November 11 is Veterans Day, a day to celebrate the service of all U.S. military veterans. If you like books about war, these books will help you learn more about the brave soldiers who fought for the United States of America.
Military Animals With Dog Tags By Laurie Calkhoven for Ages 7–10
Everyone knows that soldiers entered battlefields on horseback, but did you know that some warriors rode elephants into combat? You may have heard of bomb-sniffing dogs, but what about bomb-sniffing honeybees? In this book you will learn about animals that have aided the military in the air, on land, and by sea. Discover how dolphins, bears, pigs, penguins, and even glowworms became heroes in times of war. When technology couldn’t help, these amazing animals could!
Brave Like My Brother By Marc Tyler Nobleman for Ages 7-10
When Charlie’s brother, Joe, is called up to fight in World War II, he promises to write Charlie lots of letters. It won’t make up for not being there to help Charlie out with the neighborhood bullies, but it’s all Joe can do.
Life is tough for a soldier, and Joe tells Charlie all about it, from training in endless rain and mud to the stray dog the soldiers adopt. When Joe is sent on a secret mission with the one soldier he can’t stand, Matt, he will have to face risks that place their mission — and their lives — in grave danger.
Charlie knew his brother was strong, but through Joe’s letters he learns what Joe really is: a true hero. Joe’s letters give Charlie the strength to stand up for himself and be brave, just like his brother.
The Holocaust: The Origins, Events, and Remarkable Tales of Survival By Philip Steele for Ages 8-12
During World War II, six million Jewish men, women, and children lost their lives under the Nazis, in one of the darkest events of modern history. This thought-provoking book explores the reasons behind what led to the Holocaust, examines what life was like in concentration camps, and retells incredible stories of heroism.
The Enemy Above: A Novel of World War II By Michael P. Spradlin for Ages 8-12
Anton has nowhere to run. Colonel Karl Van Duesen of the Gestapo has made it his mission to round up every Jew in the Ukrainian countryside, and he’s getting close. A web of underground caves seems like the perfect hiding place for Anton and the rest of his community. If they are discovered, they will be sent off to work camps . . . or worse.
But when a surprise invasion catches them off guard, and his grandmother is captured, Anton makes a radical decision. He won’t hide. He will follow the Gestapo and rescue his grandmother. He will stop being the hunted . . . and start doing some hunting of his own.
Dive! World War II Stories of Sailors & Submarines in the Pacific: The Incredible Story of U.S. Submarines in WWII By Deborah Hopkinson for Ages 8-12
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the US entered World War II in December 1941 with only 44 Naval submarines — many of them dating from the 1920s. With the Pacific battleship fleet decimated after Pearl Harbor, it was up to the feisty and heroic sailors aboard the US submarines to stop the Japanese invasion across the Pacific.
Courage & Defiance: Stories of Spies, Saboteurs, and Survivors in World War II Denmark By Deborah Hopkinson for Ages 8–12
When the Nazis invaded Denmark the morning of Tuesday, April 9, 1940, the government of Denmark surrendered quietly, and the Danes were ordered to go about their daily lives as if nothing had changed. But everything had changed. Deborah Hopkinson traces the stories of the heroic men and women who would not stand by as their country was occupied. Instead, they fought back. Some were spies, passing tactical information to the British; some were saboteurs, who aimed to impede Nazi operations in Denmark; and 95% of the Jewish population of Denmark were survivors, rescued by their fellow countrymen, who had the courage and conscience that drove them to act.
Warriors: The Greatest Fighters in History By Sean Callery for Ages 8–12
This stunning book about the greatest warriors of all time is packed with facts, infographics, expert text, and photography from museums and private collections. Explore collections of weapons, armor, uniforms, medals, everyday equipment, and much more. Find out what these objects can show us about battle tactics, key moments in history, and life as a soldier.
Dogs of War By Sheila Keenan, Illustrated by Nathan Fox for Ages 8-12
This graphic novel tells the stories of the canine military heroes of World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War. The three fictional stories were inspired by historic battles and real military practice. Each story tells the heroic adventures of a soldier and his service dog, bringing to life the faithful dogs who braved bombs, barrages, and battles to save the lives of soldiers.
Based on the real-life roles of military dogs that served as Red Cross rescuers, messengers, scouts, search-and-rescue teams, sentries, and mascots, Dogs of War captures the adventure and the devastation brought on by war.
