Thomas Jefferson Resources
Dates covered: 1743-1826
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Books:
A Big Cheese for the White House: The True Tale of a Tremendous Cheddar In 1801, in Chesire, Massachusetts, Elder John Leland organizes his fellow townspeople to make a big cheese for President Jefferson who up until that time had been forced to eat inferior cheeses. Level 4.1. Younger to Middle students. Massachusetts.
A Picture Book of Thomas Jefferson Traces the life and achievements of the architect, bibliophile, president, and author of the Declaration of Independence. Level 4.5. Virginia. Younger to Middle students.
Bones in the White House Picture Book. In the late 1700’s, America was a new nation, with a vast west that held age-old secrets: Bones! Massive tusks and enormous animal skeletons were being discovered and Thomas Jefferson – politician AND scientist – was captivated. What were these giant beasts? Did they still roam on American soil? Jefferson needed to find out. Funding explorers, including the famed Lewis and Clark, Jefferson sought to find a complete prehistoric mastodon skeleton – one which would advance the young science of paleontology, but would also put this upstart young country on the world stage. Follow along on the incredible journey – full of triumphs and disappointments, discoveries and shipwrecks, ridicule and victory. Level 5.1. Younger to Middle students. Washington, D.C.
Discover Thomas Jefferson: Architect, Statesman, President Describes the life and accomplishments of the third President of the United States. Easy reader. Younger students. Virginia.
Jefferson, The Man: In His Own Words Selections from Jefferson’s letters share his opinions on exploration, democracy, farming, independence, science, education, books, family, and religious freedom. Older students. Virginia.
Jefferson’s Sons: A Founding Father’s Secret Children high school level historical fiction, about Thomas Jefferson’s children born as slaves. Level 3.9, but 350 pages of small print. Virginia.
John, Paul, George & Ben Picture Book, Once there were four lads . . . John [Hancock], Paul [Revere], George [Washington], and Ben [Franklin]. Oh yes, there was also Tom [Jefferson], but he was annoyingly independent and hardly ever around. These lads were always getting into trouble for one reason or another. In other words, they took a few . . . liberties. And to be honest, they were not always appreciated. Until one day, they all played a part in securing America’s freedom. level 3.7 Younger to Middle students.
Meet Thomas Jefferson When Thomas Jefferson was young, Virginia was still a colony of England. Jefferson thought that many English laws and taxes were unfair, so he studied hard to become a lawyer and help make better laws. Soon he and others came to believe that the colonies should become a new country, and Jefferson was chosen to write the Declaration of Independence. As the third president of the United States, he focused on exploring the country and making it grow. His fairness and love of learning made him one of the most beloved presidents of all time. Middle students. Virginia.
My Name is James Madison Hemings historical picture book about the child of founding father Thomas Jefferson and the enslaved Sally Hemings, and their children. Level 4.9. Virginia.
Pass the Quill, I’ll Write a Draft: A Story of Thomas Jefferson Follows the life and accomplishments of the third president, from his birth in 1743 to his retirement to Monticello. Younger to Middle students.
Patsy Jefferson’s diary A fictional diary of “Patsy” Jefferson records the highlights of her life with “Papa” Thomas Jefferson from the time he was elected governor of Virginia in 1779 until his return from France in 1789. Middle to Older students. Virginia.
Patsy Jefferson of Monticello This story-biography of Thomas Jefferson’s oldest daughter has warmth and liveliness as well as authenticity and dignity. A highly readable account of a charming girl and her era. Mature Older students.
