With plenty of Fourth of July fireworks and cookouts coming right around the corner, the question, “Why do we celebrate Independence Day?” may come to mind. In honor of our nation’s birthday, First Book is featuring titles which highlight the history, heritage and uniqueness of America.

Discover America is a wonderful series created by the Encyclopædia Britannica which tours all fifty states, describing each state’s history, environment, culture, and people. The Fact Book which accompanies this series gives readers “Top 10” lists, maps and charts detailing various facts about the United States. This series is the ultimate tool for any research, report, or even just general fact-finding.

First Book would also like to highlight the Young Founders series. The Marketplace currently hosts three titles in the series each about the founding of Jamestown, the American Revolution, and the Civil War. These books delve into the gritty reality of living during tough times. In Son of Liberty: A Novel of the American Revolution, readers will come face-to-face with the role slavery plays in the war. The books in this series center around the experiences of young people living at the time of these historical events, making learning an adventure that readers share with the characters in the books.

Other titles for younger audiences can also be found on the First Book Marketplace. Peanuts: Here’s to You, America! and Wow! America! are both quirky stories riddled with historical as well as cultural information about our country. Kids will delight in discovering new and sometimes even strange facts about our past presidents in So You Want to Be President? These titles all make learning fun and effortless through colorful, comical trips through time.

So remember, before you reach for the hotdogs and s’mores, American Independence is something to be proud of. As for why we celebrate this day, all it takes is one looks at America’s history to see how unique a country it truly is.

All of these titles and more can be found on the First Book Marketplace at www.fbmarketplace.org.