America turns 250 this summer, and what better way to celebrate than with a book. The following titles range from stories about ordinary Americans to a Founding Father and the United State’s foundational document.
WE ARE MIGHTY: 12 ORDINARY AMERICANS WHO DID THE NEXT NEEDED THING, by Sharon McMahon and Susanna Chapman, Knopf Books for Young Readers, May 19, 2026, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 6 and up)
One kind act. One spark of bravery. One big idea from someone nobody expected.
In this beautifully illustrated collection, you’ll meet twelve real people from America’s past—some famous, most not—whose choices changed the course of history.
You’ll meet María de López, who drove ambulances during World War I and helped win the vote for women. You’ll read about two boys—Norman and Alan—who met at a campout, stayed friends for life, and helped lead the country together. And you’ll discover how teachers, kids, and quiet changemakers made a mighty difference in their communities.
We Are Mighty celebrates courage, character, and the idea that the smallest step can create ripples we can’t yet see. —Synopsis provided by Knopf Books for Young Readers
We Are Mighty tells the stories of 12 courageous Americans who defied what was expected. Sharon McMahon’s writing is bright and energetic. She expertly distills each person’s accomplishments into compelling vignettes. Susanna Chapman’s illustrations echo McMahon’s energy. Chapman’s use of color and movement, make each person’s story come to life. Kids can read one story at a time or the collection as a whole. It’s a delightful read.
MY BICENTENNIAL SUMMER: TRUE ADVENTURES FROM THE MOST EPIC FAMILY ROAD TRIP OF ALL TIME, by G. Neri and Corban Wilkin, Candlewick, March 3, 2026, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 7 and up)
Award-winning author G. Neri reflects on a childhood cross-country road trip with his family, sharing the wonder of America’s most famous landmarks, the best (and worst) of its history, and the remarkable diversity of its people.
The year is 1976, and America is throwing its biggest birthday party ever—its bicentennial. What better way to celebrate than with an eight-thousand-mile road trip? In this vibrant follow-up to his travelogue, My Antarctica: True Adventures in the Land of Mummified Seals, Space Robots, and So Much More, author G. Neri recalls his family’s real-life journey in a station wagon crossing twenty-six states in seven weeks, from California to Washington, DC, with only the aid of paper maps and transistor radios rather than smartphones and GPS.
Young Greg is entranced by the variety of accents, strange foods, natural wonders, and historical attractions, from the Grand Canyon to the Statue of Liberty. He meets Civil War reenactors at Gettysburg, protesters in Philadelphia, pioneer wagon riders in Valley Forge, and his own rambunctious Texan cousins. And he glimpses the darker side of traveling as a family of color, pondering whether “We the People” includes people like him.
Engaging text, sidebars, photos, and dynamic illustrations by Corban Wilkin create a personal snapshot of this extraordinary moment in US history, when a weary, post-Vietnam nation embraced the spirit of celebration. Back matter includes an author’s note, history and travel facts, and recommended reading. —Synopsis provided by Candlewick
Sure to inspire readers heading into America’s 250th birthday, My Bicentennial Summer is a bright look at America and its people. Kids will love the mashup of photographs and illustrations in this highly visual picture book. And the story. The story is so much fun! It will make kids wonder what experiences their own parents had as kids. It’s a great book for kids to read alone or as a family.
GEORGE WASHINGTON: A REVOLUTIONARY LIFE, by Tim Grove and The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, Harry N. Abrams, May 12, 2026, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 8 and up)
A fresh middle-grade biography of George Washington, published in conjunction with the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, featuring never-before-published research, new insights, and full-color illustrations and archival art
A farmer, a general, an entrepreneur, an enslaver, and America’s first president. This is the story of George Washington told like never before.
Throughout his life, George Washington maintained a curiosity about the world and a thirst for knowledge. His quest as a lifelong learner was exemplified by the evolution of his thinking about slavery, shaped by religious leaders and his dear friend the Marquis de Lafayette. A complicated man, Washington enslaved many people at his family plantation, while simultaneously helping to build a democracy intended for “all the people.” —Synopsis provided by Harry N. Abrams
This biography helps young readers see the real man behind the glossy, almost mythical figure. Author Tim Grove’s honest look at George Washington that is well researched. He doesn’t shy away from hard topics, namely Washington’s complicated relationship with slavery. Grove’s writing is welcoming and accessible, and the use of art, text boxes and horizontal line breaks provide added interest and natural resting spots. This is an excellent nonfiction read that should appeal to a number of readers, young and old.
THE DECLARATION DECODED: A GUIDE TO THE DOCUMENT THAT INSPIRED OUR NATION, by Katie Kennedy, Workman Kids, May 26, 2026, Hardcover, $9.99 (ages 10 and up)
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. . . .” So begins the Declaration of Independence, the fabled 1776 document in which a group of men in a distant colony of the British Empire declared their freedom from that Empire — and thus changed the world. But WERE “all men created equal”? What are “unalienable rights”? And how did these men come to write this document anyway?
This book goes through the Declaration sentence by sentence and idea by idea. Readers will gain a deep understanding of not only the basic meaning of the Founders’ now-arcane language, but the historical background against which the Declaration was written, the situations that animated it (especially its 27 distinctly modern “grievances” against King George III), and the powerful arguments it makes about government, rights, responsibilities, and freedoms—arguments that we’re still having 250 years later. (They’ll also discover fun facts: That “unalienable” was probably a typo!) An essential guide for any student or teacher of civics and American history, or any patriotic American, THE DECLARATION DECODED brings this powerful text to life for a new generation. —Synopsis provided by Workman Kids
Though a bit text heavy, The Declaration Decoded is an excellent tool for anyone who wants to know more about the Declaration of Independence. Author Katie Kennedy’s smooth tone is full of confidence, almost conversational, helping readers see the power behind the document. Pink boxes are sprinkled throughout, creating visual breaks and offering clear “translations” of the original text.
Copyright © 2026 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.
