The Ultimate List of Children's Books About Delaware

Keep Reading for 20 Children’s Books about Delaware!

Studying the States this year? Looking to start with Delaware, the first state? This post has 20 Delaware unit study books that will rock your homeschool!

Being a proponent of literature-based curriculum, I start my research for any topic we are studying with a good book list. My kids told me they wanted to study the United States, so we started our state unit study with the first state, Delaware.

Learning about the 50 states is more than memorizing its state bird and memorizing all the state capitals. It’s about emerging yourself in the topic with something called living books. Charlotte Mason originally coined the term which means books that make the subject you are studying come alive and are written by people who love the subject.

ICYMI, click HERE for all the other state book lists!

Delaware History and Facts

Delaware is nicknamed The First State because it was the first state to ratify the United States Constitution.
The Delaware state motto is “liberty and independence.”
Delaware became a state on December 7, 1787. It was the first state.
Dover is the capital of Delaware.
Delaware was named in honor of Sir Thomas West (Lord De La Warr), the first colonial governor of the Virginia.
The state Bird is the blue hen chicken and the state flower is the peach blossom.

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Descriptions come from Amazon; some are edited for length

Living Books about Delaware

I have included books for various reading levels and age groups. As homeschooling families we are often teaching different ages and educational levels. Literature-based curriculum is a wonderful way to include all ages in the subject matter you are studying.

Picture Books about Delaware

Blue Chicken by Deborah Freedman

In honor of the state bird of Delaware, the blue hen chicken, check out this adorable book by Deborah Freedman. “In this deceptively simple picture book, author-illustrator Deborah Freedman has created an irresistible character that springs to life and wreaks havoc in a farmyard with a pot of blue paint. The innocent chicken just wants to help, but things get worse and worse-and bluer and bluer–the more she tries.”

Just Grandma and Me by Mercer Mayer

Spend the day at the beach, something Delaware is known for, with Critter and his Grandma “in this classic, funny, and heartwarming book.”

F is for First State by Carol Crane

“As the first state to ratify the United States Constitution, Delaware rightfully earned its nickname of “First State.” Though small in size, it is a treasure trove of history (Fort Delaware), inventions (the Victrola), and garden wonders (Winterthur). State symbols such as the Blue Hen Chicken and peach blossom speak to the character and traditions that formed the state.”

This series of books called Discover America State By State are some of my favorites for introducing a state to kids. Each letter states a fact or a thing about that state. For example, for Delaware letter A is for American holly tree and the letter B is for Blue hen chicken and so on. Each letter comes with a four line rhyme about that respective letter’s fact or subject. What I love most is on the side of the page it gives more in-depth description about each subject. It’s a great jumping off point for what sparks an interest in your child!

Horseshoe Crabs and Shorebirds by Victoria Crensen

“Each spring, hundreds of thousands of horseshoe crabs crawl from the bottom of Delaware Bay to lay their eggs on the beaches. The salty eggs provide a feast for scavenging coastal animals. But more are eaten by the flocks of shorebirds that stop to rest and feed each spring while flying north from their homes in South America. Illuminated with warm, detailed watercolors, Horseshoe Crabs and Shorebirds demonstrates the delicate relationship between these animals and is an excellent resource for ecology lessons, as well as a dramatic storybook for sharing.”

High Tide for Horseshoe Crabs by Lisa Kahn Schnel

“Horseshoe crabs, shorebirds, and humans converge in a frenzy of activity. Every spring millions of horseshoe crabs crawl to the beaches of Delaware Bay to lay their eggs. But they aren’t the only ones crowding ashore. Flocks of shorebirds migrating north from South America stop to feed on the horseshoe crab eggs. People also flock to the scene. Scientists and tourists turn out to see the spectacle and learn more about the creatures that call this habitat home for a few weeks. Alan Marks’ gorgeous paintings bring the reader down to the shoreline to observe this exciting annual event that interconnects species in a web of life and an ancient food chain.”

Red Knot: A Shorebird’s Incredible Journey by Nancy Willis

“Narrated in journal entries from the point of view of a red knot, a robin-sized shore bird that migrates from the tip of South America to the Arctic Circle and back. This book depicts one such dramatic journey. It has stunningly detailed colored-pencil illustrations of the flight over the Atlantic Ocean, a landing in Delaware Bay, the northern nesting grounds, chicks feeding on hatching insects, a close call with an arctic fox, and the return home.”

Books about Delaware History

Caesar Rodney’s Ride by Jan Cheripko

“On the afternoon of July 1, 1776, Caesar Rodney received a letter from a fellow Delaware delegate urging him to return to Philadelphia at once. The congress was on the verge of casting the vote for independence. Battling bad weather and physical handicaps, Caesar Rodney embarked on a journey that would change the course of history. Here is the dramatic story of that ride, set against the extraordinary events of July 1776, with the remarkable men who shaped them.”

When Washington Crossed the Delaware by Lynn Cheney

“Christmas night, 1776, was a troubled time for our young country. In the six months since the Declaration of Independence had been signed, General George Washington and his troops had suffered defeat after defeat at the hands of the British. It looked as though our struggle for independence might be doomed, when Washington made a bold decision. He would lead the main body of his army across the Delaware River and launch a surprise attack on enemy forces.”

The Crossing: How George Washington Saved the American Revolution by Jim Murphy

“In this breathtaking account of a pivotal time in the American Revolution, two-time Newbery Honor Book author Jim Murphy shows George Washington’s transformation from a gentleman farmer with little military experience to a brilliant general. Washington delivers the country from the blackest of times into the brightest of futures.”

