Books About Military History

The Best Military History Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for our other guide?

Explore our editor-reviewed guide to Military & War Books, featuring 13 favorites and recommendations by age.

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Looking for excellent children's books about military history? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Military History

Pearl Harbor
Sale price
$958
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

Pearl Harbor

By Kate Messner, Dylan Meconis (Illustrator) · Book #3 in the History Smashers series

Discover the untold truths behind the Pearl Harbor attack and its overlooked warnings.

224 pages· 18,007 words· Est. 2.5 hour read
4.3 Goodreads · 563 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Dive into the hidden history of Pearl Harbor, where overlooked warnings and ignored signs led to a devastating attack. Explore the aftermath, including the internment of Japanese Americans, through engaging illustrations and sidebars. What secrets lie beneath the surface of this infamous event? Uncover the truths that challenge the accepted narrative and reveal the complexities of a pivotal moment in history.
Raid of No Return
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1498
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2017

Raid of No Return

By Nathan Hale · Book #7 in the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales series

A daring WWII mission: bombers launch from a carrier, risking all for a secret strike on Tokyo.

128 pages· 9,347 words· Est. 1.5 hour read
4.4 Goodreads · 2,781 ratings
$15.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: In the midst of WWII, stunt pilot Jimmy Doolittle leads a perilous mission: launching bombers from a carrier to strike Tokyo. With fuel running low and Japanese forces closing in, survival is uncertain. Will these brave pilots complete their mission and find safety in China, or will they fall into enemy hands? Experience the tension and heroism of the Doolittle Raid, a tale of courage and ingenuity against overwhelming odds.
Cold War Correspondent
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1498
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2021

Cold War Correspondent

By Nathan Hale · Book #11 in the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales series

A journalist defies orders to report from the Korean War frontlines.

128 pages· 10,567 words· Est. 2 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 1,438 ratings
$15.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: In 1950, Marguerite Higgins becomes the Far East bureau chief amid the Korean War's chaos. Trapped in enemy territory, she risks everything for the story. Ordered out by the Army, she appeals to General MacArthur, who lifts the ban on female correspondents. Will her courage change history?
Who Was Napoleon?
Sale price
$674
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2018

Who Was Napoleon?

By Jim Gigliotti, Who HQ, Gregory Copeland (Illustrator) · Who Was . . . ? series

A biography of Napoleon Bonaparte, from his childhood to his rise as a military commander and emperor of France

112 pages· 7,633 words· Est. 1 hour read
4.1 Goodreads · 539 ratings
$6.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Born on Corsica, Napoleon Bonaparte felt like an outsider in France. Yet, his military genius propelled him to become emperor, conquering much of Europe. As he expanded the French empire, he also crafted laws that endure today. Discover the journey of a man who transformed nations and legal systems, leaving a legacy that still influences the world. How did an outsider become a ruler, and what drove his relentless ambition?
The Port Chicago 50
Sale price
$1498
Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2014

The Port Chicago 50

Sailors defy injustice after a deadly explosion, risking all for civil rights.

208 pages· 33,583 words· Est. 3.5 hour read
4.0 Goodreads · 6,722 ratings
$15.99Save 6%
Paperback
Summary: In 1944, a deadly explosion at Port Chicago Navy base kills over 300 sailors. Amidst the chaos, 244 men refuse to work under unsafe conditions, leading to mutiny charges. As they face severe punishment, their stand becomes a pivotal moment in the fight for civil rights within the military. Will justice prevail, or will they pay the ultimate price for their courage?
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Sale price
$1899
Chapter Book · Ages 10–+ · 2011

Attack on Pearl Harbor

By Shelley Tanaka

Relive the day that changed history at Pearl Harbor.

64 pages· 10,012 words· Est. 1.5 hour read
4.0 Goodreads · 201 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: On December 7, 1941, chaos erupts as American and Japanese perspectives collide in a gripping recount of the Pearl Harbor attack. Experience the tension and bravery through vivid memories and photographs.
The Grand Escape
Sale price
$1797
Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 2018

The Grand Escape

By Neal Bascomb · Scholastic Focus series

Allied POWs plot a daring escape from Germany's toughest WWI camp.

256 pages· 47,695 words· Est. 4.5 hour read
3.9 Goodreads · 842 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: In the notorious Holzminden POW camp, a group of Allied pilots faces the ultimate challenge: escape. As World War I rages, these prisoners concoct a daring plan to break free from their captors. Will their ingenuity and courage lead to freedom, or will they remain trapped behind enemy lines? Discover the thrilling true story of resilience and hope in the darkest hours of war.
World War II Pilots
Sale price
$958
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2013

World War II Pilots

By Michael Burgan · You Choose series

Choose your path in WWII's skies: heroism or survival?

112 pages· 9,978 words· Est. 1 hour read
3.9 Goodreads · 153 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Step into the cockpit during WWII, where the skies are a battlefield. Will you soar with the Royal Air Force in the Battle of Britain, engage in dogfights over the Pacific as an American pilot, or break barriers with the Tuskegee Airmen? Each choice leads to thrilling dogfights, harrowing escapes, and the ultimate test of courage. As the world burns below, your decisions will shape history. Will you emerge a hero, or will survival be your only victory?
Pararescuemen
Sale price
$2781
Picture Book · Ages 8–11 · 2012

Pararescuemen

By Mark Harasymiw · U.S. Special Forces series

Elite airmen parachute into danger to rescue people in trouble.

32 pages· 2,184 words· Est. 17 min read-aloud
4.5 Goodreads · 2 ratings
$29.27Save 5%
Library Binding
Summary: U.S. Air Force pararescuemen are specially trained to reach and rescue people in dangerous places, often while avoiding enemy forces. This book covers their demanding training as parachutists, the work they do on rescue missions and their part in recent military operations, with photographs and sidebars.
The Bookroo Book Club

Great books, picked for their age.

Books worth reading again and again, delivered to your door every month.

BoardAges 0–3PictureAges 3–6Junior ChapterAges 7–10Middle GradeAges 9–12
Books from a Bookroo book club in their box
Browse by age

Military History Picture Books

Illustrated read-alouds about military history for preschool and elementary-age readers.

Navies of World War II
Sale price
$3422

Navies of World War II

1998

Which warships ruled the seas when the Allies and the Axis went to war?

Tanks
Series
Sale price
$2000

Tanks

2008

Explore the technology that shaped 20th-century warfare.

USA
Series
Sale price
$1975

USA

2010

Explore the forces shaping our world through the lens of diverse countries.

View all military history picture books
Browse by age

Military History Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about military history for developing and independent readers.

Warriors!
Sale price
$499

Warriors!

Ages 9–12 · 2001

From gladiators to samurai to special forces, meet history's fiercest fighters.

Truce

Truce

2009

During the first Christmas of World War I, soldiers on the Western Front laid down their weapons and met in No Man's Land in a spontaneous act of peace.

Small Arms
Series
Sale price
$4135

Small Arms

Ages 13–17 · 2014

Explore the evolution of iconic small arms since 1945 in global conflicts.

Vietnam War Heroes
Series
Sale price
$599

Vietnam War Heroes

Ages 8–12 · 2014

Witness the bravery of soldiers facing overwhelming odds in Vietnam's fiercest battles.

Attacked!
Sale price
$1799

Attacked!

Ages 10–13 · 2023

Experience Pearl Harbor's chaos through firsthand accounts of those who lived it.

View all military history chapter books
Keep exploring
Books about Pearl HarborBooks about World War II