The 4th of July is almost here, and that means you’ll need some reading material for your long holiday weekend! Who doesn’t love a holiday that calls for BBQs, picnics, outdoor lounging, and fireworks? Before you hit the beach, hammock, or couch, check out these Independence-Day-themed books for kids and adults, including some tasty summer cookbooks to help you plan the perfect 4th of July party.

1776 by David McCullough1776
Author: David McCullough
Historian David McCullough’s account of 1776 — the year of America’s birth — is already a classic. Moving back and forth between the 13 colonies and England, you’ll learn what led the English monarchy to declare war on the colonists, and what the Revolutionary War was really like for those who lived through it. Of course, it features the stirring call to action of the Declaration of Independence, and the valiant rebels who marched with General George Washington for the cause. But it also tells the story of courageous and loyal British soldiers who fought bravely for the government they believed in. Just think of all the fun facts you can share at your 4th of July BBQ!

 

 

 

Apple Pie 4th of JulyApple Pie Fourth of July
Author: Janet S. Wong, Illustrator: Margaret Chodos-Irvine
This charmingly illustrated picture book is a great way to spark discussion about diversity, racial tolerance, and the blending of cultural traditions. A young Chinese-American girl is dismayed that her parents’ store is open for business on the 4th of July. Watching the holiday parade and smelling a baking apple pie, she worries that no one will want to eat chow mein or sweet-and-sour pork on such an all-American holiday, and that her parents just don’t understand. But — surprise, surprise — business picks up, and everybody watches fireworks (which were, after all, invented in China) and shares apple pie together.

 

 

 

Betsy Ross and the Making of AmericaBetsy Ross and the Making of America
Author: Marla R. Miller
You probably learned about Betsy Ross sewing the first American flag back in grade school. But what do we really know about her? This biography — the first ever written about Betsy Ross — presents her life through the lens of colonial American history. Betsy’s uncles were Stamp Act protesters, and she herself was a supporter of the rebellion who lost two husbands to the Revolution. The damage of the Revolutionary War permanently reversed the Ross family fortunes, and many of her relatives died of the yellow fever epidemic, caused by refugees from the Haitian revolution who fled to Philadelphia in 1793. Author Marla Miller argues that the American Revolution was led by artisans, craftsmen, and farmers, and ordinary citizens like Betsy Ross were integral to the birth of the new nation. If you only ever pictured Betsy Ross sewing stars on a flag by the light of a fire, this book will give you a much more complete look at her life and the life of colonial America.

 

 

Buck Me for the 4th of JulyBuck Me… For 4th Of July: BBW Paranormal Were-reindeer Shapeshifter Holiday Romance (Frost Brothers’ Brides Book 5)
Author: Anya Nowlan
Well, it is a holiday weekend, after all… did you really think I wouldn’t sneak a cheesy romance novel in here? It’s almost the 4th of July and Rina Reynolds is busy running her fireworks-show business. In one explosive (haha) night, she gets proposed to and then dumped, harassed by drunken jerks, and saved by a magical stag, aka her ex-boyfriend Comet Frost. Comet has always regretted running out on Rina, and now he finally has a chance to make things right. Will Rina give him a second chance at love, or has she been hurt too many times?

 

 

 

 

How to GrillHow to Grill: The Complete Illustrated Book of Barbecue Techniques, A Barbecue Bible!
Author: Steven Raichlen
Chow mein and apple pie notwithstanding, the most common 4th of July party foods are all grilled: hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, and ribs. Make sure you bring your BBQ A-game with this in-depth, step-by-step technique book that shows you how to master 100 grilling techniques. From classic burgers to pizza, shellfish, and fruit, you’ll discover 100 new recipes and tons of helpful tips — and every recipe has a photo. Honestly, this cookbook will come in handy all summer long (and maybe even year-round, if you’re living your life right).

 

 

Johnny TremainJohnny Tremain
Author: Esther Hoskins Forbes
Summer vacation? Think again, kids! Hit ‘em with some extra-credit reading this holiday weekend with a classic YA book that’s actually pretty great. Set just before the Revolutionary War, this is the story of Johnny Tremain, a 14-year-old apprentice silversmith who must find a new career when he is severely injured. Johnny becomes a newspaper carrier and a messenger for the Sons of Liberty, meeting founding fathers like John Hancock and Samuel Adams, and quickly gets drawn into the historical events of the American Revolution.

 

 

 

 

The Outdoor TableThe Outdoor Table: The Ultimate Cookbook for Your Next Backyard BBQ, Front-Porch Meal, Tailgate, or Picnic
Author: April McKinney
Whether you’re having a cookout, picnic, or tailgate party for the 4th, you’ll definitely need some side dishes and sweets to go with all those burgers and hot dogs. This beautifully photographed cookbook is bursting with delicious on-the-go recipes that were specifically developed to make ahead, take along, and serve cold. Imagine adding watermelon lime coolers, bacon-wrapped hash brown bites, Johnny Appleseed salad, or BBQ sweet potato chips to your next summer party! Say goodbye forever to blah grocery-store-deli tubs of potato salad.

 

 

 

The Practical PyromaniacThe Practical Pyromaniac: Build Fire Tornadoes, One-Candlepower Engines, Great Balls of Fire, and More Incendiary Devices
Author: William Gurstelle
What would the 4th of July be without fireworks? And why settle for watching someone else set them off when you could be combusting chemicals in your own backyard? This explosive little book includes 25 home projects with instructions, diagrams, pictures, and links to video tutorials. Along the way, you’ll learn about history’s greatest pyromaniacs and their contributions to science and awesomeness. Not to worry: author William Gurstelle is very, very safety-conscious and the projects are designed for maximum bang with minimal risk. Teens and dads will have a blast — haha — whipping up cold fire, technicolor flames, fire tornadoes and more.

 

 

 

Ten Tea PartiesTen Tea Parties: Patriotic Protests That History Forgot
Author: Joseph Cummins
Oh sure, we all learned about the Boston Tea Party in school. But how about the Philadelphia tea party, or the York (Maine) tea party, or the Wilmington (North Carolina) one? Historian Joseph Cummins explores the history of the East India Company — then the world’s largest corporation — and the massive financial losses they suffered from not just one, but TEN tea party protests in the American colonies leading up to the Revolutionary War. Sip a tall glass of iced tea this 4th of July and contemplate history’s twists and turns.

 

 

 

 

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