The following Tennessee-themed books for kids cover all aspects of the home-school education coin – from picture books to workbooks; from learning to read up to chapter books!
You’ll discover these books cater to different ages and share stories or facts about Tennessee. So, spend some time turning the pages with your kids.
Here are a few homeschool room picks you can find on Amazon. Click any image to see it. Yes, these are affiliate links.
Home Sweet Homeschool Wall Sign
Rotating Bamboo Art Supply Caddy
The Homeschool Planner (Undated)
Homeschool Mom Coffee T-Shirt
Want more learning without printing more pages?
If your little one is between 2 and 8, ABCmouse is a full online curriculum of learning games, books and puzzles, so the practice keeps going on the days you are out of ink. Take a look at ABCmouse
Prefer something that shows up in the mailbox? Highlights High Five is made for ages 3 to 5, and the classic Highlights magazine picks up from 6 to 12. See High Five | See Highlights
How These Books Teach Life in Tennessee
Books are such a fun way to explore social studies topics, and they’re perfect for teaching kids about life in Tennessee!
From its rich history to its modern-day culture, these resources help spark curiosity in young learners while giving them a deeper understanding of the state.
Many books introduce students to Tennessee’s iconic cities, like Memphis with its vibrant music history, or Nashville, proudly known as the “Music City.” They learn about the state’s flag and what it symbolizes, as well as the meaning behind the heritage of Tennessee families.
Through stories about Andrew Jackson, one of Tennessee’s most notable historical figures, or tales of the Cherokee and the Trail of Tears, kids can connect with the past in meaningful ways.
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Books also help uncover Tennessee’s natural beauty and geography. The mighty Mississippi River that runs along the state’s western edge becomes more than just a line on a map.
These stories can bring to life the people and communities that have depended on the river for centuries.
For a hands-on activity, pair these books with lessons that encourage students to map key locations like Nashville, Memphis, or historic Cherokee lands. They can even decorate their own Tennessee flag while learning what each element represents.
Whether the topic is music, history, or family life today, books offer an engaging way to introduce the depth and diversity of Tennessee to kids.
Through these stories, they’ll not only understand the state better but come away with a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around them.
Can you use these books for homeschooling?
These Tennessee books for kids would be great to use as a supplement for your learning. There are pages upon pages filled with interesting facts and important stories about history and geography.
States Tennessee Touches
Did you know Tennessee borders eight states? That’s more than any other state except Missouri (fun fact!). Tennessee’s “neighbors” include Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri. This makes it super easy to expand your child’s learning beyond just Tennessee. With so much to explore, why stop at one state when you can explore eight more?
Here are some fun ways to bring Tennessee’s neighbors into your lessons and activities:
Dig into shared history: Tennessee and its neighbors have plenty of overlapping history, from the Civil War to music legends. For example, you can talk about the Mississippi River running through Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas or compare the Civil Rights movement in Alabama to what was happening in Tennessee at the same time.
Take a pretend tour: Grab a map and “visit” each bordering state. Ask the kids to point out landmarks like Missouri’s Gateway Arch or the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. Why not “drive” down to Georgia and learn about peaches or check out Arkansas for its hot springs?
Compare fun facts: State nicknames, flags, flowers, and foods can spark some great conversations. Did you know Kentucky’s famous for horse racing, while Tennessee is music central? Make a chart, play trivia, or get the kids coloring symbols from all nine states!
Get outdoorsy: Talk about how Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains are part of the bigger Appalachian Mountain range, which stretches into Virginia and North Carolina. Teach the kids about animals and plants found across state borders. Who doesn’t love learning about black bears?
Learning about Tennessee is fun, but diving into the states it touches makes it a bigger adventure. By exploring all these connections, kids can see how geography, history, and culture are all tied together in exciting ways. Who’s ready for some cross-state discoveries?
Check out this list of children's books about Tennessee so that you can explore more together about this state and stories from it.
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Tennessee: The Volunteer State (Exploring the States) (Exploring The States: Blastoff Readers, Level 5)
From Memphis to Nashville to the Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee is a musical mecca! Country, bluegrass, blues, and rock and roll all went through important developments here. Young readers will enjoy learning about Tennessee's rich heritage and beautiful landscapes. This book also explores Tennessee industries, foods, festivals, and more.
