Historical fiction is a great way of finding out more about history. This list includes some great picture books and novels for young adults.
***HIGHLY RECOMMENDED***
Stone Age Boy
This historical fiction picture book is a great introduction to archaeology and stone age people for younger children – for us it is the one essential book on the subject.
Historical Fiction
Mini reviews of the ones we have read:
Picture Books
The First Dog (Reading Rainbow)Â by Jan Brett
Another beautiful picture book – Stone age boy Kip encounters Paleowolf. Paleowolf would like some of his food, but Kip doesn’t want to share. But they are not alone, and Kip soon finds out that having a wolf for a friend has advantages. A lovely look at how the first dog might have been welcomed into our lives. The artwork not only tells the story, but gives clues as to what is happening next and the page borders are filled with pictures of stone age artefacts.
- Minnow and the Bear by Benedict Blathwayt
A good picture book for a child that loves visual elements and tiny details, but disappointing as stone age historical fiction. Full review …
- Adventures in the Ice Age (Good Times Travel Agency)Â by Linda Bailey
Comic book time travelling adventures. This entertaining series takes modern day children back in time. We have found this a really approachable way to learn about the stone age. - The First Drawing by Mordicai Gerstein
Who drew the first cave art? A picture book imagining how the Palaeolithic world might have inspired a boy to create the first cave art.
Vibrant and lively illustrations.
Chapter books
Wolf Brother: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness Book 1Â by Michelle Paver
Book 1 of Chronicles of Ancient Darkness  (9+)
Torak’s father is killed by a giant, possessed bear and he must find new friends and family and save the clans. Very detailed descriptions of stone age life in Northern Europe, particularly strong on natural history and animals of the time. It touches on fantasy as it brings the mages and belief in magic of these people to life. Although an enjoyable read even as an adult, the six book series feels as though something is lacking in the writing or pace of the books.
Older children/Young Adult
- 11, 000 Years Lost (Amulet)Â by Peni R Griffin
Young adult fiction. A modern Texan girl Ester discovers an 11,000 year old spearhead. Her fascination with the people who made it leads to her time travelling into the past. Adopted by a group of mammoth hunters, who are an interesting mix of characters she must learn how to survive in a very different world. What was life like as a mammoth hunter, can they find food, and survive? Will Ester ever find her way home? A really good read.
More children’s historical fiction set in the stone age (we haven’t read these yet)
- The First Drawing by
- Brave by Wendy Constance
American Palaeolithic - Mammoth Boy by  John Hart
Young adult, palaeolithic - Anooka’s Answer by Marjorie Cowley
Upper Palaeolithic Europe - Stone Age Rampage (Time Hunters, Book 10) by Chris Blake
- Time travel series for younger readers.
- Journey to the Ice Age (Dinosaur Cove)Â by Rex Stone, Mike Spoor
- DFC Library: Mezolith by Ben Haggarty, Adam Brockbank
Graphic horror novel about a Mesolithic boy in what is now North East Yorkshire - Oogo the Cave Boy by P M Wallbridge
- A Bone from a Dry Sea by Peter Dickinson
Parallel stories of the daughter of a paleontologist and a prehistoric girl – explores the aquatic ape theory - Malu’s Wolf (Flyways)Â by Ruth Craig
- The Kin: Suth’s Story Bk.1Â by Peter Dickinson
Book 1 of The Kin Series - Dar and the Spear Thrower by Marjorie Cowley
- The Boy of the Painted Cave by Justin Denzel
- Maroo of the Winter Caves by Ann Turnbull
- Wolf-Woman (Laurel-Leaf Books)Â by Sherryl Jordan
Young adult fiction
View Children’s Historical Fiction: Stone Age on Amazon Listmania
Do you have any comments on these or any other historical fiction set in the stone age?
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