Novels set in Tudor times

I have listed the novels I have found by which monarch they fall under.

Henry VII
Christopher Colombus: the life of the intrepid Italian explorer by Martin Howard. (Lives in action)
The Lark and the Laurel by Barbara Willard. A young woman is growing up without her father because he sided with Richard III
The Woolpack by Cynthia Harnett. Deals with merchants rather than the aristocracy.

Henry VIII
VIII by H M Castor. Told in the first person and in present tense the story of Henry VIII.
The Popinjay by Iona McGregor, 1969. Set in St Andrews, Scotland, it tells the story of David who is trapped in the town when the Lutherans take over the cathedral. Set in 1547.

Edward VI
Prince and the pauper by Mark Twain. Hard read because of the use of Olde English.
Treason by Berlie Doherty. Will is page to Prince Edward but his position puts his father in danger.
Traitor’s kiss by Pauline Francis. Story about Elizabeth and the period during which she lived with Catherine Parr and Thomas Seymour.

Mary 1
Stars of fortune by Cynthia Harnett. An early ancestor of George Washington is living near Woodstock

Elizabeth
A Traveller in time by Alison Uttley. A young girl travels back in time to the dispute between Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots.
At the house of the magician by Mary Hooper. Lucy gets a job in Doctor Dee’s house after running away from home.
Brother Dustyfeet by Rosemary Sutcliff (1952), illus. by C. Walter Hodges
Cue for treason by Geoffrey Trease. Young man discovers a plot against Elizabeth. Includes Shakespeare's company
Gunner’s boy by Ann Turnball (Tudor flashbacks). Jon wants to join the navy and fight the Spanish Armada
Isabel: Taking wing by Annie Dalton (Girls in many lands) Set in 1592
Montacute House by Lucy Jago. Cess is the poultry girl but one morning she finds a gold pendant. Includes witchcraft and politics and is aimed at teens.
Pirate Lord by Terry Deary. Loosely based on a real event and set aboard the Golden Hind
Raider’s tide by Maggie Prince. Historical and romantic drama set in the Border country about 16 year old Beatie.
Sir Francis Drake and his daring deeds by Roy Gerrard. A picture book in verse.
The Devil and his boy by Anthony Horowitz. Tom is helpless until he meets up with Moll Cutpurse and together they have to foil a plot against the Queen.
The Galleon by Ronald Welch. Set in 1583 Robert becomes involved in foiling a catholic plot to put Mary Queen of Scots on the throne.
The Queen Elizabeth story by Rosemary Sutcliff
The Spanish Letters by Mollie Hunter . Can Jamie and Macey thwart a Spanish plot in invade England and Scotland?
When beacons blazed by Hester Burton. Set at the time of the armada.

Mary, Queen of Scots
A Traveller in time by Alison Uttley. A young girl travels back in time to the dispute between Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots.
The Galleon by Ronald Welch. Set in 1583 Robert becomes involved in foiling a catholic plot to put Mary Queen of Scots on the throne.
The Puzzle ring by Kate Forsyth. A time travel novel this involves Hannah going back to Scotland in the 1560s to undo a family curse.

Shakespeare (Yes I know he is not a monarch!)
Shakespeare's apprentice by Veronica Bennett. Love story between an actor and the niece of the Earl of Essex
The Boy, the Bear, the Baron, the Bard by Gregory Rogers. Picture book without words. A boy on a trip to the globe goes back in time and meets everyone else in the title
The Player's Boy by Antonia Forest. Young boy leaves home and ends up in Shakespeare's company

The My Story series take the form of a diary written by a teenager of the period. The following are the ones that cover the Tudor period.
Anne Boelyn and me by Alison Prince
Armada: The Story of Thomas Hobbs, England, 1587-1588 by Jim Eldridge (2002) (My story)
Elizabeth (My Royal Story) by Kathryn Lasky
Henry VIII's Wives by Alison Prince (2011) (My story)
Lady Jane Grey, 1547 by Sue Reid (2012) (My story)
Mary Queen of Scots (My Royal Story) by Kathryn Lasky
My Tudor Queen by Alison Prince
The Bloody Tower by Valerie Wilding
The Queen's Spies: The Diary of Catherine "Kitty" Lumsden, London, 1583-1586 by Valerie Wilding (2006) [re-released as: To Kill a Queen ]

The Sparks seies are simple chapter books aimed at KS2.

