2023 Notable Social Studies Trade Books
Book recommendations from social studies educators for librarians, booksellers, educators, parents, and guardians of the best children’s books with social studies content in 2022.
Eighteen Vats of Water
By: Ji-li Jiang
Illustrated by:
Nadia Hsieh
Nadia Hsieh
ISBN: 9781954354067
Fiction, 7-12, Music / Art
African Town
By: Charles Waters and Irene Latham
ISBN: 9780593322888
Fiction, Teen, Historical Fiction
Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round
By: Kathlyn J. Kirkwood
Illustrated by:
Steffi Walthall
Steffi Walthall
ISBN: 9780358387268
Nonfiction, 7-12, History
All Through the Night
By: Polly Faber
Illustrated by:
Harriet Hobday
Harriet Hobday
ISBN: 9781536227512
Fiction, 4-6, Mental/Physical Health
Alte Zachen / Old Things
By: Ziggy Hanaor
Illustrated by:
Benjamin Phillips
Benjamin Phillips
ISBN: 9781800660229
Fiction, 7-12, Religion
An ABC of Democracy
By: Nancy Shapiro
Illustrated by:
Paulina Morgan
Paulina Morgan
ISBN: 9780711264793
Nonfiction, 4-6, Diversity
Annette Feels Free
By: Katie Mazeika
Illustrated by:
Katie Mazeika
Katie Mazeika
ISBN: 9781665903431
Nonfiction, 4-6, Biography / Memoir
Attack of the Black Rectangles
By: A. S. King
ISBN: 9781338680522
Fiction, 7-12, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism
Baseball Around the World
By: Chris Singleton and Dean Burrell
ISBN: 9781638190912
Nonfiction, 7-12, History
Because of You, John Lewis
By: Andrea Davis Pinkney
Illustrated by:
Keith Henry Brown
Keith Henry Brown
ISBN: 9781338759082
Nonfiction, 7-12, Biography / Memoir
The Best Kind of Mooncake
By: Pearl AuYeung
Illustrated by:
Pearl AuYeung
Pearl AuYeung
ISBN: 9781645675563
Fiction, 4-6, Historical Fiction
Better Than We Found It
By: Frederick Joseph and Porsche Joseph
ISBN: 9781536224528
Nonfiction, Teen, History
Black Boy, Black Boy
By: Ali Kamanda and Jorge Redmond
Illustrated by:
Ken Daley
Ken Daley
ISBN: 9781728250649
Nonfiction, 4-6, Diversity
Black Trailblazers
By: Bijan Bayne
Illustrated by:
Joelle Avelino
Joelle Avelino
ISBN: 9781524874773
Nonfiction, 7-12, Biography / Memoir
Blue
By: Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond
Illustrated by:
Daniel Minter
Daniel Minter
ISBN: 9781984894366
Nonfiction, 4-6, Music / Art
Bold Words from Black Women
By: Tamara Pizzoli
Illustrated by:
Monica Ahanonu
Monica Ahanonu
ISBN: 9781534463943
Nonfiction, 7-12, Teen, Contemporary
Carrimebac, the Town That Walked
By: David Barclay Moore
Illustrated by:
John Holyfield
John Holyfield
ISBN: 9781536213690
Fiction, 7-12, Historical Fiction
Caste (Adapted for Young Adults)
By: Isabel Wilkerson
ISBN: 9780593427941
Nonfiction, Teen, Contemporary
Cher Ami
By: Mélisande Potter
Illustrated by:
Giselle Potter
Giselle Potter
ISBN: 9780316335348
Nonfiction, 4-6, Animals
Choosing Brave
By: Angela Joy
Illustrated by:
Janelle Washington
Janelle Washington
ISBN: 9781250220950
Nonfiction, 7-12, Biography / Memoir
The Code Breaker (Young Readers Edition)
By: Walter Isaacson
ISBN: 9781665910668
Nonfiction, Teen, Science
Curve & Flow
By: Andrea J. Loney
Illustrated by:
Keith Mallett
Keith Mallett
ISBN: 9780593429075
Nonfiction, 4-6, History
Daddy Speaks Love
By: Leah Henderson
Illustrated by:
E. B. Lewis
E. B. Lewis
ISBN: 9780593354360