The Real Thomas Jefferson Jefferson is the central figure in American history, and…he may yet prove to be the central figure in modern history. So stated noted historian Henry Steele Commager. And as the English novelist Samuel Butler once wrote, Though God cannot alter the past–historians can. His observation is especially applicable to our changing perceptions of great historical personalities, most of whom are relentlessly reinterpreted by each new generation of biographers. There is no better example of this kind of metamorphosis than Thomas Jefferson, author of the American Declaration of Independence and third President of the United States. Since his death in 1826, he has been alternately vilified and deified by writers of varying motivations. In The Real Thomas Jefferson, by allowing Jefferson to explain his life and ideas in his own words, we have tried to ensure that his spirit, not ours, will breathe in these pages so that all who read them will become acquainted with Jefferson himself — not another second-hand interpretation.
The Story of Monticello From the Cornerstones of Freedom series comes The Story of Monticello by Norman Richards. Middle students.
The Story of Thomas Jefferson: An Inspiring Biography for Young Readers Thomas Jefferson helped write the Declaration of Independence and became the third president of the United States. Before he helped create America, Thomas was a young boy who loved to play outside, read, and think about new ways of doing things. He studied law and came up with revolutionary ideas that helped build a new country.
The Year of the Horseless Carriage: 1801-1821 In Genevieve Foster’s inimitable style, she brings to life the dawn of the 19th century with all its wonderful advancements in transportation, communication, and technology! This is the age of Napoleon, Jefferson, Toussaint, Livingston, Robert Fulton, Richard Trevithick, Beethoven, Lewis and Clark, Sacajawea, Dolley Madison, and many others. While the world of technology is progressing rapidly, human rights and liberty are variously being trampled or rising. The megalomaniac Napoleon is proclaiming “liberty, equality, and fraternity” to a war-weary Europe, Jefferson is contemplating the largest land purchase in the history of the world, and Toussaint L’Ouverture is fighting for liberty in Haiti. Middle to Older students.
Thomas Jefferson: 3rd President of the United States Traces the life of the Virginia politician, American diplomat, and United States president and examines the domestic and foreign issues dominating his career. Older students.
Thomas Jefferson: A Photographic Story of a Life Filled with archival photographs and amazing fact boxes, DK Biography is a groundbreaking series that introduces young readers to some of history’s most interesting and influential characters. From his childhood in Virginia to his two terms as President of the United States, DK Biography: Thomas Jefferson tells the story of the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. Middle to Older students. Virginia.
Thomas Jefferson: Encyclopedia of Presidents Discusses the personal life and political career of Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, who became the third president of the United States. Older students.
Thomas Jefferson: Great American Tells the life story of President Thomas Jefferson, the individual who authored the Declaration of Independence. Written in graphic-novel format. Younger to Middle students. Virginia.
Thomas Jefferson: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Everything Picture Book. Thomas Jefferson is perhaps best known for writing the Declaration of Independence—but there’s so much more to discover. This energetic man was interested in everything. He played violin, spoke seven languages, and was a scientist, naturalist, botanist, mathematician, and architect. He designed his magnificent home, Monticello, which is full of objects he collected from around the world. And oh yes, as our third president, he doubled the size of the United States and sent Lewis and Clark to explore it. He also started the Library of Congress and said, “I cannot live without books.” But monumental figures can have monumental flaws, and Jefferson was no exception. Although he called slavery an “abomination,” he owned about 150 slaves. As she did in Looking at Lincoln, Maira Kalman shares a president’s remarkable, complicated life with young readers, making history come alive with her captivating text and stunning illustrations. Level 4.7. Younger to Middle students. Virginia.
Thomas Jefferson: Our Third President A thorough, illustrated biography discussing the president’s childhood, his career, his family, and his term as President of the United States. Level 5.6. Middle students.
Thomas Jefferson: President and Philosopher This book contains a note from Meacham and over 100 archival illustrations, as well as sections throughout the text about subjects such as the Boston Tea Party, the Library of Congress, and Napoléon Bonaparte. Additional materials include a timeline; a family tree; a Who’s Who in Jefferson’s world; sections on Jefferson’s original writings and correspondence, “inventions,” interests, places in Jefferson’s world, finding Jefferson in the United States today, additional reading, organizations, and websites; notes; a bibliography; and an index. Level 7.6. Older students.
