Fiction shelves in library storage

School Resources

Recommended Children's Books

See our lists of biographies, fiction, nonfiction and textbooks on Colorado's history geared for kids.

Do you know we also sell books? Check out our selection here!

Also, teachers get a 10% discount at the History Colorado Center gift shop.

Along the Santa Fe Trail: Marion Russell’s Own Story by Ginger Wadsworth and Marion Sloan Russell (1993) - Grade level: 5.2

Andres Galarraga by Sue Boulais (1998) - Grade level: 3.9

Aunt Clara Brown: Official Pioneer by Linda Lowery Keep and Janice Lee Porter (1999) - Grade level: 3.1

The Barela Brand by Inez Hunt (1971)

Bob Sakata: American Farmer by Daniel Blegen (2009) - Level: Ages 9-12

Chipeta: Ute Peacemaker by Cynthia S. Becker (Cynthia Simmelink) (2008) - Level: Ages 9-12

Colorado Kids Dig Up the Past by Ronald C. Horn and Janice Christoff (1989)

Dottie Lamm: A Friend to Families by Emily B. Warner (2007) - Level: Ages 9-12

The Heroine of the Titanic: A Tale Both True and Otherwise of the Life of Molly Brown by Joan W. Blos and Tennessee Dixon (1991) - Grade level: 4.9

Justina Ford, Medical Pioneer by Joyce B. Lohse (Joyce Burke) (2004) - Level: Ages 9-12

Justina Lorena Ford, M.D.: Colorado’s First Black Woman Doctor by Wallace Yvonne Tollette (2005)

Justina’s Dream by Wallace Yvonne Tollette and Irvin Wheeler (2005)

Kit Carson: Mountain Man by Tracey Boraas (2003) - Grade level: 5.2

Lady of Taos by Richard L. Luna (1974)

Larry Walker by Tony (Anthony P.) DeMarco and Earl Weaver (1999) - Grade level: 6.3

Martha Maxwell: Natural History Pioneer by James McVey (2005)

Molly Brown: Sharing Her Good Fortune by Charnan Simon (2000) - Level: Ages 9-12

More than Petticoats: Remarkable Colorado Women by Gayle Corbett Shirley (2002)

One More Valley, One More Hill: The Story of Aunt Clara Brown by Linda Lowery Keep (2002) - Level: Ages 9-12

Patrick Roy, Champion Goalie by Morgan Hughes (1998) - Grade level: 5.9

Peter Forsberg by Meg Greene (1999) - Grade level: 7.7

Searching for Chipeta: The Story of a Ute and Her People by Vickie Leigh Krudwig (2004)

The Story of Blind Tom by Inez Hunt (1972)

The Story of Mr. Bristol and the Little Red Brick Schoolhouse by Inez Hunt (1971)

Tzedakah: A Story of the Woman in the Golden Dome by Inez Hunt (1973)

Zebulon Pike by Susan Sinnott (1990)

Zebulon Pike and the Explorers of the American Southwest by Jared Stallones (1992)

Zebulon Pike: Explorer of the Southwest by William R. (William Reynolds) Sanford and Carl R. Green (1996) - Grade level: 5.5

Zebulon Pike: Lost in the Rockies by Patricia Calvert (2003) - Grade level: 8.6

Adaline Falling Star by Mary Pope Osborne (2000)

Adventures in the West by Jane Valentine Barker and Sybil Downing (1979)

American Girl: Thanks to Nicki by Ann Howard Creel and Doron Ben-Ami (2007)

Avalanche! by Ron Roy (1981)

The Banshee Train by Odds Bodkin (1995) - Grades: K-3

The Barefoot Book of Giants, Ghosts and Goblins: Traditional Tales from around the World by John Matthews and Giovanni Manna (1999)

Bear Dancer: The Story of a Ute Girl by Thelma Hatch Wyss (2005) - Ages: 8-21

Beardance by Will Hobbs (1993)

Before the Wildflowers Bloom: A Novel by Tatyana Bylinsky (1989)

