America’s DreamingBob McKinnon, illustrated by Thai My PhuongHer alcoholic mother resents her; her married boyfriend, Correa, beats her; and their fourteen-year-old daughter thinks life would be better anywhere but with Am�rica.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book detailsNCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People 2025
Social studies books selected each year by NCSS and the Children's Book Council.
2025 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young PeopleSee the original list
Selections149
Published byNational Council for the Social Studies
Sections8 sections
Browse sections8 sections
Kindergarten to Second Grade
31 selections
America’s DreamingBob McKinnon, illustrated by Thai My PhuongHer alcoholic mother resents her; her married boyfriend, Correa, beats her; and their fourteen-year-old daughter thinks life would be better anywhere but with Am�rica.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Ánh’s New WordHanh Bui, illustrated by Bao LuuA child living in a Vietnamese refugee camp learns their first word in English with a little help from their teacher and grandmother in this heart-warming picture book based on the author's childhood.Many things are different for Ánh now that they've left Vietnam with their family.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Back Home: Story Time with My FatherArlène Elizabeth CasimirA lyrical text and vivid, luminous imagery transport readers to Haiti through a father’s tales and a child’s imagination—and invite them to tell stories of their own.Lune loves hearing her daddy’s stories—the funny ones, the sad ones, the ones with lessons about truth and love.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Beam Of Light: The Story of the First White House MenorahElisa Boxer, illustrated by Sofia MooreThe first piece of Judaica in the White House's permanent holiday collection was introduced for Hanukkah in 2022. This lovely picture book tells the history and importance of its creation.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Before the Ships: The Birth of Black ExcellenceMaisha OsoBefore the Ships is a powerful and poetic celebration of the early roots of Black history. The great achievements and accomplishments across Africa prior to the Transatlantic slave trade are told through melodious text and evocative illustrations, that culminate into the strength and resilience of modern-day Black people.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Bridges Instead Of WallsCarole Boston Weatherford, Mavis Staples, illustrated by Ste! WalthallShe’s been performing since age eight as part of her family’s gospel group The Staple Singers, and has become one of America’s most admired musicians, with multiple Grammys, a Kennedy Center Honor, and a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Crowning Glory: A Celebration of Black HairCarole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Ekua HolmesCelebrate the beauty of Black hair creations through the rhyming text and vibrant collage art of lauded Coretta Scott King Award winners Carole Boston Weatherford and Ekua Holmes.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
The Day Madear VotedWade HudsonA family's first voting day in 1969 sparks hope for a brighter future.Kindergarten to Second GradeLexile AD620LATOS 4View book details
Elinor McGrath, Pet Doctor: The Story of America’s First Female VeterinarianJacqueline Johnson, illustrated by Alette StraathofElinor rolled up her sleeves. When Elinor McGrath decided she wanted to be a veterinarian, the world told her no. It was 1907, and that job was not considered suitable for women.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Five StoriesEllen WeinsteinFive children, from five different cultures and in five different decades, grow up in the same building on the Lower East Side of New York City.A CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young PeopleJenny Epstein and her family arrive on a steamship from Russia in the 1910s.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Flicker Of HopeCynthia HarmonyHOPE is our children's window for a better tomorrow. In terms of resilience and well-being, hope is a critically important predictor of success.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Hair Like Obama’s, Hands Like Lebron’s: A Picture BookCarole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Savanna DurrI have hair like Obama’s and hands like LeBron’s. My mind is more magical than “Ice” McDonald’s wands.My legs, like Michael Jordan’s, shatter records with a leap.My soul is kissed by Africa—the future’s mine to keep.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Home In A LunchboxCherry MoAfter moving from Hong Kong to America, Jun knows only a few English words and feels lost at school.Kindergarten to Second GradeLexile GN160LView book details
I Am Ruth Bader GinsburgBrad Meltzer, illustrated by Christopher EliopoulosA young girl defies barriers to fight for justice and equality.Kindergarten to Second GradeLexile 670LATOS 4.3View book details
Let’s Fly: Barrington Irving’s Record-Breaking Flight Around the WorldBarrington Irving and Chana Stiefel, illustrated by Shamar Knight-JusticeBarrington Irving’s path from a child in Miami to a pilot began after he met Black pilot Gary Robinson. He later became the youngest person and first Black man to fly solo around the world.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Lupita’s Brown Ballet SlippersSteena Hernandez, illustrated by Melissa CastilloLupita's big ballet recital is approaching. Her ballet moves are strong. But her peachy pink ballet slippers don't match her skin tone.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Meena’s SaturdayKusum MepaniA slice-of-life story with a feminist message about a young Indian girl and her sisters managing a bustling house full of boisterous guests on a busy Saturday.Saturday mornings start early for Meena.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
