Our 1st grade trip Around the World was wonderful. Our 2nd grade trip across the United States of America was even more wonderful.
Around the USA Study
Our brief stops in each state began with living literature “tour guide(s)” who introduced us to important historical and geographical highlights. When appropriate, we added some of the interesting people and events we learned about to our ongoing timeline. And before leaving each state, we completed a quick notebooking page to note some important facts that resulted in a great keepsake of our year-long trip.
50 States Living Literature “Tour Guides”
You can find a bazillion non-fiction books describing each state on the shelves of your local library. While we read some of those, my intention was to enjoy living biographies or historical fiction appropriate for middle elementary as well. Those are a tad harder to find since they often aren’t cataloged by the state they represent which is why I’ve pulled them together in a handy list. You’ll even notice some of them are easy readers that my little guy was even able to read himself.
This post contains affiliate links.
Alabama
Helen Keller: Courage in the Dark by Johanna Hurwitz
Rosa by Nikki Giovanni
A Weed is a Flower: The Life of George Washington Carver by Aliki
Alaska
Balto and the Great Race by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
Arizona
Alejandro’s Gift by Richard Albert
Big Moon Tortilla by Joy Cowley
Cactus Cafe: A Story of the Sonoran Desert by Kathleen Zoehfeld
Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
Arkansas
Trail of Tears by Joseph Bruchac
California
Boom Town by Sonia Levitin
Picking Cotton by Sherley Ann Williams
Pop’s Bridge by Eve Bunting
Redwoods by Jason Chin
Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi
Colorado
Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki
High as a Hawk by T.A. Barron
Connecticut
26 Fairmont Avenue by Tomie dePaola
The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
Delaware
When Washington Crossed the Delaware by Lynne Cheney
District of Columbia
By the Dawn’s Early Light by Steven Kroll
Clara Barton: Spirit of the American Red Cross by Patricia Lakin
Miss Lady Bird’s Wildflowers: How a First Lady Changed America by Kathi Appelt
Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library by Barb Rosenstock
The Wall by Eve Bunting
Florida
Hurricanes by Gail Gibbons
Moonwalk: The First Trip to the Moon by Judy Donnelly
Sam the Sea Cow by Francine Jacobs
Sunken Treasure by Gail Gibbons
Georgia
I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Hawaii
Maka, the Magic Music Maker by Shannon Scott
Idaho
The Boy Who Invented the TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth by Kathleen Krull
Mailing May by Michael O. Tunnell
Potato: A Tale from the Great Depression by Kate Lied
Illinois
Abe Lincoln’s Hat by Martha Brenner
Coming on Home Soon by Jacqueline Woodson
Saving Strawberry Farm by Deborah Hopkinson
Indiana
The Floating House by Scott Russell Sanders
Iowa
Cora Frear by Susan Goodman
Kate Shelley and The Midnight Express by Margaret Wetterer
McBroom Tells the Truth by Sid Fleischman
Kansas
The Bravest of Us All by Marsha Arnold
Climbing Kansas Mountains by George Shannon
Wagon Wheels by Barbara Brenner
Kentucky
Perfect Timing: How Isaac Murphy Became One of the World’s Greatest Jockeys by Patsi Trollinger
The Rag Coat by Lauren Mills
That Book Woman by Heather Henson
Louisiana
Petite Rouge by Mike Artell
The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles
Maine
Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie by Peter and Connie Roop
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey
Maryland
Aunt Flossie’s Hats and Crab Cakes Later by Elizabeth Howard
Escape North! The Story of Harriet Tubman by Monica Kulling
Massachusetts
Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende Devlin
The Hatmaker’s Sign by Candace Fleming
A River Ran Wild by Lynne Cherry
Paul Revere’s Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Sam the Minuteman by Nathaniel Benchley
The Wild Horses of Sweetbriar by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock
Michigan
An Orange for Frankie by Patricia Polacco
Eat My Dust! Henry Ford’s First Race by Monica Culling
The Log Cabin Quilt by Ellen Howard
Minnesota
The Biggest Bear by Lynn Ward
Marven of the Great North Woods by Kathryn Lasky
Mississippi
Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles
River Town by Bonnie Geisert
Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson
Uncle Jed’s Barbershop by Margaree Mitchell
Missouri
