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The 4th of July is the perfect time to teach your kids all about the United States. Here are 21 picture books about America you can share with your kids on the Fourth of July or any time of year.

8 books about America

With the 4th of July coming up, I wanted to find some great picture books about America to read with my kids. There are a TON of picture books about the United States out there. I gathered up about 50 of them, read them, then narrowed them down to my top 21 favorites.

The books are separated into six categories: board books, 4th of July specific books, books about the states, books about America, books about American things, and great stories.

Here are the best picture books for the 4th of July:

Board Books About America

Fourth of July Specific Books

Fiction

Nonfiction

  • Independence Day by Ann Heinrichs & Illustrated by Robert Squier: This book is written in book report style. That being said, it’s really short and entertaining! It gives only the most important information about the holiday and how America came to be. Plus, it includes some favorite American songs, fun facts, questions to think about, and a recipe & craft idea. It’s a really fun book!

Books About the States

Fiction

  • The Scrambled States of America by Laurie Keller: This book has a been a hit in our house for years. In fact, our copy recently fell apart because it was so well-loved! This story features the states as characters. One day, they decide they’re bored and throw a party. While at the party, they decide it’d be fun to switch places, so instead of returning home, they switch things up. They soon learn that maybe home is where they want to be after all. It’s such a fun book! There’s also a Scrambled States of America game, which we have and LOVE! I also saw they have a puzzle & book set and a DVD as well!
  • The Scrambled States of America Talent Show by Laurie Keller: With how much we love the original book, I’m surprised we’d never read this one before. But we loved it just like we loved the first! Bonus: this story addresses stage fright, so it’s a great read for kids struggling with that.

Nonfiction

  • The 50 States: Fun Facts written by Gabrielle Balkan & Illustrated by Sol Linero: This book is seriously SO cute! Each page highlights one item for each state in a certain category. So the first page has 50 animals–one for each state. Then there are 50 things that go, 50 things to eat, 50 ways to get moving, and 50 celebrations. Each item has a cute illustration and one sentence that gives a basic description of what it is. The back page shows each state’s shape and it even includes a puzzle! Seriously, this book is adorable! It’s jam packed with fun info and will keep you busy and learning for hours!
  • The 50 States: Explore the U.S.A. with 50 Fact-Filled Maps by Gabrielle Balkan & Illustrated by Sol Linero: This book has a two-page spread for each state FULL of interesting information. There’s an introduction, key facts, important places, animals, main cities, people to remember, dates/events to know, and more! Plus, it’s set-up in a fun, engaging way for little minds. I LOVE this book! They also have some accompanying items, like an activity book, flashcards, and i-Spy. I don’t have any of those items, so I can’t vouch for them. But I added them all to my Amazon wishlist!
  • Smart about the Fifty States: A Class Report: This cute book is set-up to look like a class report on the states. Each page features a state, highlighting some important facts about it. It’s a cute book!


Books About America

Books About American Things

Great Stories Featuring America

  • Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio & Illustrated by LeUyen Pham: I loved this book! This story follows Grace, a little girl who decides to run for class president after learning there has never been a female US president. The class election mimics the presidential election process, so it’s a great way to teach kids about that process in a fun way. Plus, it addresses voting for the best candidate, not who’s the most popular. It’s a really cute story!
  • Enzo and the Fourth of July Races by Garth Stein & Illustrated by R.W. Alley: I loved this book! It’s about a little girl and her dad who are each entering car races for the Fourth of July. The little girl is the only girl entering the race and, after overhearing some boys saying she’ll never win, decides to back out of the race. After some car issues, her dad decides not to race also. But then they learn some new skills specific to the 4th of July track and decide to race anyway. The girl’s dog narrates the book and it’s just adorable! This is a great story to teach kids about believing in yourself and also about being kind and befriending people who aren’t always nice to you.

Best Books About America

After reading around 50 books about America, these are the ones I think are the best! They’re fun and beautifully illustrated books that have good messages and teach in a way kids will actually enjoy.

What’s your favorite Fourth of July book?

For more Holiday Book suggestions, check out these posts:


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