Historical Picture Books

Recommended picture books portraying historical events.

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Apples to Oregon
Artist/Author/Cast:
Hopkinson, Deborah; Carpenter, Nancy (Illustrator)
Call Number:
JP Hopkinson
Description:

A pioneer father transports his beloved fruit trees and his family to Oregon in the mid-nineteenth century.

At the Mountain's Base
Artist/Author/Cast:
Sorell, Traci; Alvitre, Weshoyot (Illustrator)
Call Number:
JP Sorell
Description:

A group of women gather to pray for the safe return of their loved one, a pilot away at war.

Back of the Bus
Artist/Author/Cast:
Reynolds, Aaron; Cooper, Floyd (Illustrator)
Call Number:
JP Reynolds
Description:

From the back of the bus, an African American child watches the arrest of Rosa Parks.

Baseball Saved Us
Artist/Author/Cast:
Mochizuki, Ken; Lee, Dom (Illustrator)
Call Number:
JP Mochizuki
Description:

Shorty, a young boy living in a Japanese American internment camp during World War II, helps form a baseball league.

The Buffalo Soldier
Artist/Author/Cast:
Garland, Sherry; Himler, Ronald (Illustrator)
Call Number:
JP Garland
Description:

A man raised as a slave becomes a member of an all-black cavalry regiment on the western frontier.

The Crossing
Artist/Author/Cast:
Napoli, Donna Jo; Madsen, Jim (Illustrator)
Call Number:
JP Napoli
Description:

This book reveals the adventure and wonders that Lewis and Clark encountered on their western expedition in the early 1800s.

Dandelions
Artist/Author/Cast:
Bunting, Eve
Call Number:
JP Bunting
Description:

Zoe and her family find strength in each other as they make a new home in the Nebraska territory.

The Firekeeper's Son
Artist/Author/Cast:
Park, Linda Sue; Downing, Julie (Illustrator)
Call Number:
JP Park
Description:

A young boy in a remote village suddenly finds himself serving his country in eighteenth-century Korea.

The First Dog
Artist/Author/Cast:
Brett, Jan (Author, Illustrator)
Call Number:
JP Brett
Description:

Kip adopts Paleowolf as a pet after the wolf saves him from being eaten by cave bears.

The Greatest Skating Race
Artist/Author/Cast:
Borden, Louise; Daly, Niki (Illustrator)
Call Number:
JP Borden
Description:

During World War II in the Netherlands, a boy helps two children escape to Belgium by skating past German soldiers.

Henry's Freedom Box
Artist/Author/Cast:
Levine, Ellen; Nelson, Kadir (Illustrator)
Call Number:
JP Levine
Description:

The story of Henry "Box" Brown, a slave who achieves freedom in an unusual but effective way.

Hiawatha and the Peacemaker
Artist/Author/Cast:
Robertson, Robbie; Shannon, David (Illustrator)
Call Number:
JP Robertson
Description:

Tells the story of Hiawatha, who was chosen to bring the message of unity to the five Iroquois nations.

Hope's Gift
Artist/Author/Cast:
Lyons, Kelly; Tate, Don (Illustrator)
Call Number:
JP Lyons
Description:

A poignant story celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Knit Your Bit
Artist/Author/Cast:
Hopkinson, Deborah; Guarnaccia, Steven (Illustrator)
Call Number:
JP Hopkinson
Description:

Mikey’s dad leaves to fight overseas during World War I, and Mikey wants to do something big to help.

Mailing May
Artist/Author/Cast:
Tunnell, Michael O.; Rand, Ted (Illustrator)
Call Number:
JP Tunnell
Description:

May wants to visit her grandmother, but her family can't afford the train ticket.

The Moon Over Star
Artist/Author/Cast:
Aston, Diana; Pinkney, Jerry (Illustrator)
Call Number:
JP Aston
Description:

Young Mae describes one day in 1969 when everyone's attention was focused on three astronauts and their historic moon landing.

Peppe the Lamplighter
Artist/Author/Cast:
Bartone, Elisa; Lewin, Ted (Illustrator)
Call Number:
JP Bartone
Description:

In turn-of-the-century New York, Peppe takes a job lighting street lamps to help his poverty-stricken family.

Pink and Say
Artist/Author/Cast:
Polacco, Patricia (Author, Illustrator)
Call Number:
JP Polacco
Description:
A powerful Civil War story about interracial friendship.
Red Kite, Blue Kite
Artist/Author/Cast:
Jiang, Ji-li; Ruth, Greg (Illustrator)
Call Number:
JP Jiang
Description:

A boy and his father are separated during China's Cultural Revolution, but they stay close by flying kites.

The Scarlet Stockings Spy
Artist/Author/Cast:
Noble, Trinka Hakes; Papp, Robert (Illustrator)
Call Number:
JP Noble
Description:

In 1777 Philadelphia, young Maddy Rose leaves secret messages for her soldier brother, using something no one would suspect.

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