Southwestern Frontier Unit (American Girl Josefina) Book List

How much do you know about the colorful history and rich culture of America’s Southwestern Frontier?

This Book List is packed full of… well… BOOKS of course!  
But you’ll also find family friendly movies, hands-on activity guides, craft kits, games, and more resources that will spark your family’s IMAGINATION and take you back to Santa Fe, New Mexico in the early 1820’s!
Explore what life was like on the Santa Fe and El Camino Real Trails!  What you your family have to trade?
Would you live in a pueblo on a rancho like Josefina, the young girl in some of the stories?
Or would you travel along with the young men on the rough and adventurous trade routes?
Whip up a batch of cinnamon-y biscochos and curl up with your whole family and some of these books!
Let learning history together be something your kids REMEMBER!

Whether you are looking for-
*A unit study that covers the American Frontier
*History of the Spanish settlers in the early 1800’s American frontier
*Fresh ideas for great history books for kids
*History resources for your homeschool or classroom
This Books & Resources List should help!

 

If you are looking for the unit study, use the full *FREE* Southwestern Frontier Unit Study (American Girl Josefina) online, download a copy of the PDF Version,  and/or the Printable POWER Pack companion worksheets, grab a few of these books from the links below, your own bookshelves, or the local library, and you’re all set!

 

 

**SCROLL to the bottom of this page to find the rest of the America’s Southwestern Frontier (AG Josefina) unit resources including a *FREE* SOUTHWESTERN FRONTIER CHRISTMAS UNIT, a scope and sequence of ALL of the *FREE* American Girl History Units, and more!

 

 

 

Question #1-

What reading level are the books in this list geared toward?
I’ve made this list as varied as each family is.  🙂  Just like most every resource I put together, I attempt to write units that will be engaging for all ages, and with a few simple alterations, can be used by your entire family together, no matter what ages your children span.  If you don’t see something specific you are looking for, let me know and I’ll look on my own bookshelf, or see what I can find for you.
If you are curious about how I used these units to teach all 3 of my children at once, you can find an explanation in my first post for the Free Ancient History series.  Just scroll down a bit in that post and you’ll see the heading “How To Teach ALL Ages At Once”.  Because REALLY…who wants to teach 5 different history lessons ?!

Question #2-
The Unit Study is an American Girl Unit…Will the books be all geared for GIRLS?
Definitely not!  You will find all kinds of quality, Charlotte Mason, living history type books that will appeal to both your boys and your girls.  Though I do list the American Girl books as resources, there are lots and lots of other suggestions in this book list that are geared to your boys.  And if you are a family that loves hands-on history learning projects, they will be fun for EVERYONE!
I receive emails from many families telling me much to their (and their sons’) surprise, everyone is enjoying learning history together with these units and suggested books!

Have more questions?
Email me ch*****@*************es.com , message me on Fields of Daisies Facebook Page,  find me on Instagram, or leave a comment below!
I’m always happy to help!

**Required Disclaimer:
The links below go mostly to Amazon for which I am an affiliate.  I make a small commission on any sales when you click directly from this site…BUT at no extra cost to you!  Thanks friends  🙂

 

*Historical Fiction and Stories for America’s Southwestern Frontier Study –

   

 

*Josefina:  An American Girl 1824   (6 Book, Boxed Set)
*Meet Josefina,  Josefina Learns a Lesson,  Josefina’s Surprise  (3 book set)
*Josefina Mysteries: Secrets in the Hills  and The Glowing Heart
*Adelita
*Lewis & Papa: Adventure On The Santa Fe Trail
*Jose’s Buffalo Hunt:  A Story From History
*The Happy Hollisters and the Indian Adventure
*The Happy Hollisters At Mystery Mountain
*Where’s Eli Moore?  Exploring the Mystery of Carlsbad Caverns
*A Right Fine Life:  Kit Carson on the Trail
*The Girl Who Chased Away Sorrow   (Dear America series)
*Tree in the Trail
*Arrow to the Sun
*How Chile Came To New Mexico
*Ghost Town at Sundown  (Magic Tree House)  &  Wild West Fact Tracker
*The Three Little Javelinas
*All the Stars in the Sky    (Dear America series)
*Josefina: An American Girl   (Audiobook)
*The Day It Snowed Tortillas
*Juan and the Jackalope
*Peter Becomes a Trail Man, The Story of a Boy’s Journey on the Santa Fe Trail Peter Becomes a Trail Man, The Story of a Boy’s Journey on the Santa Fe Trail 
(I have not read this book.  I found it recommended on a Santa Fe Museum website)
*A Tale of the Western Plains
*Tucket’s Travels: Francis Tucket’s Adventures in the West, 1847-1849
(There is a whole series of these books about the Oregon Trail… the one above is the set, but you can find each book in the series in the link here –>  The Francis Tucket Books .   Best for older kiddos)
*Little Boy With 3 Names:  Stories of Taos Pueblo
*Rainbow Weaver
*Coyote Steals The Blanket:  A Ute Tale
*Calamity Jane
*I Survived The California Wildfires
*Twister On Tuesday   and Twister On Tuesday Fact Checker Companion
*I Survived!  The Children’s Blizzard of 1888
*A Song of Sun and Sky
*Gifts From Georgia’s Garden