My Block Looks LikeJanelle HarperA love letter to the hustle, the bustle, the joy, and the grit of city life by debut author and Bronx native, Janelle Harper, and two-time Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner, Frank Morrison."My block looks like a collision of cultures a melting pot of cool a burst of life my favorite…Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
My Name Is Long As A RiverSuma Subramaniam, illustrated by Tara AnandIn this sweeping picture book, an Indian girl discovers the power of her name as she travels along the river she was named after.What’s so special about your name?Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Not Far From HereNydia Armendia-Sánchez, illustrated by Devon HolzwarthWe worked and workedjuntos para realizar el sueño Nuestra familia . . . nos superamos as individuals andtogether Mamá tells her children a story that began when their papá was a niño, not far from here.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Noura’s Crescent MoonZainab Khan, illustrated by Nabila AdaniVenturing out after dusk with her family, a child is eager to watch for the new moon that signals the start of Eid ul-Fitr celebrations in this charming picture-book debut.Noura can’t wait for the sun to go down!Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Rainbow Allies: The True Story of Kids Who Stood against HateNancy Churnin, illustrated by Izzy EvansA true story of allyship and standing up to anti-LGBTQ hate. When a lesbian couple comes home one day to find their Pride flag stolen and their front porch egged, the sense of belonging they had felt in their community is threatened.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Saudade: Our Longing for BrazilAna Crespo, illustrated by André CeolinIf your heart has ever ached remembering a place or a person, a smell or a taste, then you’ve felt saudade.Saudade is a Portuguese and Galician word with no perfect translation to English; it’s a strong, melancholy longing for something you once had.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Seeker of Truth: Kailash Satyarthi’s Fight to End Child LaborSrividhya Venkat, illustrated by Danica da Silva PereiraLittle by little, drop by drop Kailash Satyarthi devoted his life to battling international child labor and exploitation.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Sharing ShalomDanielle Sharkan, illustrated by Selina AlkoA community unites to restore hope after a synagogue is vandalized.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Solstice: Around the World on the Longest, Shortest DayJen Breach, illustrated by 14 Global ArtistsExplore the daily lives of children around the world through the solstice—the longest day and night of the year . Just two times each year - at an event called the solstice - Earth leans closest to our home star, the Sun.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Toypurina: Japchivit Leader, Medicine Woman, Tongva RebelCheyenne M. Stone, Glenda ArmandTired of being subjected to Spanish colonization, medicine woman Toypurina led a revolt against the San Gabriel mission in California on October 25, 1785.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
The Tree Of LifeElisa Boxer, illustrated by Alianna RozentsveigExplore the life of a revolutionary thinker who changed our view of nature.Kindergarten to Second GradeLexile IG950LATOS 6.3View book details
A Voice Of Hope: The Myrlie Evers-Williams StoryNadia SalomonThe remarkable life of Myrlie Evers-Williams is honored and celebrated in this stunningly illustrated picture book biography of a civil rights herothe very first of its kind.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
We Are Golden: 27 Groundbreakers Who Changed the WorldEva Chen, illustrated by Sophie DiaoThroughout history and to this day, people of Asian descent have been at the forefront of artistic brilliance, scientific advancement, and athletic excellence.From Sandra Oh to Patsy Mink, Bruce Lee to Michelle Kwan, We Are Golden—written by Eva Chen and illustrated by Sophie Diao, the New York Times bestselling team behind I…Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
What Makes Us HumanVictor D.O. Santos, illustrated by Anna Forlati"How do you go from a bunch of cells to something that can think?" This question, asked by the 9-year-old son of one of the authors, speaks to a puzzle that lies at the heart of this book.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book detailsKindergarten to Fifth Grade
40 selections
All the Pieces: When a Loved One Dies from Substance UseHallie Riggs, illustrated by Adriana PredoiA picture book to help children understand the loss of a loved one to drug overdose.Often, children who lose a loved one to overdose are not truthfully told what happened to the person who died, because of the stigma associated with this type of death.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Ayo’s Adventure: Acrosss the African Diaspora from Afro to ZuluAin Heath Drew, illustrated by Erin K. Robinson"As a lifelong literacy advocate, I seek out children's books that help kids explore the world around them. Ayo's Adventure is a journey through the sights and sounds of the African diaspora.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Border PatrolJoseph BruchacThe shocking true-crime story of a Texas border patrol agent turned serial killer, the four sex workers whom he mercilessly killed, and the upended border town of Laredo where his heinous crimes occurred.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Born NaughtyJin Wang, with Tony JohnstonJin and her family were poor, but like kids everywhere, she still found a way to have fun and get into lots of mischief climbing trees, digging for mushrooms, and even looking for wolves.Paired with delightful, kid-friendly illustrations, this early middle grade memoir invites readers to join Jin and her family in…Kindergarten to Fifth GradeLexile 650LATOS 4.2View book details
