The books listed below may be available through publishers, distributors such as bookstores or online retailers, or library systems.
Hernando de Soto
by Ruth Manning
Heinemann, 2001
This biography of de Soto explains how his travels led him to America and Florida.
Life in St. Augustine
by Sally Senzell Isaacs
Heinemann, 2002
The everyday life of settlers in St. Augustine, Florida, is chronicled from 1513 to 1845.
Osceola
by Rachel Koestler-Grack
Blue Earth, 2002
This biography recounts the life and leadership of Seminole leader Osceola.
The Seminole
by Stefanie Takacs
Scholastic, 2004
The author provides an overview of Seminole culture, past and present.
Juan Ponce de León and the Search for the Fountain of Youth
by Dan Harmon
Chelsea, 2000
Spanish explorer Ponce de León searched for the Fountain of Youth in what is now Florida.
Night Bird: A Story of the Seminole Indians
by Kathleen V. Kudlinski
Puffin, 1995
Night Bird is a Seminole girl whose clan must decide whether to stay in the Florida Everglades or move to the Oklahoma Territory in the 1830s.
The Great Florida Chase
by Bob Schaller
Baker, 2002
Adam and Ashley help solve a mystery that involves Seminole Chief Osceola, Ponce de León, and the Castillo de San Marcos.
Andrew Jackson
by Barbara Somervill
Compass Point, 2003
This biography of Jackson includes his military career in the South before he became President.
Pedro Menendez de Aviles
by Russell Roberts
Mitchell Lane, 2002
Roberts chronicles Menendez's career on the high seas and the establishment of the city of St. Augustine in Florida.
Hernando de Soto and the Exploration of Florida
by Jim Gallagher
Chelsea House, 2000
A chronicle of de Soto's exploits in Florida and his exploration of the Mississippi.
The Incredible Search for the Treasure Ship Atocha
by Brad Matsen
Enslow, 2003
The author describes the sinking of the Spanish galleon Atocha off the Florida coast in 1622 and modern efforts to salvage it.
The Strength of These Arms
by Raymond Bial
Houghton Mifflin, 1997
This photo essay shows how slaves were able to preserve some elements of their African heritage while working on southern plantations.
Legends of the Seminoles
as told by Betty Mae Jumper
Pineapple Press, 1994
A Seminole storyteller relates legends about the Corn Lady, the Deer Girl, and other creatures of the Florida Everglades.
Florida History! Surprising Secrets About Our State's Founding Mothers, Fathers, and Kids
by Carole Marsh
Gallopade, 1996
Some lesser-known facts about Florida's founders.
Dancing with the Indians
by Angela Shelf Medearis
Holiday House, 1993
Rhythmic verse recounts the author's family tradition of joining a dance to honor the Seminoles who freed her great-grandfather from slavery.
Freedom River
by Marjory Stoneman Douglas
Valiant, 1994
In the 1840s, as Florida prepares to become a state, an Indian boy, a black slave, and a white settler become friends.
The Seminole
by Liz Sonneborn
Franklin Watts, 2002
This comprehensive history includes primary source material and historical archives.
African Americans in Florida
by Maxine Jones and Kevin McCarthy
Pineapple Press, 1993
A chronicle of the contributions of 50 African Americans in Florida state history.
Treasures of the Spanish Main
by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
Benchmark, 2000
Readers explore the sinking of Spanish galleons near the Florida Keys in the 1600s and the subsequent salvage of their riches.
The Settling of St. Augustine
by Janet Riehecky
Gareth Stevens, 2003
St. Augustine's turbulent history is recounted from its development as a Spanish outpost in 1565 through the early eighteenth century.
Smithsonian Institution Information
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Smithsonian Institution
The Web site allows you to rummage about in the “Nation's Attic” and read selected articles from the “Smithsonian” magazine.
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