Thomas Jefferson: The 3rd President The Fourth of July is often called our country’s birthday. What important role did Thomas Jefferson have in making this American holiday possible? Young readers will find out as they read about his writing of the Declaration of Independence, as well as his early life, his ideas for shaping a new government, and his two terms as president. They will also make connections to their own lives as they learn about the many ways Jefferson is remembered and honored today. Each 24-page book in this series features controlled text with age-appropriate vocabulary and simple sentence construction. The lively text, colorful design, and rich photos and illustrations are sure to capture the interest of emergent readers. Early reader. Level 3.6 Younger to Middle students.
Thomas Jefferson: Third President 1801 – 1809 (Getting to Know the US Presidents) An introduction to the life of Thomas Jefferson, a man whose ideas helped create a new kind of government and who became the nation’s third president. Younger to Middle students.
Thomas Jefferson (Great American Presidents) A biography of the third president of the United States, whose leadership was important in shaping the country’s new government. Middle to Older students.
Thomas Jefferson An All-Pictorial Presentation (An All-Pictorial Presentation) The moving true-life story of the brilliant author of the Declaration of Independence. This book is in comic book form. For junior high and high school age. Younger to Middle students. Written in a cross between an old-fashioned comic book style and a graphic novel. Younger to Middle students.
Thomas Jefferson and the Ghostriders Early reader. Young Thomas Jefferson has been warned about the Native American burial mound near his house. But one night he decides to see it for himself. Tom hides in the bushes and thinks he hears ghosts approaching. It turns out to be a Native American tribe coming to pay its respects, and Tom learns an important lesson. Mature younger to middle students. Level 2.9. Virginia.
Thomas Jefferson and the Growing United States (1800-1811) The United States’ boundaries have expanded over the centuries—and at the same time, Americans’ ideas about their country have grown as well. The nation the world knows today was shaped by centuries of thinkers and events. Thomas Jefferson was one of the most important of these thinkers. During his presidency, the Louisiana Purchase doubled the geographic size of the United States. And perhaps most important, Jefferson helped define what is best about America. Level 4.7. Middle to Older students. Virginia.
Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase Jefferson had set his sights on the Louisiana Territory even before he became president of the United States. When his dream was finally realized, he had doubled the size of the United States. Young readers will also be thrilled to learn about Lewis and Clark’s amazing voyage of discovery and its impact on American history. Level 5.2. Younger to Middle students.
Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates: The Forgotten War That Changed American History This is the little-known story of how a newly independent nation was challenged by four Muslim powers and what happened when America’s third president decided to stand up to intimidation. When Thomas Jefferson became president in 1801, America faced a crisis. The new nation was deeply in debt and needed its economy to grow quickly, but its merchant ships were under attack. Pirates from North Africa’s Barbary Coast routinely captured American sailors and held them as slaves, demanding ransom and tribute payments far beyond what the new country could afford. Over the previous 15 years, as a diplomat and then as secretary of state, Jefferson had tried to work with the Barbary states (Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, and Morocco). Unfortunately, he found it impossible to negotiate with people who believed their religion justified the plunder and enslavement of non-Muslims. These rogue states would show no mercy – at least not while easy money could be made by extorting America, France, England, and other powers. So President Jefferson decided to move beyond diplomacy. He sent the US Navy’s new warships and a detachment of marines to blockade Tripoli – launching the Barbary Wars and beginning America’s journey toward future superpower status. Level 9.1. Older students. Virginia.
Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library Before, during, and after the American Revolution, Jefferson collected thousands of books on hundreds of subjects. In fact, his massive collection eventually helped rebuild the Library of Congress—now the largest library in the world. Younger to Middle students. Level 4.8. Virginia.
Thomas Jefferson Discusses the personal life and political career of Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, who became the third president of the United States. Level 4.2. Younger to Middle students.