A Crown of Stories: The Life and Language of Beloved Writer Toni MorrisonCarole Boston WeatherfordHow do you tell a story? Before Toni Morrison was a Pulitzer Prize winner and Nobel Prize–winning author, she was Chloe Ardelia Wofford, a little girl in Ohio who was both the only Black child in her first-grade classroom and the only student who was able to read.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Daughter of the Light-Footed People: The Story of Indigenous Marathon Champion Lorena RamírezBelen MedinaMeet Lorena Ramírez, an Indigenous Rarámuri athlete from Mexico who is internationally known for winning ultramarathons in her traditional skirts and rubber sandals, in this nonfiction picture book.From the copper canyons of Mexico, her swift footsteps echo.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Dear Muslim ChildRahma Rodaah, illustrated by Aya GhanamehThis inspirational picture book from the author of Dear Black Child encourages Muslim children to take joy and pride in their Islamic faith.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Do You Know Them?: Families Lost and Found After the Civil WarShana Keller, illustrated by Laura FreemanA moving and triumphant picture book inspired by the printed newspaper ads placed by African Americans who were separated from family members by the Civil War, enslavement, and emancipation.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Eloísa’s Musical WindowMargarita Engle, illustrated by John ParraBirds and cats raise their voices in daily choruses, and songs from a neighbor’s radio travel through the air. On the street below, children shake maracas and beat a steady rhythm on bongo drums and a lute, a cowbell, and un güiro round out the orchestra.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Evidence!: How Dr. John Snow Solved the Mystery of CholeraDeborah HopkinsonThe incredible true story of the doctor who traced London's cholera outbreak to a single water pump, and went on to save countless lives through his groundbreaking research!Dr.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Finding Home: Words from Kids Seeking SanctuaryGwen Agna, Shelley Rotner, photographed by Shelley RotnerIn this photographic picture book, the authors record and transcribe the words of displaced children, raising up their voices—who they are, where they came from, and the many different reasons that they had to leave their home countries.My parents told me we had to leave to stay safe.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Finding NormalStephanie FarisA girl organizes a fundraiser to rebuild her life after a flood uproots her family.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeLexile 701LATOS 4.5View book details
Free to Learn: How Alfredo Lopez Fought for the Right to Go to SchoolCynthia Levinson, illustrated by Mirelle OrtegaAlfredo Lopez has so many questions before starting second grade! Will his friends be in his class? Will his teacher speak Spanish?Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Freedom on the Sea: The True Story of the Civil War Hero Robert Smalls and His Daring Escape to FreedomMichael Boulware MooreThis is the thrilling story of Robert Smalls and the Confederate ship that he used to liberate himself, his family, and over a dozen others from enslavement.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Gifts from the Garbage Truck:! A True Story About the Things We (Don’t) Throw AwayAndrew Larsen, foreword by Nelson Molina"Informative and inspirational... will have readers rethinking the value of items that appear seemingly worthless. Instead of seeing something broken, you saw something to fix?Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Hooray for She, He, Ze, and They!: What Are Your Pronouns Today?Lindz Amer, illustrated by Kip AlizadehIn this joyous picture book exploration of gender euphoria, celebrated Queer Kid Stuff and The Rainbow Parenting podcast host Lindz Amer teaches kids about all the ways pronouns can be joyful, defining, and empowering.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
I Am BothKerisa GreeneA picture book inspired by the author's family's journey on the last flight out of Saigon, I Am Both is a compelling exploration of identity, immigration, and family.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
I Am Osage: How Clarence Tinker Became the First Native American Major GeneralKim Rogers, illustrated by Bobby Von MartinThis informative and inspiring picture book by acclaimed author Kim Rogers (Wichita), with striking artwork by debut illustrator Bobby Von Martin (Choctaw), celebrates the achievements of Clarence Tinker, a member of the Osage Nation who became the first Native American major general.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues: The Extraordinary Life of James BaldwinMichelle MeadowsCelebrate James Baldwin's one-hundredth birthday anniversary with the first-ever illustrated biography of this legendary writer, orator, activist, and intellectual.Before he became a writer, James "Jimmy" Baldwin was a young boy from Harlem, New York, who loved stories.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
A Kids Book About JuneteenthGarrison HayesOur history echoes with events which, over time, have become hidden, yet are important to all of us. Juneteenth is a celebration which recognizes the end of the enslavement of Black people in America.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Let’s Go! / haw êkwa!Julie FlettOne day, his mother brings a surprise: her old skateboard, just for him! haw êkwa! Together, they practice on the sidewalk, at the park, in Auntie’s yard—everywhere.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Mamie Tape Fights to Go to SchoolTraci Huahn, illustrated by Michelle Jing ChanA young girl challenges school segregation in 1880s San Francisco.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeLexile AD620LATOS 4View book details
A Map for FalasteenMaysa OdehA girl searches for her homeland on a map, questioning its existence.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeLexile AD590LATOS 3.8View book details