Behind the Mist by M. J. Evans (2011) - Ages: 12 and up

Blizzard: Estes Park, Colorado 1886 by Kathleen Duey and Sue Luxa (1998)

A Cabin in Cripple Creek by Sue Luxa (2004)

Camarasaurus and Other Dinosaurs of the Garden Park Digs in Colorado by Dougal Dixon, Steve Weston, and James Field (2009)

The Capitol Ghost Mystery by Michelle M. Barone and Tara McMillen (2008)

Carole Marsh Mysteries.  No. 13, The Mystery in the Rocky Mountains by Carole Marsh (2004)

Cheyenne Again by Eve Bunting (1995)

The Coach That Never Came by Patricia Beatty (1985) - Grades: 5-8

A Colorado Storytime: A Read-aloud Video for Preschoolers with Tips about Reading for Adults (2009)

Coyote Steals the Blanket: A Ute Tale by Janet Stevens (1993) - Grade level: 3.8

Crossing the Colorado Rockies, 1864 by Laurie Lawlor (1999)

Daisy, the Cripple Creek Donkey by Lyn Bezek (2004)

Death of the Iron Horse by Paul Goble (1986)

Denver Days by Sue Luxa (2004)

The Dragon of Cripple Creek: A Novel by Troy Howell (2011) - Ages: 8-12

Family Reminders by Julie Danneberg and John Shelley (2009) - Grade level: 4.8

The Gentleman Outlaw and Me—Eli: A Story of the Old West by Mary Downing Hahn (1996)

Gold Dust and Bullets by Florance Walton Taylor and William Granstaff (1962)

Good Night Denver by Susan Bouse (2007)

Gravel Gold by Harriet H. Carr and C. L. Hartman (1953)

The Great Turkey Walk by Kathleen Karr (1998) - Grade level: 4.5

Happy Harvest by Sybil Downing and Jane Valentine Barker (1978)

Hard Face Moon by Nancy Oswald (2008) - Grade level: 4.8

Hard Gold: The Colorado Gold Rush of 1859, A Tale of the Old West by Avi (2008) - Grade level: 4.1

Her Seven Brothers by Paul Goble (1993) - Grade level: 5.5

High as a Hawk: A Brave Girl’s Historic Climb by T. A. Barron and Ted Lewin (2004) - Grade level: 3.1

Horse Raid by Susan Korman and Bill Farnsworth (1998)

In the Heart of the Rockies: A Story of Adventure in Colorado by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty and G. C. Hindley (1998)

The Leanin’ Dog by K. A. Nuzum (2008)

Little Fox’s Secret: The Mystery of Bent’s Fort by Mary Peace Finley and Martha Jane Spurlock (1999)

Magic, Mystery, and Monsters by Sybil Downing and Jane Valentine Barker (1979)

Margaret’s Magnificent Colorado Adventure by Julie Danneberg and Ian Paton (1999)

Me, the Tree by Ann Louise Ramsey (2006)

Melinda Takes a Hand by Patricia Beatty (1983) - Grades: 5-9

Mountain Treasures by Jane Valentine Barker and Sybil Downing (1978)

Much Ado about Grubstake by Jean Ferris (2006)

Nelly’s Silver Mine: A Story of Colorado Life by Helen Hunt Jackson (1949)

The Night the Grandfathers Danced by Linda Theresa Raczek and Katalin Olah Ehling (1995)

Nothing Here But Stones: A Jewish Pioneer Story by Nancy Oswald (2004) - Grade level: 5.0

One Golden Summer by Sue Luxa (2004)

Out of the Ordinary by Michelle M. Barone (2005)

The Peerless Dulcinea by Susanna Lohse (2006)

Peril on Longs Peak: Rocky Mountain National Park by Mike Graf (2010)

Prairie Grace by Marilyn Bay Wentz (2013)

Prairie School by Avi (2003) - Grade level: 3.4

Ribbon the Border Collie: From Herder to Healer by Lyn Bezek and Su Hand (2008)

Ricky Rafts the Royal Gorge by Jeffrey Keller and Christopher Gilman (2008)

