Good nonfiction reads can be just as engaging and intriguing as fiction, especially when they’re about topics that appeal to a reader’s personal interests. This roundup of nonfiction books for young readers includes biographies of sports stars, civil rights activists, and more incredible role models. You’ll also find lots of STEM-related nonfiction reads on topics like animals, astronomy, and the weather, plus life-skills books on money management and healthy screen time habits. Whether you’re on the lookout for new read-alouds or age-appropriate titles for independent readers, you’ll find them all here!
Jump to:
Pre-K and Kindergarten Nonfiction Books
Ray: How Light Works
The Science Pals series introduces the youngest learners to scientific concepts in ways that are easy for them to understand. This entry explores the science behind light, following the cheerful Ray as he tells kids all the things he can be and do. Use this book to introduce a unit on the sun or properties of light.
Ablaze
So many kids today know firsthand about the dangers of wildfires. Help them feel safer by learning about the people who help fight them, including America’s first female smoke jumper, Deanne Shulman. Pair this read with a trip to your local fire station!
Buy it: Ablaze
What a Map Can Do
In an era of turn-by-turn GPS, the ability to read maps may feel less important to kids. But nothing could be further from the truth! Show them all the ways map reading matters in this cute read that follows a raccoon as he delves into road maps, park maps, and even a map of the human body. Follow up this read-aloud by exploring a map of your own hometown!
Buy it: What a Map Can Do
Hello, I’m a Loris
We love nonfiction books for kids that celebrate lesser-known animals. The Meet the Wild Things series does just that, and its latest entry teaches little ones about the adorable loris family. This is an excellent book for introducing animal adaptations, since these Asian primates have huge eyes to help them see at night.
When Cloud Became a Cloud
Learning about the water cycle? Add this nonfiction read to your curriculum! Kids will love Cloud, a cute white puff that takes them on a journey through each stage of the cycle. When you’re finished, use cotton balls and googly eyes to make Clouds for students to take home.
Buy it: When Cloud Became a Cloud
Grades 1 and 2 Nonfiction Books
I Am Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson changed the face of American baseball by becoming the first Black player in the major leagues. His accomplishments have been inspiring young athletes for generations, and this entry in the Ordinary People Change the World series brings his story to life. This popular title is now available in paperback too.
Buy it: I Am Jackie Robinson (Ordinary People Change the World series)
I’m Trying To Love Farts
From the same author who gave us I’m Trying To Love Spiders comes this laugh-worthy title. Behind the humor, though, kids and adults will find lots of fascinating facts about flatulence. Try this read to accompany a unit on human anatomy when you’re learning about the digestive system.
Buy it: I’m Trying To Love Farts
Time for Kids: Planets
Starting a unit on the solar system? You’ll definitely want to add this pick to your shelves. It’s packed with facts and photos about every planet (even dwarf planet Pluto!), all at a reading level that means kids can explore this one all on their own. (A Spanish edition is coming in spring 2026 too!)
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Picture Book)
William Kamkwamba was only a teen when he helped his family bring electricity and water to their farm by building a windmill from recycled parts. His incredible story went on to become a bestselling book and Netflix film. This picture book version is perfect for introducing this modern-day hero to young learners. (Paperback edition coming January 2026!)
Polecat Has a Superpower
When Polecat brags about his superpower, Porcupine is sure he knows what it is: a skunk’s ability to defend himself with a stinky spray. But Polecat has other talents, including the ability to climb and hide better than other skunks. He can even do handstands! This is technically a fiction title, but it has so much useful information, it definitely counts as a nonfiction read.
Buy it: Polecat Has a Superpower
The Buffalo Are Back
Western North America once teemed with buffalo, but they were nearly hunted to extinction by the 1800s. Today, small herds of buffalo roam the plains once more thanks to the work of scientists and conservationists. This thoughtful nonfiction book explores the story of an American icon, inspiring kids to help protect them in the years to come.
Buy it: The Buffalo Are Back
The History of We
Every human living today can trace their ancestry back to the continent of Africa. This book takes kids on a journey through time, exploring what life was like for the first members of the human species, and showing how we’re all part of the same big family—a message that seems more important now than ever before.
