When British soldiers accuse Samuel Richardson’s father and uncle of being rebellious Patriots, Samuel must work together with his cousin Molly to help the family make an escape. Follow along on their adventure as they witness the early days of the American Revolution and come up with a daring plan to save their fathers. 6-9 years
Independent Dames: What You Never Knew About the Women and Girls of the American Revolution
By Laurie Halse Anderson, Illustrated by Matt Faulkner
Listen up! You’ve all heard about the great men who led and fought during the American Revolution. But did you know that the guys only made up part of the story? What about the women? The girls? The dames? Didn’t they play a part? Of course they did! 6-10 years
King George What Was His Problem?
By Steve Sheinkin, Illustrated by Tim Robinson
Entire books have been written about the causes of the American Revolution. This isn’t one of them. It’s the story of the birth of our nation, complete with soldiers, spies, salmon sandwiches, and real facts you can’t help but want to tell everybody you know.
Answering the Cry of Freedom: Stories of African Americans and the American Revolution
By Gretchen Woelfle, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
Even as American Patriots fought for independence from British rule during the Revolutionary War, oppressive conditions remained in place for the thousands of enslaved and free African Americans living in this country. But African Americans took up their own fight for freedom by joining the British and American armies; preaching, speaking out, and writing about the evils of slavery; and establishing settlements in Nova Scotia and Africa.
The thirteen stories featured in this collection spotlight charismatic individuals who answered the cry for freedom, focusing on the choices they made and how they changed America both then and now. These individuals include: Boston King, Agrippa Hull, James Armistead Lafayette, Phillis Wheatley, Elizabeth “Mumbet” Freeman, Prince Hall, Mary Perth, Ona Judge, Sally Hemings, Paul Cuffe, John Kizell, Richard Allen, and Jarena Lee. Includes individual bibliographies and timelines, author note, and source notes.
You Wouldn’t Want to Be at the Boston Tea Party!
By Peter Cook, Illustrated David Antram
This lively book will interest young and reluctant readers by making them part of the story and inviting them to become the main character. Grades 2-3
Ben’s Revolution: Benjamin Russell and the Battle of Bunker Hill
By Nathaniel Philbrick, Illustrated by Wendell Minor
Benjamin Russell is in school on the morning of April 19, 1775. His teacher announces, The war’s begun, and you may run!” Ben knew this day was coming. After all, tensions had been mounting between the colonists and the British troops ever since the Boston Tea Party. And now they have finally reached the breaking point. Much to Ben’s surprise, Boston is sealed off later that day, leaving him stuck outside the city, in the middle of a war, with no way toreach his family. But Ben isn’t worried, he’s eager to help the Patriots! 7-9 years
Guts and Glory: The American Revolution
By Ben Thompson
From George Washington crossing the icy Delaware River, to Molly Pitcher fearlessly firing her cannon, the people of the American Revolution were some of the bravest and most inspiring of all time. Jump into a riot in the streets of Boston, join the Culper Spy Ring as they steal secrets in the dead of night, and watch the signing of the Declaration of Independence in this book about the birth of the United States. 10-13 years
George vs. George
The American Revolution as Seen from Both Sides
By Rosalyn Schanzer
This story introduces anew the two enemies, both named George. George Washington is the man who freed the American colonies from the British. And George III, is the British king who lost them. Two leaders on different sides of the Atlantic, yet with more in common than we sometimes acknowledge. Was King George a “Royal Brute” as American patriots claimed? Or was he, as othersbelieved, “the father of the people?” Was George Washington a scurrilous traitor, as the king’s supporters claimed? Of should we remember and celebrate him as “the father of our country?” History teaches us that there are two sides to every story. 9-12 years
And Then What Happened Paul Revere?
By Jean Fritz, Illustrated by Margot Tomes
Everyone knows about Paul Revere’s midnight ride. But not everyone knows the harrowing details and narrow escapes that occurred along the way. This timeless and funny book highlights little-known facts about patriot Paul Revere. 7-9 years
What Is The Declaration of Independence?
By Michael C. Harris, Illustrated by Jerry Hoare
On a hot summer day near Philadelphia in 1776, Thomas Jefferson sat at his desk and wrote furiously until early the next morning. He was drafting the Declaration of Independence, a document that would sever America’s ties with Britain and announce a new nation — the United States of America. Colonists were willing to risk their lives for freedom. The Declaration of Independence made it official. Discover the true story of one of the most radicaland uplifting documents in history and follow the action that fueled the Revolutionary War. 8-12 years
American Revolution: DK Eyewitness Books
By Stuart Murray
Be an eyewitness to the American struggle for independence. Discover how a few brave patriots battled a great empire. See the muskets and cannons of the armies. Learn how soldiers were drilled and find out why Yorktown was not the end of the Revolutionary War. 8-12 years
The book description used are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
No matter how busy he was, Ben Franklin always found time to try out new ideas. He was a man of many talents. He was also an ambassador to England, a printer, an almanac maker, a politician, and even a vegetarian (for a time.)
George Washington’s Breakfast
George Washington Allen, a boy who never gives up until he finds out what he wants to know, is determined to learn all there is to know about his namesake, including what the first president ate for breakfast. The humorous story and likeable colored illustrations bring history alive and make research meaningful — Booklist.
And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?
Everyone knows about Paul Revere’s midnight ride. But not everyone knows the harrowing details and narrow escapes that occurred along the way. This timeless, funny book highlights little-known facts about patriot Paul Revere.
Will You Sign Here, John Hancock?
Everyone knows that John Hancock was one of the first signers of the Declaration of Independence. But not many know that he signed his name so large to show how mad he was about how the colonists had been treated. This fun book highlights little-known facts about this historical figure.
George Washington’s Mother
Everyone has a mother. Even George Washington. But Mary Washington is nothing like you’d think. She hates to dress up. And she always thinks she knows what’s best for George. After all, she’s his mother. You can read more about her in this true story.
Where Was Patrick Henry On the 29th of May?
Patrick Henry wasn’t particularly well spoken. As a lawyer, he mumbled through some of his early cases. But when the issue was freedom, Patrick Henry was transformed into a natural orator. Jean Fritz makes history come alive as she chronicles the life of a man who moved a nation.
Why Don’t You Get A Horse, Sam Adams?
In early America, when all the men wore ruffled shirts and rode grandly on horseback, one man refused to follow suit. He was the rebel leader Sam Adams, a plainspoken gent who scorned ruffles, refused to ride a horse, and had little regard for the king.
Can’t You Make Them Behave, King George?
Jean Fritz sheds light on the life of England’s King George III. She begins when he was a bashful boy who blushed easily, continues to his early days as king, and examines his role in the American Revolution, when Americans ceased to think of him as good King George.
Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution
This factual gem that’s written with Jean Fritz’s humorous touch chronicles the hot summer of 1787 when fifty-five delegates from thirteen states huddled together in the strictest secrecy in Philadelphia to draw up the constitution of the United States.
If you like this article, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Books descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.
