It is the time of year when people like to start dreaming about the 4th of July, fireworks, and the history of the USA. As a person who grew up in a household that loved to celebrate the founding of this country, I tend to read a lot of books that make me want to go out and cheer for the red, white, and blue. Here are five books that are all about the United States and what makes it great. Enjoy!
Written by Brad Timm
Illustrated by Jill De Haan and Margaux Samson Abadie
Beverly, MA: Wide Eyed Editions, 2026. 207 p.
This is a great encyclopedia that celebrates all the plants, animals, and insects that are found around the 50 states. The book is organized according to state, so readers who want to know what the main trees, bugs, or whatnot in each state are can find things that way.
Written by Bob McKinnon
Illustrated by Thai My Phuong
New York: Penguin Workshop, 2024. Picture Book.
What if America was a person and not just a country? In this picture book a child named “America” (that you never see illustrated since the perspective is always from their point of view) needs to introduce themselves to a new class. America freezes and isn’t sure what to say. They then read books about strong people that inspire them (Abraham Lincoln, Sojourner Truth, Amelia Earhart, etc.) before deciding that they can be brave and introduce themselves and what they dream about. It is a great book to think abstractly about America and what we all dream for our country.
Written by Stacy McAnulty
Illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley
New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2025. Picture Book.
This informational picture book focuses on what the first road trip across the USA looked like (and how a bet started the whole thing). There is even a fun illustrated map at the end with a time line to truly dive into just how crazy the whole expedition was.
By Jennifer Thermes
New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2023. Picture Book.
Kids that want to look at maps of the United States and how the boarders of the country have changed over the years will enjoy looking at this book. The focus is that the land has been the same for thousands of years, yet those who inhabit the land and the boarders of the country have changed. The book thoughtfully talks about hard subjects as to what was fair or not with how the country was founded and changed along with showcasing how the story is not done and we still have many chapters that have yet to be created.
Written by Howard W. Reeves
Illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh
New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2026. Picture Book.
If you are looking for a celebration of all the various people that live in the United States, this is the book for you. It talks about how the preamble to the constitution starts with “We the People.” The book goes on to explain that “We the People is all the people,” meaning that all different kinds of people make up the United States and that is what makes us great.
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