As teachers, we know that one of the best ways to teach about history is through literature. Picture books bring history to life and help teachers address difficult concepts in age-appropriate ways. However, finding worthwhile picture books can be time-consuming and difficult when there are so many to choose from! To help save you time, I have compiled a list of 7 Civil War picture books for kids.
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7 Civil War Picture Books for Kids
You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Civil War Soldier by Thomas Ratliff
Book Description:
This non-fiction book would be a great way to introduce your Civil War unit. Ratliff’s book is written as if the reader is a Civil War soldier. It explains what life was like for soldiers on both sides and goes over major battles.
The book is full of facts but is easy to read because there are plenty of cartoon illustrations.
This book is appropriate for students ages 8 and up.
Ideas for Using this Book:
This book would be a perfect way to introduce a lesson on what life was like for Civil War soldiers.
This book also provides information for students to compare and contrast life in the Union Army to the Confederate Army.
To help your students learn more, this book could be paired with You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Civil War Nurse.
Heart & Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson
Book Description:
Kadir Nelson’s Heart and Soul has won many awards, including the 2012 Coretta Scott King Author Award. Nelson’s book teaches about the history of African Americans from Colonial times through the civil rights movement. This book is narrated by an “everywoman,” an unnamed African American woman whose ancestors were enslaved.
I recommend reading the following chapters when studying the Civil War:
- Chapter 2: Slavery
- Chapter 3: Abolition
- Chapter 4: Lincoln’s War
- Chapter 5: Reconstruction.
The award-winning illustrations are gorgeous!
This book is appropriate for students ages 9 and up.
Ideas for Using this Book:
Click here to download discussion questions that go along with this book.
Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco
Book Description:
This emotional picture book tells the true story of two young union soldiers: one White, and one Black. Pinkus, a Black Southerner, finds Say, a White Northerner, injured after a battle. Pink takes Say back to his mother, where she cares for Say until he recovers. The two boys form a friendship and Say learns the true meaning of bravery and how to fight for what is right.
This story is very special because it is a story passed down from generation to generation in author Patricia Pollacco’s family. Although it is a children’s book, it is a book about war, and involves the death of two characters.
This book is appropriate for students ages 6 and up.
Ideas for Using this Book:
This book is a great way to discuss which groups fought in the Civil War. For example, Pinkus, a Black Southerner and Say, a Northerner, both fought for the Union army.
It also shows the risks that individuals took to do what was right. Pinkus and his mother risk their lives to save Say.
Some themes of this book are bravery and the cost of war.
Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine
Book Description:
This Caldecott Award winner tells the true story of Henry “Box” Brown, an enslaved man who shipped himself to freedom in a wooden box. The story begins with Henry as a child. Henry does not know his birthday because he is enslaved. The book talks about Henry’s life and work as an enslaved person. After losing his family, Henry resolves to mail himself to the North so that he can be free.
The writing is simple but powerful and the illustrations are beautiful.
This book is appropriate for students ages 5 and up.
Ideas for Using this Book:
One of this book’s themes is freedom. This book is a great way to begin a discussion with kids about what it means to be free. Henry is an example of an enslaved person who freed himself with the help of abolitionists.
This book also introduces the idea of slave states and free states. In the book, Henry mails himself to Pennsylvania since it is a free state. Teachers could use this book to discuss which areas of the country were free vs. slave before the Civil War. To help students visualize this, teachers could show students this map.
The Last Brother: A Civil War Tale by Tina Hakes Noble
Book Description:
This picture book tells the story of an eleven-year-old bugle boy named Gabe who serves in the Union Army. When Gabe’s regiment comes to fight in Gettysburg, he meets a bugle boy from the Confederate Army. We learn about the battle of Gettysburg from Gabe’s point of view as he grapples with his desire to protect those he cares about and his duty.
This long book has beautiful, realistic illustrations.
This book is appropriate for students ages 8 and up.
Ideas for Using this Book:
The Last Brother: A Civil War Tale would be a great book to include in a lesson about the Battle of Gettysburg.
A great way to make this book come to life would be to show this video of Civil War bugle calls.
I am Harriet Tubman by Brad Meltzer
Book Description:
This is an excellent biography about Harriet Tubman. The book begins with Harriet explaining what slavery is. Then, Harriet tells stories about her life from suffering a head injury as a child to working as a spy for the Union during the Civil War.
The theme of this book is helping others. Harriet challenges us to make the right choice, even if it is risky. It is a touching and beautifully written book.
The book is illustrated like a comic strip with speech bubbles. This makes her story feel interactive and exciting.
This book is appropriate for students ages 5 and up.
Ideas for Using this Book:
Instead of reading the book aloud themselves, teachers can show this video read-aloud of the book by author Brad Meltzer.
This book would also be great to tie in with a biography unit.
I am Abraham Lincoln by Brad Meltzer
Book Description:
This is a fun biography about Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln tells stories about his life in the first person. He tells stories from his childhood, including wrestling a bully and stories from his presidency, including giving the Gettysburg Address.
The theme of the book is integrity. Abraham Lincoln explains that we should use our voice to help others and fight for what we believe in.
This is a sweet and inspiring book. It is illustrated like a cartoon comic strip with speech bubbles.
This book is appropriate for students age 5 and up.
Ideas for Using this Book:
Like I am Harriet Tubman, this book would be a great way to discuss biographies or even have students create their own biography project.
More Resources for Teaching about the Civil War
I hope that these Civil War picture books for kids will save you time and make your life easier! If you enjoyed this post, you may be interested in my 3-week Civil War unit. It is filled with engaging lessons and activities you can use in your classroom today. The lessons cover events before, during, and after the Civil War so that students really get the big picture. Hundreds of teachers have used and loved it. I know you will too!
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