My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American WWII StoryGeorge TakeiGeorge Takei is four years old when his world changes forever. Two months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declares anyone of Japanese descent an enemy of the United States.George and his family were American in every way.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Papa and Pearl: A Tale About Divorce, New Beginnings, and Love That Never ChangesAnnette M. Clayton, illustrated by Kimberley BarnesA sweet story of the love between father and daughter that stays constant, even through big change.Pearl loves imagining she is a princess, with Mama and Papa in their magical castle . . . until Mama and Papa get a divorce, and Papa moves away.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
A Plate of HopeErin Frankel, illustrated by Paola EscobarA moving picture book biography about chef José Andrés, who, along with his World Central Kitchen organization, is sure to inspire kids to help out in their own communities.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Quiet Night, My Astronaut: The First Days (and Nights) of the War in UkraineOksana Lushchevska, illustrated by Kateryna StepanishchevaThis gorgeous, expressive picture book shows the first haunting days and nights of the war in Ukraine from a child's perspective. The child is scared, but will not be afraid.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Rollin’ on Down the Line: Lady Bird Johnson’s 1964 Whistle-Stop Tour for Civil RightsHelen Kampion, Reneé Critcher Lyons, illustrated by Erin McGuireThe late summer and early fall of 1964 was a turbulent time in America. After years of racial struggle, in July President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Samba! The Heartbeat of a Community: Ailton Nuñes’s Musical JourneyPhilip Hoelzel, illustrated by André CeolinEven as a toddler, Ailton Nunes was drawn to the joyful, energizing sounds of samba music, with its clinks, bongs, and bangs filling the air.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Saturdays at Harlem Grown: How One Big Idea Transformed a NeighborhoodTony Hillery, illustrated by Jessie HartlandIn this companion to the bestselling nonfiction picture book Harlem Grown about the real-life urban community farm featured on Humans of New York , it’s harvest time for the employees and volunteers that tend the lush garden.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
She Spoke Too: 14 More Women Who Raised Their Voices and Changed the WorldManuela Bernardi, Kathy McMillan, illustrated by Becky ThornsDon’t miss the captivating sequel to the acclaimed She Spoke ! When the world tells you to stay quiet, do you listen, or do you speak up?Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
SimoneViet Thanh NguyenOn their way to take shelter in a high school gym, the family passes firefighters from a prison unit battling the fire.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
The Sole Man: Jan Matzeliger’s Lasting InventionShana KellerIn 1873, at the age of 21, Jan Ernst Matzeliger immigrated to America, having left all that was familiar behind in South America.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Stitches of Tradition (Gashkigwaaso Tradition)Marcie Rendon"Noozhishenh, bimadiziwin," Nookomis says. "My granddaughter, live a good life."An Ojibwe grandmother carefully measures and selects just the right colors of fabric, and her sewing machine hums whirr, whirr, whirr late into the night.In the morning, her growing granddaughter has a beautiful new ribbon skirt to wear, a reminder of her nookomis…Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Tamales For ChristmasStephen Briseño, illustrated by Sonia SánchezGrandma's tamales bring Christmas magic and gifts to her family.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Tricky ChopsticksSylvia Chen, illustrated by Fanny LiemBut cousin Victor’s birthday party is just around the corner, along with her family’s annual chopsticks challenge. Jenny doesn’t want to be the only Chow who never learns how to use the utensils.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
Wanjiku, Child of MineCiiku ˜ Ndu ˜ ng’u ˜ -CaseWanjiku ˜ shares her journey from her childhood in the Kenyan countryside and then in the streets of Nairobi, to her adolescence at boarding school, always remembering her cultural identity.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
We Are the Builders!Deepa Iyer, illustrated by Romina GalottaTold in warm, inviting rhyme, this gentle introduction to community organizing and finding your place in a movement is perfect for young readers of All Are Welcome and What Do You Do With an Idea?.Welcome to our Community Day!Kindergarten to Fifth GradeView book details
When Beavers FlewKristen TracyA town's survival hinges on a daring plan: parachuting beavers into the wild.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeLexile AD760LATOS 4.9View book details
Wild at Heart: The Story of Olaus and Mardy Murie, Defenders of NatureTerri Farley, Melissa FarlowMardy and Olaus Murie fell in love inand withAlaska. Then set out on an adventure across the Arctic for Olaus's work as a biologist, encountering the beauty and danger of the wilds along the way.Kindergarten to Fifth GradeLexile 970LATOS 6.4View book detailsThird to Fifth Grade
23 selections
Abzuglutely! Battling, Bellowing Bella AbzugSarah Aronson2025 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Book Winner"As long as people are reading this book, Bella will be with us still." —Gloria SteinemMeet unique and outspoken Bella Abzug, the iconic Jewish politician and activist who fought for justice and women’s rights, in this compelling picture book biography.Battling Bella Abzug was born bellowing!Third to Fifth GradeView book details
