Best children european history books according to redditors

Let me just throw out the classic list /u/davidjricardo posts from time time.

Also, I love Dietrich Bonhoeffer's writings. The Cost of Discipleship and Life Together are essential reads. If you have never known Bonehoeffer's life story, this graphic novel is a great introduction.

Here's a book I found at the Library and read to my kids: Mesmerized by Mara Rockliff. A book about how Ben Franklin debunked Franz Mesmer. It's a lesson in history and critical thinking. Highly Recommended.

I don’t know if this might be it? https://www.amazon.com/Tudor-Odours-Smelly-Old-History/dp/0199100969

I hope you get some interesting replies to this. You probably need to clarify your meaning though; "castles from kingdoms".

For most of human history, Castles were more like a fortified house at the center of village, often where the villagers could take shelter if there was an attack. The vast majority of castles have very little living space square footage compared to what we see in movies. The walls surround a large interior space that is busy during peace times and haphazardly crammed with villagers during a siege.

There would have been a considerable amount of smaller, wooden structures that sprawled out and around the castle to provide support. Having cooking fires, and slaughter houses, and rodent attracting grain stores, and access to fresh water, and stables for animals, and facilities for disposing of animal waster, and space for hundreds of employees to sleep and live, all would happen outside the castle walls. Think of a castle instead as a center point of a large village and it's more likely to be an effective way of thinking about it.

That said, buy this book, https://www.amazon.com/Stephen-Biestys-Cross-sections-Castle-Biesty/dp/1465408800/

Despite it seeming being "for kids" it will probably have more info than any committed amateur might need to suss out what's going on in a castle.

Others that also look interesting.

https://www.amazon.com/Castle-Eyewitness-Books-Christopher-Gravett/dp/0756637694/

https://www.amazon.com/Year-Castle-Time-Goes/dp/1580137962/

With the exception of the rule of Charlemagne himself, I wouldn't say that the HRE was ever REALLY centralized. Having an elected Emperor has the tendency to make the princes elect more and more incompetent or weak rulers who won't threaten their own rule, or choose their own favorite candidates who they have in their pocket. The title of Emperor was certainly stronger up until the end of the Hohenstaufen dynasty which ended with the period awesomely known as the Interregnum (which sounds a lot better than "caution: we're between kings right now").

Basically, in 1250 Frederick II (Barbarossa's son) died and the princes couldn't decide which of his two sons to make Holy Roman Emperor... so they didn't. They consolidated their own power and the House of Hohenstaufen did the same. Eventually, the little known House of Habsburg secured the throne in 1273 (probably with a lot of bribe money and glibness) and had an ok run as Holy Roman Emperors and Empresses... for about 600+ years. At risk of characterizing an entire family line, the Habsburgs didn't make the Empire stronger or more centralized, but they certainly made Austria more powerful.

Frederick II also gave up a lot of power under pressure from the Pope.

EDIT: The Source Fairy Sprinkles Her Magic Pixie Dust Throughout

London:

Check if you can still reserve a visit to the Sky Garden.
And you should be fine with 7 days, there are a lot of things to see and do.

If you can, read the book [The Very Bloody History of London] -- it is a novelised comedic history book, you can get a lot of tips for places to visit from it.

And when he's ready for some eye bleach, he can read about The Berlin Candy Bomber. In WW2, this pilot dropped candy and gum tied to little homemade parachutes to hungry German children. I believe he's still alive.

M Is for Monocle: A Victorian Alphabet (Babylit Boardbooks) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1423642848/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_2SeXCbEQ79DW9

First of all, tell your niece she is amazing and will always be welcome in our land! (everybody is welcome, but she is even more welcome) ;)

In second place, and as an andalusian, I'm kind of "dissapointed" because most of the items are andalusians, and Spain is much more than Andalusia. Maybe you could try to purchase a book about Spain for kids along with all the items you said. Otherwise you'll end up buying tons of things, and this way you get your niece satisfied and introduced into lectures!

She needs this coloring book, too!

