In honor of the 4th of July, here's a list of some great books we've read this year that teach the history of our country.

Great read-a-louds for Kindergarten - 2nd graders

Sam the Minute Man by Nathaniel Benchley tells the story of a boy who fights for the colonists.

George the Drummer Boy by Nathaniel Benchley tells another side of the revolutionary war we don't always know about. George is a drummer boy for the British. I learned he was a normal boy who didn't want to fight, but was obeying the king of England. (Joey)

Tomahawks and Trombones by Barbara Mitchell tells the story or of how one town used the music of the trombones to scare the Indian aways when they were going to attack. (Joey)

The Boston Coffee Party by Doreen Rappart is about a town of women who want to buy coffee but there was no more coffee except for at this one merchant's store who waited for the other merchants to be sold out of coffee before he sold his. He sold his for a higher price which wasn't fair to the women so they decided to have their own Boston coffee party. (Joey)

Six Silver Spoons by Janette Lowrey These children wanted to give their mother her birthday present of six silver spoons made by Paul Revere, but she was far away and the soldiers sometimes took valuable things from the colonists. So she disguised the spoons and rode with her brother to give her mom the gift on her birthday. (Joey)

These books are a little more academic, but are still full of pictures and written in a way for younger children.

Boston Tea Party by Cynthia Fitterer Klingel

Paul Revere's Ride by Cynthia Fitterer Klingel

The Revolutionary War by Cynthia Fitterer Klingel

The Declaration of Independence by Cynthia Fitterer Klingel

Great read-alouds for Kindergarten and up, or for silent reading for 2nd - 6th

Crossing the Delaware by Louise Peacock

In 1776 by Jean Marzollo

Let it Begin Here! Lexington and Concord by Dennis Brindell Fradlin

Picture Book of Paul Revere by David Adler

Paul Revere’s Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (Note, that this is a classic poem, but NOT the TRUE story of what really happened.)

Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys (oops, can't remember the author)
This *historical fiction book tells the story of the struggle to claim the land between the Virginians and New Yorkers. This was one of my (Chris') favorite history books this year.

YOUNG PATRIOT SERIES greats stories about pre-Revolutionary and Revolutionary events.

Phillis Wheatley: Young Revolutionary Poet by Kathryn Kilby Borland

John Hancock: Independent Boy by Kathryn Cleven Sisson

George Rogers Clark: Boy of the Northwest Frontier by Katharine Wilkie


* Most of these books are historical fiction which means they are based on a true story. The people and details may be made up to make the story more interesting.