Ready to study Tennessee State History in a fun, hands-on way? Gather up the entire family and get ready to explore! Our comprehensive State History Lapbooks and Lapbook Journals are designed so that all age groups can study together.
My First Pocket Guide About Tennessee (Tennessee Experience)
The perfect reference guide for students in grades 3 and up – or anyone! This handy, easy-to-use reference guide is divided into seven color-coded sections which includes Tennessee basic facts, geography, history, people, places, nature and miscellaneous information. Each section is color coded for easy recognition.
Tennessee Dailies: 180 Daily Activities for Kids (Tennessee Experience)
This 180 day, reproducible Social Studies Daily Workbook will introduce your students to fun, fascinating, and fast facts about their state. Each day, your class will learn valuable information to supplement the social studies curriculum. Skills covered in these daily lessons include reading comprehension, basic math computation, spelling, and new vocabulary words.
Take a visual journey back in time with the artwork of Suzanne Barrett Justis and the writings of JS Moore. Learn about the Native Americans and their interactions with the Spanish Conquistadors. Discover where the state of Tennessee got it's name. Find out more about Daniel Boone and the Wilderness Trail. Settle with the pioneers at the Netherland Inn.
Tennessee: Past and Present (United States: Past & Present (Library))
From the rural serenity of the Smoky Mountains to the Country Music Capital of the World, Tennessee is a state that is rich in history and culture. Readers will be entranced by how this splendid heritage continues to influence the government, industry, and residents of Tennessee today.
Count on Us: A Tennessee Number Book (America by the Numbers)
Count on Us: A Tennessee Number Book is the fitting follow-up title to the successful children's pictorial V is for Volunteer: A Tennessee Alphabet. This fun, colorful, and the superbly informative book teaches children about numbers using recognizable places, events, and facts from this great state.
Known for its diverse and robust music scene, down-home cooking, and breathtaking vistas, Tennessee has developed a rich and unique culture throughout its history. Readers will journey through the states most exciting locations as they learn about its history, geography, and government. They will also read about the states most famous residents and local traditions.
Little Man throws the meanest fastball in town. But talking is a whole different ball game. He can barely say a word without stuttering—not even his own name. So when he takes over his best friend’s paper route for the month of July, he’s not exactly looking forward to interacting with the customers. But it’s the neighborhood junkman, a bully and thief, who stirs up real trouble in Little Man’s life.
Beginning with the legend of how a young Cherokee boy earned the name Dragging Canoe and weaving its way through three centuries, this book treats history not as a collection of names and dates, but as real-life drama filled with strong characters and vivid emotions.
I’m Reading About Tennessee (Tennessee Experience)
I’m Reading About Tennessee is a 48-page colorful book that helps students learn what makes Tennessee unique. I’m Reading about Tennessee helps early readers learn fun and interesting facts about Tennessee. The colorful illustrations, bold, vibrant art, kid-friendly text, and photographs help bring the state to life.
Working in an American primitive style animated by the humor and storytelling genius for which he is renowned, Caldecott Winner artist Paul O. Zelinsky puts oils to cherry and maple for this tall-tale competition between a Tennessee woods-woman extraordinaire and a hungry, fearsome bear.
Explore the amazing state of Tennessee. How they became a state, the explorers who founded it, the civil war, the culture, the statehood. Gaze at some of the landmark pictures and find out fun facts about Tennessee Great for 5 to 12 year olds, for book reports or SA’s. Discover Tennessee today and learn about a Great state in the United States Of America.
My First Book About Tennessee (Tennessee Experience)
This reproducible book is an introduction to your great state. Kids will learn about their state history, geography, presidents, people, places, nature, animals, and much more by completing these enriching activities.
V is for Volunteer: A Tennessee Alphabet (Discover America State by State)
From A to Z, you'll discover Tennessee's mountains, music, and mammals. V is for Volunteer stimulates children to learn about their state through familiar Tennessee icons like the Grand Ole Opry and Graceland. And even lifelong Tennesseans may learn something new about the Jubilee Singers and W.C. Handy.
This list of books is proof that if you take the time to learn a bit about states, there is really a lot of information to be found! Start going through these together as a family and you’ll be impressed, too. I learned a ton of information right along with the kids!
Tennessee State Unit Study
Printable Tennessee Lapbook
Which of these books about Tennessee are you going to have the kids read first?
