Books About The Cold War

The Best The Cold War Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about the cold war? 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.

What Was the Berlin Wall?
Series
Who Was Winston Churchill?
Series
Where Is Area 51?
Series
Escape from East Berlin
#2 in Series
The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About The Cold War

Fallout
Sale price
$1899
Chapter Book · Ages 13–17 · 2021

Fallout

By Steve Sheinkin

Two superpowers race to outdo each other in a deadly Cold War showdown.

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor (2022)Orbis Pictus Honor (2022)
342 pages· 64,380 words· Est. 6 hour read
4.3/5 Goodreads · 2,478 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: In the tense aftermath of World War II, the U.S. and Soviet Union vie for global supremacy. As atomic bombs and space ambitions escalate, spy planes and submarines lurk, and agents plot in shadows. The world teeters on the brink of destruction, culminating in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Will humanity survive this perilous game of brinkmanship?
What Was the Berlin Wall?
Sale price
$759
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2019

What Was the Berlin Wall?

By Nico Medina, Who HQ, Stephen Marchesi (Illustrator) · What Was . . . ? series

The Berlin Wall was built to separate East and West Berlin during the Cold War, and its construction and impact are explored in this book.

112 pages· 7,963 words· Est. 1 hour read
4.3/5 Goodreads · 451 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: In 1961, a concrete barrier split Berlin, symbolizing Cold War tensions. Explore the lives of those trapped in Communist East Berlin, their desperate escape attempts, and the global political chess game. What drove one man to zipline to freedom? Uncover the dramatic stories and the wall's lasting impact on history.
Who Was Winston Churchill?
Sale price
$674
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2015

Who Was Winston Churchill?

By Ellen Labrecque, Who HQ, Jerry Hoare (Illustrator) · Who Was . . . ? series

A leader's journey from soldier to wartime Prime Minister, defying tyranny.

112 pages· 6,978 words· Est. 59 min read
4.2/5 Goodreads · 583 ratings
$6.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: From the battlefields of India to the halls of power, Winston Churchill's life was a tapestry of courage and conviction. As a young officer, he faced the harsh realities of war, rising to become a formidable leader against Nazi Germany. His tenure as Prime Minister during World War II marked him as a pivotal figure in history. Beyond politics, Churchill's legacy includes his literary achievements and his unique honor as an honorary U.S. citizen. Discover the man behind the legend, whose words and deeds shaped a nation and inspired the world.
To the Moon!
Sale price
$1697
Chapter Book · Ages 10–+ · 2018

To the Moon!

By Jeffrey Kluger

A daring mission to the moon changes history and inspires a nation on Christmas 1968.

288 pages· 65,478 words· Est. 9 hour read
4.1/5 Goodreads · 167 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: In 1968, amidst Cold War tensions and a race against time, NASA launched Apollo 8, sending Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders on a groundbreaking mission to orbit the moon. As the first humans to witness the lunar surface up close, their journey captivated the world and marked a pivotal moment in space exploration. With the pressure of beating the Russians and fulfilling Kennedy's promise, this daring mission was fraught with risks and challenges. Discover the courage and innovation that propelled humanity beyond Earth's orbit for the first time.
Where Is Area 51?
Sale price
$759
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2018

Where Is Area 51?

By Paula K. Manzanero, Who HQ, Tim Foley (Illustrator) · Where Is . . . ? series

What secrets lie within the mysterious Area 51? Discover the truth behind the conspiracy theories.

112 pages· 6,993 words· Est. 59 min read
4.0/5 Goodreads · 731 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Explore the enigma of Area 51, a secretive military base shrouded in mystery and conspiracy. Since 1947, when strange objects appeared in Roswell, New Mexico, questions have swirled about alien encounters and hidden technologies. This book delves into the origins and purpose of Area 51, challenging you to uncover the truth behind the government's silence and restricted airspace. Are extraterrestrial secrets being kept from the world? Dive into the mystery and decide for yourself what to believe.
Escape from East Berlin
Sale price
$759
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2022

Escape from East Berlin

By Andy Marino · Book #2 in the Escape From series

Two daring escapes from East Berlin challenge the divide of the Berlin Wall.

170 pages· 46,106 words· Est. 5 hour read
3.8/5 Goodreads · 592 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: In 1961, Marta witnesses the sudden rise of the Berlin Wall, trapping her in the East. By 1989, Kurt questions the hatred he's been taught as he dreams of freedom. Their stories, decades apart, reveal the courage and desperation of those seeking to escape the Communist Bloc. Will they succeed, or will the wall's shadow claim their dreams?
Fallout
Sale price
$858
Chapter Book · Ages 10–+ · 2012

Fallout

By Todd Strasser

Trapped in a bomb shelter, survival tests limits as tensions rise.

272 pages· 44,024 words· Est. 6 hour read
3.7/5 Goodreads · 3,856 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: In 1962, nuclear war looms, and Scott's father builds the only bomb shelter in the neighborhood. When disaster strikes, desperate neighbors crowd in, leading to a claustrophobic struggle for survival. With scarce resources and rising tensions, the group faces a grim reality. As they endure the suffocating confines, the real question becomes what awaits them outside when the door finally opens. Will they find a world worth returning to, or has everything changed forever?
George H.W. Bush
Sale price
$3522
Picture Book · Ages 7–10 · 2016

George H.W. Bush

By Heidi M.D. Elston · The United States Presidents series

Explore the pivotal moments and legacy of a U.S. president's life and career.

40 pages· 2,608 words· Est. 21 min read-aloud
4.0/5 Goodreads · 2 ratings
$37.07Save 5%
Library Binding
Summary: Delve into the life of George H.W. Bush, from his formative years to his presidency. Discover the challenges he faced, including the Persian Gulf War and the 1992 Los Angeles Riots. How did these events shape his legacy? Uncover the personal and political journey of the forty-first president, enriched with timelines and intriguing facts.
Big Risks in Russia
Sale price
$1139
Chapter Book · Ages 7–12 · 2024

Big Risks in Russia

By Marianne Hering · Book #31 in the The Imagination Station series

Can Patrick and Beth outsmart Soviet police to smuggle Bibles in 1950s Russia?

208 pages· 20,763 words· Est. 3 hour read
2.7/5 Goodreads · 3 ratings
$11.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: In 1950s Russia, cousins Patrick and Beth face a perilous mission: smuggling Bibles past vigilant Soviet police. As they track the mysterious Amelia, they must navigate danger and deception. Will their faith and courage be enough to succeed, or will they face imprisonment? Discover the true risks of sharing God's Word in a land where it's forbidden.
Mac Saves the World
Sale price
$1248
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2021

Mac Saves the World

By Mac Barnett, Mike Lowery (Illustrator) · Mac B., Kid Spy series

A young boy is recruited by the Queen of England for a secret mission to steal a powerful computer program from East Germany during the Cold War.

176 pages· 11,861 words· Est. 1.5 hour read
4.5/5 Goodreads · 342 ratings
$12.99Save 4%
Hardcover
Summary: Young spy Mac B. is on a daring mission beneath the Berlin Wall. Tasked by the Queen of England, he must retrieve vital cheat codes from a Soviet scientist. But when he finds himself trapped in East Germany, surrounded by the Stasi, escape seems impossible. Can Mac outsmart his foes and make it back home? In a world where walls are meant to fall, adventure awaits at every turn.
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