I have always enjoyed reading children’s books, even as an adult, so imagine my pleasure when I learned record-setting Jeopardy champion James Holzhauer used children’s nonfiction as a way of preparing for each session! The secret is that children’s books pack all the important information into a short, easy-to-read format that most readers can binge-read in an afternoon. Give me a stack of nonfiction children’s books, and I can finish the whole thing off in a matter of hours.
Reading children’s nonfiction is great for a few reasons. First, you can easily find time to fit your reading session in when a book only takes about 10-20 minutes to read. Second, you get a nice overview of a topic and are open to learn more if you’d like. Third, picking up a stack of books like this is a great way to introduce yourself to a wide array of topics, all in one afternoon.
So, to that end, I’ve put together a list of 20 different children’s books, all which focus on events in history or various historical figures. Some of these will be well-known to you. Others might come as a surprise. All of the titles I’ve selected will be picture books, so that means a big focus on the illustrations, but don’t let that fool you: there will still be tons of fascinating information included in those pages. And as a final criteria for this list, each book I’m recommending is one that I have personally read and enjoyed.
The Camping Trip that Changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and Our National Parks (Barb Rosenstock)
This is probably my favorite title on the list, which is why it’s going first. Concerned about the preservation of the American wilderness, naturalist John Muir wrote to President Theodore Roosevelt, challenging him to come explore the natural beauty that was in danger of destruction. Roosevelt took him up on the offer and the two of them spent a fascinating time exploring the wilderness, sleeping under the stars, and discussing the beauty of the natural world. The book is utterly charming, the illustrations are top-notch, and all-in-all, this is just such a fun book to read!
George Washington’s Spectacular Spectacles: The Glasses that Saved America (Selene Castrovilla)
Continuing with our presidential theme, we have this little title about a lesser-known event in the life of our first president. The Revolutionary War is over, but Washington’s officers have not been paid in years. As tensions rise and rumors spread that the money might never come, the officers decide to storm Congress and demand their pay. Washington prepares a speech to mollify the mob, but it doesn’t work. It’s only when he pulls out a letter from Congress, and puts on the glasses he requires to read it that the army realizes just how much their president has sacrificed along with them. What Washington viewed as a symbol of his own weakness soon becomes a tender reminder of the president’s love for his people.
Introducing Sandwina: The Strongest Woman in the World! (Vicki Conrad)
No one believed a woman could be stronger than a man…until Katie Brumbach, known as Sandwina, displayed her show-stopping skills as a circus strong-woman. 100 pounds… 200 pounds…300 pounds! After showing up Eugen Sandow by lifting 300 pounds over her head (he could barely bring it to his shoulders), Brumbach took on the name Sandwina and became a legend, balancing a 1,000 pound cannon on her chest, throwing a one-ton stone, and having an iron slab broken on her body. Learn the fascinating story of this larger-than-life lady!
George Crum and the Saratoga Chip (Gaylia Taylor)
The next time you enjoy a delicious potato chip, be sure to thank George Crum! Growing up in the 1830s in Saratoga Springs wasn’t easy for George. Picked on my his classmates because of the color of his skin, George found escape in his favorite pastimes, hunting and fishing. And he found a sense of purpose when he learned how to cook, soon becoming a top chef at the fancy Moon’s Lake House. But, when a fussy customer’s constant complaints pushed George to his boiling point, he accidentally created one of the most popular snack items of all time! This delicious tale of culinary history is best enjoyed with (you guessed it!) a potato chip snack afterwards!
The Girl Who Built an Ocean: An Artist, an Argonaut, and the True Story of the World’s First Aquarium (Jess Keating)
The daughter of a seamstress and a cobbler, Jeanne Villepreux-Power began her career making beautiful dresses for the French aristocracy. But, when she moved to the seaside, she discovered her true passion in the water. Passionately recording drawings and notes, and collecting seashells soon filled her days, but the creature she found most fascinating, the argonaut, continued to evade her, disappearing just when she’d get close enough to watch. If only there was a way to bring some of the ocean home with her! But, since there wasn’t (yet), Jeanne would have to invent a method herself!
