Just take Amy's word for it. Blending stories into a study of history turns the past into a dynamic place. I have students balance fiction with fact, validate historical hypotheses with research.
Historical fiction is the spice.
It piques kids' curiosity. Although I sometimes begin units with chapter books, more often I start with picture books because they're engaging and full of information. The only rule is, no question can be asked twice. It levels the playing field. Some kids come to class with a deep background knowledge to draw upon, while others have just shallow reservoirs.