Great Books to Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution for kids of all ages!

In celebration of the the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, check out these books available at the Sussex County Library System for kids ages birth to 17.

In celebration, we have compiled a list of books that celebrate the people, ideas, patriotism and moments that shaped our nation. These great "reads" can help children connect to America’s past while imagining its future.

Updated June 12, 2026
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Sussex County Library System (NJ) Sussex County Library System (NJ)
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Great Books to Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution for kids of all ages!

In celebration of the the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, check out these books available at the Sussex County Library System for kids ages birth to 17.

In celebration, we have compiled a list of books that celebrate the people, ideas, patriotism and moments that shaped our nation. These great "reads" can help children connect to America’s past while imagining its future.

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Heroes of the Revolution /
Adler, David A.
Paper Book
From spying on the British to rescuing fallen soldiers on the battlefield, these twelve men and women stand as unforgettable heroes of Revolutionary War. David A. Adler's lively anecdotes and Don Smith's bold paintings present a dozen figures whose courage and determination to seek freedom were...
An American story
Alexander, Kwame
Paper Book
A Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Book A 2023 New York Times Best Children's Book A 2023 Publisher's Weekly Best Picture Book An NPR Best Book of the Year #1 New York Times Bestselling and...
Fever, 1793
Anderson, Laurie Halse.
Paper Book
An epidemic of fever sweeps through the streets of 1793 Philadelphia in this novel from Laurie Halse Anderson where "the plot rages like the epidemic itself" (The New York Times Book Review). During the summer of 1793, Mattie Cook lives above the family coffee shop with...
Sophia's war : a tale of the Revolution
Avi
Paper Book
Lives hang in the balance in this gripping Revolutionary War adventure from a beloved Newbery Medalist. In 1776, young Sophia Calderwood witnesses the execution of Nathan Hale in New York City, which is newly occupied by the British army. Sophia is horrified by the event and...
I survived the American Revolution, 1776
Ball, Georgia
Paper Book
A gripping graphic novel adaptation of Lauren Tarshis's bestselling I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 with text adapted by Georgia Ball and art by Leo Trinidad. Nathaniel Fox never imagined he'd find himself in the middle of a blood-soaked battlefield, fighting for his life....
America the beautiful
Bates, Katharine Lee
Paper Book
Four verses of the nineteenth-century poem, illustrated by the author's great-great-grandnephew.
Chester Nez and the unbreakable code : a Navajo code talker's story
Bruchac, Joseph
Paper Book
A Junior Library Guild Selection April 2018 2018 Cybils Award Finalist, Elementary Non-Fiction BRLA 2018 Southwest Book Award 2019 Southwest Books of the Year: Kid Pick 2020 Grand Canyon Award, Nonfiction Nominee 2020-2021...
Fireworks
Burgess, Matthew
Paper Book
WINNER OF THE 2026 CALDECOTT MEDAL! * SEVEN STARRED REVIEWS * A NEW YORK TIMES/NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR * THE SOCIETY OF ILLUSTRATORS GOLD MEDAL WINNER * KIRKUS' BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR * BOOKLIST'S EDITOR'S CHOICE PICKS OF THE...
George Washington's spectacular spectacles : the glasses that saved America
Castrovilla, Selene
Ebook
Did you know that George Washington had a secret? He wore glasses! While initially embarrassed by his reliance on this reading aid, Washington's spectacles proved to be nothing short of spectacular in this charming, funny, and little-known picture book story from American history.
The story of Ruby Bridges
Coles, Robert.
Paper Book
A Pulitzer Prize-winning author and a Coretta Scott King Award-winning illustrator bring to life the true story of an extraordinary six-year-old who helped shape American history when she became the first African-American sent to first grade in an all white school. This moving picture book captures...
Bud, not Buddy
Curtis, Christopher Paul.
Paper Book
Hit the road with Bud in this Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award-winning classic about a boy on a journey to find his father--from Christopher Paul Curtis, recipient of the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement.   It's 1936, in Flint...
Stella by starlight
Draper, Sharon M.
Paper Book
Sharon M. Draper presents "storytelling at its finest" (School Library Journal, starred review) in this New York Times bestselling Depression-era novel about a young girl who must learn to be brave in the face of violent prejudice when the Ku Klux Klan reappears in her segregated...
