Books for Kids about the Island and the Charleston area

There are some great books about the local area written especially for kids. If you are interested in our island turtle program, Mary Alice Monroe has a good one called Turtle Summer: A Journal for my Daughter that is based on her popular books for adults, The Beach House and Swimming Lessons, both of which are set on the Isle of Palms. Turtle Summer is written in scrapbook form, and has lots of great photos and information about what you will find on the beach besides turtles, as well.

Fran Hawk, local author and fantastic children’s librarian, has written a great book about the Hunley which uses the legend of a coin given to one of the soldiers to make the story of the ill-fated first submarine come alive. The Story of the H. L. Hunley and Queenie’s Coin
will give some fascinating historical facts, as well as some of the archaeology involved in researching and recovering the sub.

Local painter Mary Whyte did the illustrations for Chestnut, which tells the story of a delivery horse at the turn of the century.

Shackles
by Marjory Wentworth, is a really beautiful and poignant story of what happens when some boys, playing in their Sullivan’s Island yard, find a pair of shackles left over from the days when slaves were shipped into this area to work the plantations. Written by the poet laureate of South Carolina, it captures the confusion of a boy trying to make sense of this chapter in history.

Another kids book with gorgeous illustrations, Circle Unbroken
explores the connections between the basketmakers and the generations who weave them. With beautiful poetry and art, you get a sense of the history and connection to the land. Mount Pleasant is one of the only places you can still buy this unique African American handicraft.

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