Boston is a small city that children's books have been mining for eighty years, and it keeps paying out. A duck family stops traffic on Beacon Street. A ballpark with a thirty-seven-foot wall in left field turns out to be the oldest one in the majors. A harbor gets three hundred and forty chests of tea dumped into it, a church steeple gets two lanterns, and a molasses tank on Commercial Street bursts and sends a wave through the North End. Very little of that had to be invented.
Drawing from Bookroo's collection of 83 Boston books, our editors chose the picture books families read before a trip, the ballpark and marathon stories, the Revolutionary titles that actually hold a child's attention, and novels that use the real city — the Charles, the Common, the North End, Fenway. Start with our 13 favorites, then browse by age, from board books for a stroller ride down the Freedom Trail to thick novels for independent readers.
Mr. and Mrs. Mallard hunt the whole city for a safe place to raise eight ducklings and settle on an island in the Public Garden.
Larry the dog chases a stray treat away from his owner and tours Boston's landmarks trying to find his way back.
An alphabet tour of Fenway Park, from the Green Monster to Pesky's Pole to Ted Williams's red seat.
Told there was no woman's race and no woman capable of one, Bobbi Gibb trained on her own and ran the 1966 Boston Marathon anyway.
Paul Revere was a silversmith, dentist, and bell-ringer who lost his spurs, forgot his cloth, and still got the message through.
On a December night in 1773, men in disguise boarded three ships at Griffin's Wharf and threw a fortune in tea into Boston Harbor.
Cousins Mike and Kate are at Fenway when the Red Sox slugger's lucky bat disappears from the dugout.
Clementine is Friend of the Week, which should be wonderful, except her cat is missing and her best friend has ideas.
In January 1919 a two-million-gallon molasses tank bursts above the North End and a wave of it comes down the street.
A homeless Boston teenager learns he is the son of a Norse god about ten minutes before dying on the Longfellow Bridge.
In 1900s Boston, Cordelia Clay's father and every magical creature in his care vanish overnight.
Louis the trumpeter swan, born without a voice, takes a job on the swan boats in the Boston Public Garden.
A crippled hand ends Johnny Tremain's silversmith apprenticeship and lands him in the middle of Revolutionary Boston.
Swan boats, ducklings, and city landmarks in sturdy pages for ages 0–5.
Explore Boston's iconic landmarks with your toddler before bedtime.
A duck and duckling tour Boston's landmarks, from the swan boats to Fenway Park.
A lost pup explores Boston's iconic landmarks. Can he find his way home?
Ducklings on the Common, Fenway Park, the Boston Tea Party, and marathon stories for ages 3–8.
A woman defies the odds to run the Boston Marathon, changing the sport forever.
A young girl challenges school segregation, sparking a historic fight for equality.
A young fan witnesses history as the Red Sox integrate in 1959.
A boy's first day at a new school challenges his courage and self-belief.
Twins time-travel to the Boston Tea Party, sparking revolution.
Uncover the storied past of the Boston Red Sox, from origins to triumphs.
A dog inspires marathon runners, even after his passing.
Discover the highs and lows of the Boston Red Sox's storied history.
Rival lobsters unite to save their gardens from ocean trash.
A boy witnesses the Revolutionary War's start, caught outside Boston as history unfolds.
Two squirrels' home becomes a Christmas tree, leading to an unexpected journey.
A scientist must outwit a tricky co-pilot and avoid disaster to fly across the English Channel.
Ballpark mysteries, Revolutionary history, disaster survival, and Boston-set novels for ages 6–12.
A boy becomes a spy amidst pre-Revolutionary War tensions.
A molasses tank explodes, unleashing chaos. Can Carmen survive the flood?
Discover basketball's legends and dynasties in a thrilling journey through the sport's history.
Two students must solve a theft to join a secret society or risk losing everything.
A history teacher and his talking horse travel to 1765 Boston to witness the American Revolution's beginnings.
A sleepover at a museum turns mysterious after a loud crash. What happened to the Spinosaurus?
A third-grader navigates the challenges of growing up, including friendships, family, and self-discovery.
The Boston Tea Party was a pivotal event in American history that helped spark the American Revolution
A young girl's life shatters when her parents are deported.
A young girl named Judy Moody travels to Boston with her family and learns about American history and independence.
Seven kids are trapped in 1776 Boston, facing redcoats and rampant pox. Can they survive and return home?
Step into history and join the Boston Tea Party rebellion.
