All the Presidents Books: Fantastic Kids’ Books About U.S. Presidents
by Tom Burns
It’s no wonder kids are so often fascinated by American presidents. Their faces appear on money, some have been carved into mountains, and they’ve frequently played a role in some of the most exciting stories, both real and imagined, of the past 241 years. Here are some absorbing books on the American presidency to share with your patriotic young reader.
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Citizen Baby: My President
Even the youngest readers can learn about the role of the presidency — and their future role in determining who sits in the Oval Office. The Citizen Baby Series offers an approachable (not to mention adorable) introduction to the U.S. government (including the Supreme Court, Congress, and Election Day). In this edition, Citizen Baby outlines a day for the president (high chair generally not included).
(Ages 0 – 3) -
My Little Golden Book About George Washington
Available from:Introduce preschoolers to the first President of the United States with this charming Little Golden Book. A perfect pick for young history lovers, readers will relate to stories about Washington's childhood and pick up some fun facts about the statesman as they flip through this biography. A great introduction to the life of George Washington. (Also check out Abraham Lincoln.
(Ages 2 – 5)Also available from: -
P Is for President
Available from:Does your little one dream of one day being President of the United States? This easy-to-read picture book gives young readers a look at what it takes to hold the most important job in America. Learn about famous presidents of the past as you read about how the president works to win the people's vote, transitions into the presidency, and strives to make our nation a better place for all.
(Ages 3 – 5)Also available from: -
President Taft Is Stuck in the Bath
Available from:William H. Taft was a remarkably accomplished man — the only person to ever serve as both the President of the United States and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court — but, unfortunately for him, his true legacy (for kids, at least) might be the famous story about how the plus-sized president once got stuck in the White House bathtub. It’s debatable whether the incident actually occurred, but Barnett and Van Dusen’s over-the-top take on Taft’s team of advisors (including his wife Nellie) trying desperately to figure out how to extract the president from the tub is so laugh-out-loud funny that you’ll find yourself wishing it were true.
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
A Picture Book of John F. Kennedy
Available from:The lore around JFK and the entire Kennedy family is a lot to sift through, even for adults. In this accessible and compelling picture book — part of David Adler’s decades-long project to bring biographies of famous figures to young readers — Adler traces JFK’s life through boyhood, wartime, and his political era, ending with the aftermath of his assassination.
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
DK Readers Level 2: What Is the President’s Job?
Beginning readers can accomplish two things at once with this book: work on their emerging reading skills and find out fun and interesting facts about the president's job. They'll learn what a day in the life of the commander in chief is like — from what it looks like inside the Oval Office to how the president helps decide on the country's laws. With images that complement the text and help provide context, this book can help early readers build confidence, vocabulary, and knowledge.
(Ages 5 – 7) -
I am Abraham Lincoln (Ordinary People Change the World)
Available from:Brad Meltzer's kid-friendly biographies are a fantastic tool to introduce children to historical figures in a fun and entertaining way! I am Abraham Lincoln focuses on the life of our 16th president, following him from childhood to the presidency. Colorful, cartoon-like depictions of Lincoln will delight readers young and old as they learn about topics such as slavery, the Civil War, and the Gettysburg Address in a simplistic, high-level way.
(Ages 5 – 8)Also available from: -
Truth or Lie: Presidents!
Available from:The Q-and-A format of this Step into Reading Series is seriously fun. Alongside the Truth Sleuth, readers are asked to identify the one “lie” among each group of statements. Each round is followed up with fun facts, like that in 1872, Victoria Woodhull became the first woman to run for president. Your growing reader will know their presidential trivia in no time thanks to this engaging and informative read.
(Ages 5 – 8)Also available from: -
Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters
Available from:Of Thee I Sing is a beautiful, heartfelt letter written by President Barack Obama to his daughters, Malia and Sasha. Illustrated by the incredible Loren Long, the pages of this must-read picture book depict 13 groundbreaking Americans and the ideals that shaped our nation. From Jackie Robinson to George Washington, Obama shares the actions of these heroes with his daughters — and the children of America.