And Yet You Shine: The Kohinoor Diamond, Colonization, and ResistanceSupriya Kelkar, illustrated by Supriya KelkarThe story of one of the world’s most famous diamonds—stolen from South Asia during colonization and now among the crown jewels in London—is a call to action for readers to decolonize and hold their heads high.The Kohinoor diamond, one of the most famous diamonds in the world, was stolen from India and…Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Barrio Rising: The Protest that Built Chicano ParkMaría Dolores ÁguilaA vivid historical fiction account of the community activism behind San Diego's Chicano Park—home to the largest outdoor mural collection in the U.S.—and just one example of the Mexican American community’s rich history of resistance and resilience.Barrio Logan, one of San Diego’s oldest Chicane neighborhoods, once brimmed with families and stretched all…Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Bea Breaks Barriers! How Florence Beatrice Prices’s Music Triumphed Over PrejudiceCaitlin Delems, illustrated by Tonya Engel2025 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Book WinnerHere is the little-known story of Florence Beatrice “Bea” Price, who faced many obstacles, including systemic racism and sexism, as she pushed forward to become one of the greatest Black classical composers.Florence Beatrice “Bea” Price loved music from a young age.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Black History Heroes: Chadwick BosemanChris Singleton with Ryan G. Van Cleave, illustrated by Adriana Pérez PeralesPrior to his death from colon cancer in 2020, Boseman's rise to fame might have seemed overnight to some, but decades of hard work and dedication to his craft brought him to the highest levels an actor can achieve.An inspiration to millions, the life of Chadwick Boseman is indeed proof that Black…Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Black History Heroes: Mae JemisonChris Singleton with Ryan G. Van Cleave, illustrated by Adriana Pérez PeralesAn inspiration to millions, the life of Mae Jemison is indeed proof that Black history matters.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Call Me Roberto! Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for LatinosNathalie AlonsoGrowing up in Carolina, Puerto Rico, he swung tree branches (since he didn’t have a bat) and hit tin cans. He was always batting, pitching, running, sliding.Third to Fifth GradeLexile 669LATOS 4.3View book details
Codebreaker CharlotteCedar Wang, illustrated by Cedar Wang2025 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Book Winner 2025 Best STEM Book Winner "Kids who are enthusiastic about codes may want to try decoding the messages that are referred to in the text and can be found (along with worksheets) within the distinctive illustrations.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
The Fastest Drummer: Clap Your Hands for Viola Smith!Dean Robbins, illustrated by Susanna ChapmanClap your hands for Viola Smith—the pioneering female drummer at the heart of this bright and rhythmic biography, who rat-tat-tat-bang-crash-clink-boomed for nearly a century.Five girls played together in the Smith Sisters Orchestra: Irene on trombone, Erma on vibraphone, Edwina on trumpet, Mildred on violin, and Lila on saxophone.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Freedom Summer 1964: Turning Point for Voting RightsNgeri Nnachi"Voting gives people a voice in their communities. In the past, racist laws and practices kept Black American voices silent. No place was more affected by this racism than the state of Mississippi.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Heroes of World War II: 25 True Stories of Unsung Heroes Who Fought for FreedomJarett Keene, illustrated by Ricardo GualbertoThey've been called the Greatest Generation, and now their stories are being passed on to kids in this new group biography.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
The History of InformationChris Haughton, illustrated by Chris HaughtonInformation Security is usually achieved through a mix of technical, organizational and legal measures. These may include the application of cryptography, the hierarchical modeling of organizations in order to assure confidentiality, or the distribution of accountability and responsibility by law, among interested parties.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
I Heard: An American JourneyJaha Nailah AveryA powerful and poetic picture book about Black history in the United States, from the shores of Africa and slavery, to the civil rights and Black Lives Matter movements.With stunning lyricism reminiscent of traditional African spirituals and today's rhythm and flow of hip-hop, a teacher shares the history of being Black in…Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Kindred Spirits: Shilombish Ittibachv ff aLeslie Stall WidenerA nonfiction picture book about the inspiring true pay-it-forward story that bridges two continents, 175 years, and two events in historyconnecting Ireland, Choctaw Nation, Navajo Nation, and the Hopi Tribe.Choctaw author Leslie Stall and Navajo illustrator Johnson Yazzie come together to share the importance of empathy and kindness.1845.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
On All Other Nights: A Passover Celebration in 14 StoriesChris Baron, Joshua S. Levy, Naomi MillinerNamed a best Passover book of all time by Parade magazineA Junior Library Guild Selection * A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of the YearWelcome to Passover, a Jewish holiday that has been celebrated for thousands of years.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Outspoken: Paul Robeson, Ahead of His Time: A One-Man ShowCarole Boston WeatherfordBut he was a true Renaissance man: an accomplished athlete, a bright intellect, and a passionate supporter for humanitarian causes.