Dozens of projects and activities that will take you back to the days of the American Civil War. Travel back to 1862 and spend a year with the Wheelers, an African American family in New York City, and the Parkhursts, a white family in Charleston, South Carolina.

Eleven-year-old Emily Parkhurst and twelve-year-old Timothy Wheeler are eager to share the fun, adventure, and hard work of their daily lives. Along the way, they’ll show you how to play the games they play and make the toys and crafts they make. Make your own apple pandowdy and whip up a batch of tasty gingerbread. Send top-secret messages in Morse code, gather materials for crafting evergreen wreaths and pinecone turkeys,and sculpt a miniature sheep out of homemade clay dough. Play the exciting African game of mankala—that is, if you have time after making your own potato-print wrapping paper, papier-mâché bowl, and marzipan decorations.

Civil War Days is filled with interesting historical information and facts about growing up in days gone by. Discover how different—and how similar—life was for American kids in history.

R ecommended for Children Ages 8 to 1 2