Buy it: The History of We
Caitlin Clark: A Who HQ Illustrated Biography
This entry in the Who HQ Illustrated Biography series puts the spotlight on basketball superstar Caitlin Clark. Kids who enjoy this one will want to check out the rest of the series for info on Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Michael Jordan, and others.
Because Claudette
Before Rosa Parks, there was Claudette Colvin, a teenager who was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white woman. If you’re learning about Parks and the Civil Rights Movement, be sure to add this book to your curriculum too.
Buy it: Because Claudette
Grades 3 and 4 Nonfiction Books
What Was Built To Be a Ship of Dreams? The Titanic
This graphic nonfiction book tells the story of the Titanic shipwreck through the diverse viewpoints of multiple survivors. From the opulence of first class to those who sailed below decks, the narration and illustrations will transport emergent readers back in time to the scene of one of the world’s most famous disasters.
Sports Superheroes: Wilma Rudolph
This brand-new graphic nonfiction read introduces kids to one of the greatest track stars in history. Childhood polio nearly derailed her career before it ever started, but Wilma Rudolph went on to break speed records and rack up three Olympic gold medals. She’s the very embodiment of growth mindset!
Are There Rainbows in Space?
For kids who can’t get enough cool science facts, this book is a must-have! Each fact is related to color in some way, from why flamingos are pink to how some animals change color for camouflage. The short sections make terrific passages for reading comprehension practice in and out of the classroom.
Buy it: Are There Rainbows in Space?
Time for Kids: Money and Finance Field Guide
It’s never too early to introduce important life skills like understanding and managing money. Add this book to your classroom shelves as a reference guide for curious kids, or use the various chapters to teach key financial literacy skills in age-appropriate ways.
The Amazing Generation
Jonathon Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation addressed the sharp rise in teen mental illness in recent years. Now he’s back with a book aimed specifically at tweens, teaching them practical ways to deal with today’s unique challenges, including the overuse of screens. This is a must-read for any kid about to get their own cellphone and/or social media accounts, or those who feel overwhelmed and anxious before they’ve even started high school.
Buy it: The Amazing Generation
Who Was Wilma Mankiller?
Kids can’t get enough of the Who Was series, which highlights fascinating people throughout history. In this biography, they’ll learn about political activist Wilma Mankiller, perhaps best known for her part in the Occupation of Alcatraz in 1969. She later became the first woman principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, and her inspirational legacy lives on to inspire Indigenous activists today.
Buy it: Who Was Wilma Mankiller?
The Dirt! Wild Life Under the Soil’s Surface
A whole world lives out their lives beneath our feet! Dive beneath the surface to meet the creatures that call the soil home, with engaging illustrations that bring it all to life. Nonfiction reads like this are especially great for exploring text features with your students.
Grades 5 and 6 Nonfiction Books
Mexikid
This Newbery Honor book proves that graphic novels are worthy of their place on classroom and library shelves. Join Pedro on a family road trip to Mexico to bring his abuelito (grandfather) home. The journey is filled with highs and lows, with parts that will make kids laugh out loud and others that might cause them to tear up a bit. It’s a coming-of-age memoir that’s perfect for kids who, like Pedro, are beginning to search for their own cultural identity.
Buy it: Mexikid
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Young Readers Edition)
This version of William Kamkwamba’s amazing accomplishments is written especially for young readers. Try pairing it with a classroom viewing of the Netflix film and a STEM challenge where kids try building their own windmills from basic supplies.
Buy it: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Young Readers Edition)
Oppenheimer and the Atomic Bomb
When J. Robert Oppenheimer led the American effort to create the atomic bombs that ended World War II at last, he also unleashed a weapon more powerful than any in human history. His later attempts to caution the world about the dangers of nuclear weapons led to his ultimate downfall. This intriguing read is excellent for sparking classroom discussion and debate about the ethical questions of scientific advancements.
Buy it: Oppenheimer and the Atomic Bomb
