The 4th of July is a holiday I’ve had a hard time finding a lot of great books that are specifically about or for the holiday, but luckily there are a lot of wonderful patriotic books that are perfect for reading around the holiday or at any time of year. I have this list broken down into 4th of July books, books about the American flag, and books about American culture/history. I hope you’ll find something that helps the kids in your life have a little more understanding and appreciation of their country!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I get a small commission if you purchase an item from an affiliate.
4th of July Books:
The Night Before the Fourth of July by Natasha Wing
Following after the style of the poem “The Night Before Christmas” this book shows a family’s celebrations for the holiday.
Apple Pie 4th of July by Janet S Wong
This book captures the feeling of being between cultures. A Chinese American girl whose parents run a Chinese restaurant are making Chinese food on the holiday and she is sure no one will buy it because Americans eat apple pie on the 4th, not Chinese food.
God Bless Our Country by Mike Berenstain
Through the viewpoint of the Bear family there are 4th of July celebrations, a review of how our country became free, and an explanation of how they believe God meant for it to happen.
Parade Colors by Barbara Barbieri McGrath
This is a very simple board book that goes through a 4th of July parade and teaches colors and counting. It’s a great way to bring the youngest readers into the celebrations.
Books about the American Flag:
The American flag is so much more than just fabric. It is a symbol full of profound meaning for so many different people and each of these books really captures that emotion and pride.
Long May She Wave: The True Story of Caroline Pickersgill and Her Star-Spangled Creation by Kristen Fulton
This tells the true story a girl who, along with several other women and girls, helped make a huge flag to fly at Fort McHenry that was big enough for the British to see as they attacked. Seeing that flag was the inspiration for what became America’s national anthem.
Blue Sky White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus
There are only a few words per page, but the words carry so much weight as they are paired with beautiful illustrations and used to draw parallels between the flag and the American people/land.
The Flag We Love by Pam Munoz Ryan
This poetic book is full of moments throughout the country’s history that involve the flag and show the symbol it is. There are additional facts at the bottom of each page that can be read for more information as well.
Books About American Culture/History:
c
My America, the Beautiful illustrated by Kate Melrose
The lyrics to the patriotic song are accompanied by illustrations of Americans both past and present with a fuzzy thread woven throughout that children can trace with their finger. It is interactive and engaging while also being a symbol of the country being united and stitched together.
Americans by Douglas Wood
This book talks about everything that Americans do (love, create, dream, disagree, make mistakes, grow, etc) with a short paragraph of text per page and a couple pictures of examples from our past or present. I really liked the way this book evokes a sense of pride in the country, while also acknowledging that we make mistakes and have to always be seeking to improve.
Sweet Land of Liberty by Callista Gingrich
Ellis the Elephant is reading books about pivotal moments through history that made America what it is. Seeing Ellis imagining herself in all those situations is a sweet way for kids to learn about the country’s history
Wow! America! by Robert Neubecker
The book shows two kids running across the map while it points out great things in different regions of the country. With only about one line of text per page, it’s a book that can appeal to a wide range of ages.
A is for America: A Patritotic Alphabet Book by Tanya Lee Stone
This rhyming alphabet book teaches about the country as it follows a student in play. The illustrations are adorable and the text flows nicely.
A is for America: An American Alphabet by Devin Scillian
This alphabet book is geared for a bit older and has a lot of additional information on the side column for kids to learn more.
Wonders of the USA by Carron Brown and Bee Johnson
This is an Usborne shine-a-light book where shining a light behind the page illuminates something hidden in the picture. My kids always have a great time with these books and this one shows different places and icons across the country.
Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers
In a fun approach to non-fiction this book tells the history of the Statue of Liberty and changes the way you think about it by pointing out that the statue is actually walking. The book is thick with more than 100 pages, but it’s actually not a long read with only a sentence per page and a very fast-paced narrative.
Also check out:
