The Civil War
David
Sandy
Ashley
Julia
Peggy
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Suggested
Readings on the
Civil War
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Abe Lincoln’s Hat
By Martha Brenner
Recommended for grades
K–1
Picture Book/Historical
Fiction
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Abe Lincoln didn’t have much
money, but wanted to look
his best when he became a
lawyer. He bought a long
black coat and a tall black
hat. The tall black hat later
became a place to keep all
of his important papers.
This book follows Abe’s life
as a young lawyer to his
presidential years. He never
changed his ways.
He
always
kept
important
papers in his hat.
A Picture Book of Abraham
Lincoln
By David A. Adler
Recommended for grades
K–1
Picture Book
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“People called him ‘Honest
Abe,’ ‘Father Abraham,’
and ‘Savior of the Union.’”
This book begins with
Abraham Lincoln’s birth in
Kentucky and ends with his
assassination.
A. Lincoln and Me
By Louise Borden
and Ted Lewin
Recommended for grades
K–1
Contemporary Realistic
Fiction
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A young, skinny boy learns
that Abraham Lincoln was
very much the same as he
during his young years. He
also learns, as he studies
Lincoln, that Lincoln had a
great ability to keep a
nation together. The book
is wonderful for introducing
young children to this great
president.
Follow the Drinking Gourd
By Jeanette Winter
Recommended for grades
2–3
Poetry
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This
story
is
about
the
legendary one-legged railroad
conductor, Peg Leg Joe.
He
befriended the slaves and
taught them a folk song named,
“Follow the Drinking Gourd.”
Within the lyrics were hidden
directions to the Underground
Railroad. The Drinking Gourd
referred to the Big Dipper
constellation. The slaves were
led to safe places in the north
by
following
the
hidden
directions and the stars.
Mr. Lincoln’s Whiskers
By Karen B. Winnick
Recommended for grades
2–3
Informational
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An amusing true story about
how Abraham Lincoln decided to
grow his beard. An eleven year
old girl named Grace Bedell had
seen a photograph of Lincoln
and felt that his face looked
thin. She wrote a letter to him
suggesting that if he grew a
beard he might receive more
votes, especially from the
women. During a whistle stop
visit to Grace’s hometown,
Abraham Lincoln stopped to see
what Grace thought about the
beard he decided to grow.
When Abraham Talked to the
Trees
By Elizabeth Van Steenwyk
Recommended for grades
2–3
Biography
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A wonderfully illustrated book
about how Abraham Lincoln
would practice giving speeches.
Lincoln would speak to anyone
who would take the time to
listen to him. If no one was
available to listen, he would
practice his speeches on the
trees in the woods. This was
how Abraham Lincoln became
one of our greatest speakers in
history.
Abraham Lincoln
Lawyer, Leader, Legend
By Justine and Ron Fontes
Recommended for grades
2–3
Informational
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This book takes the reader
from Abraham Lincoln’s
humble beginning in a log
cabin in Kentucky to his
death. Lincoln held many
important
positions
throughout his life and
always worked for the
good of all people.
The Gettysburg Address
By Abraham Lincoln
(Foreword by Garry Wills)
Michael McCurdy excellently
illustrates Abraham Lincoln’s
riveting Gettysburg Address.
Recommended for grades
4–5
Picture Book
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In Their Own Words
Abraham Lincoln
By George Sullivan
Recommended for grades
4–5
Biography
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George Sullivan travels
through
the
life
of
Abraham Lincoln as he
develops from a young man
to the greatest United
States president. Sullivan
writes about the hardships
and experiences President
Abraham Lincoln endured.
Happy Birthday, Addy!
By Connie Porter
Recommended for grades
4–5
Historical Fiction
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It is the first Spring that
Addy and her parents have
spent in Philadelphia since
moving into the boarding
house.
Like many people
who grew up in slavery, Addy
does not know when she was
born. Addy meets a new
friend,
M’dear,
who
encourages her to claim a
day for her birthday. M’dear
also helps Addy overcome
anger and fear as she faces
prejudice and danger.
Thunder at Gettysburg
By Patrica Lee Gauch
Recommended for grades
4–5
Historical Fiction
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In the summer of 1863,
Tillie Pierce was sent from
her
hometown
of
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
to live on a neighbor’s
farm for safety. The Civil
War was just beginning
and Tillie wanted the
Union soldiers of the north
to win. But even the farm
did not offer her the
protection she needed and
she found herself right in
the middle of the battle.
Ghost Soldier
By Elaine Marie Alphin
Recommended for grades
6–7
Modern Fantasy
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The ghost of a young soldier
from the Civil War haunts a
troubled teen in this story.