  

*America’s Southwestern Frontier Non-Fiction/Informational Books-

*Welcome to Josefina’s World 1824
*Along the Santa Fe Trail: Marion Russell’s Own Story
*Francisco Vasquez de Coronado Explorer
(Junior Graphic Novel History series… I haven’t read these!)
*Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca: Explorer of the American Southwest
*What Were The 7 Cities Of Cibola?
*Native Peoples Of The Southwest
*If You Lived With The Hopi…
*The Pueblo
*Life in a Pueblo (Native Nations of North America)
*Pueblos:  American Indian Homes
*Children of Clay
*Taos Pueblo Painted Stories
*The Navajo
*The Apache
*The Zuni
*The Comanche
*The Ute
*Kit Carson Made History!
*My United States:  New Mexico
*New Mexico – Hello USA
*What’s Great About New Mexico?
*The Southwest
*National Audubon Society Field Guide To The Southwestern States
*E Is For Enchantment
*William Opened The Santa Fe Trail

 

*Surviving The Santa Fe Trail: This or That series
*Daniel Boone:  Frontiersman
*Which Way To The Wild West?
*What Was The Wild West?
*Wild West Fact Tracker
*Presenting Buffalo Bill:  The Man Who Invented The Wild West
*Buffalo Bill: Frontier Daredevil
*Through Georgia’s Eyes
*Georgia O’Keeffe  (Getting to Know America’s Great Artists)
*Don’t Forget To Remember
*Thoughts To Make Your Heart Sing
*The Wonder Of Creation
*Extreme Weather!
*Floods!
*Wildfires!
*All About Tornadoes!
*I Survived Tornado Terror:  True Stories!
*What Makes A Blizzard?
*Blizzards!
*New Mexico Trees & Wildflowers  OR  Wildflowers of Arizona & New Mexico

 

 

   

*Hands-On History Guides for Southwestern American Frontier-

*Josefina’s Cookbook  and  Josefina’s Craft Book
*Josefina’s Just For Fun Book
*Westward Ho!  An Activity Guide to the Wild West
*Explore the Wild West:  With 25 Great Projects
*Wild West Days:  American Kids In History
*Backyard Science and Discovery Workbook:  The Southwest
*Carlsbad Caverns National Park Activity Book
*A Family Guide To Biblical Holidays
(This book has so many meaningful and FUN ideas to celebrate with Jesus at the center!  I’ve pulled this book out so many times for ideas and reference over the years.)
*Weather Experiments For Kids

 

 

     

*Family Friendly History Movies–

–>I had a hard time finding family friendly movies for this unit.  If you know of some, please leave me a comment!!  I’d love to help other families and add them to our list!
As always PLEASE preview these movies!  I haven’t watched them all… and some not in years.  There are many good resources that give parents a review of movies.  Plugged In is a good one to start with… just enter the movie’s title into the search and they almost always have a detailed review!

*Buffalo Dreams
*A Million Miles Away
* A Tall Tale   (DVD)
* An American Tail:  Fievel Goes West
* Spirit
* Rango
* Home On The Range
*American Legends
*Davy Crockett
*Westward Ho The Wagons
*Ferdinand
*The Three Amigos
(Humor best for older kids)
*Holiday In Santa Fe
(This is a recent movie and I haven’t seen it)

You could also add the following movies if the spiritual aspects don’t bother you-
*Coco
*Encanto

 

   

 

*Frontier Games, Craft Kits, Coloring Books, and Other Fun Stuff!