Fiction, 4-6, Background / Culture
Don’t Look Back
By: Achut Deng and Keely Hutton
ISBN: 9780374389727
Nonfiction, Teen, Biography / Memoir
Evicted
By: Alice Faye Duncan
Illustrated by:
Charly Palmer
Charly Palmer
ISBN: 9781684379798
Fiction, 7-12, Historical Fiction
Gibberish
By: Young Vo
Illustrated by:
Young Vo
Young Vo
ISBN: 9781646141104
Fiction, 4-6, Background / Culture
Growing an Artist
By: John Parra
Illustrated by:
John Parra
John Parra
ISBN: 9781534469273
Fiction, 4-6, Music / Art
H is for Harlem
By: Dinah Johnson
Illustrated by:
April Harrison
April Harrison
ISBN: 9780316322379
Nonfiction, 4-6, Music / Art
The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee (Young Readers Adaptation)
By: David Treuer
ISBN: 9780593203477
Nonfiction, Teen, Background / Culture
Her Name was Mary Katharine
By: Ella Schwartz
Illustrated by:
Dow Phumiruk
Dow Phumiruk
ISBN: 9780316298322
Nonfiction, 7-12, History
History Comics
By: Archie Bongiovanni
Illustrated by:
A. Andrews
A. Andrews
ISBN: 9781250618351
Nonfiction, 7-12, LGBTQIA+
A History of Me
By: Adrea Theodore
Illustrated by:
Erin Robinson
Erin Robinson
ISBN: 9780823442577
Fiction, 4-6, Historical Fiction
History Smashers
By: Kate Messner and Gwendolyn Hooks
Illustrated by:
Damon Smyth
Damon Smyth
ISBN: 9780593428931
Nonfiction, 7-12, Diversity
Hold Them Close
By: Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
Illustrated by:
Patrick Dougher
Patrick Dougher
ISBN: 9780063036178
Fiction, 4-6, Music / Art
Home
By: Tonya Lippert
Illustrated by:
Andrea Stegmaier
Andrea Stegmaier
ISBN: 9781433836862
Fiction, 4-6, Mental/Physical Health
I am Muhammad Ali
By: Brad Meltzer
Illustrated by:
Christopher Eliopoulos
Christopher Eliopoulos
ISBN: 9780593405857
Nonfiction, 4-6, Biography / Memoir
I Hate Borsch!
By: Yevgenia Nayberg
Illustrated by:
Yevgenia Nayberg
Yevgenia Nayberg
ISBN: 9780802855800
Fiction, 7-12, Background / Culture
I Will Protect You
By: Eva Mozes Kor with Danica Davidson
ISBN: 9780316460637
Nonfiction, 7-12, Background / Culture
I’ll Go and Come Back
By: Rajani LaRocca
Illustrated by:
Sara Palacios
Sara Palacios
ISBN: 9781536207170
Fiction, 4-6, Background / Culture
If You Were a Princess
By: Hillary Homzie
Illustrated by:
Udayana Lugo
Udayana Lugo
ISBN: 9781534456174
Nonfiction, 4-6, Contemporary
If You’re a Kid Like Gavin
By: Gavin Grimm
Illustrated by:
J Yang
J Yang
ISBN: 9780063057562
Nonfiction, 4-6, LGBTQIA+
In the Spirit of a Dream
By: Aida Salazar
Illustrated by:
Alina Chau
Alina Chau
ISBN: 9781338552874
Nonfiction, 4-6, Biography / Memoir
Isla to Island
By: Alexis Castellanos
Illustrated by:
Alexis Castellanos
Alexis Castellanos
ISBN: 9781534469242
Fiction, Teen, Historical Fiction
It’s Up to Us
By: Chris Lloyd
Illustrated by:
33 different illustrators
33 different illustrators
ISBN: 9781913750565
Nonfiction, 7-12, Contemporary
Just Like Jesse Owens
By: Andrew Young and Paula Shelton Young
Illustrated by:
Gordon C. James
Gordon C. James
ISBN: 9780545554657
Nonfiction, 4-6, History
Kapaemahu
By: Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, and Joe Wilson
Illustrated by:
Daniel Sousa
Daniel Sousa
ISBN: 9780593530061
Fiction, 4-6, Romance
Keepunumuk
By: Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry, and Alexis Bunten
Illustrated by:
Gary Meeches Sr.
