Kansas is bored, sitting in the middle of the country, so after a party, all the states switch places. Minnesota lakes visit the Grand Canyon, Florida oranges ride Kentucky horses, Alabama peanuts go hiking in Rocky Mountains, but Alaska is crowded by other states, waves are ruining Arizona's hairdo, and Kansas is mighty lonely in the middle of the Pacific. Wisecracking states and humorous illustrations. (Picture book)

Discover the wideness and wonder of deserts and canyons through the eyes of painter Georgia O'Keefe. Deep-colored cut paper collages capture the artist's imagination and amazing landscapes that inspired her work. (Picture book)

For twelve year old Henry, a trip to the beach with his wacky aunts turns into a family odyssey through America – floating down the river in a big old swamp, oddball Louisiana relatives, a spaghetti-eating horse in Kansas, startling happiness at sunset, looking over the Shenandoah Valley. A hilarious read, and perfect for a road trip! (Chapter book)

A little girl goes to see the Myth, a lady who writes poetry but never leaves her home – she is Emily Dickinson. The story of this great American poet glows with inner radiance, marvelous illustrations capture the mystery and beauty of the poet's world. (Picture book)

Take a family trip with Sienna, to discover her African American heritage – Amistad slave ship in New Haven, the streets of Harlem, a black-doll museum in Philadelphia, historic sites in Washington, DC, and more. Sienna's unique scrapbook is chock-full of hand-written entries, lively illustrations and historical photographs – an inspiration for your own road trip. (Picture book)

Delicious and her family are headed out west with a wagonload of apple trees. Neither muddy rivers, hailstones big as plums, dry sandy deserts nor Jack Frost can stop them from reaching the sweet dirt of Oregon. An exuberant, original story, in the best "tall tale" tradition. (Picture book)

Celebrate the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America (13 years before Plymouth). Archeological discoveries and excavations reveal daily life of the colonists and Powhatan Indians, plus excellent "living history" photographs. (Illustrated chapter book)

John, Paul, George & Ben
Lane Smith

Never a dull moment when the Founding Fathers were kids – bold John Hancock, noisy Paul Revere, honest George Washington, clever Ben Franklin, and independent Thomas Jefferson. They wanted a revolution, and the rest is history. Humorous, delightful illustrations. (Picture book)

Patience Wright was an accomplished wax sculptor, who created true-to-life portraits of Ben Franklin and the king and queen of England. She was also a spy during the American Revolution, hiding secret messages in her wax sculptures. An exciting story, beautifully illustrated. (Picture book)

A visual guide to the American Revolution – battles and leaders, soldiers, spies and traitors, battlefields and the home front, peace and birth of a nation. Rich, historical illustrations. (Picture book)

Quilt of States
Adrienne Yorinks, 50 Librarians

Quilt maps of all 50 states, and the story of statehood for each one, starting with the first state, Delaware, through the thirteen colonies, to the 50th state, Hawaii. Plus, fun facts about each state. (Picture book)

Step into life on the southwest frontier, in New Mexico, a mix of Spanish, Mexican and Indian cultures – childhood and marriage, fashion and health, legends and traditions. Filled with stunning historical paintings and artifacts, it's a museum in a book, and you can touch everything! (Picture book)

Ste-e-e-e-eamboat Comin'!
Jill Esbaum, Adam Rex

A sleepy town along the Mississippi River comes to life when the steamboat arrives. Passengers push down the gangplank, barrels, foods and farm animals are unloaded, news spreads fast, but when the whistle blows, it's time to wave farewell. Bygone days in colorful paintings and rhymes. (Picture book)

Pictorial history of the Civil War – battles east and west, camp life, soldiers and generals, war timeline, plus 21 activities, make a quilt, create a code, berry ink, coffee can drum, homemade hardtack, and more. Wonderful historical photographs (Chapter book)

Glorious telling of an old folktale that African people could fly. Long ago in Africa, they say that people could soar like shining blackbirds in the sky. Enslaved and sent from Africa, their wings are lost, but an old man calls the magic, and "Say they flew away to Free-dom." Spellbinding illustrations. (Picture book)

Spooked by a thunderstorm, a young girl rides with the village horses. In the hidden hills, the girl meets the wild horses, led by a magnificent spotted stallion, who welcomes her to live with them. A vibrant, spirited tale with bold illustrations, like Native American art. (Picture book)

The Misadventures of Maude March
Audrey Couloumbis

Disguised as boys, spirited sisters Sallie and Maude March ride west to Missouri, looking for their long-lost uncle. Newspapers report that Maude is leader of a gang of horse thieves and bank robbers, but it's just Sallie and Maude, trying to avoid mountain lions, treacherous snows, and real desperados. A fun, wild west read. (Chapter book)

Maude and Sallie head further west in Maude March on the Run!

