Learning Together: 15 History Books for Kindergarten on Epic

This animated book about a Native American family is among the most beloved historical fiction books for early readers. With rich illustrations and simple, powerful prose honors similarities and differences, and celebrates new things old and new. It uses the Native American food staple fry bread as a metaphor for family and others coming together. 

The book includes a short history of Native Americans and fry bread. It also has a recipe that you and your child can make together!

Step right up and read about the first cotton candy ever served at the World’s Fair! Set in 1904 St. Louis, Missouri, this tale offers kids some delicious history on one of America’s favorite summer snacks. This year it was an exhibition like no other, with giant displays of inventions and exhibits from all over the globe. Vendors were all over the bustling showroom selling new foods, including one odd treat called fairy floss, now known as cotton candy. Follow young Lily and her Aunt Mae as they talk to inventor John Wharton and learn how it’s made.

Want to give your kindergartner a fun intro to music history? Start with a “Rich Dude” who keeps the whole town awake with his hollering because he can’t sleep, and you have a recipe for hilarious fun. This zany, nontraditional yet true story follows a young musician named Goldberg as he tries desperately (and unsuccessfully) to lull the cranky Rich Dude to sleep. As the town gets sleepier and sleepier and grumpier and grumpier, in comes Bach to save the day! This silly tale makes for a perfect read-aloud introduction to classical music and history.

It’s time for music class with Ms. Hill! Do you know the origins of the “Star-Spangled Banner?” This engaging nonfiction book will teach your 5-7-year old all about it: from the lyrics themselves, to its creation by poet Francis Scott Key and how it came to be the U.S. national anthem. This colorful book gives young learners a lively introduction to the famed song, as well as an early look at American history. “Can You Sing” is one of six children’s history books in the Our American Symbols Series. Others include “Is a Bald Eagle Really Bald?” and “Can We Ring the Liberty Bell?”

What would your day look like if you lived in ancient Egypt? Written from the perspective of a child, this cultural overview takes kids on a journey through antiquity in a fun, easy-to-understand way. It discusses what people in ancient Egypt believed, did and saw. Clothing styles, pyramids, mummies and more are all laid out for little ones to learn about and explore in this fascinating piece of world history.

This book introduces the significance of the Fourth of July through a very exciting topic for many young kids: fireworks! With informative text and bright photos, it tells the story of this important holiday, from how it originated to how it’s come to be celebrated today. It includes a wealth of facts about the American Revolution, Declaration of Independence and even how fireworks are made and fireworks safety. It also comes with a glossary and other resources to boost their knowledge even more.

Set in 19th-century Louisiana, this Caldecott Honor winner tells the true story of enslaved people finding hope and joy even under the most oppressed conditions. All week long, they labored all day, with the exception of Sundays, when they would worship in the mornings. But in the afternoons they could gather with free Blacks at Congo Square. Here they could sing and dance, set up a market, play music and forget their struggles for just a little while. The beautiful illustrations and simple rhymes make this an ideal read-aloud.

In the 1800s, a Frenchman named Édouard René de Laboulaye decided to make a statue celebrating the first 100 years of the United States. That statue would become the Statue of Liberty, of course. And kids can learn all about its construction, its journey across The Atlantic and tons of other little known facts in this whimsical picture book. Most importantly, the book sends an important message about unity and acceptance, drawn from a seemingly small detail in Lady Liberty’s right foot.

Not everyone is aware of Juneteenth, the U.S. holiday that commemorates the ending of institutionalized slavery in America. In this beautiful book, your kid can follow Mazie as she finds out what this important day is all about through stories from her own family’s history. She learns about the struggles and the triumphs of generations of African Americans before her. And in the end she’s ready to celebrate freedom, and the day her ancestors were no longer slaves.

What was it like to be a pioneer? This Read-To-Me book will take your kid on a learning adventure onboard a covered wagon, exploring the lives of pioneers as they traveled west via the overland trail. They’ll learn about what they ate, what they wore, and the people and places they encountered on their journey through the unknown. Filled with interesting facts, glossary terms, sight words and colorful illustrations, it’ll give your kindergartener an appreciation for the challenges pioneers faced and boost their vocabulary in the process.

Immerse your kid in the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln in this vivid Read-To-Me biography. With colorful illustrations and timetables, this book explores the details of our 16th president’s life, his historic decision to abolish slavery and of the ensuing Civil War. It includes informative text and helpful sidebars, making complex concepts easy for young readers to understand.

Epic Originals alert! In book 5 of this popular early chapter book series, kid reporter Nellie Nutgraf is back to uncover the BIGGEST story in history. This time Nellie is bent on getting the scoop on George Washington, Johnny Appleseed, Grace Hopper and Benjamin Banneker. This series is a silly, adventure-filled way to introduce your kindergartener to well-known figures from American history. Even if they’re not ready for chapter books, the lively storytelling and spunky heroine, plus the Read-To-Me format make this perfect for an independent read-aloud. You can find this series and even more Epic Originals books on Epic, and physical copies on Amazon, like “My Pet Slime.”

Everyone was a kid once—including Civil Rights activist Martin Luther King Jr.! This brightly illustrated picture book tells the story of King’s life as a child who loved having fun, playing basketball, and, yes, roller skating. But it also tells another story. Facing discrimination and bullying from peers, and sometimes adults, young Martin is inspired to change the world. The book touches on events and experiences that shaped his ideas on equality, standing up for what’s right, and driving change through nonviolence. It also includes a glossary of terms related to the civil rights movement.

Golda Meir grew up to be the Prime Minister of Israel, but at the age of 9 she was a Russian-Jewish immigrant in the United States. This empowering Read-To-Me book is the story of Goldie as a young girl who was too poor to buy textbooks. She rallied a group of best friends and together, the girls raised money to buy the books they needed. This story of leadership, sacrifice, creativity and hard work gives insight into family life during the Great Depression.

We know her today as Harriet Tubman, the former slave who helped liberate countless people through the Underground Railroad. But before she became known as the “Moses of her people,” “General Tubman” and other honors, she was a young girl named Araminta. Told in evocative verse and beautiful water color illustrations, this book offers kids a powerful glimpse into the life, courage and compassion of this heroic African American woman. While it may be too advanced for your kindergartner, this is a great read-aloud for opening them up to an inspiring story they’re not yet ready to read on their own. It’s also a top choice for 1st-grade, 2nd-grade and 3rd-grade kids.