As an unusual friendship
develops between the two,
Alexander is drawn into a
new reality where he comes
face to face with the
haunting past of his soldier
friend.
The Long Road to Gettysburg
By Jim Murphy
Recommended for grades
6–7
Informational
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This
book
recounts
the
hardships and anxieties of the
battle.
The book conveys
first hand accounts of the
battle by Confederate soldier
Lt. John Dooley and Union
soldier Thomas Galway, to
recount the trials of preparing
for battle, the rigorous days
of fighting, and the heartache
of treating the injured and
burying the dead.
Stealing Freedom
By Elisa Carbone
Recommended for grades
6–7
Biography
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So
many
slaves
were
stripped of their families
and their freedom. This
true story explains the life
of Ann Marie Weems.
Stripped of her family when
she was twelve years old,
Weems, if willing to give up
the life she has, has the
chance to meet her family
again by traveling the
Underground Railroad.
Bright Freedom’s Song
By Gloria Housten
This is a very passionate
and compelling book that
discusses the true heroism
of a girl and her family and
how they provide a safe
house for slaves and the
Underground Railroad.
Recommended for grades
6–7
Biography
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Unconditional Surrender:
U.S. Grant and the Civil
War
By Albert Marrin
Recommended for grades
6–7
Informational
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As we all know, U.S. Grant
was one of the most
influential generals during
the Civil War for the Union.
Marrin recounts Grant’s life
and his race in the Civil War.
Over Jordan
By Norma Johnston
Recommended for grades
6–7
Historical Fiction
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During the times leading
to the Civil War, so
many slaves helped one
another to safety. Over
Jordan is a gripping
story about a fourteenyear old who helps her
servant and his fiancé
escape
to
freedom.
They were aided by
Harriet Beecher Stowe.
North Star to Freedom
By Gena K. Gorrell
Recommended for grades
7–8
Historical Fiction
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A history of the Underground
Railroad, from the origins of
slavery to the period beyond
the Civil War. The book takes
the reader on a journey from
the over-crowded slave ships
from Africa, to the risky
railroad routes to freedom,
and finally to freedom in the
north. Each step the slaves
took presented challenges and
fears to overcome if freedom
was to be theirs.
The Boys’ War
By Jim Murphy
Recommended for grades
7–8
Informational
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Young children, some of
them only twelve years old,
were fighting against grown
men in the Civil War. They
did it for many different
reasons.
Some
were
protecting their families,
some just wanted to escape
their homes, and others
were
fighting
against
slavery. This book is based
on the true stories and
diaries of how the boys lived
and survived the Civil War.
Behind the Blue and Gray:
The Soldier’s Life in the
Civil War
By Delia Ray
Recommended for grades
7–8
Informational
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This book explores the
lives of the Union and
Confederate
soldiers.
Comparisons are made
between their uniforms,
strategies, drafts, and
survival techniques.
Undying Glory
By Clinton Cox
Recommended for grades
7–8
Multicultural
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The 54th regiment of
Massachusetts,
better
known as the “Glory”
regiment, was composed
of all black soldiers as
young as sixteen years to
forty
years.
The
courageous men fought for
the Union, risking their
lives to free their families
from slavery.
Gentle Annie
By Mary Francis Shura
Recommended for grades
7–8
Biography
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This is a true story about
sixteen-year-old
Annie
Etheridge. Annie was a
fearless nurse who faced
battle
to
help
the
troops. She was the only
nurse out of seventeen to
remain when the troops
went to battle.
Dear America
A Light in the Storm: The
Civil War Diary of Amelia
Martin
By Karen Hesse
Recommended for grades
7–8
Historical Fiction
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A realistic account of the
Civil War is presented by
Amelia Martin. Stories of
family
hardships
and
struggles are talked about
in the diary entries dated
throughout the Civil War.
Dear America
A Picture of Freedom: The
Diary of Clotee, a Slave Girl
By Patricia C. McKissack
Recommended for grades
7–8
Informational
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This is a fictional story
about a young slave girl who,
even though it is against the
law, learns to read and
write. The diary takes the
reader on a day-by-day
journey through the life of
this brave young girl as she
tries to understand and
survive the life she is forced
to live.
Get on Board: The Story of
the Underground Railroad
By Jim Haskins
Recommended for grades
7–8
Informational
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Few
records
of
the
Underground Railroad were
kept, but many of the
stories
survive
today.
Slaves
came
up
with
ingenious plans to escape to
freedom, some even included
long dangerous journeys to
safety.
Civil War
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