The Great Explosion: A Powder Mill Chronicle by Ilona E Holland

“Fire, falling timbers, and flying debris test the courage of the du Pont children as they race from their home to escape an explosion at their family’s powder mill. Another blast could happen any minute! Share the children’s adventure as they make their way to safety. Based on true events, this book combines fact with fiction to provide an exciting glimpse into life at Eleutherian Mills in 1818.”

Books Set in Delaware

Red Bird by Barbara Mitchell

Red Bird is a picture by Barbara Mitchell about Katie, also known as Red Bird. She “joins her family at the annual powwow in southern Delaware. Here they celebrate their Nanticoke heritage with music, dancing, and special foods.”

Hill Hawk Hattie by Clara Gillow Clark

“The year is 1883, Hattie’s ma has died. Hattie thinks things can’t get any worse, but Pa stops calling her ‘girl’ altogether and wants her to dress as a boy and help him on his next river-rafting trip, shipping logs down the dangerous Delaware. On the angry river, Hattie’s pluck is tested as she fields Pa’s criticism, plunges over waterfalls, and tries to keep the river men from discovering her secret.”

A Light in the Storm by Karen Hesse

“Captures the emotions of a young Union girl who struggles to make sense of her shattered world as she lives in a state of harsh division during the first year of the Civil War.”

The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter

“When John Cameron Butler was a child, he was captured in a raid on the Pennsylvania frontier and adopted by the great Lenape warrior Cuyloga. Renamed True Son, he came to think of himself as fully Indian. But eleven years later his tribe has signed a treaty with the white men and agreed to return their captives, including fifteen-year-old True Son. Now he must go back to the family he has forgotten, whose language is no longer his, and whose ways of dress and behavior are as strange to him as the ways of the forest are to them.”

The Rescue Begins in Delaware by Cheri Pray Earl and Carol Lynch Williams

“George and Gracie begin their adventure in Dover, Delaware 1776. The kids are surprised to discover that one of them changes into an animal every time they travel, and this time Gracie is a horse. All the twins want to do is return a pair of antique school desks and search for their parents. But instead they find themselves in the middle of the American Revolution and end up helping Caesar Rodney make his famous ride into Philadelphia to vote “yes” for the Declaration of Independence.”

Standing in the Light by Mary Pope Osbourne

“Catharine Carey Logan and her family have enjoyed a peaceful and prosperous life as the Quakers and Delaware Indians share a mutually trusting relationship. Recently, however, this friendship has been threatened by violence against the Indians. Then, Catharine and her brother are taken captive by the Lenape in retaliation. At first, Catharine is afraid of her captors. But when a handsome brave begins to teach her about the ways of the Lenape, she comes to see that all people share the same joys, hopes, and fears.”

Young Adult Literature Set in Delaware

Water Rat by Marnie Laird

“In 1748 fourteen-year-old Matt, orphaned, crippled, teased by other boys and abused by the man he works for, seeks refuge with a surgeon’s family and finds that he is well-equipped to help protect them from pirates on Delaware Bay.”

Books by a Delaware Famous Author

Author Howard Pyle was a native of Wilmington, Delaware. Men of Iron is a chapter better suited for younger readers and Merry Adventures of Robin Hood is more for advanced readers. But I have linked an abridged version also!

Men of Iron by Howard Pyle

“Men of Iron is an 1891 novel by the American author Howard Pyle, who also illustrated it. It is juvenile coming of age work in which the author has the reader experience the medieval entry into knighthood through the eyes of a young squire, Myles Falworth.”

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle

“Pyle takes the reader along with Robin Hood and his band on their merry adventures. The story of all the exploits of Robin Hood. Including his band of merrymen: Little John, Will Scarlet, and Allan-a-Dale. How they came to join the band; how Robin Hood escaped the grim Sheriff of Nottingham, the tale of Little John as a barefoot friar, and Robin Hood as a beggar.”

Abridged Merry Adventures of Robin Hood Great (Classic Starts)

“Robin Hood robbed from the rich and gave to the poor, and had escapades enough to please any adventure-loving child. Now even the youngest readers can have the chance to enter Sherwood Forest with Robin’s band of merry men, and meet such unforgettable characters as Friar Tuck, Little John, Allan-a-Dale, the nasty Sheriff of Nottingham, and wicked King John. Every moment of the story is filled with action and excitement.”

Books set In Delaware (for Mom!)

I love to read, and I love a good theme or challenge for a reading list. So my final two books on this Delaware book list are one adult fiction and one adult non-fiction!

Fiction Book Set in Delaware

The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez

“When fifteen-year-old Maribel Rivera sustains a terrible injury, the Riveras leave behind a comfortable life in Mexico and risk everything to come to the United States so that Maribel can have the care she needs. Once they arrive, it’s not long before Maribel attracts the attention of Mayor Toro, the son of one of their new neighbors, who sees a kindred spirit in this beautiful, damaged outsider. Their love story sets in motion events that will have profound repercussions for everyone involved.”

Nonfiction Book Set in Delaware

And Never Let Her Go : Thomas Capano: The Deadly Seducer by Ann Rule

“A chilling account of the Thomas Capano affair. It takes readers into the mind of a successful lawyer and political advisor who murdered his lover, the secretary to the governor of Delaware.”

These 20 books relating to our first state have something for everyone. From birds to the beach and from George Washington to the Civil War, this book list has endless possibilities for a literature-based curriculum about the state of Delaware.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the states!

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