Gary Meeches Sr.
ISBN: 9781623542900
Fiction, 4-6, Background / Culture
Kids Fight Climate Change
By: Martin Dorey
Illustrated by:
Tim Wesson
Tim Wesson
ISBN: 9781536223484
Nonfiction, 7-12, Contemporary
A Life of Service
By: Christina Soontornvat
Illustrated by:
Dow Phumiruk
Dow Phumiruk
ISBN: 9781536222050
Nonfiction, 4-6, Background / Culture
Lines of Courage
By: Jennifer A. Nielsen
ISBN: 9781338620931
Fiction, 7-12, Teen, Historical Fiction
Lion Lights
By: Richard Turere and Shelly Pollock
Illustrated by:
Sonia Possentini
Sonia Possentini
ISBN: 9780884488859
Nonfiction, 4-6, Biography / Memoir
Lola Out Loud
By: Jennifer Torres
Illustrated by:
Sara Palacios
Sara Palacios
ISBN: 9780316530125
Fiction, 4-6, Diversity
Louisa June and the Nazis in the Waves
By: L. M. Elliott
ISBN: 9780063056565
Fiction, 7-12, Historical Fiction
Lunch from Home
By: Joshua David Stein
Illustrated by:
Jing Li
Jing Li
ISBN: 9780593384459
Fiction, 4-6, Diversity
Mae Jemison (Little People, BIG DREAMS Series)
By: Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara
Illustrated by:
Janna Morton
Janna Morton
ISBN: 9780711270954
Nonfiction, 4-6, Science
Mama in Congress
By: Rashida Tlaib
Illustrated by:
Olivia Aserr
Olivia Aserr
ISBN: 9780358683438
Nonfiction, 4-6, Biography / Memoir
Maya’s Song
By: Renée Watson
Illustrated by:
Bryan Collier
Bryan Collier
ISBN: 9780062871589
Nonfiction, 4-6, History
A Mermaid Girl
By: Sana Rafi
Illustrated by:
Olivia Aserr
Olivia Aserr
ISBN: 9780593327609
Fiction, 4-6, Religion
A Mind Like Mine
By: Rachael Davis
Illustrated by:
Islenia Mil
Islenia Mil
ISBN: 9780711274013
Nonfiction, 7-12, Biography / Memoir
More Than Peach (Bellen Woodard Original Picture Book)
By: Bellen Woodard
Illustrated by:
Fanny Liem
Fanny Liem
ISBN: 9781338809275
Nonfiction, 4-6, Contemporary
Mother Goose Goes to India
By: Kabir and Surishtha Sehgal
Illustrated by:
Wazza Pink
Wazza Pink
ISBN: 9781534439603
Fiction, 4-6, Animals
Muhammad Najem, War Reporter
By: Muhammad Najem and Nora Neus
Illustrated by:
Julie Robine
Julie Robine
ISBN: 9780759556898
Nonfiction, 7-12, History
My Bindi
By: Gita Varadarajan
Illustrated by:
Archana Sreenivasan
Archana Sreenivasan
ISBN: 9781338598810
Fiction, 4-6, Background / Culture
My Nest of Silence
By: Matt Faulkner
Illustrated by:
Matt Faulkner
Matt Faulkner
ISBN: 9781534477629
Fiction, Teen, Diversity
My Town / Mi Pueblo
By: Nicholas Solis
Illustrated by:
Luisa Uribe
Luisa Uribe
ISBN: 9780593109915
Fiction, 4-6, Diversity
A New History of Immigration
By: Jaclyn Backhaus
ISBN: 9780593386125
Nonfiction, 7-12, Background / Culture
The Notebook Keeper
By: Stephen Briseño
Illustrated by:
Magdalena Mora
Magdalena Mora
ISBN: 9780593307052
Fiction, 4-6, Background / Culture
One Sun and Countless Stars
By: Hena Khan
Illustrated by:
Mehrdokht Amini
Mehrdokht Amini
ISBN: 9781452182728
Fiction, 4-6, Religion
