Suggested
Grade Levels

K = Kindergarten
(Picture Books)

E = Elementary:
Grades 1-3
(detailed Picture Books
& easy reading)

E-UE = (books for
younger, fluent readers)

UE = Upper Elementary:
Grades 4-6

JH = Junior High:
Grades 6-8

HS = High School:
Grades 9-12

+ = "and up"

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American History - 1900's

Our U.S. History Book List includes literature for children and teens based on important people and events in a typical study of United States history. The titles are organized chronologically from pre-1600 to the 20th century and include both fiction and nonfiction. The complete list is divided into several pages, so click on the menu to the left for selections from other time periods or historical eras.

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1900-1910
1910s - not World War I
1910s - World War I
1920s
1930s
1940s - not World War II
1940s - World War II

Suggested Grade Levels
K = Kindergarten(Picture Books) E = Elementary: Grades 1-3 (Detailed Picture Books & Easy Reading) E-UE = (Books for Younger, Fluent Readers)	UE = Upper Elementary: Grades 4-6 JH = Junior High: Grades 6-8 HS = High School: Grades 9-12 + = "and up"

AMERICAN HISTORY: 1900-1910

All-of-a-kind Family by Sydney Talor. Dell Yearling Books. E-UE
Experience the life and customs of a Jewish immigrant family in New York. The rest of the series includes More All-of-a-Kind Family, All-of-a-Kind Family Downtown, All-of-a-Kind Family Uptown, Ella of All-Of-A-Kind Family.

Eat My Dust! Henry Ford's First Race (Step Into Reading, Step 3) by Monica Kulling, illus. Richard Walz. Random House, 2004. E
This amusing tale of Henry Ford also introduces the reader to "the car everyone could own," the Model T. Fun illustrations.

Little Britches: Father and I Were Ranchers by Ralph Moody, illus. Edward Shenton. (Series of 8 books) UE+
This is the first book Mr. Moody wrote about growing up on a Colorado ranch. The entire series span from 1906 to the 1920's and are especially appealing to boys, but great for everyone.

Earthquake!: A Story of Old San Francisco (Once upon America) by Kathleen V. Kudlinski.

Samantha: An American Girl (The American Girls Collection): The individual books in the set are Meet Samantha: An American Girl, Samantha Learns a Lesson: A School Story, Samantha's Surprise: A Christmas Story, Happy Birthday, Samantha: A Springtime Story, Samantha Saves the Day: A Summer Story, and Changes for Samantha: A Winter Story by Susan S. Adler. The Pleasant Co. 1986. E-JH
Based on the life of a fictional American girl in 1904, and written especially for girls.

The San Francisco Earthquake (The American Adventure) by Bonnie Hinman. UE-JH
Christian historical fiction.

Welcome to Samantha's World, 1904: Growing Up in America's New Century (American Girls Collection Series. Pleasant Co. UE-JH
Expanding on the Samantha series, this book illustrates and explains many facets of the typical way of life of her time period and location.

AMERICAN HISTORY: 1910s — not World War I

Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess, Russia, 1914 (The Royal Diaries) by Carolyn Meyer. E-UE

Ashes of Roses by Mary Jane Auch. Henry Holt and Co., 2002. UE*-JH
An immigrant teen girl's struggle to overcome her grim circumstances. Tells of bad working conditions & the labor movement. *Caution for younger ones: The heroine is warned to tell the sweatshop operator to keep his hands to himself, but later he forces a kiss before she manages to get away.

The Endurance: Shackleton's Perilous Expedition in Antartica by Meredith Hooper, illus. M. P. Robertson. E-UE
A picture book of the true story of the Endurance, showing bravery and fortitude in extreme conditions. In paperback as Ice Trap!: Shackleton's Incredible Expedition.

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing. JH-HS

Titanic Poster

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Heroine of the Titanic : The Real Unsinkable Molly Brown by Elaine Landau.

The Story of the Titanic by Deborah Heiligman, illus. James Watling. A Random House Pictureback Book, 1998. E

Titanic: Lost and Found (Step into Reading, Step 4) by Judy Donnelly, illus. Keith Kohler. E-UE

Trapped by the Ice: Shackleton's Amazing Antarctic Adventure by Michael McCurdy. Walker & Co., 2002. E-UE
A picture book of the true story of the Endurance, showing bravery and fortitude in extreme conditions.

Bud, Not Buddy (Newbery Medal Winner, 2000) by Christopher Paul Curtis. Random House 1999. UE-JH
Set in the Depression, a young orphaned boy sets off in search of his father. Newbery Medal.

The Great Depression (The American Adventure Series) by Joann A. Grote, illus. Adam Wallenta. UE-JH
Christian historical fiction.

Kit: An American Girl: 1934 (The American Girls Collection): The set includes Meet Kit: An American Girl, Kit Learns a Lesson: A School Story, Kit's Surprise: A Christmas Story, Happy Birthday Kit: A Springtime Story, Kit Saves the Day: A Summer Story, and Changes for Kit: A Winter Story by Valerie Tripp. The Pleasant Co. 2000. E-JH
Based on the life of a fictional American girl during the Depression, and written especially for girls.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor JH-HS
Newbery Medal. The struggle of a black family in Depression Mississippi.

Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski. UE-JH
Newbery Medal

Welcome to Kit's World, 1934 : Growing Up During America's Great Depression (The American Girls Collection). Pleasant Co. UE-JH
Expanding on the Kit series, this book illustrates and explains many facets of the typical way of life of her time period and location.

AMERICAN HISTORY: 1940s — not World War II

Molly: An American Girl: 1944 (The American Girls Collection): The set includes: Meet Molly: An American Girl, Molly Learns a Lesson: A School Story, Molly's Surprise: A Christmas Story, Happy Birthday, Molly: A Springtime Story, Molly Saves the Day: A Summer Story, and Changes for Molly: A Winter Story by Valerie Tripp. The Pleasant Co. 1986. E-JH
Based on the life of a fictional American girl during World War II, and written especially for girls.

Welcome to Molly's World, 1944: Growing Up in World War Two America (American Girls Collection). Pleasant Co. UE-JH
Expanding on the Molly series, this book illustrates and explains many facets of the typical way of life of her time period and location.

AMERICAN HISTORY: 1940s — World War II

See also World Wars

Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki, illus. Dom Lee. Lee & Low Books, 1993. E-UE
Picture book, telling of the hardships of Japanese Americans during the war. This simple story delivers a big impact. Good ending. Content may be too serious for the K child.

But No Candy by Gloria Houston. K-E

Coming Home (The American Adventure Series #48) by Veda Boyd Jones, illus. Adam Wallenta. UE-JH
Christian historical fiction.

The Home Front (The American Adventure Series #47) by Bonnie Hinman, Bonnie Harvey, illus. Adam Wallenta. UE-JH
Christian historical fiction.

Navajo Code Talkers by Nathan Aaseng. UE-JH+
Not yet reviewed. The Navajos provided undecipherable communication for American armed forces.

The Ring and the Window Seat by Amy Hest, illus. Deborah Haeffelle. 1990. K-E
A little girl gives her savings to help rescue a girl her own age from war-torn Europe.

Rumblings of War (The American Adventure Series #45) by Norma Jean Lutz, illus. Adam Wallenta. UE-JH
Christian historical fiction.

War Strikes (The American Adventure Series #46) by Norma Jean Lutz, illus. Adam Wallenta. UE-JH
Christian historical fiction.