Jefferson Measures a Moose (Mara Rockliff)
Did you know that Thomas Jefferson loved numbers? Counting, measuring, and observing things brought him constant joy and entertainment. He loved to share his discoveries and to learn about the discoveries of others. But, when a famous Frenchman published a book about America, Jefferson was appalled: everything was wrong! The author insisted that America was a dismal place, birds did not sing here, dogs did not bark, and all the animals were small and pathetic. So, Jefferson decided to set the record straight, using numbers to show just how amazing his country really was!
Yogi: The Life, Loves, and Language of Baseball Legend Yogi Berra (Barb Rosenstock)
Yogi Berra is perhaps one of the most famous baseball players of all time. But, his career didn’t quite start that way. Yogi loved baseball. In fact, he had been crazy about it ever since he was a kid. But, baseball didn’t love him back. At least, not at first. Yogi didn’t have the “look” of a baseball player. He was constantly pranked and harassed by players, sportswriters, and fans. But, although their words hurt, Yogi was determined to make some good come out of it all, and to share his passion for baseball with the world. Today, Yogi is known for his skills and for his unusual turn-of-phrase, making this once sidelined player one of the most beloved names in the sport.
Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah (Laurie Ann Thompson)
Emmanuel was born in Ghana, West Africa, with one leg and an unbreakable spirit. Encouraged by his mother, who taught him to reach for his dreams, Emmanuel hopped to school, two miles each way, learned to play soccer, and even became a cyclist, riding an astonishing 400 miles across Ghana in 2001, spreading his powerful message: Disability is not inability. Read the uplifting story of a truly amazing young man who shows that our limits are only as small as our dreams.
Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille (Jen Bryant)
When he was young, an accident cost Louis Braille is eyesight. But, this clever boy was determined to never let his circumstances hold him back. More than anything he wanted to be able to read. But, there were no books for him at the school for the blind in Paris. So, he invited his own writing system, an alphabet created entirely of raised dots on a page so that those who were blind or otherwise visually impaired could read with their fingertips. This ingenious system of writing is still used by the blind community today, and now bears Braille’s name. This inspiring book is a strong reminder that with a little ingenuity and persistence, we can achieve amazing things.
Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library (Barb Rosenstock)
Thomas Jefferson didn’t just love numbers… he also loved to read. In fact, he collected thousands of books on hundreds of subjects for his personal library. This massive collection would eventually go on to become the starting core of the Library of Congress! Bookworms can learn all about the passionate president’s zeal for the written word. When we learn about the presidents, we often focus on their political views or the things they achieved (or ways that they failed) while in office. But, we rarely explore their personal lives in the same way. Why not learn a little more about Thomas Jefferson’s favorite hobbies?
Action! How Movies Began (Meghan McCarthy)
I love film history, don’t you? This little book is a great introduction to the topic. Learn about the start of the film industry and the brilliant minds behind it. Learn about how early photography was used to capture motion, the creation of silent films, and the first color films, such as the beloved Wizard of Oz. And of course, learn how the field has adapted and changed to create the movies we love and enjoy today.
An Inconvenient Alphabet: Ben Franklin and Noah Webster’s Spelling Revolution (Beth Anderson)
English can be complicated. How does a word like cough rhyme with off? And while we’re on the topic, why is there an H in rhyme?? Founding father Benjamin Franklin and lexicographer Noah Webster decided that enough was “enuf” and it was time to simply the English language. This book documents their attempts to create a new system of writing, including adding in a few new letters to the alphabet so that anyone could read any word and know how it should be pronounced, or they could hear any word and know how it should be spelled. As we already know, it didn’t work out (and we still have the unconventional spellings to prove it), but the story itself is fascinating and I highly recommend.
Earmuffs for Everyone: How Chester Greenwood Became Known as the Inventor of Earmuffs (Meghan McCarthy)
As a young boy, Chester Greenwood took a problem–having cold ears–and used it as an opportunity to become an inventor! When your ears get cold, you just put on earmuffs. But, that wasn’t an option for Chester Greenwood in 1873, since earmuffs didn’t exist yet! So, using wife, beaver fur, and cloth, Chester created his own pair of “ear protectors” to keep himself warm. By the time he was 19, he had obtained a patent for his design, and within a decade, his company was producing and selling his special product all over the world! But, he didn’t stop there! Check out this delightful book to learn about earmuffs and Chester’s other creations!
