11 Fun & Fascinating History Books for Preschoolers

Want to give your pre-K kid a fun intro to music history? This hilarious children’s book begins with a “Rich Dude” who can’t sleep and it ends with the composition of the most “beautiful lullabies ever written,” also known as the Goldberg variations. 

This zany, nontraditional true story follows a young Goldberg as he tries desperately to lull the cranky Rich Dude to sleep. But the Rich Dude shouts for Goldberg each night, waking up the whole town. As the town gets sleepier and sleepier and grumpier and grumpier, in comes Bach to save the day.

This silly historical fiction book is sure to interest your little one and it’s the perfect read-aloud for exploring some of the classical era’s most beautiful music together.

“Fry bread is food. It is warm and delicious, piled high on a plate.
Fry bread is time. It brings families together for meals and new memories.
Fry bread is nation. It is shared by many, from coast to coast and beyond.
Fry bread is us.”

This is among the most celebrated Native American history books for young readers in preschool and kindergarten. Told in lively verse, this vibrantly illustrated picture book depicts the family life of a modern Native American as they honor things old and new, similarities and differences. And all through this tribal food staple shared by Nations throughout North America.

This lyrical, beautifully illustrated tale will give your little one a glimpse into a moment in Black history through the eyes of a child: The Great Migration. When young girl Ruth Ellen boards a train up north, she leaves the cotton fields and distant Blue Ridge mountains and embarks on a journey to a new life. 

Told in a series of poems, it follows what she sees from the window, as scenes of folks working in fields give way to glimpses of the freedom and opportunity. As her family travels, Ruth Ellen reads about the life of African American icon Frederick Douglass, who along with Harriet Tubman helped slaves escape to freedom through the Underground Railroad. She reflects on the events of his life until they arrive at their stop at  New York’s Penn Station, and head into a night filled with bright lights, glimmering stars and fresh possiblities.  

“Scientist, Scientist, Who do you see?
I see Marie Curie in her laboratory!”

The beloved board book “Brown Bear, Brown Bear” gets a nerdy new look in this must-read version spotlighting famous scientists.   

With hilarious rhymes, it spoofs the classic while teaching kids all about some of the most famous, influential scientists of all time, from Albert Einstein and Ahmed Zewail, to Charles Darwin, Grace Hopper and more. In the back, you’ll even find brief bios on each scientist featured in the book. It’s a sweet, silly dose of science and history wrapped in a bedtime story.

Treat your little one to this little-known story behind the U.S. national anthem: “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Based on the poem by Francis Scott Key, the song describes the American flag as it waved in the night during the War of 1812 (not, as many believe, during the American Revolutionary War).

But what else is there to the story of this song that has come to be our biggest ode to the Declaration of Independence? Why were rockets glaring? When did Betsy Ross sew those broad stripes and bright stars? Filled to the brim with actual historical facts, including a glossary and timeline, this audiobook will tell your kid all about it.

Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass meet for tea and a chat in this little kid-friendly 6-minute audiobook. Together they relate over their experiences fighting for civil rights. Anthony is known for championing labor rights and equal pay for women and Douglass for his tireless fight against slavery and later, segregation. Inspired by a famous statue in their hometown of Rochester, New York depicting the two having tea, it teaches young children about these important themes in a way that’s engaging and easy to understand.

Climb aboard with your little one and set sail along the mighty Nile in this colorful rhyming book. Your kid will experience the wonders from the temples of ancient Egypt and the Valley of Kings to the bustling Aswan’s market. Along the way, they’ll learn about everything from mummies’ tombs to the pyramids of Giza. Perfect for a read-aloud, you might even pick up some fun pieces of fun world history along the way. At the end there are pages filled with educational facts about Egyptian history, gods and goddesses, a helpful map and more.

Dive into the story of the “five lads” who became our founding fathers in this hilarious audiobook for little ones. From New York Times bestselling creator and Caldecott Honor recipient Lane Smith, comes a peek into the early lives of John Hancock, Paul Revere, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and of course… the troublesome young Thomas “Tom” Jefferson.

This witty book about the childhood of famous Americans will make American history relatable and fun for early readers. Bonus: It’s narrated by James Earl Jones!

Teresa Carreño is a child prodigy who loves to let her hands dance across the keys of her piano. It cheers her up when she’s sad, and shares in her joy when she’s happy. But when a revolution breaks out in her home country of Venezuela, her family is forced to flee to the U.S. during another period of fighting: The American Civil War. Could her music bring comfort to a country torn apart by war?

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 up some delicious history on one of America’s favorite summer snacks. This year it’s 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, today known as cotton candy. Follow young Lily and her Aunt Mae as they talk to inventor John Wharton and learn how it’s made. 

Set in 19th-century Louisiana, this Caldecott Honor winner tells the little known 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 it easy for  preschoolers to understand. The lyrical language makes it a great choice for read-alouds with even pre-readers.