Presidents’ Day reminds us to appreciate those great presidents that sacrificed much to help keep our wonderful country free and strong. Here are some of the newest and most outstanding books on the subject. All of these books are good for all ages.

Presidents’ Day, by Anne Rockwell, and illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell, is a simple picture book that showcases four of our great presidents: the presidents featured on Mount Rushmore. The major contributions that each president helped give our country are portrayed through modern-day students and showcased in a class play.

Since Abraham Lincoln is one of the main presidents celebrated during this holiday period, here are three books that are about him, or the Civil War.  My Brother Abe: Sally Lincoln’s Story, by Harry Mazer, is now in paperback and was a book I reviewed about this same time last year. This insightful historical fiction account of Lincoln and his older sister as kids growing up in poor and difficult circumstances will surely enlighten readers and provide more understanding of who our 16^th president was and what shaped him into the man he became. One of my all-time favorite non-fiction writers is award-winner Jim Murphy. A Savage Thunder: Antietam and the Bloody Road to Freedom, is a detailed account of when two great Civil War armies met head-to-head with each other across a small creek by the name of Antietam. What resulted became the worst bloodshed of the war and the turning point for propelling the Emancipation Proclamation. As with all of Murphy’s other books, there are photos, drawings and maps throughout, making this a well documented and interesting historical read. Ann Rinaldi is one of the most engaging historical novelists and her newest book, Leigh Ann’s Civil War, doesn’t disappoint. Leigh Ann lives and works at her family’s cotton mill in Georgia, but when the Yankees overtake the area, she is sent, along with other members of her family, up north as traitors. She must find inner strength to survive. This book is geared for ages 10 and up.

Battle Box:  Revolutionary War is actually a box that is filled with paraphernalia that includes a beautifully illustrated paperbound book with colorful illustrations, maps and renderings and important battles of America’s first war. There are also replicas of the “Declaration of Independence”, strategic maps, a cloth flag, copies of stamps from the Stamp Act and more. Here is a box that brings the importance and significance of this war to the forefront.

Imogene’s Last Stand, by Candace Fleming, and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter, is a wonderful celebration of the importance of history. Young Imogene’s first words were “Four score and seven years ago.” And from these words her life is centered in historical facts. But when the mayor is about to tear down the town’s Historical Society building, she parades through the streets in her Paul Revere costume yelling, “The bulldozers are coming, the bulldozers are coming.” The story is full of humor, historical quotations and the endpapers are filled famous historical figures.

The Slightly Odd United States of America: Wacky Facts, Great Country, by the editors of Klutz, will truly take readers on a trip throughout our great country with information that is fun, funny and informative. This imaginative road trip is interactive and great fun resulting in a high probability that you’ll remember locations and highlights of each state verbatim.

The next two books celebrate American soldiers in current warfare. Letters to a Soldier, by First Lieutenant David Falvey, and Mrs. Julie Hutt’s fourth grade class, showcases correspondence between a school class in Long Island, NY and a soldier serving in Iraq during 2008. On one side is the class letter with questions and on the opposite side of the open-page spread is Falvey’s response. The class asks questions about Falvey’s welfare and conditions in the climate, weather and life in this far away country. The response letters are pertinent to 9 year old children and avoids the horrors of war. There are also children’s drawings as well as photographs of Iraq and the class.

Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle, by Major Brian Dennis, Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery, tells the story of how the strong bond of love between man and dog overcomes difficulties during wartime. Major Dennis encounters a mongrel that he names Nubs, who is part of a pack of wild dogs. He befriends him, feeds and shelters him, then ultimately has to leave him when he is suddenly re-assigned 70 miles away. Nubs travels through war torn desert to become reunited with Dennis and is injured along the way. But upon arrival, Dennis is ordered to get rid of the dog as pets aren’t allowed. But the Major and his buddies raise money to transport Nubs to his home in America. This is a wonderful read-aloud with full-page photos of the Major and his dog in Iraq, and ultimately in America.

I want to end this patriotic review with a book that demonstrates to American children all that we have and often take for granted. Nasreen’s Secret School:  A True Story from Afghanistan, by Jeanette Winter, is a most amazing story about young Nasreen who hasn’t spoken since both of her parents disappeared. Her dear grandmother is worried about her and risks her life to enroll Nasreen in a secret school located in a home. She desires that Nasreen learn about the world and make friends and hopefully find joy and talk once again. The fact that girls are forbidden to leave their homes and become educated, along with the difficulties of this war ravaged country, should bring much appreciation of the tremendous advantages we experience here in America. While in this school, Nasreen’s life and speech is about to change for the better.