American Children’s Books
As a mom of three, I love to keep our house stocked with books in every room in the house. The living room, play room, the bedrooms, the garage; I always want there to be an opportunity for our children to grab a book. Even before they can read, books open our children’s eyes to new worlds. The illustrations are such an important aspect at this age, as they tell the story alone. I am very conscientious about what books are brought into our home to ensure the quality of content (written and illustrated) is something edifying and good for my young children. We’re always on the hunt for fun American books to have in our house. We are not yet ready for the many series of chapter books that exist for older children, but we have found a good number that are wonderful for the younger ages (1st grade and below). Below is a list of books that are found in our home. Please share in the comments any great books we are missing! Happy reading!
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America the Beautiful
By Wendell Minor
Poem by Katharine Lee Bates
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This book is filled with stunning landscapes of all three verses of “America the Beautiful.” My kids are enraptured by beauty of the illustrations and the images have sparked some wonderful conversations.
The Great George Washington
By Katie Broussard
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Perhaps a tad biased, but this book is well loved in our home. My youngest daughter (1.5) loves to spot all the animals found within the pages. My eldest (5) has started asking wonderful questions about the Revolutionary War and the flag. It’s such a great starter book to introduce children to our founding.
Our Flag
By Carl Memling
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This book is an absolute favorite of ours. An older Golden Book, its images are bar none. The book discusses the development of the Stars and Stripes flag and its long transition from a flag of thirteen stars to fifty. It discusses the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, as well as the War of 1812. It’s great for bigs and littles and you can take as much or as little out of it as you desire.
God Bless America
By Irving Berlin
Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
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Another wonderful book that is adored in our home. It has been the means of teaching our young kids the song, God Bless America. It’s darling and a great book to have in your library.
A is for America
By Devin Scillian
Illustrated by Pam Carroll
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A beautiful book, A is for America shares important people, themes, and ideas via the alphabet. The illustrations are absolutely breathtaking. It’s a must.
This Land is Your Land
By Woody Guthrie
Illustrations by Kathy Jakobsen
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This is a book filled with the most eye-catching and detailed photos. It simply follows along the song, but the beautiful pictures tell the story.
I Hear America Singing
By Walt Whitman
Illustrated by Robert Sabuda
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This is beautifully illustrated to go along with Whitman’s poem. The pictures are as moving as the piece itself. Might be a little above the understanding levels of the littles, but a beautiful book to expose them to nonetheless.
Land of the Pilgrims’ Pride
By Callista Gingrich
Illustrated by Susan Arciero
We love this series of stories following Ellis the Elephant as she learns about our country’s history. I have found it grabs the attention of my older daughter best, but it’s a great book nonetheless. Beautiful pictures, exciting stories, and engaging dialogue.
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What is America?
By Michelle Medlock Adams
Illustrated By Amy Summer
We absolutely LOVE this book! This is a favorite in our home. It is read in rhyme and is perfect for littles. It explains all of the fun activities we do to celebrate America, but then focuses on the real reason we celebrate. It’s a fantastic introductory story for kids to teach them about the Fourth of July.
Purchase the book here.
A is for Abigail
By Lynne Cheney
Illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser
A is for Abigail is such a beautiful collection of stories about American women and their contributions to society. The illustrations are simply beautiful, hand drawn and filled with stunning detail. I love how much information is in this book; the pages are filled with information and so much to look at! From inventors to nurses, educators, authors, First Ladies, and creators, there are so many ladies who are recognized and remembered in this book. A wonderful addition to any library!
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Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books
Written by Kay Winters
Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter
This book provides such a beautiful insight into the early life of Abraham Lincoln. The pictures are hand painted and absolutely stunning; the texture of the art on canvas was left, providing textured art for our children to see. It discusses his early childhood and difficulties he endured, including the loss of his mother. It introduces the source of his great pursuits in his political years, including witnessing slaves at an auction block and the extreme injustice of man owning another man. It provides this information in a very age-appropriate and discussion-provoking manner. I would highly recommend this book, but perhaps to slightly older children, due to the nature of some of the content.
Purchase the book here.
Young Abe Lincoln: The Frontier Days, 1809-1837
Written and illustrated by Cheryl Harness
Another stunningly hand-painted book, Young Abe Lincoln details the early life of our sixteenth president. It goes into great depth the details of his youth, the pains of his adolescence, and important moments of his upbringing. The pictures are striking, full of detail and beautiful colors. It is a lovely book I would recommend to families young and old.
Purchase the book here.
Our Fifty States: A Family Adventure Across America
Written by Lynne Cheney
Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
Another delightful story by First Lady Cheney, Our Fifty States, beautifully dives into the wonderful parts of each of the states in the union. Absolutely filled to the brim with detail, this story captures the hearts and attention of our littlest patriots. My littles absolutely adore it! The illustrations are so beautiful, bright, and detailed! Such a wonderful book to have on the shelves.
Purchase the book here.
The Star-Spangled Banner
Written by Francis Scott Key
Illustrated by Peter Spier
My children love to learn new songs, but even more so when they are accompanied by a book. We love our stories of God Bless America and America the Beautiful, so they were just thrilled when we added this to our library, as well. It is such a great way to teach our National Anthem to our children and explain its meaning and history. The book is stunningly illustrated, filled with old hand-painted pictures depicting the War of 1812 and the moment that inspired Francis Scott Key to write this song. It includes all four verses and is an essential addition to your family’s library.
Purchase the book here.
All the Places to Love
By Patricia MacLachlan
Illustrated by Mike Wimmer
This beautiful story is one I include in every basket I give to a new mother. It is a stunning story of welcoming new life onto a farm and the beauty of the American dream. While not specifically patriotic in nature, it so perfectly captures the beauty of living in the American plains. The thoughtful words and gorgeous illustrations makes this book one you will return to time and time again.
Purchase this book here.
Johnny Appleseed
Poem by Reeve Lindbergh
Illustrations by Kathy Jakobsen
This is an absolutely stunning book telling the great story of Johnny Appleseed. The illustrations alone tell the story; rich in color and so full of beautiful detail. My children absolutely adore this book. I love how simple stories filled with history become natural favorites. I would highly recommend finding this book at your local library or purchasing for your home!
Purchase the book here.
Ox-Cart Man
By Donald Hall
Illustrated by Barbara Cooney
Another favorite in my home, Ox-Cart Man, is a timeless story of the American pioneer times, detailing the simple, yet profound life of a farming family. A Caldecott Medal recipient, this book is so peaceful; the repetition of the stanzas, hand-painted illustrations, and its lovely way of showing beauty in the mundane, this book is an essential part of any family’s library. I love how a book doesn’t have to be patriotic-specific to teach our youngest generation about our nation’s history.
Purchase the book here.