Caedmon's Song by Ruth Ashby illustrated by Bill Slavin*

My eight year old and I read this picture book together to support our history unit. 
Caedmon, a cowherd, loves the outdoors and being in God's creation.  He, however, dreads when they all gather around the hearth to recite stories.  He hates poetry and cannot think of anything to sing.  One night he has a dream which transforms his life. 
Caedmon was a real person and his poem Caedmon's Hymn is the earliest known poem to be written in the Old English language.
A delightful read about early church history.  A great book to introduce illuminated letters, nuns/monks, abbey and other middle age vocabulary.
*Highly recommend.
-We own this book.