Dear Laurus Families,
We’ve talked about the importance of reading for fun, and summer is the best time to have done that. But now we are in the Back to School grind and getting kids into the habit of reading on a regular basis is crucial! So, take a look at our top 10 list of kids nonfiction books that we recommend:
1. Can an Old Dog Learn New Tricks? And Other Questions about Animals by Buffy Silverman
Referencing scientific evidence, this book fact-checks common sayings about animals: Can an old dog learn new tricks? Do cats always land on their feet? This one’s a great read for young scientists and animal lovers.
2. Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney, Illustrated by Brian Pinkney
This picture book celebrates the 50th anniversary of a defining moment in the American Civil Rights Movement. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s example of peaceful protest, four African American college students dared to sit in the “whites only” section of Woolworth’s lunch counter in North Carolina.
3. National Geographic Readers: Dinosaurs by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
National Geographic Readers is a fantastic children’s book series for all things science. They’re full of pictures and facts. This edition is dedicated to the terrifying giants that once roamed the earth: Dinosaurs!
4. The Life of a Honey Bee by Tyra Washington
A perfect book for new readers, The Life of a Honey Bee uses simple language and plenty of pictures. Learn all about how a honey bee queen makes her hive, and how her workers make honey.
5. National Geographic Readers: Robots by Melissa Stewart
This Readers series is about robots of today and tomorrow. Learn about the science behind these amazing machines; an awesome kids nonfiction book idea!
6. Neo Leo: The Ageless Ideas of Leonardo da Vinci by Gene Barratta
Will your child grow up to be an artist, inventor, engineer, or a scientist? If they’re like Leonardo da Vinci, perhaps they’ll be all of these things at once! Barretta’s picture book explores the ways in which Leonardo’s ideas foreshadowed the technology of today.
7. Pop! The Invention of Bubblegum by Meghan McCarthy
This picture book explores the surprising history of bubblegum. It’s funny and informative!
8. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena and Franscesca Cavallo
We absolutely love this one. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls features 100 bedtime stories starring great women from Elizabeth I to Serena Williams.
9. National Geographic Readers: Planets by Elizabeth Carney
Space is awesome! Need we say more? The best part of kids nonfiction books is that they are reading + learning something about their surroundings and we all know about the endless amount of information we can learn and continue to learn about space!
10. Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh
10 years before Brown vs. Board of Education, Sylvia Mendez and her parents helped end school segregation in California. Accompanied by beautiful illustrations, Separate is Never Equal is an inspiring story of perseverance in the struggle for justice.
Do you have any kids nonfiction books to recommend to us? Be sure to get in touch! We’d love to hear from you.
Happy Back to School Reading!
Your Laurus Crew