One Wish
By: M. O. Yuksel
Illustrated by:
Mariam Quraishi
Mariam Quraishi
ISBN: 9780063032910
Nonfiction, 4-6, Biography / Memoir
Our Story Starts in Africa
By: Patrice Lawrence
Illustrated by:
Jeanetta Gonzales
Jeanetta Gonzales
ISBN: 9781419760228
Fiction, 4-6, Background / Culture
Our World of Dumplings
By: Francie Dekker
Illustrated by:
Sarah Jung
Sarah Jung
ISBN: 9781499812343
Fiction, 7-12, Mental/Physical Health
A Pandemic Is Worldwide
By: Sarah L. Thomson
Illustrated by:
Taia Morley
Taia Morley
ISBN: 9780063086265
Nonfiction, 4-6, Mental/Physical Health
Parks for the People
By: Elizabeth Partridge
Illustrated by:
Becca Stadtlander
Becca Stadtlander
ISBN: 9781984835154
Nonfiction, 4-6,History
Pink, Blue, and You!
By: Elise Gravel and Mykaell Blais
ISBN: 9780593178638
Nonfiction, 4-6, Background / Culture
Playing with Lanterns
By: Wang Yage
Illustrated by:
Zhu Chengliang
Zhu Chengliang
ISBN: 9781542029841
Fiction, 7-12, Diversity
The Poem Forest
By: Carrie Fountain
Illustrated by:
Chris Turnham
Chris Turnham
ISBN: 9781536211269
Nonfiction, 4-6, Poetry
Respect the Mic
By: Peter Kahn, Hanif Abdurraqib, Dan "Sully" Sullivan, and Franny Choi
ISBN: 9780593226810
Nonfiction, Teen, Poetry
Rise Up with a Song
By: Diane Worthey
Illustrated by:
Helena Pérez García
Helena Pérez García
ISBN: 9781638191315
Nonfiction, 4-6, Background / Culture
Sanctuary
By: Christine McDonnell
Illustrated by:
Victoria Tentler-Krylov
Victoria Tentler-Krylov
ISBN: 9781536211290
Nonfiction, 7-12, History
The Secret Battle of Evan Pao
By: Wendy Wan-Long Shang
ISBN: 9781338678857
Fiction, 7-12, Coming of Age
Seen and Unseen
By: Elizabeth Partridge
Illustrated by:
Lauren Tamaki
Lauren Tamaki
ISBN: 9781452165103
Nonfiction, 7-12, Music / Art
She Persisted
By: Kelly Starling Lyons and Chelsea Clinton
Illustrated by:
Alexandra Boiger and Gillian Flint
Alexandra Boiger and Gillian Flint
ISBN: 9780593353523
Nonfiction, 7-12, Biography / Memoir
She Persisted
By: Eucabeth Odhiambo and Chelsea Clinton
Illustrated by:
Alexandra Boiger and Gillian Flint
Alexandra Boiger and Gillian Flint
ISBN: 9780593353585
Nonfiction, 7-12, Science
Something Happened to My Dad
By: Ann Hazzard and Vivianne Apponte Rivera
Illustrated by:
Gloria Felix
Gloria Felix
ISBN: 9781433839443
Fiction, 4-6, Mental/Physical Health
A Song for the Unsung
By: Carole Boston Weatherford and Rob Sanders
Illustrated by:
Byron McCray
Byron McCray
ISBN: 9781250779502
Nonfiction, 4-6, LGBTQIA+
Song in the City
By: Daniel Bernstrom
Illustrated by:
Jenin Mohammed
Jenin Mohammed
ISBN: 9780063011120
Fiction, 4-6, Diversity
Spearhead (Adapted for Young Adults)
By: Adam Makos
ISBN: 9780593303450
Nonfiction, Teen, Biography / Memoir
Stacey Abrams and the Fight to Vote
By: Traci N. Todd
Illustrated by:
Laura Freeman
Laura Freeman
ISBN: 9780063139770
Nonfiction, 4-6, Contemporary
Stand Up!
