Using novels to teach and learn history is an often-overlooked means to hook your youngsters on a love of history while simultaneously teaching about the past. Using novels to learn history can grab student interest, offer readers the opportunity to get involved with history at an emotional level, and help students retain history knowledge. An Internet search or visit to your community library or local bookstore will turn up great quantities of historical novels at all grade levels from picture books to young adult novels. You may be surprised at how many historical novels are available, but as always, we need to take care that what our children read aligns with our values. This workshop will present ideas for evaluating novels. HOW do novels contribute to learning history? First, we can use novels with our children and teens to spark research and conversations about periods and people in history. Second, many novels have “literature guides” written about them. You can search for “literature guides” on Amazon at amazon.com or Teachers Pay Teachers at teacherspayteachers.com. Third, because many good novels do not have lit guides written about them, we can develop our own study guides using a format that contains learning objections, teaching hints, creative activities, student assessments, and answer keys. This workshop will present (1) research about the benefits of using novels to teach history, (2) suggestions/lists for choosing novels that line up with your values, (3) several methods for using novels to teach and learn history, and (4) forms for creating your own study guides.