Her right foot
Eggers, Dave
Paper Book
"A friendly reminder of how America can be at its best." - Entertainment Weekly If you had to name a statue, any statue, odds are good you'd mention the Statue of Liberty. Have you seen her? She's in New...
Pure grit : how American World War II nurses survived battle and prison camp in the Pacific
Farrell, Mary Cronk.
Paper Book
In the early 1940s, young women enlisted for peacetime duty as U.S. Army nurses. But when the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 blasted the United States into World War II, 101 American Army and Navy nurses serving in the Philippines were suddenly treating wounded and dying soldiers while...
Who was Sacagawea?
Fradin, Dennis B.
Paper Book
A sixteen-year-old who made one of the most remarkable journeys in American history A woman who has mountains named after her The face on the new U.S. golden dollar coin All of the above! Find out more about the real Sacagawea in this fun and...
Lafayette and the American Revolution
Freedman, Russell
Paper Book
When the Marquis de Lafayette ran off to join the American Revolution against the explicit orders of the king of France, he was a strong-willed nineteen-year-old who had never set foot on a battlefield. Although the U.S. Congress granted him an honorary commission only out of respect for his title...
Shhh! We're writing the Constitution
Fritz, Jean.
Paper Book
Award-winning author Fritz takes readers behind the scenes at the Constitutional Convention for a good-humored history lesson, enlivened by dePaola's quirky illustrations.
If I ever get out of here :
Gansworth, Eric,
Paper Book
Now in paperback: The debut novel Laurie Halse Anderson praised for "fearlessly laying down the truth" about friendship, poverty, and the joys of rock 'n' roll.Lewis "Shoe" Blake is used to the joys and difficulties of life on the Tuscarora Indian reservation in 1975: the joking, the Fireball games,...
This land is your land
Guthrie, Woody
Paper Book
Honor America-and Woodie Guthrie's 90th birthday-with this beautiful gift package. Featuring the complete lyrics and musical notation to the beloved anthem "This Land is Your Land," as well as a photo-essay about Woody, a note from his daughter Nora Guthrie, and a tribute by beloved folk singer Pete...
Out of the dust
Hesse, Karen.
Paper Book
Acclaimed author Karen Hesse's Newbery Medal-winning novel-in-verse explores the life of fourteen-year-old Billie Jo growing up in the dust bowls of Oklahoma. Out of the Dust joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus...
Kira-kira
Kadohata, Cynthia.
Paper Book
kira-kira (kee ra kee ra): glittering; shining Glittering. That's how Katie Takeshima's sister, Lynn, makes everything seem. The sky is kira-kira because its color is deep but see-through at the same time. The sea is kira-kira for the same reason. And so are people's eyes. When...
The scrambled states of America /
Keller, Laurie
Paper Book
At the first annual "states party," Virginia and Idaho hatch a plan to swap spots so each can see another part of the country. Before the party is over, all the states decide to switch places. In the beginning, every state is happy in its new location. But soon things start to go...
National Geographic kids everything World War I
Kenney, Karen Latchana
Paper Book
Explore the fascinating history of America's first World War, meet the greatest military leaders and tacticians, and learn about key battles in this compelling new book in the popular Everything series.   Each book in the National Geographic Kids Everything series has more than...
Hattie Big Sky
Larson, Kirby.
Paper Book
Alone in the world, teen-aged Hattie is driven to prove up on her uncle's homesteading claim. For years, sixteen-year-old Hattie's been shuttled between relatives. Tired of being Hattie Here-and-There, she courageously leaves Iowa to prove up on her late uncle's homestead claim near Vida, Montana....
Henry's freedom box
Levine, Ellen.
Paper Book
A stirring, dramatic story of a slave who mails himself to freedom by a Jane Addams Peace Award-winning author and a Coretta Scott King Award-winning artist.Henry Brown doesn't know how old he is. Nobody keeps records of slaves' birthdays. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems...
Sarah, plain and tall
MacLachlan, Patricia.
Paper Book
"Did Mama sing every day?" Caleb asks his sister Anna. "Every-single-day," she answers. "Papa sang, too." This Newbery Medal–winning book is the first of five books in Patricia MacLachlan's chapter book series about the Witting family. Set in the late nineteenth century and...