By: Brittney Cooper
Illustrated by:
Cathy Ann Johnson
Cathy Ann Johnson
ISBN: 9781338763850
Nonfiction, 4-6, Background / Culture
Standing in the Need of Prayer
By: Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrated by:
Frank Morrison
Frank Morrison
ISBN: 9780593306345
Fiction, 7-12, Religion
Sweet Justice
By: Mara Rockliff
Illustrated by:
R. Gregory Christie
R. Gregory Christie
ISBN: 9781524720643
Nonfiction, 4-6, Background / Culture
The Talk
By: Alicia D. Williams
Illustrated by:
Briana Uchendu
Briana Uchendu
ISBN: 9781534495296
Fiction, 4-6, Contemporary
That’s Betty!
By: Gregory Bonsignore
Illustrated by:
Jennifer M. Potter
Jennifer M. Potter
ISBN: 9781250796608
Nonfiction, 4-6, Biography / Memoir
This Book Will Save the Planet
By: Dany Sigwalt
Illustrated by:
Aurélia Durand
Aurélia Durand
ISBN: 9780711268890
Nonfiction, 7-12, Science
This Little Voter
By: Ann Bonnie
Illustrated by:
Carol Herring
Carol Herring
ISBN: 9781499813241
Fiction, 4-6, Contemporary
To the Front
By: Claudia Friddell
Illustrated by:
Christopher Cyr
Christopher Cyr
ISBN: 9781635923223
Nonfiction, 7-12, Biography / Memoir
Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls
By: Atinuke
Illustrated by:
Onyinye Iwu
Onyinye Iwu
ISBN: 9781536225174
Fiction, 7-12, Prose, Diversity
‘Twas the Night Before Pride
By: Joanna McClintick
Illustrated by:
Juana Medina
Juana Medina
ISBN: 9781536213430
Fiction, 4-6, LGBTQIA+
The Waiting Place
By: Dina Nayeri
Illustrated by:
Anna Bosch Miralpeix
Anna Bosch Miralpeix
ISBN: 9781536213621
Nonfiction, 7-12, Contemporary
We All Celebrate
By: Chitra Soundar
Illustrated by:
Jenny Bloomfield
Jenny Bloomfield
ISBN: 9781910328897
Nonfiction, 4-6, Background / Culture
We Have a Dream
By: Mya-Rose Craig
Illustrated by:
Sabrena Khadija
Sabrena Khadija
ISBN: 9781419756665
Nonfiction, 7-12, Science
What Is Juneteenth? (What Was? Series)
By: Kirsti Jewel
ISBN: 9780593384695
Nonfiction, 7-12, History
When the Schools Shut Down
By: Yolanda Gladden
Illustrated by:
Keisha Morris
Keisha Morris
ISBN: 9780063011168
Nonfiction, 4-6, Biography / Memoir
Wilma Mankiller (Little People, BIG DREAMS Series)
By: Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara
Illustrated by:
Alexandra Bowman
Alexandra Bowman
ISBN: 9780711271203
Nonfiction, 4-6, History
Wishing Upon the Same Stars
By: Jacquetta Nammar Feldman
ISBN: 9780063034389
Fiction, 7-12, Background / Culture
With Lots of Love
By: Jenny Torres Sanchez
Illustrated by:
André Ceolin
André Ceolin
ISBN: 9780593205006
Fiction, 4-6, Background / Culture
The Witness Blanket
By: Carey Newman and Kirstie Hudson
ISBN: 9781459836129
Nonfiction, 7-12, Music / Art
The Year We Learned to Fly
By: Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrated by:
Rafael López
Rafael López
ISBN: 9780399545535
Fiction, 4-6, Mental/Physical Health
