The books our family read before our Boston & New England trip

Explore the United States: Massachusetts by Julie Murray
For a nonfiction text about Massachusetts, this one is actually really great! My girls really loved this photo-filled book full of fascinating facts, and a special “Tour Book” section full of kid-friendly activities. It was such a great resource to learn about the state’s history, landmarks, and wildlife.

Books About Boston

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
This is a Newbery winner that I remember SO WELL from my own childhood – I’m still a little bit in mourning about Johnny’s accident! We listened to this story about a young silversmith apprentice who finds his future altered overnight by a tragic accident but discovers new meaning as he gets involved with the Sons of Liberty.

Leah Braves the Flood by Julie Kathleen Gilbert
Another quick read aloud before our Boston trip. I didn’t know anything about this historical event! It follows Leah, who dreams of escaping Boston’s crowded North End for a better life out west – until a deadly molasses explosion shatters everything and forces her to fight for survival.

The Freedom Trail by Joanne Mattern
When planning our Boston trip, I knew we had to walk the Freedom Trail – a 2.5-mile route that takes you through 16 historic sites! This book was the perfect way to prepare, helping us see and understand so much along the way. It’s quick read!

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
I’ve loved this Caldecott winner my entire life and the story of two ducks who find a place in Boston to raise their little brood of ducklings just makes the whole world feel like springtime to me, even with it’s single-color illustrations. Shockingly, my two youngest girls didn’t remember this book at all!

Books About the Isabella Stewart Garden Museum

Edgar Degas (Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists) by Mike Venezia
Speaking of the infamous Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist, five of the thirteen stolen masterpieces were by Degas—and it was fascinating to learn more about his life and recognize his distinctive artistic style.

Books About Walden Pond

The Trouble with Henry: A Tale of Walden Pond by Deborah O’Neal, Angela Westengard and S.D. Schindler
This biographical picture book was such a fun way to learn about Henry David Thoreau and Walden Pond—showing how he chose nature and simplicity over Concord’s fancy fashions and factories.

Henry David’s House by Henry David Thoreau, Steven Schnur, and Peter Fiore
Beautifully illustrated and drawn from Thoreau’s own words, this book shares his first year at Walden Pond. It’s perfect for older children or adults who love nature, offering an inspiring glimpse into the life of this quietly influential American icon.

Thoreau at Walden by John Porcellino
If you are looking for something that is in a graphic novel format – this one is lovely! Thoreau’s profound words with Porcellino’s sweet and simple illustrations combine for a really great read.

Books About Orchard House

Pilgrim Cat by Carol Antoinette Peacock and Doris Ettlinger
When young Pilgrim Faith Barrett finds a stray cat on the Mayflower, she names her new friend Pounce, and together they face the long voyage and the challenges of Plymouth’s first winter. I’ve never been much of an animal person, but I was completely charmed by this little Pilgrim cat, and my girls were absolutely obsessed!

The Mayflower: The Perilous Voyage that Changed the World by Libby Romero
For our trip, we loved reading this beautifully illustrated nonfiction storybook that brings the Mayflower’s voyage to life. It introduces the pilgrims, their journey across the Atlantic, life on board, and their first winter in Massachusetts, blending real history with stunning diagrams and maps. It’s a captivating way to explore the true story behind one of America’s most famous adventures.

Plymouth Rock by Nel Yomtov
Can you really go to Massachusetts without checking out Plymouth Rock? We really enjoyed this book that digs into the real story behind Plymouth Rock. It doesn’t just tell the Pilgrims’ side – it explores what their arrival meant for the Wampanoag people, the ripple effects of their first encounters, and how a simple seaside rock became such an iconic symbol. My girls were totally hooked, and it made history feel alive and full of surprises!

My Journey Aboard the Mayflower by Max Caswell
If there is one book that brings the life on the Mayflower to life for my girls – it was this one that follows an 8-year-old girl aboard the Mayflower. It mixes her fictional journal with carefully researched history. With maps, illustrations, and fact-filled sidebars on every page, it brings the voyage, and life in a brand-new world, to life in a way that’s both exciting and impossible to put down.

If You Were a Kid on the Mayflower by John Son
This book was such a blast! Join Hope and Theodore as they set sail on the Mayflower, experiencing life aboard the ship, braving the dangers of the sea, and dreaming of a new home in North America where they could practice their religion freely.