National Council of Social Studies Annotated Trade Books

The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) Notable Trade Books list is an annual selection of children’s and YA titles that support social studies learning, each with classroom-ready annotations. Books span history, geography, civics, and contemporary issues, and the annotations highlight themes and suggested uses. Educators and homeschoolers rely on this list to find high-quality, age-appropriate narratives and nonfiction that bring social studies to life beyond textbooks. It’s useful from early elementary through high school, depending on the titles chosen. Because the list is curated by social studies educators, it can help busy families cut through the noise of endless book options. Many use it to build yearly book clubs or unit reading lists.