Looking for quality literature and books to share with your children while we’re all at home for the foreseeable future due to COVID-19? Here are some excellent options that will nurture a love for great classic literature and enduring historical figures:
Core Knowledge Curriculum:
The Core Knowledge Curriculum Series™ provides comprehensive, content-rich learning materials based on the Core Knowledge Sequence. Student readers, teacher guides, activity books, and other materials are available for Language Arts and History and Geography. Many of the Core Knowledge curriculum materials are free, because Core Knowledge is committed to the principle that every child in a democracy should have access to shared, enabling knowledge.
The Classic Starts Series
The Classic Starts book series by multiple authors includes such timeless treasures as The Swiss Family Robinson, Treasure Island, Around the World in 80 Days, and so many more.
Great Illustrated Classics
The stories in the Great Illustrated Classics have illustrations on every other page. They’re used by teachers, school librarians, and parents to encourage skill development at various reading levels. They are popular among the homeschooling community, who find them easy to integrate with tutorials and reading exercises.
Who Was? Series
With over 150 titles, Penguin’s Who Was? series tells the incredible stories of trailblazers, legends, innovators, and creators.
Geraldine McCaughrean Series
Award-winning children’s author Geraldine McCaughrean (pronounced Muh-cork-run). She has written more than 170 books, including The Canterbury Tales and Gilgamesh the Hero, published in 61 countries and her work has been translated into over 45 languages.
Do you have a favorite series or book recommendation? Share it in the comments below, or via email at pioneer [at] pioneergfa.wpenginepowered.com.
Explore more of Pioneer’s work to promote high-quality liberal arts content for K-12 students.
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Browse episodes of our K-12 education podcast, “The Learning Curve”:

November 19, 2025
In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Great Heart Academies’ Dr. Helen Baxendale and American Federation for Children’s Shaka Mitchell speak with…
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November 12, 2025
In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Center for Strong Public Schools’ Alisha Searcy speak with Sir…
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November 5, 2025
In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Center for Strong Public Schools’ Alisha Searcy and American Federation for Children’s Walter Blanks interview…
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October 29, 2025
In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Great Hearts Academies’ Dr. Helen Baxendale interview Leo Damrosch, Ernest…
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October 22, 2025
In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Center for Public Schools’ Alisha Searcy interview Dr. Anna Lembke,…
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October 15, 2025
In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Center for Public Schools’ Alisha Searcy interview Jack Johnson Pannell,…
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October 8, 2025
In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Walter Blanks of the American Federation for Children interview Prof. Robert Maranto and Sean…
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October 1, 2025
In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Center for Public Schools’ Alisha Searcy interview Randall Woods, John A. Cooper Distinguished Professor of History…
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September 24, 2025
In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and the Center for Public Schools’ Alisha Searcy interview Kerry McDonald,…
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September 17, 2025
In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Eos Foundation’s Andrea Silbert interview Dr. Gil Troy, senior fellow…
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September 10, 2025
In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Great Hearts Academies’ Dr. Helen Baxendale interview Dr. Kathryn Hughes,…
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September 3, 2025
In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and American Federation for Children Senior Fellow Shaka Mitchell interview John Kirtley, Managing Partner and co-founder of…
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August 27, 2025
In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Pioneer Senior Fellow Charlie Chieppo interview award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Jane Leavy. Ms. Leavy discusses her…
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August 20, 2025
This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Ret. MN Supreme Court Justice Barry Anderson interview Prof. Keith Hylton, William Fairfield Warren Distinguished Professor and Professor…
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August 13, 2025
This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Ret. MN Supreme Court Justice Barry Anderson interview Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and Pepperdine Law’s, Prof. Edward Larson. Prof. Larson marks…
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August 6, 2025
This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Dr. Helen Baxendale of Great Hearts Academies interview longtime public education champion…
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July 30, 2025
In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview University of Maryland Emeritus Professor of English…
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July 23, 2025
In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and Dr. Cara Candal of ExcelinEd interview former assistant secretary at the U.S.…
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