Educational Books

Last updated: April 23, 2026

Stir up kids' imagination and intellect with this list of educational books that will get young brains cooking. These aren't just boring textbooks or things kids read in school. This list includes both fact and fiction and features mythology, poetry, puzzles, science, and history—including some real-life characters whose stories are stranger than fiction. From adventures on the Magic School Bus to the scientific curiosity of Calpurnia Tate, these awesome characters will have your kids and tweens hooked on learning in no time! And for more ways to learn, try our list of the Best Nonfiction Books for Kids.

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Hello Hello Colors book cover: Different animals in the background such as a frog, seahorse, etc.

BOOK

Hello Hello Colors

age 2+

Colors and conservation rule in sweet animal book.

Brendan Wenzel Picture Book (2024)

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Hello Hello Shapes book cover: Animals with different shapes are displayed in the background such as a fox, owl, starfish, etc.

BOOK

Hello Hello Shapes

age 2+

Dazzling book of shapes and animals has clever rhymes.

Brendan Wenzel Picture Book (2024)

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¡Felicidades!: A Celebration with Shapes Book Cover: Three young Mexican children play at a birthday party

BOOK

¡Felicidades!: A Celebration with Shapes

age 2+

Fun bilingual birthday book is a celebration of shapes.

Duncan Tonatiuh Picture Book (2024)

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¡Fiesta! book cover: Mexican boy holds elote (corn), girl wears traditional Mexican dress, mariachi plays guitar

BOOK

¡Fiesta!: A Festival of Colors

age 3+

Vibrant hues of Mexican heritage shine in bilingual book.

Duncan Tonatiuh Picture Book (2024)

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Jonty the Gentoo Book Cover: A penguin stands on just one of many ice floes in a turquoise blue sea near a ship and three seals

BOOK

Jonty Gentoo: The Adventures of a Penguin

age 4+

Playful tale of zoo gentoo in search of his natural habitat.

Julia Donaldson Picture Book (2024)

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Loops book cover: A young child with brown skin and dark hair bends to tie a shoe.

BOOK

Loops

age 4+

Shoe-tying tale is a happy lesson in persistence.

Jashar Awan Picture Book (2026)

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The Flower Thief book cover: A squirrel stands in a grassy field in front of a tree stump, on which sits a small blue and yellow bird

BOOK

The Flower Thief: The Leaf Thief, Book 3

age 4+

Flower power story has lessons on spring, self-control.

Alice Hemming Picture Book (2025)

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Seven Spools of Thread book cover: Woodcut print picture of seven African brothers, each holding a different colored spool of thread

BOOK

Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story

age 5+

Tenets of Kwanzaa told in stunning art, absorbing story.

Angela Shelf Medearis Picture Book (2000)

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100th Day Worries Poster Image

BOOK

100th Day Worries

age 6+

Suspenseful story makes math enjoyable.

Margery Cuyler Math (2000)

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Seymour Simon Series Poster Image

BOOK

Seymour Simon Series

age 6+

Fancy photography, but made for big science fans.

Seymour Simon Science (2007)

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It's So Amazing! Poster Image

BOOK

It's So Amazing!

age 7+

Engaging, straightforward guide to sex ed basics for tweens.

Robie H. Harris Body Awareness (2004)

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The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge Poster Image

BOOK

The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge

age 8+

A hefty science lesson mixed with tips on taking action.

Joanna Cole Science (2010)

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What Is Color book cover: Against a rainbow of color, a dog with a mic interviews a man announcing the long subtitle

BOOK

What Is Color?: The Global and Sometimes Gross Story of Pigments, Paint, and the Wondrous World of Art

age 8+

An exuberant intro to the art, science and history of color.

Steven Weinberg Science (2024)

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Madam President: The Extraordinary, True (and Evolving) Story of Women in Politics Poster Image

BOOK

Madam President: The Extraordinary, True (and Evolving) Story of Women in Politics

age 9+

Stories of strong women to inspire tween politic.

Catherine Thimmesh History (2008)

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Dinosaurs book cover: In earthy tones, nearly 20 prehistoric animals (plus 3 volcanoes) grace the space around the title and lengthy subtitle

BOOK

Dinosaurs: Exploring Prehistoric Life and Geological Time

age 10+

Great art, sweeping history of prehistoric life on Earth.

Rachel Ignotofsky Animals (2025)

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The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate Poster Image

BOOK

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

age 10+

Newbery Honor book about a smart Southern tomboy in 1899.

Jacqueline Kelly Historical Fiction (2009)

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The Lost Hero: The Heroes of Olympus, Book 1 Poster Image

BOOK

The Lost Hero: The Heroes of Olympus, Book 1

age 10+

Percy Jackson series spin-off is almost as delightful.

Rick Riordan Fantasy (2010)

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The Red Pyramid: The Kane Chronicles, Book 1 Poster Image

BOOK

The Red Pyramid: The Kane Chronicles, Book 1

age 10+

Percy Jackson author tackles more complex Egyptology.

Rick Riordan Fantasy (2010)

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A Dangerous Idea book cover: Illustration of a hissing green snake wrapped around a red apple against a black chalkboard background

BOOK

A Dangerous Idea: The Scopes Trial, the Original Fight Over Science in Schools

age 11+

Captivating must-read history of the battle over evolution.

Debbie Levy History (2025)

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Chains: The Seeds of America Trilogy, Book 1 Poster Image

BOOK

Chains: The Seeds of America Trilogy, Book 1

age 11+

Powerful story of slavery in 1776 New York.

Laurie Halse Anderson Historical Fiction (2008)

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