A Right Fine Life: Kit Carson on the Santa Fe Trail by Andrew Glass (1997) - Grade level: 3.2

Riddle in the Mountain by Daryl Burkhard (2005) - Grade level: 5.0

The Secret School by Avi (2003) - Grade level: 4.1

Settling Down by Sybil Downing and Jane Valentine Barker (1979)

Seven Days in Colorado: With Mom and Grandma by Belina Nassi Fruitman and Felicia Leirner (2008)

Silver Dollar Girl by Katherine Ayres (2002) - Grade level: 5.1

Soaring Eagle by Finley, Mary Peace (1993)

Timberline Hound by Martha Miller Pfaff Ivan  and Brinton Turkle (1963)

Trappers, Trains & Mining Claims: Colorado History Stories for the Elementary Level by Sam Simonetta and Linda Simonetta (1976)

The Tree in the Trail by Holling Clancy Holling (1990) - Grade level: 4.8

Tulip Sees America by Cynthia Rylant and Lisa Desimini (1998)

All Aboard! A True Train Story by Susan Kuklin (2003)

All on a Mountain Day by Aileen Fisher (1956)

The Anasazi Culture at Mesa Verde by Sabrina Crewe and Dale Anderson (2003)

The Ancient Cliff Dwellers of Mesa Verde by Caroline Arnold and Richard Hewett (1992)

The Arapaho by Raymond Bial by (2004)

The Arapaho by Christin Ditchfield (2005)

The Arapaho by Loretta Fowler (1989)

Arapaho by Marla Felkins Ryan and Linda Schmittroth by (2004)

The Arapaho and Their History by Natalie M. (Natalie Myra) Rosinsky (2005)

The Arapaho: Hunters of the Great Plains by Karen Bush Gibson (2003)

The Arapaho Indians by Vicki Haluska (1993)

Avalanche by Gary Olson (1996)

Boom and Bust by Anna-Maria Crum (2003)

A Braid of Lives: Native American Childhood by Neil Philip (2000)

Buffalo Hunt by Russell Freedman (1988)

C Is for Centennial: A Colorado Alphabet by Louise Doak Whitney (2002)

C Is for Colorado by Gayle Corbett Shirley and Constance Rummel Bergum (1989)

Camarasaurus and Other Dinosaurs of the Garden Park Digs in Colorado by Dougal Dixon, Steve Weston, and James Field (2009)

Catastrophic Colorado! The History and Science of Our Natural Disasters by Lisa Gardiner (2006)

Cattle in Colorado History (1984)

The Cheyenne by Raymond Bial (2001)

The Cheyenne by Kevin Cunningham and Peter Benoit (2011)

The Cheyenne by Dennis B. Fradin (1988)

The Cheyenne by Richard Gaines (2000)

The Cheyenne by Allison Lassieur (2001)

The Cheyenne by Arthur Myers (1992)

The Cheyenne by Petra Press (2002)

The Cheyenne by Gwen Remington (2001)

The Cheyenne by Andrew Santella (2002)

The Cheyenne: Hunter Gatherers of the Northern Plains by Mary Englar (2004)

The Cheyenne Indians by Liz Sonneborn (1992)

The Cheyennes by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve (1996)

The Cheyennes: People of the Plains by Nancy Bonvillain (1996)

City Foxes by Wendy Shattil and Susan J. Tweit (1997)

Colorado by Linda Jacobs Altman (2010)

Colorado by Eleanor H. Ayer (1997)

Colorado by Jean F. Blashfield (1999)

Colorado by Sara Bledsoe (2002)

Colorado (Capstone Press, Geography Dept., 2003)

Colorado by Carpenter Allan (1978)

Colorado by Sandra J. Christian (2003)

Colorado by Kathleen W. Deady (2006)

Colorado by Stephen Feinstein (2003)

Colorado by Dennis B. Fradin (1993)

Colorado by Ann Heinrichs (2006)

Colorado by Ann Heinrichs (2003)

Colorado by Krista McLuskey (2011)

Colorado by Amy Miller (2009)

Colorado by Jim Ollhoff (2010)

Colorado by Tamra Orr (2003)

