Books About The Cold War

The Best The Cold War Books for Kids

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.

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The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About The Cold War

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 Goodreads · 2,510 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?

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 Goodreads · 449 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.

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

4.3 Goodreads · 590 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.

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 Goodreads · 170 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.

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 Goodreads · 739 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.

Sale price

$3799

Chapter Book · Ages 12–17 · 2013

The President Has Been Shot!

By James L. Swanson

One November day in Dallas, gunshots ring out and a nation's history changes forever.

4 pages· 34,829 words· Est. 3 hour read

4.1 Goodreads · 3,940 ratings

$39.99Save 5%

Compact Disc

Summary: On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was shot while riding in a motorcade through Dallas. James L. Swanson tells the dramatic story of that day and what led up to it, from Kennedy's rise and presidency to the chaos after the shooting, the hunt for the assassin and a nation in mourning.

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2007

The Rising Star of Rusty Nail

By Lesley M.M. Blume

A small-town piano prodigy wonders whether a mysterious newcomer is her ticket out.

288 pages· 56,302 words· Est. 8 hour read

3.8 Goodreads · 432 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In 1953, ten-year-old Franny Hansen is a piano prodigy in Rusty Nail, Minnesota, a one-traffic-light town that was once the Coot Capital of the World. She has outgrown the town's only piano teacher, until a mysterious Russian woman arrives. Franny's neighbors are sure the newcomer is a Communist threat, but Franny wonders whether she could be the key to a bigger future.

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 Goodreads · 603 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?

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 Goodreads · 3,870 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?

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 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.

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