*American Girl Doll Josefina & Book
*Josefina Paper Dolls
*The American Girls Party Book
*Josefina Mini Doll and Book
*Pueblo Village Paper Model
*Desert Life Sticker Activity Book
*Animals of the American Southwest Coloring Book
(Be sure to click on the sample pages!  Nicely done coloring book!)
*How To Draw:  New Mexico’s Sights & Symbols

*Gaby’s Latin American Kitchen: 70 Kid-Tested and Kid-Approved Recipes for Young Chefs
*New Mexico Cookbook
*Pottery Kit    OR   Painted Pottery Kit
(Try making your own pottery and painting it… OR buy the pottery already made and paint your design!)
*Native American Sand Art Kit
*Flower Press Kit
*Beginner Sewing Nativity Set
(THIS IS SO CUTE!!! )
*Wooden Nativity Set – Paint or Color with permanent markers!
*Wooden DIY Nativity Set
(I bought one of these from Family Dollar-  it is much thinner and won’t stand on it’s own.  This one looks like something that could be used as a keepsake for years to come!   You could paint this one solid color, or decoupage on pretty paper!)
*4 Mexican Celebration Paper Crafts Kit
*Plain White Luminary Bags
*Holiday Mini Hole Punches
*Small Dried Chilies  (for making ornaments or mini ristras)
*Pueblo Indian Cookbook
*Fun With Southwest Stencils
*How to Draw New Mexico’s Sights and Symbols
*Josefina’s Craft Book
*Embroidery Kit
*Wood Carving Kit
*Pig Cookie Cutter
*Piñon Nuts
*Wooden Craft Box   (Unfinished)

*Spanish Fun For K-5 
*Learn Spanish BINGO Game
*Farkle!
(Dice games were played by both Native Americans and settlers at El Rancho de Las Golandrinas.  Try learning this game Farkle, if you’ve never played!  You can also find more Southwestern Frontier Dice Games on their website!)
*Create Your Own Shea Butter Soap Kit
*Natural Lip Balm Making Kit
*New Mexico Wildflower Seed Packets

 

 

*Southwestern Frontier America Christmas History Books and Resources-

*The Farolitos of Christmas:  “Season of Renewal” and “A Child’s Christmas in New Mexico”
*The Night of Las Posadas
*The Legend of the Poinsettia
*Josefina’s Surprise
*Santa’s Sleigh Is On It’s Way To New Mexico!
*Christmas In New Mexico Cookbook
*Las Posadas: A Christmas Musical for Children
*The Happy Hollisters And The Trading Post Mystery
*Nine Days to Christmas
*I Saw Santa in New Mexico
*The Glowing Heart
*Josefina:  Sunlight and Shadows
*Changes for Josefina
*Navidad Means Christmas:  A New Mexican Holiday Story
*Twas Nochebuena
*Too Many Tamales

 

There’s MORE!
Be sure to check out my Top 10 History lists for my favorite History podcasts, movie finds, etc…

+Top 10 History PODCASTS
+Top 10 History SONGS
+Top 10 History TIMELINES
+Top 10 History AUDIOBOOKS
+Top 10 History MOVIES
+Top 10 History BOOKS
+Top 10 History GAMES
+Top 10 History HANDS-ON
+Top 10 History PRINTABLES
+Top 10 History FIELD TRIPS

And a bonus…
+Top 10 History for the HOLIDAYS

 

*Resources For America’s Southwestern Frontier- American Girl Josefina Unit Study-
*FREE Southwest Frontier America Unit Study – AG Josefina
+Josefina Printable Power Pack
+Southwest Frontier  (Josefina) Unit Study-  PDF Version
+Christmas Southwestern Frontier- Hands-On History  (Free)
+Josefina’s Southwestern Frontier Christmas POWER Pack
+Josefina’s Southwestern Frontier Christmas PDF Version
+Josefina- Frontier America Pinterest Board
+Southwestern Frontier (Josefina) Christmas Pinterest Board

–>You may also supplement this unit study for your older students by using some or all of the suggestions in the  Free Early American History Curriculum  and the Early American History Book List