Best Nonfiction Books for Kids

Some kids prefer true stories -- history, biography, memoir, science -- to made-up ones. For kids who'd rather read about how to code, space exploration, the layers of rock and vegetation in the Grand Canyon, or the achievements of Alexander Hamilton than pick up a novel, we've got a great list of titles to check out. For even more fact-filled choices, check out our lists of Biographies, Books About the American Revolution, and World War II Books for Kids.

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Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear Poster Image
BOOK

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear

age 4+

Moving story of bear that inspired Winnie-the-Pooh.

By: Lindsay Mattick (2015)
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Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race Poster Image
BOOK

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

age 4+

Picture book intro to important, inspirational story.

By: Margot Lee Shetterly , Winifred Conkling (2018)
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Locomotive Poster Image
BOOK

Locomotive

age 4+

Gorgeous story of train journey is exciting, fact-packed.

By: Brian Floca (2013)
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Mama Built a Little Nest Poster Image
BOOK

Mama Built a Little Nest

age 4+

Lively, poetic takes on different birds' nesting habits.

By: Jennifer Ward (2014)
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Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 Poster Image
BOOK

Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11

age 4+

Masterful retelling captures magic, mystery of moon mission.

By: Brian Floca (2009)
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She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History Poster Image
BOOK

She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History

age 4+

Inspiring tales of great women who followed their dreams.

By: Chelsea Clinton (2018)
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Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine Poster Image
BOOK

Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine

age 5+

Fascinating bio of remarkable 19th-century female inventor.

By: Laurie Wallmark (2015)
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A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon Poster Image
BOOK

A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon

age 5+

Inspiring bio of brilliant NASA mathematician in the 1960s.

By: Suzanne Slade (2019)
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Freedom in Congo Square Poster Image
BOOK

Freedom in Congo Square

age 5+

Enslaved people's culture, jazz roots shine in lyrical book.

By: Carole Boston Weatherford (2016)
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I Am Jane Goodall: Ordinary People Change the World Poster Image
BOOK

I Am Jane Goodall: Ordinary People Change the World

age 5+

Endearing, lively illustrated bio packs positive messages.

By: Brad Meltzer (2016)
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Otis and Will Discover the Deep: The Record-Setting Dive of the Bathysphere Poster Image
BOOK

Otis and Will Discover the Deep: The Record-Setting Dive of the Bathysphere

age 5+

Exciting story of launching 1930 deep-sea diving tank.

By: Barb Rosenstock (2018)
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Over and Under the Pond Poster Image
BOOK

Over and Under the Pond

age 5+

Lovely book about wildlife teeming in and around a pond.

By: Kate Messner (2017)
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Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors?: The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell Poster Image
BOOK

Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors?: The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell

age 5+

Lively, inspiring bio of America's first female doctor.

By: Tanya Lee Stone (2013)
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The Animal Book: A Collection of the Fastest, Fiercest, Toughest, Cleverest, Shyest--and Most Surprising--Animals on Earth Poster Image
BOOK

The Animal Book: A Collection of the Fastest, Fiercest, Toughest, Cleverest, Shyest--and Most Surprising--Animals on Earth

age 6+

Richly layered, fascinating book kids will enjoy for years.

By: Steve Jenkins (2013)
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Bold & Brave: Ten Heroes Who Won Women the Right to Vote Poster Image
BOOK

Bold & Brave: Ten Heroes Who Won Women the Right to Vote

age 6+

Lively tales of 10 who led fight for women's voting rights.

By: Kirsten Gillibrand (2018)
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Gandhi: A March to the Sea Poster Image
BOOK

Gandhi: A March to the Sea

age 6+

Lovely, poignant look at key moment in Indian history.

By: Alice B. McGinty (2013)
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The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin Poster Image
BOOK

The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin

age 6+

Upbeat rhymes tell amazing tale of scientist with autism.

By: Julia Finley Mosca (2017)
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Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, Book 1 Poster Image
BOOK

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, Book 1

age 6+

Inspiring, kid-friendly tales of extraordinary women.

By: Elena Favilli , Francesca Cavallo (2016)
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Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera Poster Image
BOOK

Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera

age 6+

Beautiful book shows drama and science of bee life cycle.

By: Candace Fleming (2021)
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I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark Poster Image
BOOK

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark

age 6+

Inspiring bio of Supreme Court justice empowers girls.

By: Debbie Levy (2016)
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