Colorado: Grassroots by Cynthia Schmidt and Virginia Brew (1989)

Colorado by Barbara A. Somervill (2008)

The Colorado Avalanche by Mark Stewart (2011)

The Colorado Chronicles by Eleanor H. Ayer (1980)

Colorado Citizen by Harold Seth Lindbloom (1966)

Colorado Facts and Symbols by Emily McAuliffe (2003)

Colorado History: Creative Activities for Curious Kids by Phyllis Jean Perry (1994)

Colorado History for Kids by Linda Wommack (1992)

Colorado in Words and Pictures by Dennis B. Fradin, Richard Wahl, and Len W. Meents (1980)

Colorado: My First Pocket Guide by Carole Marsh (2001)

Colorado Kids: A Statewide Family Outdoor Adventure Guide by Linda Collison and Bob Russell (1997)

Colorado: Our Colorful State by Duane A. Smith and Kate Shuchter (1999)

Colorado: Past and Present by Bridget Heos (2011)

Colorado Rockies by Bob Italia and Paul Joseph (1997)

Colorado: The Centennial State by Megan Elias (2002)

Colorado: The Centennial State by Jason Glaser (2010)

Colorado: The Highest State by Thomas J. (Thomas Jacob) Noel and Duane A. Smith (2011)

Colorado, Your State and Mine by Glen H. Phillips (1962)

Columbine School Shootings by Jenny Mackay (2010) - Grade level: 8th and up

Denver, Colorado by Josie Corning (1989)

The Denver Nuggets by Mark Stewart and Matt Zeysing (2009)

Dinosaur Mountain: Digging into the Jurassic Age by Deborah Kogan Ray (2010)

Discovering Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region by Dorothy Dutton and Caryl Humphries (2005)

Discovering Denver: The Mile High Community by Dorothy Dutton and Caryl Humphries (2002)

Explore Colorado, Kid Style by Abby N. Adam and others (1990)

Flying with the Eagle, Racing the Great Bear: Stories from Native North America by Joseph Bruchac (1993)

Friday the Arapaho Boy: A Story from History by Marc Simmons (2004)

Fun and Simple Southwestern State Crafts: Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona by June Ponte (2009)

Geography of Colorado by Joy Clapp (1967)

Giant Dinosaurs of the Jurassic by Gregory C. Wenzel (2004)

Good Night Denver by Susan Bouse (2007)

Grandmother’s Adobe Dollhouse by MaryLou M. Smith (1984)

Growing Up Indian by Evelyn Wolfson (1986)

A Historical Album of Colorado by Charles Wills (1996)

How to Draw Colorado’s Sights and Symbols by Jennifer Quasha (2002)

Hiking through Colorado History by Vickie Leigh Krudwig (1998)

The History of the Colorado Rockies by Michael Welch (1998)

Holding the Reins: A Ride through Cowgirl Life by Mark Talbert (2003)

How We Saw the World: Nine Native Stories of the Way Things Began by C. J. (Carrie J.) Taylor (1993)

I Live in Denver: A Guided Tour of Denver’s Past and Present by Elizabeth Nelson (2002)

Kids Go! Denver: A Fun-Filled, Fact-Packed Travel & Activity Book by Kelly Milner Halls (1996)

A Kid’s Guide to Colorado Mining Towns by Sandra Hageboeck and Sandra Smith (1990)

A Kid’s Look at Colorado by Phyllis Jean Perry (2005)

The Ludlow Massacre of 1913-14 by Rosemary Laughlin (2006)

Mesa Verde by Mary Quigley (2006)

The Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellers: An Isabel Soto Archaeology Adventure by Terry Collins (2010)

Mesa Verde National Park by David Petersen (1992)

Miles Grand Adventure A to Z:  The Denver Bronco’s Mascot’s A-to-Z Journey around Colorado by James Merilatt, Tamara Frainier, and Kyle Malone (2004)

Mountain Men of the West by James Burger (2002) - Grade level: 5.8

Mountain Town by Bonnie Geisert and Arthur Geisert (2000) - Grade level: 3.4

Native American History for Kids: With 21 Activities by Karen Bush Gibson (2010)

