Every American child meets George Washington twice: first as the face on the dollar bill, then—if the books are good—as a real person. The surveyor teenager. The general who kept an outmatched army together through a winter that should have finished it. The one man in the country who could have kept power and handed it back instead. The best books for kids do the second introduction, and they find him where he is most human: aching teeth, a temper he spent a lifetime mastering, a dread of the presidency he could not talk his way out of.
Our editors picked twelve of the best ways in, drawn from a collection of 57 titles: first biographies for listeners who still need a lap, early readers built around one great true story, time-travel adventures that drop kids into Trenton in December, and serious middle-grade histories for a report that deserves better than an encyclopedia entry. Start with the favorites, then browse the picture-book and independent-reader shelves—or follow a curious reader on to the Revolutionary War, the founding fathers, and the Fourth of July.
The whole life in one sitting: surveyor, soldier, commander, farmer, president—and the man behind the stone face on the dollar.
The tallest man in the room learns that leading people means going first—and then going home.
Two men named George, one ocean between them, and a war that turned on which one was right.
Five kids row a boat across a cold river and land on the wrong side of December 25, 1776.
He never had wooden teeth—but the true story of what he did have is far better, and far funnier.
No shoes, no food, no pay, and a commander who has to hold an army together anyway.
In the middle of a battle, General Washington finds a lost dog—and sends it back to the enemy.
A nineteen-year-old drags 183 cannons 300 miles through a New England winter to break the siege of Boston.
A shy Virginia boy with a bad temper decides, on purpose, to become someone worth following.
A boy named George Washington Allen wants to know one thing: what did the first president eat for breakfast?
The country wants him to be president. He would very much rather stay home.
Forensic scientists, a wax sculptor, and a set of dentures set out to rebuild what Washington really looked like.
Presidents' Day read-alouds and first biographies—cherry trees, wooden teeth, and the general on his white horse—for listeners ages 4–8.
A daring Christmas night gamble could change the fate of a nation.
Five mischievous lads take liberties, unknowingly shaping a nation's future.
Explore the journey of a leader from Virginia youth to founding president.
Discover the journey of America's first president from soldier to leader of a new nation.
Discover the origins of Independence Day before fireworks and parades.
A young spy races to thwart a plot against George Washington before it's too late.
Kids' antics threaten chaos during Washington's portrait session.
Discover the pivotal friendship that shaped the Revolutionary War.
George's livestock cause chaos, challenging his leadership at home.
Witness George Washington's historic journey to his inauguration, celebrated by a nation eager to honor its first president.
Discover how a farmer became America's first leader.
Discover how a war hero became America's first president and a wise leader.
Biographies, battlefield history, spy stories, and time-travel adventures for independent readers ages 7–11.
Two siblings travel back in time to the Revolutionary War to help a magical librarian save Camelot
A young boy helps General Washington's troops escape from the British during the American Revolution.
A foxhound witnesses George Washington's rise from farmer to leader during the Revolutionary War.
A young nobleman seeks adventure in America's fight for independence, risking everything for a cause beyond borders.
A young major's mission leads to a fight for independence.
The American colonies declare independence from Great Britain and form a new nation, the United States of America, through a series of events and decisions by key figures such as Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin.
Seven kids are trapped in 1776 Boston, facing redcoats and rampant pox. Can they survive and return home?
A slave risks everything to escape America's first family.
A young spy risks his life to deliver a secret message in enemy territory.
A leader rises against colonial rule to shape a new nation.
Explore the childhood of America's first First Lady and her journey to shaping a nation.
Navigate the American Revolution with a time traveler's guide to espionage, rebellion, and historical hijinks.