How We Crossed the West: The Adventures of Lewis and Clark by Rosalyn Schanzer
Ragtime Tumpie by Alan Schroeder
Montana
Cowboy Charlie by Jeanette Winter
Mountain Town by Bonnie Geisert
Prairie Town by Bonnie Geisert
Nebraska
Dandelions by Eve Bunting
Elsie’s Bird by Jane Yolen
Nora’s Chicks by Patricia Maclachlan
Nevada
Desert Town by Bonnie Geisert
The Hoover Dam by Jeffery Zuehlke
The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell
New Hampshire
The Bear that Heard Crying by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock
The Farm Summer 1942 by Donald Hall
Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall
New Jersey
The Ballot Box Battle by Emily Arnold McCully
Night of the Moonjellies by Mark Sasha
Timeless Thomas: How Thomas Edison Changed Our Lives by Gene Barretta
New Mexico
Carlos and the Squash Plant by Jan Stevens
Coyotes All Around by Stuart Murphy
Georgia O’Keeffe by Mike Venezia
New York
The Babe and I by David Adler
Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Maker’s Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel
Elizabeth Leads the Way: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Right to Vote by Tanya Stone
The Flower Hunter: William Bartram America’s First Naturalist by Deborah Kogan Ray
The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge by Hildegarde Swift
The Man Who Walked Between Two Towers by Mordecai Gerstein
The Snow Walker by Margaret Wetterer
When Jessie Came Across the Sea by Amy Hest
North Carolina
First Flight: The Story of Tom Tate and the Wright Brothers by George Shea
Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins by Carole Weatherford
Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream by Deloris Jordan
North Dakota
A Prairie Boy’s Summer by William Kurelek
A Prairie Boy’s Winter by William Kurelek
Sunflower House by Eve Bunting
Ohio
Lentil by Robert McCloskey
Rudy Rides the Rails: A Depression Era Story by Dandi Mackall
Warm as Wool by Scott Russell Sanders
Oklahoma
Angels in the Dust by Margot Raven
Dust for Dinner by Ann Turner
Trail of Tears by Joseph Bruchac
Oregon
Apples to Oregon by Deborah Hopkinson
Only Opal by Jane Whiteley
Pennsylvania
The Bears on Hemlock Mountain by Alice Dalgliesh
The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon by Jacqueline Davies
Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine
Homespun Sarah by Verla Kay
Now and Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin by Gene Barretta
Raising Yoder’s Barn by Jane Yolen
Rhode Island
Katie’s Trunk by Ann Turner
William’s House by Ginger Howard
The New Americans: Colonial Times 1620-1689 by Betty Maestro
South Carolina
Arabella by Wendy Orr
Knockin’ On Wood: Starring Peg Leg Bates by Lynne Barasch
Ron’s Big Mission by Rose Blue
This is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration by Jacqueline Woodson
South Dakota
Dakota Dugout by Ann Turner
So, You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George
Tennessee
Amber on the Mountain by Tony Johnston
Buddy: The First Seeing Eye Dog by Eva Moore
Goin’ Someplace Special by Patricia McKissack
Texas
Armadillo Rodeo by Jan Brett
Buffalo Music by Tracey Fern
Pecos Bill by Steven Kellogg
Utah
Iron Horses by Verla Kay
Ten Mile Day: And the Building of the Transcontinental Railroad by Mary Ann Fraser
The Wheat Doll by Alison Randall
Vermont
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Sugaring by Jesse Haas
Virginia
George Washington and the General’s Dog by Frank Murphy
Hornbooks and Inkwells by Verla Kay
James Towne: Struggle for Survival by Marcia Sewall
Washington
Davy’s Dream: A Young Boy’s Adventure with Wild Orca Whales by Owen Lewis
Seaman’s Journal by Patricia Eubank
The Sun, the Wind and the Rain by Lisa Westburg Peters
West Virginia
Golden Delicious: A Cinderella Apple Story by Anna Egan Smucker
In Coal Country by Judith Hendershot
When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant
Wisconsin
Going West by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Harry Houdini: Escape Artist by Patricia Lakin
Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder by William Anderson
Wyoming
Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express by Eleanor Coerr
I Could Do That: Esther Morris Gets Women the Vote by Linda White
Jackson Pollock by Mike Venezia
Leah’s Pony by Elizabeth Friedrich
If you know of wonderful picture books that go-along with particular states, I’d love for you to share in the comments!
If you enjoy using living literature in your homeschool, I’ve compiled several fabulous lists for you.
