Lately I’ve been researching ancient history. I’ve explored timelines and primary sources and poems and cuneiform tablets.

It’s fun!

But it can also be a little tricky navigating the waters when trying to use discernment about what ancient stuff is appropriate for kids of various ages to read. What do we expose them to? I mean, some of that stuff the ancients wrote is pretty worldly from a Christian’s point of view.

If you have kids in elementary through high school and you’re trying to help them dig through Socrates or Cicero, then I’ve found the book for you!

Ancient History from Primary Sources: A Literary Timeline, by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn is the best biblical-values guide to literature from the ancients I’ve seen yet. IT’S. THE. BEST.

Why?

For one thing, in the beginning of this book it lists actual primary source authors into three different categories. There are groups that are “authors who are useful but should be pre-read,” groups of authors that are best for mature Christians, and groups that are “authors with much questionable and graphic content.”

For example, here are some of the authors who are useful but should be pre-read:

Historians, Geographers, and Biographers include Augustus, Tacitus, Velleius, and more.

Authors for Mature Christians include:

Philosophers such as Aristotle, Plato, and Zeno.

And authors with much questionable and graphic content include:

Poets and Satirists such as Homer, Horace, Solon, and Virgil.

The authors also go through other guidelines such as actual primary source titles that are suitable for ages ten and up…and more!

So if you’re trying to decide what literature from ancient history is appropriate to teach or for your students to read, and you’re concerned about the immorality and exposure to pagan religions in some of the texts, this book is an invaluable guide to help you along your journey.

-blog post written by Nancy I. Sanders, a bestselling and award-winning children’s author of over 100 books including Old Testament Days, an activity guide with more than 80 activities for kids do learn firsthand what it was like to live in the time of the Old Testament. CLICK HERE to visit her website.

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