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Pedal, Balance, SteerVivian Kirkfield, illustrated by Alison Jay2025 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Book WinnerAnnie Londonderry proves women can do anything they set their minds to—even cycle around the world—in this nonfiction picture book for cycling enthusiasts, budding travelers, and anyone who dreams of reaching a difficult goal.In the 1890s, times were tough, and opportunities for women were few and…Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Skybound!Sue Ganz-Schmitt, illustrated by Iacopo BrunoThe Third Reich is on its knees as Allied forces bomb Berlin to break the last resistance. Yet on an airfield near Berlin, the battle is far from over for a young mechanic, Felix, who's attached to a squadron of fighter pilots.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Swinging Into HistoryKaren L. Swanson, illustrated by Laura Freeman2025 Rise: A Feminist Book Project Title2025 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Book WinnerYoung readers will root for Toni “Tomboy” Stone, the first woman (and the first Black woman) to break into professional baseball—taking over Hank Aaron’s roster spot—in this nonfiction picture book biography.Nothing could stop Toni “Tomboy” Stone from playing baseball—not even…Third to Fifth GradeView book details
They Call Me Teach: Lessons in FreedomLesa Cline-RansomeIn this stirring and powerfully illustrated story, an enslaved young man uses his ability to read and write to educate others in the pursuit of freedom.The young man known as Teach secretly learned to read, write, and use numbers growing up alongside the master’s son.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
This Opening SkyKelly Hollman, Charlotte Watson ShermanHistorical fiction at its finest!Third to Fifth GradeView book details
We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme CourtMia WenjenAn American Library Association Notable Children's Book Junior Library Guild Gold Selection California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor Book NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Recommended Book A compelling account of Simon Tam’s fight for free speech that ended with a landmark Supreme Court decision Music is a way to transcend cultures and divides.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
What Happened on Thursday?: A Nigerian Civil War StoryAyo OyekuHonor Book for the Children’s Africana Book Award A Notable Social Studies Trade Book A Bank Street College Best Book of the Year A Children’s Book Council Teacher and Librarian Favorite A powerful story of family love amid the backdrop of war, as seen through the eyes of a child.The Nigerian Civil…Third to Fifth GradeView book detailsThird to Eighth Grade
22 selections
Amil And The AfterVeera HiranandaniA boy seeks hope and identity in post-partition India.Third to Eighth GradeLexile 731LATOS 4.7View book details
Asking for a FriendRonnie RileyJuliana Zhao is absolutely certain of a few things: 1. She is the world’s foremost expert on love. 2. She is going to win the nationally renowned Asian Americans in Business Competition.Third to Eighth GradeView book details
Claudette Colvin: I Want Freedom Now!Claudette Colvin, Phillip HooseFifteen-year-old Claudette Colvin is tired. Tired of white people thinking they’re better than her. Tired of going to separate schools and separate bathrooms.Third to Eighth GradeView book details
Continental DrifterKathy Macleod( Travelling in a clapped-out Rolls Royce, Moore follows the trail of the first recognised British tourist of Europe, a 17th-century pastor's son named Thomas Coryate.There is certainly something of Bill Bryson in Moore's style, and this book is reminiscent of Neither Here Nor There.Third to Eighth GradeView book details
The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II (Scholastic Focus)Candace FlemingThe riveting individual stories of young women recruited to help crack the Nazis’ coded messages along with detailed explanations of how they did it.Third to Eighth GradeView book details
Freedom’s GameRosanne Tolin, illustrated by Vali MintziFreedom Pope didn't set out to be one of the biggest hustlers in St. Louis, but that's exactly how it went down.Third to Eighth GradeView book details
The Girl Who Fought Back: Vladka Meed and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (Scholastic Focus)Joshua M. GreeneA Junior Library Guild Selection!The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising is one of history's most powerful acts of resistance.Third to Eighth GradeView book details
The Girl Who SangEstelle NadelA young girl's survival in Nazi-occupied Poland reveals hope amid horror.Third to Eighth GradeLexile 420LATOS 3.2View book details
Great Minds of Science (Black Lives #1): A Nonfiction Graphic NovelTonya Bolden, illustrated by David WilkersonDiscover the untold stories of Black scientists who defied odds to change the world.Third to Eighth GradeView book details
Let Us March On!: James Weldon Johnson and the Silent Protest ParadeYohuru Williams, Michael G. LongA moving and inspiring nonfiction picture book about James Weldon Johnson and the first mass all-Black march for civil rights in the United States when 10,000 Black protestors, including children, marched down New York’s Fifth Avenue.James Weldon Johnson was a man of words.Third to Eighth GradeView book details
Lifeboat 5Susan HoodTwo girls fight for survival after their ship is torpedoed during WWII.Third to Eighth GradeView book details
Lost at Windy River: A True Story of SurvivalTrina Rathgeber★“Colorful illustrations in classic comic-book style help readers explore the challenging landscape. In 1944, thirteen-year-old Ilse Schweder got lost in a snowstorm while checking her family's trapline in northern Canada.Third to Eighth GradeView book details
Not Another Banned BookDana Alison LevyStudents battle book bans to save their club and their world.Third to Eighth GradeLexile 829LATOS 5.3View book details
On the BlockEllen OhFrom beloved and bestselling poet Jack Prelutsky come over 100 hilarious poems about strange creatures and people—from jellyfish stew to a bouncing mouse, to the very unexpected new kid!Third to Eighth GradeView book details
