History is all around us—especially in books!
Created with K-3 students and educators in mind, our Carolina Cover-to-Cover program seamlessly connects ELA and Social Studies through a curated list of picture books and accompanying story guides.
How does it work?
Each month Carolina Cover-to-Cover features a picture book and story guide that connects to topics in North Carolina history. Educators may then check out the featured book from their school or local library and use the Carolina Cover-to-Cover guide to share lessons from that book. Each story guide provides a historical overview, primary sources, vocabulary words, discussion questions, and activities for students to complete.
Registered teachers will have access to this year’s story guides, like this one for A Spy Called James: The True Story of James Lafayette, Revolutionary War Double Agent. If any of the books or topics interest you, complete the form and we’ll take care of the rest. Like all BEYOND The Exhibits programs: it’s that simple!
2025-2026 Selections
- August 2025—Hornbooks and Inkwells. Written by Verla Kay and illustrated by S.D. Schindler. (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2011).
- September 2025—Hello Lighthouse. Written by Sophie Blackall, author and illustrator. (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Illustrated edition, April 10, 2018)
- October 2025—Octopus Stew. Written and illustrated by Eric Velasquez. (Holiday House, 2019).
- November 2025—We Are Water Protectors. Written by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaela Goade. (Roaring Book Press, 2020). Winner of the 2021 Caldecott Medal.
- December 2025— Snow Dance. Written by Lezlie Evans; illustrated by Cynthia Jabar. (Houghton Mifflin Company, 1997).
- January 2026— Before John was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane. Written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Sean Qualls. (Henry Holt and Co., April 1, 2008).
- February 2026—Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins. Written by Carole Boston Weatherford (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2005).
- March 2026— Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race. Written by Margot Lee Shetterly and illustrated by Laura Freeman. (HarperCollins; Illustrated edition, January 16, 2018). Winner of the 2021 Caldecott Medal
- April 2026—Jack and the Animals. Written by Donald Davis. Illustrated by Kitty Harvill. (August House Little Folk 1995).
- May 2026—A Life Made by Hand: The Story of Ruth Asawa. Written by Andrea D’Aquino, author and illustrator. (Princeton Architectural Press; Illustrated Edition, September 3, 2019).
- June 2026— And Then Comes Summer. Written by Tom Brenner and Illustrated by Jaime Kim. (Candlewick Press; Illustrated edition, May 9, 2017).
Book of the Month
The True Story of James Lafayette, Revolutionary War Double Agent by Anne Rockwell (Author) and Floyd Cooper (Illustrator)
Carolrhoda Books, November 1, 2016
Within Our Power: The Story of the Edenton Ladies’ Tea Party Written by Sally Walker and illustrated by Jonathan D. Voss
(North Carolina Office of Archives and History, October 2024)
