Best Nonfiction Books for Kids and Teens

Last updated: June 17, 2026

Some kids and teens 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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Baby Young, Gifted, and Black book cover: Black child with crown and wings, title in large brown font on turquoise background

BOOK

Baby Young, Gifted, and Black

age 2+

Sweet, affirming board book about Black excellence.

Jamia Wilson Board (2021)

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Are You Small? book cover: A smiling stick figure waving against a purple background

BOOK

Are You Small?

age 3+

Cheerful look at the relative sizes of things in our world.

Mo Willems Picture Book (2024)

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Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race book cover: Children of diverse skin colors stand around a large speech bubble containing the book title

BOOK

Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race

age 3+

Well-done picture book gives kids tools for discussing race.

Megan Madison , Jessica Ralli Picture Book (2021)

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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.

Lindsay Mattick Picture Book (2015)

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Gifts from the Garbage Truck book cover: A sanitation worker steps off a truck against a dawn city skyline

BOOK

Gifts from the Garbage Truck: A True Story About the Things We (Don't) Throw Away

age 4+

Impactful tale about conservation, curiosity, creativity.

Andrew Larsen Picture Book (2024)

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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.

Margot Lee Shetterly , Winifred Conkling Picture Book (2018)

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How to Have a Thought book cover: Strolling in the woods, man in old-fashioned suit uses walking stick as his dog carries a stick in her mouth

BOOK

How to Have a Thought: A Walk with Charles Darwin

age 4+

An imaginative invite to walk and think like Charles Darwin.

Nicholas Day Picture Book (2026)

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Locomotive Poster Image

BOOK

Locomotive

age 4+

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

Brian Floca Picture Book (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.

Jennifer Ward Picture Book (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.

Brian Floca History (2009)

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Narwhal: Unicorn of the Arctic book cover: A narwhal with a long, single tusk swims in a blue sea below the title

BOOK

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Arctic

age 4+

Informative, exciting intro to tusked whales of the Arctic.

Candace Fleming Picture Book (2024)

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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.

Chelsea Clinton Picture Book (2018)

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The Urban Owls book cover: An owl sits on a balcony rail with a girl inside the window and the city skyline in the distance

BOOK

The Urban Owls: How Flaco and Friends Made the City Their Home

age 4+

A fascinating "who's who" of owls adapted to city life.

Christian Cooper Picture Book (2025)

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They Built Me for Freedom book cover: Black children of different skin tones happily run in a park on a sunny day.

BOOK

They Built Me for Freedom: The Story of Juneteenth and Houston's Emancipation Park

age 4+

Stunning Juneteenth book celebrates freedom, unity, and joy.

Tonya Duncan Ellis Picture Book (2024)

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What's Inside a Bird's Nest book cover: Colorful image of mother and baby bird in nest

BOOK

What's Inside a Bird's Nest?: And Other Questions About Nature & Life Cycles

age 4+

Colorful, engaging intro to bird life packed with science.

Rachel Ignotofsky Picture Book (2024)

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What's Inside a Flower book cover: Digital illustration of flowers, leaves, insects, etc.

BOOK

What's Inside a Flower? And Other Questions About Science & Nature

age 4+

Beautifully illustrated, fact-packed intro to plant kingdom.

Rachel Ignotofsky Picture Book (2021)

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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.

Suzanne Slade Picture Book (2019)

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A Kids Book About Juneteenth book cover: Book title in white and brown letters fit around photos of black people, flowers

BOOK

A Kids Book About Juneteenth

age 5+

Spare, bold book shares Juneteenth's enduring meaning.

Garrison Hayes History (2023)

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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.

Laurie Wallmark Picture Book (2015)

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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.

Carole Boston Weatherford Picture Book (2016)

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