Race to the Truth: Exclusion and the Chinese American StorySarah-SoonLing BlackburnUntil now, you've only heard one side of the story, but Chinese American history extends far beyond the railroads.Third to Eighth GradeView book details
Remember My Story: A Girl, a Holocaust Survivor, and a Friendship That Made HistoryClaire Sarnowski with Sarah DurandThe inspiring true story about how a modern teen girl and her Holocaust-survivor friend fought against hate to create change.Third to Eighth GradeView book details
The Sculptors of LightMargarita Engle, illustrated by Cecilia PuglesiFrom folk art to photography, architecture to painting, sculpture to music, female Cuban artists have long gone unnoticed on a global scale.Third to Eighth GradeView book details
Stealing Little Moon: The Legacy of the American Indian Boarding Schools (Scholastic Focus)Dan SaSuWeh JonesThese books help readers learn about the world in which they live and develop their critical thinking skills so that they may become dynamic citizens who are able to analyze and understand our past, participate in essential discussions about our present, and work to grow and build our future.Third to Eighth GradeView book details
When We Flew Away: A Novel of Anne Frank Before the DiaryAlice HoffmanAnne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl has captivated and inspired readers for decades.Third to Eighth GradeView book details
With Twice the Love, Dessie MeiJustina ChenA girl discovers her identical twin, sparking a journey of identity and belonging.Third to Eighth GradeView book details
Your Vote Matters: How We Elect the US PresidentRebecca Katzman, illustrated by Ellen DudaThis engaging and comprehensive illustrated guide will answer all kids' questions about how the president is elected!There's never been a timelier moment for kids to learn the importance of voting.Third to Eighth GradeView book details
Race to the Truth: Borderlands and the Mexican American StoryDavid Dorado RomoUntil now, you've only heard one side of the story, about migrants crossing borders, drawn to the promise of a better life.Third to Eighth GradeView book detailsThird to Twelfth Grade
2 selections
Ballerina of Auschwitz: Young Adult Edition of The ChoiceEdith Eva EgerEdith Eva Eger shares her harrowing experiences and gives readers the gift of hope and strength.Edie is a talented dancer and a skilled gymnast with hopes of making the Olympic team.Third to Twelfth GradeView book details
Bite by Bite: American History through Feasts, Foods, and Side DishesBite: American History Through Feasts, Foods, Side Dishes by Marc Aronson, Paul Freedman, with contributions from Dr. Frederick Douglass Opie, Amanda Palacios, Tatum Willis, David ZhengStarting with prehistory, the authors show that “American” food is multicultural, with many traditions that started long before any Europeans arrived.Third to Twelfth GradeView book detailsSixth to Eighth Grade
19 selections
Across So Many SeasRuth BeharFour girls from different generations of one Sephardic Jewish family face exile and migration from Spain to Istanbul, Cuba, and the United States, connected…Sixth to Eighth GradeLexile 830LView book details
And Then, Boom!Lisa FippsA boy faces homelessness, hunger, and a looming tornado, finding hope in unexpected places.Sixth to Eighth GradeWord count 25904View book details
Black StarKwame AlexanderA young pitcher faces a pivotal choice amid racial tensions in her town.Sixth to Eighth GradeWord count 29213View book details
Blue Stars: Mission One: The Vice Principal Problem: A Graphic Novel: The Blue Stars SeriesKekla Magoon, Cynthia Leitich Smith, illustrated by Molly MurakamiOutgoing Riley misses her Muscogee cousins but is sure that she and Maya will be instant BFFs. Meanwhile, introvert Maya misses her parents, on active duty in Japan, and just wants some space to herself.Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Born A Girl: It Takes CourageAlice Dussutour, illustrated by Alice Dussutour, David WarrinerMeet Kaneila, Jade, Mahnoosh, Makena and Luisa. They are five girls in five different countries whose lives are overshadowed by violence and injustice, just because they are female.Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Bu ff alo DreamerViolet DuncanDreams reveal a haunting past as unmarked graves are discovered. Can Summer uncover the truth?Sixth to Eighth GradeLexile 790LATOS 4.9View book details
Fake Chinese SoundsJing Jing TsongA girl faces bullying and identity struggles, seeking her voice.Sixth to Eighth GradeLexile HL420LATOS 2.9View book details
Future TenseMartha BrockenbroughA psychologist confronts our pervasive misunderstanding of anxiety and presents a powerful new framework for reimagining and reclaiming the confounding emotion as the advantage it evolved to be.We taught people that anxiety is dangerous and damaging, and that the solution to its pain is to eradicate it like we do any disease-prevent…Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
I’m from Here TooKashmira ShethKashmira Sheth's eloquent verse novel follows an Indian American Sikh boy through a year of change, challenges, and growthAnoop is many things: a brother, a son, a grandson, a friend, a middle school student, and a budding writer.Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Kareem BetweenShifa Saltagi SafadiA boy must navigate middle school challenges and moral dilemmas while caught between cultures and family crises.Sixth to Eighth GradeLexile 731LATOS 4.7View book details
Loch Ness Uncovered: Media, Misinformation, & the Greatest Monster Hoax of All TimeRebecca SiegelYALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers2025 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Book WinnerCCBC Choices 2025The New York Public Library Best Books for Teens 2024 2025 Texas Topaz ListAn extensively researched, myth-busting account of the world’s most famous monster hoax—the Loch Ness Monster—and a cautionary tale on the dangers of misinformation.In 1934…Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Max in the House of SpiesAdam GidwitzA boy must become a spy to reunite with his family in wartime Europe.Sixth to Eighth GradeLexile 680LATOS 4.8View book details
