The Best Books to Study New England Before Your Homeschool Field Trip

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It's no secret that I love Massachusetts. New England is one of the richest regions in America for living history, literature, and nature study — and the best field trips start long before you leave home. Here are our favorite books to read before you visit, so the places you see feel like old friends.

Literature & Historical Fiction

• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Set in Concord, MA, this is essential reading before visiting Orchard House. Our children loved seeing the real rooms behind the story when we visited Concord, MA.
• Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey — A timeless, beautifully illustrated children's classic set in Boston that introduces younger students to the local landmarks of the city.
• Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes — A vivid introduction to the American Revolution in Boston and Lexington. Perfect for building context before walking the Minuteman trail in Concord.
• The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne — Written by a Massachusetts native, the Scarlet letter is considered a masterpiece of American literature. This one is for the high schoolers (and parents!) of the family.

Nature & Philosophy

• Walden by Henry David Thoreau (excerpts for younger students) — Even a few passages bring Walden Pond to life in a way no guidebook can. Older students can tackle more.
• A Field Guide to the Nature of New England  — Practical for identifying what you see on the trail. Great for nature journaling. Don't forget to pack this for your trip!
• Surrounded by Sea by Gail Gibbons — offers a glimpse into a year on a New England fishing island.
• Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney — teaches children about the power of giving back and beautifying their surroundings on the Maine coast.

Early American History

• The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare — Set in Puritan Connecticut, it builds the broader New England colonial context beautifully.
• Pilgrim Stories by Margaret Pumphrey — Compiled stories from original sources, including William Bradford's diary Of Plimouth Plantation and Edward Winslow's journal Good Newes from New England
• William Bradford: Pilgrim Boy by Bradford Smith — Young and old alike will enjoy this thoroughly researched and personable biography of the first Governor of Plymouth Plantation.

Picture Books & Early Readers

• And Then What Happened, Paul Revere? by Jean Fritz — Funny, accurate, and perfect for younger kids before a Concord visit.
• Henry Hikes to Fitchburg by D.B. Johnson — A gentle Thoreau-inspired picture book that introduces Walden Pond ideas to little ones.

Ready to visit? Once you've read together, bring the experience to life with one of our New England Travel Guides, specifically designed for homeschool families. Read our in-depth blog post on our trip to Concord, MA and grab our free Self-Guided Tour Notes 

Happy Adventuring!