There's a wonderful series by a guy named Sasek. This Is London, This Is Paris, This Is Venice etc

They're pretty Eurocentric, but extremely adorable.

This is Rome https://www.amazon.com/dp/0789315491/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_TOaIybERBFZMK

The first thing that came to mind about books on war that are aimed at children is the British Horrible Histories book series. Keep in mind that these are anglo-centric but still fun nonetheless. They have books on WWI and WWII, for example.

On a more serious note, Usborne has released books on WWII aimed at a younger audience in association with the Imperial War Museum. WWI, WWII (see inside) and the introduction to WWII.

I was about the same age when I first became interested in the French Revolution (after having seen/read "The Scarlet Pimpernel"), and as a result it was principally the Terror that interested me as well. I remember reading several children's biographies of Robespierre, one of which was by an author named Carson and in a series called "World Leaders past and present." There is also a more recent one by Scholastic : http://www.amazon.com/Robespierre-Master-Guillotine-Wicked-History/dp/0531205037/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418333666&sr=8-1&keywords=robespierre+master+of+the+guillotine

Roald Dahl has a book called The Mildenhall Treasure. It is an okay book, but I read it mainly because of the artwork done by Ralph Steadman.

comment content: There's a wonderful series by a guy named Sasek. This Is London, This Is Paris, This Is Venice etc

They're pretty Eurocentric, but extremely adorable.

This is Rome https://www.amazon.com/dp/0789315491/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_TOaIybERBFZMK

subreddit: beyondthebump

submission title: Looking for English picture books about non-USA places!

redditor: epiphanette

comment permalink: https://www.reddit.com/r/beyondthebump/comments/5pxbqz/looking_for_english_picture_books_about_nonusa/dcvb894

As far as books, the DK Eyewitness books are pretty good for basic information. As they are meant for children they are picture-heavy but the pictures are very informative and the the text is usually tops.

As far the medieval era, they have:
Medieval Life,
Castles,
Knights,
as well as Arms and Armor

Another good picture-heavy, if a bit dry, book, cheap too, is Daily Life in Medieval Times: A Vivid, Detailed Account of Birth, Marriage and Death; Food, Clothing and Housing; Love and Labor in the Middle Ages

I also own The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in the Middle Ages: The British Isles From 500-1500 But theere are very little pictures and skims over some things while going into confusing detail on some others.

Are these the right books? £25 total.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edexcel-History-Making-Modern-World/dp/1446924092/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450530088&sr=8-1&keywords=Unit+3A+War+and+the+Transformation+of+British+Society

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http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edexcel-History-Making-Modern-World/dp/1446906744/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450530089&sr=8-1&keywords=Unit+2A+Germany+1918-39

EDIT: Oh sorry you wanted PDFs. I'll see if I can find any.

It's simply the textbooks that everyone uses.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1446906760?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1446906744?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

I love [A is for Abigail: An Almanac of Amazing American Women] (http://www.amazon.com/Abigail-Almanac-Amazing-American-Women/dp/0689858191). It's a really fun book, and teaches history in the process.

Just Breathe

A Year in a Castle (Time Goes By)?

Okay based on that I'm going to suggest a few things you could add to your wish list. I promise I won't be offended if you don't like them, but you might find something you're interested in. :)

Tea things:

First for cute tea things, I highly recommend the flowering tea pot I received it as an Arbitrary Day gift and it's awesome. The teas are delicious and most importantly, to me, the tea pot is sooo cute.

Mana Tea infuser a lot of people have this on their wish lists. I should add it to mine too.

Tea Sampler There are several samplers with different types of tea from this company and a bunch of others. You should look around for sure.

Hello Kitty Stuff:

Add on Hello Kitty alarm clock

This Hello Kitty toy It's adorable.

Mug

Ceramic travel mug

History related:

Hitler Youth This looks like it would be a fascinating read.

The Roads of the Roma: A PEN Anthology of Gypsy Writers

Gypsies Under the Swastika

The Rape Of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust Of World War II


Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II