Mine WarsSteve WatkinsThey were sick of the low pay in the mines. The brutal treatment they endured from mine owners and operators. The scrip they were paid-instead of cash-that could only be used at the company store.They had tried to unionize, but the mine owners dug in.Sixth to Eighth GradeView book detailsPearl: A Graphic NovelSherri L. SmithAfter being sent from Hawaii to Japan during World War II, Amy is separated from her family and must find courage amid upheaval and loss.Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Ukraine: Remember Also Me: Testimonies from the WarGeorge Butler, illustrated by George ButlerHis drawings, made in a variety of places from missile-scarred streets to nursing homes, vividly capture stories of family, tragedy, and perseverance.Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Warrior on the MoundSandra W. HeadenA baseball game decides the fate of a racially divided town.Sixth to Eighth GradeLexile 701LATOS 4.5View book details
Whose Right Is It? The Fourteenth Amendment and the Fight for EqualityHana BajramovicA New York Public Library Best Book of the YearDiscover the truth about the Fourteenth Amendment, civil rights, and the United States’ continued fight for equality in this singular nonfiction book for young readers.The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, known as the “equality amendment,” was passed in the years after the…Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Why We Dance: A Story of Hope and HealingDeidre HavrelockFrom Indigenous creative team Deidre Havrelock and Aly McKnight comes a powerful and exuberant story about the heritage, joy, and healing power of the Jingle Dress Dance—a perfect read-aloud picture book.It’s a special day—the day of the Jingle Dress Dance!Sixth to Eighth GradeLexile 479LATOS 3.2View book details
Wings to SoarTina AthaideA historically relevant middle-grade novel-in-verse about a girl's resiliency when faced with hatred towards refugees.Sixth to Eighth GradeView book detailsSixth to Twelfth Grade
5 selections
The Color of a LieKim Johnson, map by Mike HallA teen risks everything to expose dark secrets in a racially divided town.Sixth to Twelfth GradeLexile HL600LATOS 3.9View book details
A Crane Among WolvesJune HurLove is deadly. 1506, Joseon. The people suffer under the cruel reign of the tyrant King Yeonsan, powerless to stop him from commandeering their land for his recreational use, banning and burning books, and kidnapping and horrifically abusing women and girls as his personal playthings.Sixth to Twelfth GradeView book details
Made in Asian America: A History for Young PeopleErika Lee, Christina SoontornvatMade in Asian America isn't just about the past. And it's a story that too often goes untold. It begins centuries before America even exists as a nation.Sixth to Twelfth GradeView book details
Poemhood: Our Black RevivalAmber McBride, Taylor Byas, Erica MartinFor some, it's gathering around the kitchen table as Grandma tells the story of Anansi the spider, while for others it's grinning from ear to ear while eating auntie's spectacular 7Up cake.Black experiences and traditions are complex, striking, and vast-they stretch longer than the Nile and are four times as deep-and carry…Sixth to Twelfth GradeView book details
The Rez DoctorGitz Crazyboy, illustrated by Veronika Barinova, Azby Whitecalf, Toben RacicotYoung Ryan Fox gets good grades, but he’s not sure what he wants to be when he grows up. It isn’t until he meets a Blackfoot doctor during a school assembly that he starts to dream big.Sixth to Twelfth GradeView book detailsNinth to Twelfth Grade
7 selections
American Wings: Chicago’s Pioneering Black Aviators and the Race for Equality in the SkySherri L. Smith, Elizabeth WeinBut what hope did a Black person have of learning to fly in a country constricted by prejudice and Jim Crow laws, where Black aviators like Bessie Coleman had to move to France to earn their wings?American Wings follows a group of determined Black Americans: Cornelius Coffey and Johnny Robinson, skilled auto…Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
Bridge Across the SkyFreeman NgInstead, they’re met with hostility and racism. Empowered by the Chinese Exclusion Act, the government detains the immigrants on Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay while evaluating their claims.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
How the Boogeyman Became a PoetTony Keith JrOdyssey Award for Audiobook Excellence WinnerPoet, writer, and hip-hop educator Tony Keith Jr. makes his debut with a powerful YA memoir in verse, tracing his journey from being a closeted gay Black teen battling poverty, racism, and homophobia to becoming an openly gay first-generation college student who finds freedom in poetry.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
LibertadBessie Flores ZaldívarJohn Stuart Mill fue un pensador prodigioso que desafió agudamente las creencias de su época.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
ShackledCandy J. CooperJuveniles who showed up in their courtrooms faced harsh words and even harsher sentencing. In the post-Columbine era, many people believed that was just what the county needed to ensure its children and teens stayed on the straight and narrow path.Ninth to Twelfth GradeLexile 1140LATOS 8.2View book details
This Book Won’t BurnSamira AhmedAfter her dad abruptly abandons her family and her mom moves them a million miles from their Chicago home, Noor Khan is forced to start the last quarter of her senior year at a new school, away from everything and everyone she knows and loves.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
The Unboxing of a Black GirlAngela ShantéNational Book Award FinalistWritten as a collection of vignettes and poetry, The Unboxing of a Black Girl is a creative nonfiction reflection on Black girlhood.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details