The Best Non-Fiction Books for Kids

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Reading to your little one has countless benefits.

It not only makes them feel comfortable, safe, and cared for, but also helps to build their vocabulary, ignite their imagination, and even helps them sleep.

If you’re on the hunt for ideas on what to read, try to include both fiction and non-fiction books for kids on your list.

While most children love stories, and the unusual and interesting worlds that they describe, many will also enjoy reading about the real world, too.

To send you on your way, we’ve got the best non-fiction books for kids right here.

But first things first, let’s take a look at how non-fiction differs from fiction.

In this article: 📝

What is a non-fiction book?

A non-fiction book is one that tells you facts about the world around you.

Unlike fiction books that tell imaginary stories, non-fiction books are about real people and real events.

Fiction books come in many different genres, such as fantasy, science fiction, and romance.

And non-fiction books have different genres too. These include history, science, travel, and many more.

What is an example of a non-fiction book?

Non-fiction is all about forming a greater understanding of the world we live in.

Some famous adult fiction titles include Jane Eyre and The Kite Runner, while non-fiction adult books include Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind and Freakonomics.

You might recognize The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Charlotte’s Web, and Harry Potter as popular children’s fiction books. But what about non-fiction books?

Well, that’s what the list below is all about.

Let’s dive in.

Non-fiction books for kids who love nature

1. The National Parks

Written by DK

DK produces rich and informative books that are written and illustrated with little readers in mind.

The National Parks is all about the 62 national parks in the United States, and the animals, trees, and plants that call them home.

Buy The National Parks here

2. Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid

Written by Mikaila Ulmer

Bee Fearless is as much about conservation as it is about being an entrepreneur.

At fifteen years old, Mikaila Ulmer created her own business, Me & the Bees Lemonade.

In this book, the young entrepreneur tells us all about her experience.

Bee lovers and those with a strong and independent streak will it.

Buy Bee Fearless here

3. I Am Jane Goodall

Written by Brad Meltzer, illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos

Jane Goodall is a world-famous primatologist and anthropologist.

Learn all about her and her work with chimpanzees in this New York Times-bestselling picture book.

Buy I Am Jane Goodall here

Non-fiction books for kids who love science

4. Stay Curious!

Written by Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer, illustrated by Boris Kulikov

Stay Curious! is about the famous theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking and how his discoveries changed our understanding of the universe.

His incredible journey started when he was just a little boy — a little boy who was curious.

Buy Stay Curious! here

5. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Written by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

This is the story of 14-year-old William Kamkwamba.

When his village in Malawi was hit by a terrible drought, he figured out not only how to install electricity, but how to build a working windmill, too.

Buy The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind here

6. The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos

Written by Deborah Heiligman, illustrated by LeUyen Pham

By the age of four, Paul Erdos could calculate how long you had been alive (in seconds!) simply by asking when you were born.

Learn about this incredible mathematician who traveled around the world-changing what people thought about math.

Buy The Boy Who Loved Math here

Non-fiction books for kids about women

7. She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History

Written by Chelsea Clinton, illustrated by Alexandra Boiger

This is the follow-up book to the best-selling She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World.

It’s about women from countries as far-reaching as Mexico, India, Egypt, Kenya, and Brazil who made important contributions to chemistry, women’s rights, literature, soccer, and education.

Buy She Persisted Around the World here

8. Amelia Lost

Written by Candace Fleming

Amelia Lost is for children between the ages of eight and twelve, and explores the adventures of the famous aviation pioneer, Amelia Earheart.

Read about her accomplishments, her final flight, and why she is still such a relevant character today.

Buy Amelia Lost here

9. Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race

Written by Margot Lee Shetterly

This is a young readers’ version of the New York Times bestselling book, Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Who Helped Win the Space Race.

It’s about four African-American women mathematicians who worked at NASA and were responsible for some of the greatest contributions to the US space program.

Buy Hidden Figures here

Non-fiction books for kids who love sport

10. Fauja Singh Keeps Going

Written by Simran Jeet Singh, illustrated by Baljinder Kaur

Do you know who holds the world record for being the first 100-year-old to run a full marathon?

Fauja Singh!

His wonderful story is all about immigration, disability, Sikhism and, of course, running.

Buy Fauja Singh Keeps Going here

11. The Boy Who Never Gave Up – Stephen Curry: The Children's Book

By Anthony Curcio

This picture book is all about NBA superstar Stephen Curry, who was too short to play basketball in high school, too weak to play in college, and not good enough to play for the NBA (or so everyone thought!).

It’s about following your dreams and working hard to make them a reality.

Buy The Boy Who Never Gave Up here

12. Women in Sport: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win

Written and illustrated by Rachel Ignotofsky

Tennis star Serena Williams, broadcaster Clare Balding and judoka Keiko Fukuda, all feature in this incredible book about women in sport.

It’s richly illustrated and covers athletes from the 1800s to today.

Buy Women in Sport here

The best non-fiction books for first graders

13. Young, Gifted, and Black

Written by Jamia Wilson and Andrea Pippins

In Young, Gifted, and Black, Jamia Wilson looks at the lives of 52 leaders of color, including Mary Seattle of Jamaica, Rosa Parks, and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

These inspiring stories are perfect for first graders and older.

Buy Young, Gifted, and Black here

14. Tornadoes!

Written and illustrated by Gail Gibbons

This book offers fascinating facts — more than 50 of them, in fact — about tornadoes in an interesting and accessible way.

After reading it, your first grader will have an amazing understanding of the science behind these potentially destructive weather events.

Buy Tornados! here

15. Headstrong Hallie, The Story of Hallie Morse Daggett, the First Female ‘Fire Guard’

Written by Aimee Bissonette

Hallie Morse Daggett was the first woman to be a fireguard in the US Forest Service, way back in the 1880s.

Beautifully illustrated, this story talks about Hallie’s deep passion for the natural world and for protecting it.

Buy Headstrong Hallie here

Happy reading, mama!

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