Books like Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass

If you liked Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, read Children of the Great Depression, Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery, or The Story of Mankind — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass by Russell Freedman (Juvenile Nonfiction · grades 3–7)? The 10 titles below are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level, and each linked to the curricula, states, and grades where it’s assigned, with primary sources.

These are reading-level matches, not just topical ones — so the picks stay grade-appropriate for a grades 3–7 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass

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Why each is a match

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Children of the Great Depressiongrades 4–10
Is by Russell Freedman, the same author and overlapping grades (4–10). Amazon → books like this →
Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discoverygrades 4–10
Is by Russell Freedman, the same author and overlapping grades (4–10). Amazon → books like this →
The Story of Mankindgrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Nonfiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
The Glorious Flightgrades K–3
Same genre (Juvenile Nonfiction), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (1980s). Amazon → books like this →
A Visit to William Blake's Inngrades K–5
Both on the Newbery Medal list, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (1980s). Amazon → books like this →
Baboushka and the Three Kingsgrades K–3
Same genre (Juvenile Nonfiction) and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Cactus Queen: Minerva Hoyt Establishes Joshua Tree National Parkgrades 2–3
Same genre (Juvenile Nonfiction) and overlapping grades (2–3). Amazon → books like this →
Dear Dad: Growing Up With a Parent in Prison - And How We Stayed Connectedgrades 4–5
Same genre (Juvenile Nonfiction) and overlapping grades (4–5). Amazon → books like this →
Dear Mr. Henshawgrades 4–6
Both on the Newbery Medal list, overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (1980s). Amazon → books like this →
Dicey's Songgrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (1980s). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass for younger readers (K–2)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps K–2— same scoring, different audience.

  • Forests by Nell Cross Beckerman · grades 2–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Nonfiction) and overlapping grades (2–3).
  • Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Nonfiction) and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Out of Wonder by Kwame Alexander · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Nonfiction) and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • R-E-S-P-E-C-T by Carole Boston Weatherford · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Nonfiction) and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Nonfiction) and overlapping grades (K–3).

Books like Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 3–5— same scoring, different audience.

  • Forests by Nell Cross Beckerman · grades 2–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Nonfiction) and overlapping grades (2–3).
  • Is It Real?: The Loch Ness Monster by Candace Fleming · grades 4–5 — Same genre (Juvenile Nonfiction) and overlapping grades (4–5).
  • Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (1980s).
  • Joyful Noise by Paul Fleischman · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (1980s).
  • Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Nonfiction) and overlapping grades (K–3).

Books like Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass for middle school (grades 6–8)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 6–8— same scoring, different audience.

  • Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (1980s).
  • Joyful Noise by Paul Fleischman · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (1980s).
  • Maid for It by Jamie Sumner · grades 6–8 — Same genre (Juvenile Nonfiction) and overlapping grades (6–8).
  • Now Is Your Time by Walter Dean Myers · grades 4–8 — Same genre (Juvenile Nonfiction) and overlapping grades (4–8).
  • Number the Stars by Lois Lowry · 670L — Both on the Newbery Medal list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (1980s).

Common questions

What books are similar to Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass?
The 10 closest matches to Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass by Russell Freedman on ReadingList include Children of the Great Depression, Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery, The Story of Mankind, The Glorious Flight, and A Visit to William Blake's Inn. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–7), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–7), so the picks stay grade-appropriate. See how ReadingList judges text difficulty on the /standard methodology page.
How does ReadingList choose similar books?
Matches are ranked by shared themes, shared award and reading-program lists (two books picked for the same state award were chosen by the same committees for the same readers), same genre, comparable Lexile and grade band, and publication decade — computed from cited public curriculum data, not editorial opinion or AI-generated summaries.

Book data last updated 2026-09-05. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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