Summer, 1914. Fourteen year old Eleanor (Peewee) McGrath dreams of being an auto mechanic in her brother's garage in rural Indiana, but all that changes when four young ladies take over the never-used library, and Eleanor ends up finishing the Hendricks County car race. Full of wonderful characters, humor and warmth, this is a gem! (Chapter book)

Three kids, a mystery, and a tattered baseball with a hole in the center – why are the Travelin' Nine running around like a train is coming down the field? Incredible illustrations, baseball on a summer's afternoon in a bygone era. (Chapter book)

With a spooky baseball card, young Joe travels back in time to 1932, where he meets Babe Ruth. It's the Depression, but food is cheap, it's game three of the World Series, and Babe Ruth is the home run king of baseball. (Chapter book)

More baseball card adventures: Jackie & Me

The Robie House by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright is about to be torn down, but there’s strange goings on in the house. Three friends search for ghosts, discover a glass man, and fight to save the house. A super art mystery! (Chapter book)

Louis Armstrong was too poor to have a real trumpet, but he had a tin horn. And music was everywhere in the streets of New Orleans, jazz, blues, ragtime. This is the story of how Louis got his first real horn, when he was just a boy with a dream. (Easy reader)

Being president of the United States has its good things (you don't have to eat yucky vegetables) and bad (people get mad at the president). It helps if your name is James (six presidents were named James), but presidents can be homely or handsome, vain or heroic, a tailor, sailor, teacher or movie actor, there are all kinds of presidents. Hilarious caricature illustrations of each president and fun for all ages – this book is a gem. (Picture book)

Essential guide and fun reading for all the dino hunters in your family – where to find dinosaur fossil exhibits in all fifty states, from big-city to small-town museums, state and national parks, life-size attractions, plus facts about how dinosaurs lived in North America millions of years ago. (Guide book)

Wonderful introduction to United States wildlife. Twenty six different mammals, birds, and reptiles that live in the national parks, from antelope, to bison, javelinas, moose, nene (Hawaiian goose), bighorn sheep, and more. Fabulously illustrated with paintings of each wild animal in its natural habitat. (Picture book)

The national parks from A to Z, in quick rhymes and fun facts, with richly detailed illustrations. Fifty national parks, from Acadia in Maine, to petrified forests, Everglades crocodiles, gushing geysers, bat-filled caves, and Zion in Utah. (Picture book)

Twelve generations of the Tuttle family have farmed on the same location in New Hampshire, from the 17th century to present day. A fascinating look at America through the story of one family, and you can visit the Red Barn on your trip around the U.S. (Picture book)

50 states of fun, with wacky and humorous facts – what state is the earmuff capital of the world, where were the first hamburgers served, what is the Cereal Festival, who hosts the Hog Calling Contest and more. Zippy illustrations. (Picture book)

Monday on the Mississippi
Marilyn Singer, Frané Lessac

A fascinating trip down the Mississippi River today, starting as a stream in Minnesota, a girl dabbles her toes, the river flows south, past old men sitting on the levee in Iowa, by the great Arch in St. Louis, under wide bridges, to the delta in Louisiana, where the river ends and the sea begins. Illustrated in a charming folk-art style. (Picture book)

Wild and wonderful buildings from all over the United States – climb up an elephant-shaped building, or check out a teapot gas station, stay in concrete wigwams, eat in the Milk Bottle restaurant. Plus, a handy map, so you can visit the buildings on your trip around the U.S. (Picture book)

Built to Last
George Sullivan

America's engineering feats from coast to coast, starting with the Erie Canal, to the Brooklyn Bridge, transcontinental Railroad, Empire State Building, Hoover Dam, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Sears Tower, and present day Big Dig. Panoramic two page photographs of these engineering marvels. ( Illustrated chapter book)

Not a kid's book per se, this photo book is an extraordinary look at the diversity of America – from the air. City skyscrapers, lime green rivers, swirling mesas, iridescent hot springs, ancient volcanoes, sapphire blue lakes, craggy mountains and desolate deserts, vibrant patterns of fields and flower farms, rocky shorelines and sandy beaches, glowing trees in autumn. Over 500 amazing aerial photos.
(Picture book)

Hitch a ride on the train of fifty states, from the first state (Delaware) to the last (Hawaii), each car packed with fascinating goodies – state mottos, state capitals, trees, birds, animals, landmarks, origins of states' names, and fun facts (the first hamburger was served in Connecticut in 1895). Fantastic illustrations by Peter Sis! (Picture book)

"From sea to shining sea," America unfolds on dazzling white and silver pop-up pages – Golden Gate Bridge, the great plains, Mt. Rushmore, Mesa Verde, a steamboat on the Mississippi, the Capitol, and Statue of Liberty. (Pop-up book)