A very large expanse of sea
Mafi, Tahereh
Paper Book
Longlisted for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature! From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Shatter Me series comes a powerful, heartrending contemporary novel about fear, first love, and the devastating...
We Are Mighty: 12 Ordinary Americans Who Did the Next Needed Thing
McMahon, Sharon
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER . "America's Government Teacher" and author of the New York Times bestselling The Small and the Mighty pens a hopeful picture book about twelve ordinary Americans who stood up to do the next needed thing. "Want mighty kids?...
I am Abraham Lincoln
Meltzer, Brad.
Paper Book
Each picture book in this series is a biography of an American hero, told in a simple, conversational, vivacious way, and always focusing on a character trait that made the person heroic. The heros are depicted as children throughout, telling their life stories in first-person...
I am Rosa Parks
Meltzer, Brad.
Paper Book
Civil Rights leader Rosa Parks is the 3rd hero in in the New York Times bestselling picture book biography series for ages 5 to 8. Each picture book in this series is a biography of a significant historical figure, told in a simple, conversational, vivacious way, and always...
History smashers. The American Revolution
Messner, Kate
Paper Book
Myths! Lies! Secrets! Uncover the hidden truth behind the Revolutionary War with beloved educator/author Kate Messner. The fun mix of sidebars, illustrations, photos, and graphic panels make this perfect for fans of I Survived! and Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales. On...
Blue sky white stars
Naberhaus, Sarvinder
Paper Book
An inspiring and patriotic tribute to the beauty of the American flag, a symbol of America's history, landscape, and people, illustrated by New York Times bestselling and Caldecott-honor winning artist Kadir Nelson Wonderfully spare, deceptively simple verses pair with...
American revolution :
Osborne, Mary Pope
Ebook
The #1 bestselling chapter book series of all time celebrates 25 years with new covers and a new, easy-to-use numbering system! Getting the facts behind the fiction has never looked better. Track the facts with Jack and Annie! When Jack and Annie got back from their...
Benjamin Franklin :
Osborne, Mary Pope
Paper Book
Track the facts about the great printer, inventor, and Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin! When Jack and Annie came back from their adventure in Magic Tree House #32- To the Future, Ben Franklin! they had lots of questions. What was Ben Franklin's first job? How did a kite...
To the future, Ben Franklin!
Osborne, Mary Pope
Paper Book
Get whisked away through time in the magic tree house with Jack and Annie in the #1 bestselling series--and meet famous Founding Father and inventor Ben Franklin! Jack and Annie know all about Ben Franklin. He was a Founding Father, a journalist, and a famous inventor! When the...
To the future, Ben Franklin!
Osborne, Mary Pope.
CD
Get whisked away through time in the magic tree house with Jack and Annie in the #1 bestselling series--and meet famous Founding Father and inventor Ben Franklin! Jack and Annie know all about Ben Franklin. He was a Founding Father, a journalist, and a famous inventor! When the...
Planet earth is blue
Panteleakos, Nicole
Paper Book
"Tender and illuminating. A beautiful debut." --Rebecca Stead, Newbery Medal-winning author of When You Reach Me A heartrending and hopeful debut novel about a nonverbal girl and her passion for space exploration, for fans of See You in the Cosmos, Mockingbird, and...
Fly girls : the daring American women pilots who helped win WWII
Pearson, P. O'Connell
Paper Book
In the tradition of Hidden Figures, debut author Patricia Pearson offers a beautifully written account of the remarkable but often forgotten group of female fighter pilots who answered their country's call in its time of need during World War II. At the height of World War...
Martin's big words : the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Rappaport, Doreen.
CD
Illustrated by Bryan Collier Winner of the 2001 NY Times Best Illustrated Children's Book Award, Rappaport weaves her simple and graceful text and the words of Martin Luther King Jr. into a captivating narrative, telling the story of Dr. King's life in a way that is entirely accessible for young...
We the People Is All the People: A Picture Book
Reeves, Howard W
Paper Book
Who are the "we" of "we the people"? This collaboration between award-winning artist Duncan Tonatiuh and author Howard W. Reeves celebrates inclusion, exploring what the preamble to our United States constitution leaves unsaid We the people of the United States, in order to...
They called her Molly Pitcher
Rockwell, Anne F.