(Ages 5 – 8)Also available from: -
Nice Work, Franklin!
This historical picture book is a moving — and very entertaining — portrait of how the 32nd president overcame his personal and political challenges. After contracting polio, Franklin Roosevelt lost his ability to walk — but that didn't stop him from successfully running for the position of President of the United States and becoming a national symbol of hope during the Great Depression. Jurmain includes fun anecdotes throughout, making Nice Work, Franklin! a great way to introduce Roosevelt's inspirational story to young readers.
(Ages 5 – 9)Available from: -
Ellie May on President’s Day
Available from:Second-grader Ellie May is determined to be named class flag-leader in the week leading up to Presidents’ Day (clearly the most auspicious time to serve!). So she cooks up a plan: perhaps if she exhibits the qualities of historical presidents, her teacher will pick her. Of course, even the best-laid plans can sometimes go awry, but Ellie May proves herself to be knowledgeable and earnest — wonderful traits for flag leaders and future presidents.
(Ages 6 – 9)Also available from: -
So You Want to Be President?
Available from:This winner of the 2001 Caldecott Medal presents a fascinating breakdown of how one actually becomes the President of the United States. We learn how many presidents were born in log cabins, how many were named George, and how many went to college. We learn that some presidents were great at their jobs, and others ... not so much. Small’s illustrations are lively and engaging, and the book has been updated several times — the most recent version includes information on the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
(Ages 7 – 10)Also available from: -
Presidential Pets: The Weird, Wacky, Little, Big, Scary, Strange Animals That Have Lived in the White House
This fun reference book humanizes the American presidents by taking a look at what kinds of pets the commanders-in-chief kept during their time at the White House. Children might hear the name “John Quincy Adams” and automatically think that he’s some boring historical figure, but once they find out that he kept an alligator in the White House bathtub, he instantly becomes fascinating. And wait until they hear about Teddy Roosevelt’s lion, hyena, zebra … the list goes on and on. Kids will have hours of fun paging through this one.
(Ages 8 – 12) -
DK Eyewitness Books: Presidents
True to its name, this edition of DK Eyewitness Books gives kids an inside look at the presidents — with full-color photographs, campaign memorabilia, family portraits, mementos, key details, famous policies, and more. Middle grade readers can read through the entries one by one, or skip around to find their favorites. Along the way, they'll discover fun facts, like why teddy bears are named after Theodore Roosevelt, and important historical documents, like John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address.
(Ages 8 – 12) -
Grover Cleveland, Again!: A Treasury of American Presidents
Available from:Critically acclaimed documentarian Ken Burns shifts his focus to young readers in this New York Times bestselling collection of portraits of every United States president through Barack Obama. Written with Burns's signature approachable and personal voice, the book's short bios, interesting facts, and dynamic illustrations will have nonfiction readers hooked in no time.
(Ages 10+)Also available from: -
George Washington’s Secret Six (Young Readers Adaptation)
Available from:Adapted from Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger's New York Times bestseller, George Washington’s Secret Six tells the little-known story of the Culper Spy Ring, a group of spies who played a crucial role in helping Washington defeat the British during the Revolutionary War. History-loving kids will get a quick snapshot of General Washington’s military prowess and the very beginnings of espionage in the United States.
(Ages 10+)Also available from: -
Thomas Jefferson: President and Philosopher
After taking a look at biography collections like DK Eyewitness Books: Presidents and Grover Cleveland, Again!, kids should pick up this read to learn more about Thomas Jefferson. With prints, maps, and illustrations throughout, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham walks middle grade readers through the fascinating life — as a lawyer, scientist, politician, and, of course, book lover — of the third President of the United States. While Meacham praises many of Jefferson's accomplishments, he also doesn't steer clear of some of the Founding Father's flaws in this biography. A well-balanced and researched account of Thomas Jefferson's life.
(Ages 10+)