Tudor Sparks are:

A Horse called Deathblow
A Pig called Henry
A Queen’s promise. Mary Queen of Scots
Birthdays are a serious business.
Captain Drake’s orders. Armada
Dancing for Captain Drake
Mystery at the globe
Plague! A Tudor epidemic

Greek Myths

We have been reading a lot of Greek Myths over the past month inspired by the Percy Jackson series. Percy Jackson thinks he is a normal boy but discovers that his father is a Greek God. The Greek Gods have survived through the ages by moving to wherever the main source of Western power is based, presently America. They are very enjoyable with a lot of humour but as I have revisited the myths I am even more impressed by Rick Riordan's knowledge of the myths. So far my daughter and I have read all five books in the Percy Jackson series and seen the first film which isn't bad for a book adaptation by Hollywood. My partner and son are now on the 4th book.

In reading the myths we have tried out a range of sources. We started with "The Usborne Book of Greek Myths" which is a nice introduction. "The Children's book of Myths and Legends" is very short (each myth is retold over a double page spread) but includes Norse, Aboriginal, Finnish and Irish amongst others. "The Orchard book of Greek Gods and Goddesses" has been our favourite so far as it is very funny. Following on from that one we have dipped into "The Orchard Book of Greek Myths" and "The Orchard book of the Unicorn and other magical animals".

For more factual books we have read "Gods and Goddesses" by John Malam which I would recommend, "Ancient Greeks" suitable for readers who are growing in confidence and "The British Museum pocket dictionary Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses" which was disappointing because it did not include as many of the minor gods as we wanted although fine as a quick reference guide. We have also read "The Greek News" which packs a lot of infromation into newspaper style columns and "You wouldn't want to be a slave in Ancient Greece" one of this enjoyable series which reads as though the reader has been captured by the Greeks to become a slave (reasonable Yuck factor!)

For activity books I found "Greek activity book" which is clearly laid out and includes the Greek alphabet, making Pandora's box, making Medusa's head shield and making a winner's olive wreath. "Ancient Greece fun book" is full of word searches, spot the difference, crosswords and number puzzles. "Spend the day in Ancient Greece" is American in origin. I haven't used this yet but a story is told of a special day for two Greek children and then activities grow out of that day.



Books

Ancient Greece (British Museum Fun Book) by Sandy Ransford. British Museum 1999
Ancient Greeks (Usborne Beginners) by Stephanie Turnball. Usborne 2004
The Children's Book of Myths and Legends retold by Ronnie Randall. Armadillo 2001
Gods and Goddesses (Ancient Greece) by John Malam. Wayland 1999
Greek Activity Book (Creative Fun) by Sue and Steve Weatherill, b small publishing, 2006
Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses (British Museum Pocket Dictionary) by Richard Woff. British Museum 2003
The Greek News by Anton Powell and Philip Steele. Walker 2008
The Orchard Book of Greek Gods and Goddesses by Geraldine McCaughrean. Orchard 1997
The Orchard book of Greek Myths by Geraldine McCaughrean. Orchard 1992
The Orchard Book of the Unicorn and other magical animals by Margaret Mayo. Orchard 1996
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Puffin, 2005
Spend the day in Ancient Greece: projects and activiities that bring tha past to life by Linda Honan.Jossey Bass, 1998
Usborne Greek Myths for Young Children retold by Heather Amery. Usborne 1999
You wouldn't want to be a slva in Ancient Greece by Fiona Macdonald. Hodder Wayland, 2001

Introduction

My name is Jane and I read lots of children's books. I have two children who are past the picture book stage but who still like to be read to. I occasionally am asked for suggestions for other people's children so I thought I would keep all my ideas here for anyone to find. Picture books can be easier to find but when they get older is when it can be harder.

I also love playing board ames and especially with my sonI have explored an awful lot. I will also include my views on board games.

Hope you enjoy reading them