Best books to teach homeschool kids

I'm homeschooling my two young children. I want to be able to create lessons now and as they get older that cover alternate history and how the world really works. I'm feeling overwhelmed by trying to choose just a few books to start since many of the authors featured on THC are prolific writers.

If anyone has suggestions on the best books to start with, I'd love to hear them.

(Greg and Gordon need to do a best of alternate history show 😉 )