Thomas Jefferson for Kids: His Life and Times with 21 Activities An architect, statesman, farmer, and inventor, Thomas Jefferson had few equals among this nation’s founders. Left fatherless at a young age, he was a hardworking scholar who came into his own as a lawyer, landowner, and county leader. Elected to the Virginia Assembly in 1769, Jefferson became an eloquent critic of the colonial policies of Great Britain and King George III. His talents made him the perfect candidate to write the Declaration of Independence, which set the United States apart in a world ruled by monarchs. Jefferson, however, was not without his contradictions. His quill penned the immortal phrase “all men are created equal,” but during his lifetime he owned 600 slaves. And though he sought elected office, he was sensitive to criticism and often wished to escape his public role and return to his Monticello estate. Author Brandon Marie Miller captures the complexity of this talented leader through his original writings and hands-on activities from the colonial era. All ages.
Thomas Jefferson Graphic Novel. Arguably one of America’s most brilliant and curious minds to date, Thomas Jefferson lived in a time and place that was in desperate need of someone who could envision a different future for colonial America and then provide an achievable framework for that future to take shape and prosper. He wrote the Declaration of Independence and helped ensure that a Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution among many other amazing contributions to America’s history. Younger to Middle students.
Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation Level 6.4. Thomas Jefferson was more than a president and patriot. He was also a planter and gardener who loved to watch things grow–everything from plants and crops to even his brand-new nation. As minister to France, Jefferson promoted all things American, sharing corn and pecans with his Parisian neighbors. As secretary of state, he encouraged his fellow farmers to grow olives, rice, and maple trees. As president, he doubled the size of the nation with the Louisiana Purchase. Even in his retirement, Jefferson continued to nurture the nation, laying the groundwork for the University of Virginia. In this meticulously researched picture book for older readers, author Peggy Thomas uncovers Jefferson’s passion for agriculture and his country. And Stacy Innerst’s incredibly original illustrations offer the right balance of reverence and whimsy. Younger to Middle students.
Thomas Jefferson’s Feast Did you know that every time you munch on a french fry or snack on ice cream, you have Thomas Jefferson to thank? It’s true! This founding father was one of America’s first foodies. After a visit to France, he introduced all sorts of yummy treats to America—including one that upset more than just tummies and created a culinary controversy! Get the scoop in this deliciously funny, true story—guaranteed to tempt even the most reluctant readers! Early reader. Younger to Middle students. Level 3.1. Virginia.
Those Rebels, John & Tom A brilliant portrait of two American heroes: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Younger to Middle students.
Tom Jefferson: Third President of the United States Childhood of Famous Americans series, explores the childhood of Thomas Jefferson. Level 3.8. Virginia. Middle students.
Who Was Thomas Jefferson? Part of the Who Was series. Did you know that John Adams had to coax Thomas Jefferson into writing the Declaration of Independence? It’s true. The shy Virginia statesman refused at first but then went on to author one of our nation’s most important and inspiring documents. The third U.S. president, Jefferson was also an architect, inventor, musician, farmer, and-what is certainly the most troubling aspect of his life-a slave owner. Finally, here’s a biography for kids that unveils the many facets of this founding father’s remarkable and complicated life. Level 4.9. Middle students. Virginia.
Worst of Friends: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and the True Story of an American Feud Picture book, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were good friends with very different personalities. But their differing views on how to run the newly created United States turned them into the worst of friends. They each became leaders of opposing political parties, and their rivalry followed them to the White House. Full of both history and humor, this is the story of two of America’s most well-known presidents and how they learned to put their political differences aside for the sake of friendship. Level 5.2 Younger to Middle students.
Coloring Pages/Drawing:
Crafts and Arts:
Movies/Videos/Documentaries
- Thomas Jefferson
- Thomas Jefferson/PBS movie
- Biography of Thomas Jefferson for Kids: Meet the American President – FreeSchool
Museums/Field Trips (including virtual):
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