Declaration of Independence (July 4th)
- The Declaration of Independence: The Words That Made America, by Sam Fink, Illustrator. Grades 4-8.
- Pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations are used to interpret each line of the Declaration of Independence for contemporary readers.
- Give Me Liberty!: The Story of the Declaration of Independence, by Russell Freedman. Grades 4-8.
- An excellent work covering the causes of the Revolutionary War, the Second Continental Congress, the Battle of Bunker Hill, the drafting of the Declaration by Thomas Jefferson, and the document's importance in history and today.
- Samuel Adams: The Father of American Independence, by Dennis Brindell Fradin. Grades 5-10.
- Long before most of his contemporaries saw the necessity of revolution, Adams worked tirelessly behind the scenes for the eventual confrontation between the colonists and King George III.
- The Signers: The 56 Stories behind the Declaration of Independence, by Dennis Brindell Fradin, illus. by Michael McCurdy. Grades 4-7.
- A collective biography of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Frida Kahlo's Birthday (July 6, 1907)
- Frida, by Jonah Winter, illus. by Ana Juan. Preschool-Grade 2.
- A picture-book biography of Frida Kahlo who overcame childhood polio, as well as a catastrophic accident, to become one of Mexico's greatest painters.
Ida b. Wells' Birthday (July 16, 1862)
- Ida B. Wells: Mother of the Civil Rights Movement, by Dennis Brindell Fradin and Judith Bloom Fradin. Grades 5 up.
- A compelling account of Wells' life and how she paved the way for the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s, as well as her relationships with other noted personalities of her day, such as Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Tubman.
Women's Rights Convention at Seneca Falls, NY
(July 19, 1848)
- You Want Women to Vote, Lizzie Stanton?, by Jean Fritz, illus. by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan. Grades 3-6.
- Elizabeth Cady Stanton spent her childhood trying to prove to her father that daughters should be as valued as sons. She spent her adult life trying to improve the status of women by supporting "women's rights," including the right to vote.
Amelia Earhart's Birthday (July 24,
1897)
- Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride, by Pam Muñoz Ryan, illus. by Brian Selznick. Grades 1-4.
- In this skillful blend of fact and fiction, the author has expanded on a true historical event to present an exciting adventure shared by two independent women. At a White House dinner in 1933, Amelia Earhart convinces her friend, Eleanor Roosevelt, to sneak away and join her for a night flight to Baltimore. The author's note makes it quite clear which parts of the story have been fictionalized. A great introduction to both women.
The librarian of each library participating in the BOOKS FOR CHILDREN program selects the books her library will receive from a booklist provided by the Foundation. The 700-plus fiction and nonfiction titles on the list reflect the very best of children's literature published within the last three years, as well as a selection of classic favorites. Although the complete booklist is for the sole use of libraries participating in the BOOKS FOR CHILDREN program, the website features an ever-changing selection of books from current and past booklists.
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