Books About Nebraska

The Best Nebraska Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about nebraska? 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 Nebraska

All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook
Sale price
$759
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2016

All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook

By Leslie Connor

A boy's quest to reunite with his mother uncovers hidden truths and tests the meaning of home.

The E.B. White Read Aloud Honor (2017)
416 pages· 80,817 words· Est. 11 hour read
4.3 Goodreads · 7,391 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Eleven-year-old Perry Cook has always lived with his mom in a correctional facility. When a new district attorney forces him into foster care, Perry feels lost in the outside world. Determined to reunite with his mom, he embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about her past. As Perry delves deeper, he learns about resilience and the true essence of home. Can he find a way to bring his family back together and redefine what home means? Discover a tale of love, forgiveness, and the power of innocence in this compelling story.
A Lantern in Her Hand
Sale price
$858
Chapter Book · Ages 10–+ · 1928

A Lantern in Her Hand

By Bess Streeter Aldrich

A pioneer woman faces the harsh frontier, forging a life of resilience and love.

251 pages
4.2 Goodreads · 7,595 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Abbie Deal leaves behind her dreams of art and music to embrace the rugged life of a pioneer. Marrying Will, she ventures into the vast Nebraska prairies, where survival demands strength and courage. As she builds a home and raises a family, Abbie's journey is one of unexpected challenges and enduring love. Will she conquer the land and fulfill her new dream, or will the frontier's perils prove too great? Discover the inspiring tale of a woman who defies the odds to create a legacy of hope and resilience.
Going North
Sale price
$1797
Picture Book · Ages 5–8 · 2004

Going North

By Janice N. Harrington, Jerome Lagarrigue

A family journeys north, facing segregation and uncertainty in search of a better life.

Ezra Jack Keats Award (2005)
40 pages· 1,015 words· Est. 8 min read-aloud
4.1 Goodreads · 138 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: In the 1960s, Jessie and her family leave Alabama's familiar fields for Nebraska's promise. As they travel through the segregated South, they confront challenges at every turn. With most places off-limits, where will they find rest and sustenance? Amidst the journey, Jessie wonders if the North will truly offer the life they seek. Will they find acceptance and opportunity, or will the road ahead hold more trials? Experience their pioneering spirit and the rhythm of hope in this evocative tale of courage and change.
Dandelions
Sale price
$858
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 1995

Dandelions

By Eve Bunting, Greg Shed (Illustrator)

A prairie journey tests a family's resolve and reveals a hidden hope.

48 pages· 3,340 words· Est. 26 min read-aloud
3.9 Goodreads · 570 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: In the vast Nebraska Territory, young Zoe and her family face the daunting emptiness of the prairie. Their new soddie offers little comfort, leaving Papa elated but Mama despondent. A trip to town with Papa uncovers a glimmer of hope that could transform their home and lift Mama's spirits. Can Zoe's discovery bring warmth to their isolated life?
Night of the Twisters
Sale price
$958
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 1984

Night of the Twisters

By Ivy Ruckman

A tornado strikes, but surviving the storm is just the beginning of their ordeal.

160 pages· 28,090 words· Est. 4 hour read
3.9 Goodreads · 3,367 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Twelve-year-old Dan Hatch and his friend Arthur face a terrifying tornado in Grand Island, Nebraska. As the storm rages, they must protect Dan's baby brother and themselves. But surviving the twister is only the start of their harrowing journey. What challenges await them in the aftermath of nature's fury? Can they find the courage to overcome the unexpected trials that lie ahead? This gripping tale of bravery and resilience will keep you on the edge of your seat as Dan and Arthur navigate the chaos and uncertainty of a world turned upside down.
Pioneer Girl
Sale price
$1597
Chapter Book · Ages 12–17 · 1998

Pioneer Girl

By Andrea Warren

A young girl faces the harsh realities of prairie life in 1885 Nebraska.

104 pages
4.0 Goodreads · 155 ratings
Paperback
Summary: In 1885, three-year-old Grace McCance Snyder and her family brave the unforgiving Nebraska prairie. Living in a sod house, they confront storms, droughts, and fires. Yet, Grace finds joy amidst the challenges. Her story captures the resilience and spirit of pioneer children, weaving personal triumphs and trials into the broader tapestry of America's heartland. How does a young girl find happiness in such adversity? Discover the heartwarming and harrowing journey of a true pioneer girl.
Elsie's Bird
Sale price
$1697
Picture Book · Ages 5–8 · 2010

Elsie's Bird

By Jane Yolen, David Small (Illustrator)

A city girl chases her canary into the prairie, discovering a new sense of belonging.

40 pages· 1,223 words· Est. 10 min read-aloud
3.8 Goodreads · 515 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Elsie, uprooted from bustling Boston to the silent Nebraska prairie, feels lost until her canary, Timmy, escapes. Chasing him into the tall grass, she uncovers the prairie’s hidden symphony and begins to find her place in this vast, unfamiliar world. Will Elsie embrace her new home, or remain trapped in longing for the city’s noise? Follow her journey of adaptation and discovery as she learns to listen to the land's whispers and finds unexpected comfort in its embrace.
Room One
Sale price
$1899
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2006

Room One

By Andrew Clements, Mark Elliott (Illustrator)

A boy sees a face in an empty house, linking it to his school's uncertain future.

176 pages· 28,139 words· Est. 4 hour read
3.8 Goodreads · 3,557 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Fifth-grader Ted Hammond is captivated by mysteries. In his small Nebraska town, his school faces closure with only five students left. But Ted's attention is drawn to a face in the window of an abandoned house. The Andersons moved away years ago, so who could it be? As Ted delves deeper, he discovers that in a tight-knit community, no event stands alone. Solving one mystery might just unravel another. Can Ted connect the dots before his school and town fade away? Uncover the secrets hidden in plain sight.
Worth
Sale price
$858
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 1998

Worth

By A. LaFaye

Two boys, one farm, and a struggle for belonging and identity.

Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction (2005)
160 pages· 25,792 words· Est. 3 hour read
3.7 Goodreads · 1,248 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Nathaniel, sidelined by an injury, feels replaced when his father adopts John from the Orphan Train. As John grapples with his own haunting past, both boys navigate a tense household. Amidst farm duties and school, they face a community conflict that could forge an unexpected friendship. Can they find their place and understanding in a world that seems to have moved on without them?
The Spooky Express Nebraska
Sale price
$958
Picture Book · Ages 4–10 · 2017

The Spooky Express Nebraska

By Eric James, Marcin Piwowarski (Illustrator) · The Spooky Express series

A haunted train races across a state on Halloween night to save the holiday.

32 pages
3.0 Goodreads · 3 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Hardcover
Summary: Climb aboard the Spooky Express as it hurtles around Nebraska on Halloween night, picking up witches, ghouls, ghosts and spiders at famous spots along the way. In this rhyming read-aloud, the passengers race against the clock to save Halloween.
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