Are We There Yet?: The First Road Trip Across the USA (Stacy McAnulty)
May of 1903, Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson was preparing for the journey of a lifetime: he was going to take the first road trip across the United States! After a heated debate about the power of the new “horseless carriages,” (aka cars) Dr. Jackson accepted a $50 bet that he would travel from San Francisco to New York in less than three months. Okay, so he didn’t know how to drive…and sure, others had attempted this route and failed. But, this time, things would be different. With his mechanic friend, Sewall Crocker and his fuzzy companion Bud the bulldog, not even storms or flat tires could stop history in the making!
Rescuing Titanic: A True Story of Quiet Bravery in the North Atlantic (Flora Delargy)
Just about everyone knows the story of the Titanic, the huge, “unsinkable” ship that was tragically sunk in North Atlantic waters. But, have you ever heard of the Carpathia? This is the ship that responded to the Titanic’s call for aid, rescuing the passengers set adrift in the lifeboats after the Titanic went down. Learn about the crew of the Carpathia and the daring rescue mission that they undertook. What I especially liked about this book was that it highlighted certain passengers and crew members of both ships, providing a bit more of a personal touch to the story. Plus, the illustrations are great!
A Picture Book of Dolley and James Madison (David A. Adler)
James Madison is known as the Father of the Constitution and the fourth president of the United States, serving two terms, from 1809-1817. Learn about his life, his role in the American Revolution, and his presidency, as well as his wife Dolley, who is perhaps most famous for rescuing one of our country’s greatest treasures: a portrait of George Washington that was almost lost when the British set fire to the country’s capital in 1814.
Finding Narnia: The Story of C.S. Lewis and His Brother (Caroline McAlister)
Before C.S. Lewis wrote The Chronicles of Narnia, he was just a little boy named Jack, who spent his days playing with his brother Warnie, dreaming up stories of imaginary worlds filled with knights, castles, and talking animals. His brother dreamed of trains, boats, and other kinds of technology and transportation. One day, as the pair was playing, they discovered a wardrobe in a little room next to the attic and wondered: What if the wardrobe had no end? The rest, as they say is history, as the pair concocted an imaginary world for themselves, bringing together the best parts of both of their imaginations.
Tomatoes on Trial: The Fruit v Vegetable Showdown (Lindsay H. Metcalf)
Let’s take a poll: Are tomatoes fruits or vegetables? It’s quite a puzzler, isn’t it? Even today, this is a debate that rages on the internet. But, did you know that in the 1890s, the topic was so heated that it was actually brought to court? John Nix just wanted to sell tomatoes. After all, produce was his life’s work. But, import taxes on popular vegetables was putting a strain on his business. So, he set out to prove that tomatoes, which contain seeds and grow on vines, were clearly fruits and should therefore not be taxed. The topic was so heated it went all the way to the Supreme Court! But, what is the official court ruling? You’ll have to read the book and find out!
The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins (Barbara Kerley)
When paleontologists first started to study dinosaur fossils, we had no idea what dinosaurs really looked like. Then, a passionate artist named Waterhouse Hawkins had the brilliant idea to create life-sized models of dinosaurs, using fossils as his inspiration. The models were truly something to behold, and some of them can even be seen in person today! When he unveiled the designs for the first time, he even invited guests to a special party…and served the dinner inside one of the larger models! Of course, we now know that the dinosaurs didn’t look quite like Hawkins pictured them. Most of them weren’t quite so portly, or so plodding as his original designs, but the skill and craftsmanship that went into the models was still a thing of wonder!
The Spider Lady: Nan Songer and Her Arachnid World War II Army (Penny Parker Klostermann)
Bugs are really cool. I love bugs. Spiders…eh, spiders I could do without. But, fortunately, there are wonderful people out there like Nan Songer who aren’t quite so squeamish around our eight-legged friends. Growing up, Songer spent her days following around her naturalist neighbor, Marie Meislahn as she collected samples of plants. But, Songer wasn’t interested in plants…she was interested in bugs! Beetles, spiders, butterflies…she loved them all. Soon, observation in the field was not enough, and she’d take the bugs home in jars. When a friend told her that spider silk could be used to help aid in the war effort, Nan decided to try and collect spider silk herself, studying different types until she discovered that the best spider to work with was the poisonous black widow!