50 States Notebooking Pages
For a little more information about the notebooking pages we used…
The 50 States Notebooking Pages are a fun way to create a memory book of your tour across America. They encourage children to learn a few fun facts about each state, color or label a map, and add state flags and seals for a colorful keepsake of your “trip.” If you choose to write lists of each book you read along the way, you’ll also have a great reading log as part of the keepsake.
50 States Games and Memory Fun
Throughout the year-long study, we had lots of fun practicing the wonderful history and geography that we had learned through puzzles, online games, card games and more!
Puzzle Map
Online Quizzes
Technology Rocks links several games
Board & Card Games
Printable Games
Apps
Mapping Practice
Songs & Videos
Project-Based Learning
Project-based learning is important in our homeschool because it works so well to internalize concepts. Below is a list of the projects Eli completed throughout our study.
Where in the USA Interview Project
We had SO much fun traveling across the country through literature this year!
Other posts you might enjoy:
U.S. Geography ProjectWorld Geography Living Literature
World Geography Project
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joni470 says
August 18, 2014 at 9:36 amI love this…thanks so much!
Cindy says
August 18, 2014 at 11:54 amYou are welcome, Joni!
Latricia says
August 18, 2014 at 5:48 pmWow! I a very impressed and as a homeschool mom (and retired American and African-American History professor) you did an awesome job compiling this list. I love your ides regarding the creative aspects of using games. For me, my dyslexic son in 6th grade would totally benefit from the literature perspective here. I am going to definitely use this as I am excited!!!!!!Thank you!
Melissa says
August 18, 2014 at 8:39 pmWow, this is going to be so helpful for me this school year since we’re studying the USA as part of our studies too! Thank you so much for sharing this information. 🙂
Cindy says
August 18, 2014 at 9:27 pmYou’re welcome, Melissa!
Amanda C. says
August 19, 2014 at 3:24 amAlaska — Larry Gets Lost in Alaska
Mary says
August 19, 2014 at 12:54 pmYou’re amazing! I’m going to share this with all of my CC readers, because we are studying the 50 states this year in Cycle 3. Thank you for all of the resources, Cindy — and it was MARVELOUS to get to know you last weekend! 🙂
Lana Wymore says
August 19, 2014 at 4:26 pmThis is amazing! I plan on sharing this with others that love Geography too – thank you so much for all the work and effort to compile this list!
Kate says
August 19, 2014 at 5:09 pmI seriously cannot believe you found living books for all 50 states! That was a massive undertaking! You are amazing. Can I ask what your living book finding secret was? I am new at this (my oldest, also an Eli, is in 2nd grade too!) and am struggling to find living books appropriate to our various history topics. Thank you for sharing all your hard work!!
Cindy says
August 19, 2014 at 8:00 pmYes, Kate, it was a huge undertaking! I enjoy the research, though. 🙂 And that’s the secret…lots of research…which is really no secret at all. Hahaha
Cindy says
August 19, 2014 at 8:00 pmYou’re welcome, Lana!
Cindy says
August 19, 2014 at 8:01 pmThank you, Mary! I SO enjoyed getting to know you, too. You are absolutely the sweetest! (And our beds are all made. LOL)
Cindy says
August 19, 2014 at 8:02 pmNice. Can’t wait to check it out!
Sharon Kristoff says
August 19, 2014 at 9:42 pmThis is awesome!! Thank you so much for sharing. I am printing this list for our US history/geography studies this year. So excited!
Paola Collazo says
August 21, 2014 at 12:44 amAmazing! I was just reading how CM did both World History and English History together. This will make it so easy and interesting for all my babes. Thank you!
Liz Swift says
August 25, 2014 at 12:14 pmFor Vermont, Dorothy Canfield Fisher’s Understood Betsy is a classic well worth reading.
Janice says
August 25, 2014 at 10:41 pmI just stumbled upon this on Pinterest, I have states and capital learning(and going broader with each state) on my ideas for this year! This will certainly help me expand it! Thank you!
Cindy says
August 28, 2014 at 10:13 pmThank you, Liz!
Stephanie Stevens says
August 29, 2014 at 8:37 amWhat an incredible resource! We’ve slowly been memorizing states and capitols but I will definitely look forward to adding books to our geography study. Thank you!
Patricia says
August 31, 2014 at 8:26 amThanks for putting this together, what a fabulous list! Already pinned it 🙂
Jennifer T. says
September 2, 2014 at 8:00 pmThanks for the list. I will put a plug in for “All-of-a-kind Family” which would be for New York (there are actually 5 in that series); “The Moffats” would be for Connecticut (I believe) (again this has more than one in the series…four total); No Children No Pets is set mainly in Florida; Mary on Horseback is for Kentucky. I could keep going but I’ll stop there.
