Patriotic reads for every member of the family

As summer draws to a close, parents, teachers, and students are busy gathering curriculums, supplies, and resources for a new school year. Aside from the shift back to school routines, the end of summer and start of autumn seems to bring a notable change in the air, and along with it, a type of renewed energy.

All of us, whether school-age or long past graduation, are called to be life-long learners. With today’s increasingly intense political culture, it is even more vital for Americans of all ages to be well-educated and well-equipped to understand, defend, and promote the unique goodness of the American experiment in self-governance. As much as we need to prepare our children – the next generation of Americans – to know and love their country, we need to do the same for ourselves. Our knowledge, however, should not come from 60-second Instagram reels; it needs to come from reliable resources and original source documents. Good stories are one of the best avenues for teaching and learning, and not just for children. 

As a virtue, patriotism is cultivated through everyday moments, such as honoring the flag, thanking a veteran, voting, dinnertime discussions, and yes, lots of stories! Every home should be filled with stories of our country’s history and founders. Every American has a responsibility to know the history of their home and ensure the next generation does the same. To know America is to love her. 

To this end, we should fill our homes with stories and resources that explore the greatness of what it means to be an American and our unique national heritage. To help you begin or continue building out your own such library, I’ve created this list of favorite books for American patriots of all reading levels. 

Toddler books (Ages 2-5) 

Introducing the story of our country should begin at the earliest ages! We should offer interesting, educational, and age-appropriate stories that introduce America’s story and heroes. 

America the Beautiful: Use its gorgeous illustrations to discuss the vastness of this country, each state’s particular features, and the glory of God’s creation, all while learning one of America’s most beloved national hymns.. 

The Great George Washington: Introduce the life and contributions of our first president with this engaging book. Filled with hand painted gouache watercolors, it discusses Washington’s upbringing as one of 10 children, the Revolution, his role at the Constitutional Convention, and his time as president. 

God Bless America: This darling book is a favorite of my 2-year-old. I quite often find her cuddled on the couch singing “God Bless America” under her breath as she follows the family of bears across the country. 

The Pledge of Allegiance: Filled with bold words and larger images, it teaches the Pledge itself and the meaning of it.   

What is America?: Written in rhyme and filled with the cutest illustrations, this heartwarming board book is perfect for chubby fingers and teaches what America is really about.

The Star Spangled Banner: At this age, introducing classic American songs is a great way to teach about our country. Filled with detailed paintings, this book includes all the verses of the National Anthem. 

School-aged books (Ages 6-10) 

During the elementary years, children are capable of understanding more than the basic facts of the Fourth of July and our founding. They can dive deeper into the details of the men and women who risked their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to found a new nation. 

Paul Revere’s Ride: Longfellow’s stunning, but more mature, writing style is perfect for school-aged children to learn about Revere’s brave ride and its impact on the Revolution. The illustrations match the beauty of the words! 

Our Flag: This excellent resource details the progression of the American flag and the history of each of its iterations. Look for the original version of the book (with eight flags on the front cover), as the newer version has changed some of the wording and replaced the original hand-drawn illustrations with more modern, digital ones. 

Land of the Pilgrim’s Pride: Written by former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican Callista Gingrich, this book introduces each of the original 13 colonies, their histories, and their importance to the Union. Check out the entire series to learn along with patriotic darling Ellie the Elephant.  

Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books: Before Abraham Lincoln became an iconic president, he was a child too. This delightful book discusses Lincoln’s difficult upbringing and his path to presidency. 

Three Young Pilgrims: This book tells the story of a family traveling on the Mayflower to the new world. It brings to life the history of the voyage and the difficulties endured once reaching the new world with some of the most detailed and beautiful illustrations of any young children’s book. 

A Picture Book of George Washington: Part of the “A Picture Book” series, this excellent book details the life of our first president from childhood to his death. The rich information is coupled with soft and beautiful illustrations, making it a must-have for every home. 

A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin: Another of the “A Picture Book” series, this one captures the richness and excitement of Benjamin Franklin’s life, offering new insights for both young and old readers.

Who Was Abraham Lincoln?: This chapter book series is excellent for the older readers in this age group. There are many books in this series teaching about our presidents, founders, and other American figures. The chapters are filled with information, but aren’t too overbearing or long. 

Middle-aged children’s books (Ages 11-13)

This is a fun age to dive deeper into American history, especially as more of their school curriculum incorporates American history and ideas. These books are great additional resources for school or fun. 

American History: A Visual Encyclopedia of United States History: A must-read, this resource is filled with over 300 pages of charts, images, and maps displaying the great history of the United States from its beginning to modern day. 

Tuttle Twins Teen Bundle: The Tuttle Twins has become one of the frontrunners of American history resources for families with entertaining and educational stories that embody the true American spirit. 

Children’s Encyclopedia of American History: An absolute must-have, this encyclopedia is filled to the brim with information and is an thorough resource for your children as they learn our nation’s history and the events that have shaped its creation. 

Teen to adult books (Ages 14+)

By high school, the best reading is original source documents filled with the words of the founders themselves, as well as those who came after and shaped our nation. The richness and depth of these works can be constantly revisited through teen and adult years. 

Revolution: The Birth of the Greatest Nation in the History of the World: In this must-read, Eric Metaxas tells the creation story of America through a biblical lens. It is a stunning read.

American Heritage: A Reader: This compiled series of original source documents, speeches, and other writings that stem from the founding all the way to modern day is an approachable, but excellent resource to learn the history and background of each of the included works. No wonder it is required reading for students at Hillsdale College.

With Malice Toward None: Of all the great biographies of America’s presidents, this one, about Abraham Lincoln, should be on every patriot’s reading list. The well-written story is a great read.

The Constitution of the United States of America: The Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights: When was the last time you read the U.S. Constitution or the Declaration? Here, they are combined into a beautiful keepsake book for everyone in the family to peruse time after time.

Common Sense: Thomas Paine’s 1776 pamphlet was one of the most influential reads at the time of America’s founding. It offered such a persuasive argument for the colonies’ separation from Great Britain that even George Washington noted how this pamphlet alone changed the hearts and minds of many colonists. 

The Federalist Papers: To understand the Constitution, we must understand the intent of the writers. The 85 articles contained within The Federal Papers that Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote under the anonymous title “Publius,” discuss and defend the ideals and legal principles behind the governance of the United States. The brilliance of these men comes across particularly powerfully in their own words.