Duke By Kirby Larson for Ages 8-12
With World War II raging and his father fighting overseas in Europe, 11-year-old Hobie Hanson is determined to do his part to help his country, even if it means giving up his beloved German shepherd, Duke. Hoping to help end the war and bring his dad home faster, Hobie decides to donate Duke to Dogs for Defense, an organization that urges Americans to “loan” their pets to the military to act as sentries, mine sniffers, and patrol dogs. Hobie immediately regrets his decision and tries everything he can to get Duke back, even jeopardizing his friendship with the new boy at school. But when his father is taken prisoner by the Germans, Hobie realizes he must let Duke go and be brave. Will Hobie ever see Duke, or his father, again?
Truce: The Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting By Jim Murphy for Ages 8-12
On July 29th 1914, the world’s peace was shattered as the Austria-Hungary Empire began shelling the troops of the country to its south. What followed was like a row of falling dominoes as one European country after another rushed into World War I. Soon most of Europe was fighting in this calamitous war that could have been avoided. But who could have guessed that on December 25 the troops would openly defy their commanding officers by stopping the fighting and having a spontaneous celebration of Christmas with their enemies? In what is described as a Christmas Miracle, this beautiful narrative will remind everyone how brotherhood and love for one another reaches far beyond war and politics.
Dog Tags #1: Semper Fido By C. Alexander London for Ages 10-14
When Gus Dempsey joins the US Marine Corps, he knows that he will make a great dog handler. He’s always been good with dogs. In fact, he’s often better with dogs than he is with people. But Loki is not the dog that Gus was expecting. Fun-loving and playful, Loki acts more like a pet than the well-trained, bomb-sniffing Marine that he’s supposed to be. When Gus and Loki deploy to Afghanistan, though, they have no choice but to learn to work together. Because in war, getting along is a matter of life and death.
Profiles #5: The Vietnam War By Daniel Polansky for Ages 10-14
Kids will learn biographical information (background, family, education, accomplishments) about: Ho Chi Minh (Prime Minister of Democratic Republic of Vietnam), John F. Kennedy (U.S. President 1961-1963), Lyndon B. Johnson (U.S. President (1963-1969), Ngo Dinh Diem (President of South Vietnam), Henry Kissinger (U.S. National Security Advisor), and William Westmoreland (U.S. Army General). This book will help illuminate one of the most controversial wars in American history.
Scholastic Discover More: World War II By Sean Callery for Ages 10-14
Nicknamed the Deadliest Conflict in History, World war II claimed at least 50 million lives. It was the backdrop to atrocities like the Holocaust and the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan. This book charts the course of the war, from the rise of Nazism to Hitler’s suicide in April 1945. Firsthand accounts show how individuals experienced the war, be they military or civilian, adult or child. In addition to photographs, there are detailed cutaway artworks that reveal the inner workings of vehicles that defined the war: the German U-boat, Sherman tank, and Liberator bomber.
Tides of War #1: Blood in the Water By C. Alexander London for Ages 10-14
Navy SEALs are trained to operate in sea, land, and air, they work under cover of night to carry out the US military’s most sensitive and difficult missions. Cory McNab wanted to be a Navy SEAL, but he washed out of the program. Now he is a member of the Navy’s Marine Mammals Program, where he is partnered with a search-and-recovery dolphin named Kaj. Together, Cory and Kaj are the Navy’s best hope when a US spy submarine is lost in enemy waters. With the help of Kaj’s bio-sonar, they should be able to locate the submarine before its secrets fall into the wrong hands. But the mission gets complicated when a team of Navy SEALs runs into trouble. Can Cory succeed where his heroes have failed…or is he in too deep?
Vietnam #1: I Pledge Allegiance By Chris Lynch for Ages 10-14
Morris, Rudi, Ivan, and Beck are best friends for life. So when one of them is drafted into the Vietnam War, the others sign up, too—each with a different branch of the US military. Morris joins the US Navy, and he makes it his personal mission to watch over his friends from the USS Boston. But the Boston itself isn’t safe from attack. And although Morris means to keep his friends safe, he may have his hands full just watching out for himself.
World War II Book 1: The Right Fight By Chris Lynch for Ages 10-14
There are few things Roman loves as much as baseball, but his country is at the top of the list. So when the United States is swept up into World War II, he turns his back on baseball and joins the US Army. As it turns out, he is far more talented with a tank than he ever was with a baseball. And he is eager to drive his tank right into the field of battle, where the Army is up against the fearsome Nazis of the Afrika Korps. The North African terrain is like nothing Roman has ever known, and desert warfare proves brutal. As Roman drives his team deeper into disputed territory, one thing becomes very clear: Life in wartime is a whole new ball game.