Pioneer Days: Discover the Past with Fun Projects, Games, Activities, and Recipes »

DAVID C. KING is a prolific author of books for children and young adults, including First Facts about American Heroes, America's Story, and The Heroic Age of American Invention. He has worked as a curriculum developer in both history and social studies, and as a high school English and history teacher.

Learn what children did in 1843 on the western frontier with over 40 projects to try including games, crafts, and recipes.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6An interesting and unusual assortment of history, culture, crafts, and stories to teach about the daily life of the pioneers. In chapters arranged by seasons, King chronicles the life of a fictional family. The women's work and pastimes are more detailed than those of the men, leading into the instructions for a variety of objects and foodstuffs that were fashioned by mothers and daughters, such as air-dried flowers, toys and games, homemade soda pop, johnnycakes, and various holiday ornaments. The author's research is evident, and the presentation of the activities and recipes is so engaging that the book will appeal to a wide audience. Shaded sidebars offer intriguing historical data about various customs and artifacts and explain how technology changed some of the traditional methods mentioned in the narrative. Suitable caveats are given with regard to getting adult help, or picking only flowers that do not belong to others. Churning butter and making cheese are often mentioned, but directions are not given. The bibliography is excellent. Pen-and ink drawings clearly demonstrate the steps for creating the various projects. A book that's enjoyable as well as educational.Marilyn Fairbanks, East Junior High School, Brockton, MA