Celebrate the broad diversity of cultures and backgrounds that make up “we the people of the United States” with this uplifting new picture book. It starts with the opening lines of the Constitution and expands into all the people near and far, across different states, professions, religions, and ancestries, that the Constitution represents. It’s a beautiful way to teach kids about the importance of the Constitution and working together to form a more perfect union.

This gorgeously illustrated picture book is written from the perspective of a teacher grappling with how to introduce her students to the heavier parts of American history. Through her lesson, we travel from an African village to the transatlantic slave trade to the fight for freedom in this powerful story that balances violence and fear with power and hope. Kwame Alexander is one of today’s most prolific authors of children’s literature, and artist Dare Coulter pairs his words with images crafted with ceramics, acrylics, charcoal, spray paint, and more.

Over its 250-year history, the U.S. has always been shaped by the contributions of Asian Americans. This picture book highlights 18 Asian American changemakers across fields like music, art, fashion, politics, science, and sports. Each figure gets a one-line bio in the main narrative and a colorful page illustrated by a different Asian American artist, with lengthier biographies included at the end for a deeper dive into their legacies.

One of the most important lessons for kids to learn about American history is that their voices matter, and if they want to fight for a just and free democracy, they must learn to use it. This picture book tells the inspiring story of the 1963 Children’s March in Birmingham and its role in the Civil Rights Movement. It’s never too early to learn about the power of protest and how children can change the world.

While men have had a voice in American democracy since 1776, women had to fight for over a hundred years before winning the same right. This picture book by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand highlights women like Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, Ida B. Wells, and Alice Paul, who organized tirelessly for women’s rights. It’s a vital piece of the American story and the ongoing fight for equal rights.

A must-read history looking back centuries before 1776, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz’s enlightening book An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States is also available in an edition for young readers. It’s a fascinating exploration of the nation’s history before the arrival of white Europeans and of how Native Americans have resisted colonization and fought for their rights.

Clint Smith’s bestselling adult history book How the Word is Passed investigates how the nation’s monuments, memorials, landmarks, and historical sites shape our collective memory in often limited ways, especially when it comes to slavery. With the help of Sonja Cherry-Paul, it’s now been adapted to help younger readers grapple with the truth of the country’s past. It brilliantly invites readers to stop and look a little closer at reminders of American history hidden around them in plain sight.

Full of heart, humor, hope, and multihued illustrations, this book pairs tips for activism with the history of Asian Americans fighting for justice and freedom. From Chinese laborers during the Gold Rush to Filipino sugar cane agricultural workers in Hawaii to Japanese American internment during WWII, the story of U.S. history is a story of immigrants. Asian Americans have played a huge role in shaping our nation’s infrastructure and culture, and Kristina Wong and the Radical Cram School team inspire the next generation to lead us into the future.

This vibrant book created by the Smithsonian Latino Center showcases 30 Latine icons who shaped the United States we know today, from Dolores Huerta to Sonia Sotomayor to Lin-Manuel Miranda. With colorful full-page illustrations and a wide range of engaging history, it’s a great addition to any school or young person’s library.

The history of labor organizing is central to American values of equality, democracy, and leadership. Teen Vogue columnist Kim Kelly is excellent at energizing young people in the labor rights movement. In Fight to Win!, she introduces some of the most influential but under-recognized organizers and activists who fought for the hard-won rights workers have today. And along the way, she inspires today’s youth to take up the fight for the next generation.