and resonant in familial love and the strength of connection and tradition.”—School Library Journal

Paul Fleischman (Author), Jeanine Kane (Narrator)

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With a Mighty Hand

For thousands of years, the stories contained within the Torah — the first five books of the Hebrew Bible — have been passed down, revered, studied, and wondered at. From Adam and Eve, Noah and the Flood, and Abraham’s near-sacrifice of Isaac, through Jacob and his twelve sons, Joseph and his coat of many colors, and finally to Moses, who led his people out of slavery in Egypt and accepted God’s Ten Commandments, these stories tell the history of the Jewish people and their relationship with God. In this unique volume, author Amy Ehrlich adapts the five books of the Torah into a single narrative, focusing on the familiar stories and figures while retaining the complex beauty of the sacred text. Fine artist Daniel Nevins brings these stories to resonant life with his evocative and luminous paintings. The result is a gift for listeners and families to savor, share, and treasure.

Amy Ehrlich (Author), Francis J Spieler, Francis J. Spieler, Kate Udall (Narrator)

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Listening for Lucca

I'm obsessed with abandoned things.' Siena's obsession began a year and a half ago, around the time her two-year-old brother Lucca stopped talking. Now Mom and Dad are moving the family from Brooklyn to Maine hoping that it will mean a whole new start for Lucca and Siena. She soon realizes that their wonderful old house on the beach holds secrets. When Siena writes in her diary with an old pen she found in her closet, the pen writes its own story, of Sarah and Joshua, a brother and sister who lived in the same house during World War II. As the two stories unfold, amazing parallels begin to appear, and Siena senses that Sarah and Joshua's story might contain the key to unlocking Lucca's voice.

Suzanne LaFleur (Author), Ariadne Meyers (Narrator)

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Children of the Dust Bowl: The True Story of the School at Weedpatch Camp

This is the compelling story of the “Okie” migration to California and of the construction and life of a remarkable school at a farm workers’ camp. This memorable book provides a glimpse of a neglected period of American history and tells a story of prejudice being transformed into acceptance and despair into hope. “Stanley’s text is a compelling document…The story is inspiring and disturbing, and Stanley has recorded the details with passion and dignity.”—Booklist

Jerry Stanley (Author), Fred Sullivan (Narrator)

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A Century of Immigration: 1820–1924

History is dramatic—and the renowned, award-winning authors Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier demonstrate this in a compelling series aimed at young readers. Covering American history from the founding of Jamestown through present day, these volumes explore far beyond the dates and events of a historical chronicle to present a moving illumination of the ideas, opinions, attitudes and tribulations that led to the birth of this great nation. A Century of Immigration reviews the century of 1820 through 1920, in which there were two waves of immigration to the United States. This book discusses the varied motivations and nationalities of these new Americans, as well as the effects of mass immigration on the country as a whole, and the rise of antiforeign sentiments among more recent immigrants. “Although many history books for children aim only at an objective presentation of the facts, the Colliers have opted for interpretational history…by focusing on broad themes, the Colliers are able to show cause and effect over several decades and to make the sweep of time ‘bite-sized’ and intelligible.”—School Library Journal

Christopher Collier, James Lincoln Collier (Author), Jim Manchester (Narrator)

Audiobook

Indians, Cowboys, and Farmers and the Battle for the Great Plains: 1865–1910

This is American history at its most basic. Believing that students get “lost in a swamp of factual information,” the Colliers survey the essential concepts of settling the Great Plains, without a great deal of detail. For example, in describing the sequence of events that led to the Grattan Massacre, there is no mention of date, location, or names of the people involved. Without prior knowledge, readers would not know it was the Grattan Massacre. Topics addressed include Native American history prior to contact with whites and conflicts with settlers and the military, ranching and cowboys, railroads, and reform movements that sought to help farmers and regulate big business. While the focus of this book is on political and institutional history, it does mention the contributions of women and minorities. The illustrative material-photographs, campaign posters, political cartoons, advertisements, graphs, maps, and reproductions of paintings by famous Western artists George Catlin, Charles Russell, and Frederic Remington-is outstanding. References to other books in the series that further explain a topic are scattered throughout the text.

Christopher Collier, James Lincoln Collier (Author), Jim Manchester (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Rise of Industry, 1860-1900

History is dramatic—and the renowned, award-winning authors Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier demonstrate this in a compelling series aimed at young readers. Covering American history from the founding of Jamestown through present day, these volumes explore far beyond the dates and events of a historical chronicle to present a moving illumination of the ideas, opinions, attitudes and tribulations that led to the birth of this great nation. The Rise of Industry gives a detailed account of the industrialization of America in the last decades of the nineteenth century. It includes descriptions of the technological advances of the late 1800s, poor working conditions, the rise of large corporations and labor unions, and eventual government regulation.

Christopher Collier, James Lincoln Collier (Author), Jim Manchester (Narrator)

Audiobook