A great book can be a priceless teaching tool. But finding kid-friendly books with accurate historical content can be tricky.
You’d be surprised how many books have incorrect or incomplete information, which no teacher wants!
As a former educator myself, I understand how precious your time is. To save you some time, I’ve created a list of my five favorite Presidents’ Day picture books for kids.
Disclosure: The links in this post are Amazon affiliate links. This means that I may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
So You Want to be President?
Book Description:
Who says history needs to be boring? This picture book’s caricature-style illustrations will pull in your students’ interest. This book contains interesting facts about U.S. presidents, like their past professions, height, and pets. (Did you know the Coolidges had a pet raccoon?)
The information in this book is easy to understand and will help your students see the U.S. presidents as real people. This picture book also covers some basics of what it means to be president and the challenges presidents face.
Please note that this book was published in 2004 and does not cover recent presidents.
This book is appropriate for ages 8 and up.
Ideas for using this book:
The president of the United States has a unique and challenging job. As you read the book, compile a list of the pros and cons of being president. After reading, have students write a short response saying why they would or wouldn’t want to be president.
Abe’s Honest Words
Book Description:
This beautifully written Presidents’ Day picture book focuses on Abraham Lincoln’s life and presidency. Each page in this book features a powerful quote from President Lincoln, highlighting his dreams for the United States.
Here are some examples of Lincoln’s quotes from the book:
- “Upon the subject of education, I view it as the most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in.”
- “The moment came when I felt that slavery must die that the nation might live!”
This book is a powerful reminder that great leaders can come from the humblest of circumstances and that anyone can be a force for good.
This book is appropriate for ages 12 and up.
Ideas for using this book:
This book is full of powerful quotes and essential information about slavery and the Civil War era. Some of the vocabulary can be difficult, so we recommend using it with middle school students. Before reading, review some key vocabulary terms your students might not know. We’ve included a few below to get you started:
- Haste – excessive speed
- Mite – small amount
- Divided – not united, in disagreement
- Tension – mental or emotional strain
- Inaugural address – the first speech a new president gives after being elected
Nice Work, Franklin!
Book Description:
Each United States president has faced challenges and triumphs during their time in office. This book details Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s background, time campaigning, and presidency.
President Roosevelt took office at a time when the United States was struggling. Many people were out of work and didn’t have the money needed to buy basic necessities. Nice Work, Franklin! focuses on the hard work FDR did to revive the nation’s economy and improve life for Americans. While reading, students will learn that Roosevelt was a strong and influential leader despite his physical limitations.
This book is appropriate for ages 10 and up.
Ideas for using this book:
Before reading, discuss and list what information students expect to learn from a biography. After reading, revisit the list and discuss if the book provided the information students expected and what students still want to know. Then, students fill out this planning sheet with details about President Roosevelt, using the book and other resources as needed. Finally, students create a bio cube using this tool from Read Write Think.
I am George Washington
Book Description:
Perhaps no American President is as well known as George Washington. This cartoon-style book follows Washington’s life from childhood to when he was elected president. His background and experiences shared in the book exemplify the values and qualities that made him a great leader.
This book focuses on Washington’s experiences leading up to and during the American Revolution.
This book is appropriate for ages 8 and up.
Ideas for using this book:
This is a great opportunity to include literacy study as you read biographies. Read this book with Nice Work, Franklin!, or use another presidential biography. Then, compare the two biographies using these questions as guidance:
- What parts of the president’s life does the book focus on?
- What point of view is the book told from?
- Is one book missing info the other provides?
If I ran for President
Book Description:
Being elected as president is a complicated process. This easy-to-understand Presidents’ Day picture book shares a child’s view of running for president. Through its simple, straightforward writing, the main character goes through the process of being elected president, including running campaigns, attending conventions, and being chosen by their political party.
Ideas for using this book:
Before reading, ask students what they think a person needs or needs to do to become President of the United States. Make a list as a class. After reading, revisit the list you made and create a new one. As a class, discuss what surprised them, what they got right, etc.
More Resources
I hope this list of Presidents’ Day picture books for kids will be a helpful resource for you.
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