The PTA is excited to announce that this year’s Summer Read Initiative will take students on a journey through America’s history! As our country celebrates its 250th birthday, we’ve selected picture books, graphic novels, and novels that bring the Colonial era, the Revolutionary War, and the founding of America to life. We hope these stories make history fun, vivid, and meaningful all summer long!

Below are the Summer Read Books and some suggested grade level guidelines: 

• The 4th of July Story by Alice Dalgliesh (Grades K-2)
• George Washington’s Teeth by Deborah Chandra (Grades K-2)
• Revolutionary War on Wednesday by Mary Pope Osborne (Grades 1-5)
• I Survived the American Revolution,1776 by Lauren Tarshis (Grades 3-5)
• The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare (Grades 4-5)
• Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: One Dead Spy by Nathan Hale (Grades 4-5)

Picture books suitable for younger readers:

The 4th of July Story by Alice Dalgliesh - What happened on the Fourth of July long before there were fireworks and parades? Alice Dalgliesh takes young readers back to revolutionary times, back to the colonists’ desire for freedom and the creation of the Declaration of Independence. 

George Washington’s Teeth by Deborah Chandra - In this funny tale from Deborah Chandra written in verse and based on Washington's letters, diaries, and other historical records, readers will find out what really happened as they follow the trail of lost teeth. 

Books suitable for early chapter book readers:

Revolutionary War on Wednesday by Mary Pope Osborne - It is a dark and snowy night when the Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie back to colonial times. General George Washington is about to lead his army in a sneak attack against their enemy. Can Jack and Annie keep history on track? This is Book 22 of The Magic Treehouse series.

I Survived the American Revolution,1776 by Lauren Tarshis Nathaniel Fox never imagined he’d find himself in the middle of a blood-soaked battlefield, fighting for his life. He’s only eleven years old! Can Nate survive the war’s biggest battle yet? This is Book 15 of the “I Survived” series.

Books suitable for more advanced readers:

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare - In this Newbery Medal–winning novel, a girl faces prejudice and accusations of witchcraft in seventeenth-century Connecticut. A classic of historical fiction that continues to resonate across the generations. 

Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: One Dead Spy by Nathan Hale - Nathan Hale (no relation to the author) was America's first spy, a Revolutionary War hero who famously said, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country" before being hanged by the British. In Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales, author Hale channels his historical doppelgänger to present history's roughest, toughest, strangest stories. This is the first book in this popular series and suitable for readers who like military history and graphic novels.

Further Reading List: 

Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio

National Geographic Kids: George Washington

Happy Birthday, America!

Revolutionary Friends by Selene Castrovilla

Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

Sophia’s War by Avi

My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier 

What is: The Declaration of Independence

History Smashers: The American Revolution

Student Book Clubs

New this year, the PTA is considering hosting informal book clubs in the early Fall, targeted to each of the six Summer Read books. If your child(ren) would like to participate in a book club meeting, please fill out this 2026 Summer Read Form by no later than August 25, and we will contact you if we are able to set up a book club for the applicable book(s)! 

We're excited to take a deep dive into the past this summer!