Paper Book
The rousing true tale of an American Revolution heroine. When her husband joined General Washington’s army, Molly Hays went with him. All through the winter at Valley Forge, Molly watched and listened. Then in July, in the battle at Monmouth, she would show how much she had learned. Molly...
The skeleton in the Smithsonian
Roy, Ron
Paper Book
From popular A to Z Mysteries author Ron Roy comes a red, white, and blue mystery perfect for the election season!  In the third book of the Capital Mysteries--an early chapter book mystery series featuring fun facts and famous sites from Washington, D.C.-- KC and...
A spy in the White House
Roy, Ron
Paper Book
From popular A to Z Mysteries author Ron Roy comes ared, white, and blue mystery perfect for the election season! In the fourth book of the Capital Mysteries-an early chapter book mystery series featuring fun facts and famous sites from Washington, D.C.-KC's mom is getting...
The election-day disaster /
Roy, Ron,
Paper Book
From popular A to Z Mysteries author Ron Roy comes a red, white, and blue mystery perfect for the election period!   In the tenth book of the Capital Mysteries--an early chapter book mystery series featuring fun facts and famous sites from Washington, D.C.--KC and her...
The ghost at Camp David /
Roy, Ron,
Paper Book
From popular A to Z Mysteries author Ron Roy comes ared, white, and blue mystery perfect for the election season! In thetwelfth book of the Capital Mysteries-an early chapter book mystery series featuring fun facts and famous sites from Washington, D.C.-a legend says that on a...
Kidnapped at the Capital
Roy, Ron
Paper Book
From popular A to Z Mysteries author Ron Roy comes a red, white, and blue mystery perfect for the election season! In thesecond book of the Capital Mysteries-an early chapter book mystery series featuring fun facts and famous sites from Washington, D.C.-KC and Marshall are...
Turkey trouble on the National Mall /
Roy, Ron,
Paper Book
Every year, the president pardons one turkey for Thanksgiving. One. But KC and her best friend, Marshall, think one isn't enough! This year, they want to gather lots of turkeys to be spared. The night before the holiday, the turkeys are in a big flock on the National Mall waiting to be set free. The...
Esperanza rising
Ryan, Pam Muñoz.
Paper Book
**CELEBRATING 25 YEARS IN PRINT!** A modern classic for our time and for all time―this beloved, award-winning bestseller resonates with fresh meaning for each new generation. Perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo, Christopher Paul Curtis, and Rita Williams-Garcia. ...
George vs. George : the American Revolution as seen from both sides
Schanzer, Rosalyn.
Paper Book
There are two sides to every story. Rosalyn Schanzer's engaging and wonderfully illustrated book brings to life both sides of the American Revolution. The narrative introduces anew the two enemies, both named George: George Washington, the man who freed the American colonies from the British, and...
The true history of Lyndie B. Hawkins
Shepherd, Gail
Paper Book
A one-of-a-kind voice lights up this witty, heartwarming debut set in 1985 Tennessee about the power of homespun wisdom (even when it's wrong), the clash between appearances and secrets, and the barriers to getting help even when it's needed most. Lyndie B. Hawkins loves history, research, and...
Hidden figures : the true story of four black women and the space race
Shetterly, Margot Lee
Paper Book
Based on the New York Times bestselling book and the Academy Award-nominated movie, author Margot Lee Shetterly and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award winner Laura Freeman bring the incredibly inspiring true story of four black women who helped NASA launch men into space to...
Hidden figures : the untold true story of four African-American women who helped launch our nation into space
Shetterly, Margot Lee
Paper Book
Based on the New York Times bestselling book and the Academy Award--nominated movie, author Margot Lee Shetterly and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award winner Laura Freeman bring the incredibly inspiring true story of four black women in STEM who helped NASA launch men into space...
John, Paul, George & Ben
Smith, Lane.
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling creator and Caldecott Honor recipient Lane Smith comes a fun story of five little lads before they became five really big Founding Fathers--perfect for celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence!  ...
Who were the Tuskegee Airmen?
Smith, Sherri L.
Paper Book
It's up, up, and away with the Tuskegee Airmen, a heroic group of African American military pilots who helped the United States win World War II. During World War II, black Americans were fighting for their country and for freedom in Europe, yet they had to endure a totally...
