10 Patriotic Books: The Best 4th of July Books for Kids

These patriotic books are the perfect picture books to read if you’re looking for 4th of July Books for kids or books to read for Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, or other patriotic holidays! Pop in your email address below and I’ll send the list right to your inbox!

The Fourth of July is just around the corner and on the actual day, reading patriotic books with my kids is probably not on my agenda.

But the weeks leading up to the holiday are the perfect time for checking out some 4th of July books for kids and helping them understand the significance of Independence Day.

I love a good BBQ or setting off fireworks as much as the next person on the Fourth of July with my kids, but I want to make sure they also understand what we’re celebrating with all those hamburgers and sparklers, and these Fourth of July books for kids are a great lead-in to those conversations.

Alternatively, these are great patriotic books for other days of remembrance like Memorial Day or 9/11 or Veteran’s Day or President’s Day.

Patriotic Books for Children

1. Those Rebels, John and Tom by Barbara Kerley, illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham. This is probably my favorite of all the books this duo has written together. This book points out the (many) differences between two famous founding Fathers, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. They certainly had a relationship with a lot of friction, but impressively, they were both willing to put aside their personal feelings to work toward a common goal and build a new nation built on their shared ideals of liberty. Plus, it’s an easy way to bring up sibling relationships that might need a little redirecting away from rivalry and toward shared goals. 
2. Blue Sky White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus, illustrated by Kadir Nelson. This book has very little text and showcases images that represent America, from the Statue of Liberty to the Grand Canyon, from a NASA blast-off to Civil Rights marchers. It’s a great conversation starter with children, and I am obsessed with Kadir Nelson’s illustrations – his art is just off-the-charts amazing.
3. So You Want to Be President by Judith St. George, illustrated by David Small – This Caldecott winner is one of my favorites. It’s definitely on the longer side for a picture book, but it’s packed with interesting info and really funny.
4. Paul Revere’s Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, illustrated by Ted Rand. Back in elementary school, I memorized this whole poem and I’ve loved it ever since. Even if the poem isn’t totally historically accurate, it’s a patriotic classic. Bonus points if you act it out! 
5. Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers, illustrated by Shawn Harris. This non-fiction book garnered approximately forty million awards when it came out a couple of years ago and for good reason. This look at the Statue of Liberty and what she represents with her right foot walking forward is so touching. You can watch a little book trailer here to get a feel for it.
6. John, Paul, George & Ben by Lane Smith. I LOVE Lane Smith and his wacky brand of humor, and this book made Bart and I both cry with laughter when we picked it up in a bookstore in New York City years ago. It still does!
7. A is for Abigail: An Almanac of Amazing American Women by Lynne Cheney, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. This almanac showcases hundreds of American women, ranging from super famous to ones you’ve never heard of, but all of whom made a difference in American history. 
8. George vs. George: The American Revolution As Seen from Both Sides by Rosalyn Schanzer. This book, which is aimed at older elementary school readers, does an impressive job looking at both sides of the Revolutionary War as well as the famous people involved in it. The illustrations are fun too, which makes it perfect for a summer afternoon.
9. You Wouldn’t Want to Be at the Boston Tea Party!: Wharf Water Tea You’d Rather Not Drink by Peter Cook, David Antram and David Salariya – This whole series is wildly popular (when I was a librarian, I couldn’t keep them on the shelves), and this one is perfect for understanding the seeds of the American Revolution.
10. Independent Dames: What You Never Knew About the Women and Girls of the American Revolution by Laurie Halse Anderson, illustrated by Matt Faulkner. I love Laurie Halse Anderson’s fantastic historical picture books and this one is no exception.