Native Americans by Ute Fuhr, Raoul Sautai, and Juenesse Gallimard (1998)

Native Americans and Mesa Verde by Hazel Martell (1993)

On the Trail of Colorado Critters: Wildlife-Watching for Kids by Mary Taylor Young (2000)

Our Colorado by Maude Linstrom Frandsen (1953)

A Personal Tour of Mesa Verde by Robert Young (1999)

Pigs over Colorado by Kerry Lee MacLean (1997)

Pigs over Colorado Past by Kerry Lee MacLean (2002)

Projects about the Plains Indians by Marian Broida (2004)

A Rendezvous with Colorado History by Dorothy Dutton and Caryl Humphries (1999)

Rocky Mountain National Park by Ruth Radlauer and Rolf Zilmer (1977)

The Rocky Mountain Railroad & the Runaway Caboose: 1880 by Glenn Brooks (2003)

Santa Fe Trail Adventures: An Activity Book by Dave Webb (1999)

Seth of Colorado: A Story of the Settlement of Denver by James Otis and Neal A. Truslow (1912)

Sixty and Three on the Flying C by Maude Frandsen (1960)

Sod Houses on the Great Plains by Glen Rounds (1995)

The Southwest: Colorado, New Mexico, Texas by Thomas G. Aylesworth (1988)

Spooky America: Four Real Ghost Stories by Lori Haskins (2003)

Stones, Bones, and Petroglyphs: Digging into Southwest Archaeology, An Ultimate Field Trip by Susan E. Goodman and Michael J. Doolittle (2000)

The Story of the Colorado Rockies by Tyler Omoth (2008)

The Story of the Denver Nuggets by Nate LeBoutillier (2011)

Strike It Rich in Cripple Creek by Leni Donlan (2007) - Grade level: 2.1

Sweet Land of Story: Thirty-Six American Tales to Tell by Pleasant DeSpain (2000)

Tales, Trails, and Tommyknockers: Stories from Colorado’s Past by Myriam Friggens (1979)

Trade on the Taos Mountain Trail by Deborah Martinez Martinez (2010)

The Treeless Plains by Glen Rounds (1967)

Uniquely Colorado by Larry Bograd (2003)

USKids History: Book of the American Indians by Marlene Smith-Baranzini and Howard Egger-Bovet (1994)

The Ute by Kevin Cunningham and Peter Benoit (2011)

Ute by Barbara A. Gray-Kanatiiosh (2004)

Ute by Marla Felkins Ryan and Linda Schmittroth (2003)

The Utes by Alice K. Flanagan (1998)

The Utes by Allison Lassieur (2002)

What Do We Know about the Plains Indians? by Colin F. Taylor (1993)

When Mountain Men Trapped Beaver by Richard Glendinning (1979)

Where Indians Live: American Indian Houses by Nashone (1989)

Who Pooped in the Park? Rocky Mountain National Park by Gary D. Robson and Elijah Brady Clark (2005)

The Wildwatch Book: Ideas, Activities, and Projects for Exploring Colorado’s Front Range by Ann Cooper, Carol Kampert, and Ann Armstrong (1990)

Winter’s Orphans: The Search for a Family of Mountain Lion Cubs: A True Story by Robert C. Farentinos (1993)

Colorado by Kathleen Thompson (1996)

Colorado by Cynthia Walker (2004)

Colorado: A History of the Centennial State by Carl Abbott, Stephen J. Leonard, and Thomas J. Noel (2005)

Colorado: Crossroads of the West by Matthew T. Downey and Fay T. Metcalf (1999)

Discover Colorado: It’s People, Places, and Times by Matthew T. Downey and Ty Bliss (2007)

Enduring Legacies: Ethnic Histories and Cultures of Colorado by Arturo Aldama and others (2011)

My Colorado by William Virden and Mary Borg (2001)

Park County: Where History Is Still Alive by Linda Balough

The Colorado Story by Debra Faulkner and Thomas Noel (2011) - Grade Level: 4