Where is the White House?
Stine, Megan.
Paper Book
Learn about the White House, how it came to be, the changes it has experienced since its initial design, and more in this detailed history for young readers, part of the beloved Where Is? series. The perfect way to celebrate America's 250th anniversary! The history of the White...
I survived the American Revolution, 1776
Tarshis, Lauren
Paper Book
Bestselling author Lauren Tarshis tackles the American Revolution in this latest installment of the groundbreaking, New York Times bestselling I Survived series. British soldiers were everywhere. There was no escape. Nathaniel Fox never imagined he'd find himself in the...
I survived the American Revolution, 1776 /
Tarshis, Lauren
Paper Book
Bestselling author Lauren Tarshis tackles the American Revolution in this latest installment of the groundbreaking, New York Times bestselling I Survived series. British soldiers were everywhere. There was no escape. Nathaniel Fox never imagined he'd find himself in the...
I survived the American Revolution, 1776
Tarshis, Lauren.
Paper Book
A gripping graphic novel adaptation of Lauren Tarshis's bestselling I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 with text adapted by Georgia Ball and art by Leo Trinidad. Nathaniel Fox never imagined he'd find himself in the middle of a blood-soaked battlefield, fighting for his life....
I survived the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863
Tarshis, Lauren.
Paper Book
The bloodiest battle in American history is under way . . .It's 1863, and Thomas and his little sister, Birdie, have fled the farm where they were born and raised as slaves. Following the North Star, looking for freedom, they soon cross paths with a Union soldier. Everything changes: Corporal Henry...
Roll of thunder, hear my cry
Taylor, Mildred D.
Paper Book
A stunning repackage of Mildred D. Taylor's Newbery Award-winning masterpiece with cover art by two-time Caldecott Honor Award winner Kadir Nelson and an introduction by Jacqueline Woodson! Set in Mississippi at the height of the Depression, this is the story of one family's...
The American Revolution
Thompson, Ben
Paper Book
Now available in paperback, this fourth book in the action-packed Guts & Glory series takes readers through the exciting and fascinating history of the American Revolution. Perfect for history buffs, reluctant readers, and fans of Hamilton! From George Washington crossing...
My red, white, and blue
Tyson, Alana
Paper Book
A powerful story about the mixture of pride and pain that one Black family finds in the American flag, and an invitation for each of us to choose how we relate to America, its history, and the flag that means so many things to so many people. "With engaging, lyrical text, and...
Red, white, and boom!
Wardlaw, Lee
Paper Book
Fireflies flit Sparklers spit Pinwheels spin Goosebump skin It's the Fourth of July! Travel across the country for a city parade, a beach picnic, and fireworks in the park in this poetic celebration of the many cultures and traditions that...
One Crazy Summer: The Graphic Novel
Williams-Garcia, Rita
Paper Book
"I wish I didn't know that I was marching my sisters into a boiling pot of trouble cooking in Oakland..." Eleven-year-old Delphine is like a mother to her two younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern. She's had to be, ever since their mother, Cecile, left them seven years ago for a radical new...
One crazy summer
Williams-Garcia, Rita.
Paper Book
Eleven-year-old Delphine has it together. Even though her mother, Cecile, abandoned her and her younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern, seven years ago. And even though Delphine must look after her sisters during a summer trip to California to visit Cecile. When they arrive on the West...
Show way
Woodson, Jacqueline.
CD
Winner of a Newbery Honor! Soonie's great-grandma was just seven years old when she was sold to a big plantation without her ma and pa, and with only some fabric and needles to call her own. She pieced together bright patches with names like North Star and Crossroads, patches with...
This is the rope : a story from the Great Migration
Woodson, Jacqueline.
Paper Book
The story of one family's journey north during the Great Migration starts with a little girl in South Carolina who finds a rope under a tree one summer. She has no idea the rope will become part of her family's history. But for three generations, that rope is passed down, used for everything from...
My life as an ice cream sandwich
Zoboi, Ibi Aanu
Paper Book
National Book Award-finalist Ibi Zoboi makes her middle-grade debut with a moving story of a girl finding her place in a world that's changing at warp speed. Twelve-year-old Ebony-Grace Norfleet has lived with her beloved grandfather Jeremiah in Huntsville, Alabama ever since she...
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