Cindy says
September 2, 2014 at 8:46 pmThanks, Jennifer!
Prentis says
October 3, 2014 at 1:05 amUncle Jed’s Barbershop should actually be listed under Mississippi. The author, Margaree King Mitchell, is from my hometown of Holly Springs, MS. Another of my favorites by this author is When Grandmama Sings. Her stories gently present the African-American viewpoint of pre-civil rights era. The characters she crafts depict strong, courageous, and peace-loving characters, making them appropriate for introducing difficult topics such as racism to young children. I am a great fan of hers and would like to thank you for including her on your list!
Another great book depicting a rural southern sharecropping family from Mississippi is Oh Lord, I Wish I Was. Buzzard. I can’t remember the author but it was illustrated by Aliki. This was the first book I was able to read independently as a child and remains a favorite today.
Cindy says
October 3, 2014 at 8:15 pmThank you, Prentis. I actually searched long and hard trying to find the setting of Uncle Jed’s Barbershop. When I was unsuccessful, I just put it with a state that could have worked for the time period. I’m adding it to Mississippi now, though. 🙂 Thanks also for the other suggestions!!
Kim says
October 22, 2014 at 9:08 pmI have a suggested addition for Vermont. We just read “Least of All” by Carol Purdy. It was a wonderful book about how a little girl taught herself to read the Bible while churning butter on a VT farm.
Cindy says
October 22, 2014 at 9:37 pmThank you, Kim!
Karyn says
December 8, 2014 at 7:59 amThis is just wonderful! Thanks for all your work putting it together!
Chrissy says
March 20, 2015 at 10:17 amVery fun! Love the list!
Here’s a few contributions:
FLORIDA- Strawberry Girl
VERMONT- Understood Betsy
ALASKA- The Year of Miss Agnes
Chrissy says
March 20, 2015 at 10:24 amKENTUCKY- Mary on Horseback
Cindy says
March 21, 2015 at 8:58 amGreat suggestions, Chrissy!
Kim says
April 13, 2015 at 8:46 pmWow! This is a fantastic plan. Thanks for sharing.
Linda says
April 28, 2015 at 10:49 amI’ve been searching for something like this! Thank you so much for sharing this. It’s such a fantastic help and is greatly appreciated! God bless you!
Kelli says
July 7, 2015 at 9:24 pmIs there a link to print the names of the books for each state? thank you
Cindy says
July 7, 2015 at 9:37 pmNo, Kelli. Sorry.
Rebecca says
July 27, 2015 at 7:48 pmthis is awesome! thank you!!!
Dawn says
August 3, 2015 at 4:19 pmExactly what I’ve been looking for thanks!!!
Cindy says
August 3, 2015 at 4:48 pmYou are very welcome!
Becky says
October 31, 2015 at 10:41 amI’m not homeschooling yet, my kid’s too young, but I was curious when this showed up in my Pinterest feed. I love this idea! I was a little bummed that the only entry for my state doesn’t actually take place within the state borders, so I did some googling and found a couple other possibilities for Delaware. Water Rat by Marnie Laird, listed for grades 4-6, and A Light in the Storm: The Civil War Diary of Amelia Martin, by Karen Hesse, listed as age 9+. I haven’t read either, but now plan to look into both.
Cindy says
November 1, 2015 at 6:16 pmThank you, Becky! Yes, I had a hard time finding Delaware books, that’s for sure. I’ll keep these in mind when (if) I get around to a chapter book list. 🙂
shaleza rouse says
March 16, 2016 at 9:00 amGreat list! Thanks for posting it. I’d like to suggest that everyone also check with their Children’s Librarian at their local libraries for more help – this is exactly what they love to do and are usually very good at it! 🙂
andygirl says
March 24, 2016 at 8:14 amHow did you break up the unit? We studied world history for the last two years and we’re going to start American history curriculum but we only have maybe 9 weeks left of school so starting a whole new curriculum seemed silly. I was thinking of doing all the states we know people from or are going through to make it more real and was wondering how you break it down.
Cindy says
March 30, 2016 at 8:21 pmAndygirl, we simply went state by state through the regions – New England, Southeast, Midwest, etc. For some states, we only spent one day reading and completing a few activities. Other states took us 2-3 days – especially if I had several wonderful books to read aloud. Have fun!
EstherLedies says
June 18, 2016 at 7:06 pmKiki and the Cuckoo for NE or other states where Western Meadowlark is common, Nora’s Ark for Vermont, Testing the Ice for NY or Connecticut, Fire Boat for NY
Cindy says
June 18, 2016 at 9:06 pmThank you for the additions, Esther! We’ve read Fire Boat. I think all the others are new-to-me titles!
SARAH says
August 1, 2016 at 12:28 pmAs a Michigander, I’d like to suggest adding “M is for Mitten” to the Michigan portion. Great information and nice illustrations.
Cindy says
August 1, 2016 at 4:30 pmThanks, Sarah!
Jennie Chatman says
August 27, 2016 at 12:41 amwhat state does The Hatmaker’s Sign go with?j
Cindy says
August 27, 2016 at 8:05 amI put The Hatmaker’s Sign into our study of Massachusetts, but it would really be fine with any state that has a rich Colonial history. 🙂
learninginthehome says
October 10, 2016 at 11:29 pmThis is awesome! This is my focus statement I wrote today about myself – “A homeschool mom developing good character & leadership skills by studying wholesome literature and growing a biblical view of cultural geography.” Then I come here and find literature and geography together. This makes me smile! Thank you so much!
Amy says
November 3, 2016 at 4:26 pmThank you for this book list. My second grade twins are loving the books on this list. This is our first year homeschooling, and your site has been the most helpful of any homeschooling website I have found. Thank you again.
Cindy says
November 3, 2016 at 4:34 pmAmy, thanks so much for taking the time to encourage me! I’m excited to hear your twins are enjoying living literature. It’s the best, isn’t it? 🙂
Melissa says
November 28, 2016 at 5:12 pmOh my goodness! This is wonderful. Thank you for taking the time to put it all together. I am teaching my two boys about the 50 states right now. They are 6 and 4 so we are keeping it VERY general, but I plan to go back over the states when they are older and this is the perfect way to do it!!! Thanks!
Cindy says
November 28, 2016 at 5:30 pmYou’re welcome, Melissa! We had SO much fun during our study. Some of these books became our most treasured. 🙂
Michelle Seagren says
February 6, 2017 at 9:57 amToday is our first day of homeschooling (2nd and 3rd grade) and we are studying the regions of the USA. I was searching and searching for books and found you! Thanks a million times over!!! This is awesome! I signed up to get your emails as well!
Cindy says
February 6, 2017 at 4:28 pmI’m so glad this post was helpful for you, Michelle. 🙂 I hope your first day of homeschooling went well and I wish you many, many wonderful days ahead!
Ashley Wright says
March 3, 2017 at 12:22 amWe are online schooling family and that is why we enjoy traveling. So these would be an awesome companion for our adventures. Thanks for sharing!
Cindy says
March 4, 2017 at 2:17 pmHow cool that you might get to actually explore some of the places as you read along!
Mrs B says
March 15, 2017 at 10:51 amOxcart Man by Donald Hall would be a good one for New Hampshire. It’s one of my favorite books, I’m excited we can use it for this unit!
Cindy says
March 15, 2017 at 3:52 pmOh, great idea! I’ll add it. 🙂
KatHome says
August 2, 2017 at 11:56 amI know it’s not a state, but do you know of any living lit for Washington DC? Thanks for this list!! We are studying states this year and you already did all the hard work!! So glad God led me to your site!
Cindy says
August 3, 2017 at 11:40 amI have some suggestions for Washington D.C. listed under District of Columbia near the top of the post. It’s easy to miss. 🙂
Michele says
March 27, 2018 at 9:31 amSing Down the Moon by O’Dell for Arizona/New Mexico
Cindy says
March 28, 2018 at 4:44 pmThank you, for this chapter book recommendation, Michele! 🙂
Julie says
July 5, 2018 at 11:17 amWhat a great idea and a fabulous resource! I went ahead and ordered the first 4 books on the list to get us started!
Cindy says
July 5, 2018 at 9:12 pmGlad it’s helpful, Julie! These books are still favorites in my house. 🙂
Candace says
February 24, 2019 at 10:29 pmThank you so much for this list! I am planning next year’s U.S. Geography lessons and am so excited about reading some of these books with my kids. Thank you for the great suggestions!
Cindy says
February 25, 2019 at 4:19 pmYou’re very welcome, Candace! 🙂