Kids Nonfiction for Reluctant Readers

Pique your child's interest in reading by introducing books about topics aligned with their curiosities and pursuits.

Updated June 9, 2026
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
Ultimate showdown : 5 books in 1!
Pallotta, Jerry
Paper Book
Who Would Win? is back with another exciting bind-up featuring five more books in this action-packed animal series! What if one dangerous animal had a fight with another? Who do you think would win? In this five-book bind-up of the popular Who Would Win? series, kids will learn...
I survived the attack of the grizzlies, 1967
Tarshis, Lauren
Paper Book
New York Times bestselling author Lauren Tarshis tackles the historic grizzly bear attacks in Glacier National Park in this latest installment of the groundbreaking I Survived series. No grizzly has ever killed a human in Glacier before . . . until tonight. Eleven-year-old Melody...
The shark attacks of 1916
Tarshis, Lauren.
Paper Book
Based on true events! It's the summer of 1916 and the Jersey shore is being terrorized by a Great White shark. Can 10-year-old Chet and his friends survive a swim in the local creek? Chet Roscow is finally feeling at home in Elm Hills, New Jersey. He has a job with his uncle Jerry...
This or that? : the wacky book of choices to reveal the hidden you
Boyer, Crispin
Paper Book
Would you rather walk on hot coals or swim in the Arctic Ocean?  Learn to fly a helicopter or learn to perform open-heart surgery? Be frozen and then thawed out in the future at the age you are now or live forever? Welcome to the Book of Choices, where every answer brings you one...
Deadliest Animals
Stewart, Melissa.
Paper Book
Did you know that a tiny golf ball-sized creature called the blue-ringed octopus contains enough venom to kill 26 adult humans? Or why the Sydney funnel web spider is one of the most dangerous creatures in the world? In this Level 3 book, kids will be fascinated by 12 species that you hope you'll...
National Geographic kids almanac 2026
Paper Book
Packed with incredible photos, tons of fun facts, activities, exclusive National Geographic Explorer interviews, and fascinating features about animals, science, nature, and more! Kids who want to know everything about everything need the National Geographic Kids Almanac!...
Shark lady : the true story of how Eugenie Clark became the ocean's most fearless scientist
Keating, Jess
Paper Book
One of New York Times' Twelve Books for Feminist Boys and Girls! This is the story of a woman who dared to dive, defy, discover, and inspire. This is the story of Shark Lady. One of the best science picture books for children, Shark Lady is a must for both teachers and parents alike!
Minecraft : the unlikely tale of Markus "Notch" Persson and the game that changed everything
Goldberg, Daniel
Paper Book
A few years ago, 32-year-old Markus Notch' Persson of Stockholm was an unknown and bored computer programmer. Today, he is a multi-millionaire international icon. Here, the creator of Minecraft opens up for the first time about his life. About his old Lego-filled desk at school. About the first...
Pokémon big book of facts : with hundreds of facts about the pokémon world.
Beecroft, Simon
Paper Book
Discover more than 1,500 facts about all things Pokémon in this must-have guide Become a Pokémon expert with this fact-packed book full of need-to-know info from the Pokédex. Covering the different Pokémon types, regions, habitats, and more, the Pokémon Big Book of Facts...
Donner dinner party : a pioneer tale
Hale, Nathan
Paper Book
In author-illustrator Nathan Hale's Donner Dinner Party, discover the shocking and true story of the ill-fated expedition in this Hazardous Tale from the New York Times bestselling graphic novel series. "These books are, quite simply, brilliant. . . ....
Where on earth?
Abramson, Helen
Map
You will be hard-pressed to find a more impressive children's atlas than this one! Tour the world on a 3D action-packed journey of fun fact discovery. Our Earth is brought to life through stunning, specially commissioned 3D maps and artworks. Uncover incredible geographical...
A hundred billion trillion stars
Fishman, Seth
Paper Book
A Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book * Winner of the Mathical Book Prize Perfect for curious children, classrooms eager for STEM content, and readers who have devoured Ada Twist, Scientist and How Much Is a Million?, this nonfiction picture book is an excellent...
What was the Titanic?
Sabol, Stephanie
Paper Book
For more than one hundred years, people have been captivated by the disastrous sinking of the Titanic that claimed over 1,500 lives. Now young readers can find out why the great ship went down and how it was discovered seventy-five years later. At 2-20 a.m. on April 15, 1912, the...
Packing for Mars for kids
Roach, Mary
Paper Book
What is it like to float weightlessly in the air? What happens if you vomit in your helmet during a spacewalk? How do astronauts go to the bathroom? Is it true that they don't shower? Can farts really be deadly in space? Best-selling Mary Roach has the answers. In this...
First big book of how
Symes, Sally
Paper Book
A compendious and stunningly illustrated fact-filled book for children who have endless questions about how the world works. How do scientists see into space? How do polar bears keep warm? How do keys open locks? How do fireworks explode? Featuring more than 150 compelling questions...
The curse of the mummy : uncovering Tutankhamun's tomb
Fleming, Candace
Paper Book
Award-winning and critically acclaimed author Candace Fleming presents the edge-of-your-seat true story of the search for Tutankhamun's tomb, the Western public's belief that the dig was cursed, and the battle for ownership of the treasures within. Scholastic Focus is the premier...
Counting on Katherine : how Katherine Johnson saved Apollo 13
Becker, Helaine
Paper Book
The bold story of Katherine Johnson, an African-American mathematician who worked for NASA during the space race and was depicted in the film Hidden Figures. You've likely heard of the historic Apollo 13 moon landing. But do you know about the mathematical genius...
Weird but true! dinosaurs : 300 dino-mite facts to sink your teeth into
Paper Book
Weird But True! is going prehistoric! This new addition to the wildly popular, mind-blowing, fact-packed series is taking on the jaws and claws that ruled the Mesozoic world. Calling all dino dynamos! Get ready to devour wacky wonders, facts, stats, and trivia about all things...
What fish are saying : strange sounds in the ocean
Pendreigh, Kirsten
Paper Book
Perfect for curious kids ages 4-8, parents, and educators seeking fun and educational reads! Did you know that fish grunt, shellfish crackle, and some sea creatures even burp and boop to communicate? Dive into a fascinating underwater adventure as one little...
Where do ocean creatures sleep at night?
Simmons, Steven J.
Paper Book
Ocean animals sleep, just like you! This informative, rhyming picture book dives deep to look at where and how ocean animals sleep in the sea. Many ocean animals are active during the day, but where and how do they sleep at night? From sharks to dolphins and sea turtles to...
What if you could sniff like a shark? : explore the superpowers of ocean animals
Markle, Sandra
Paper Book
If you could have any ocean animal's superpower, whose would you choose?What if you woke up one morning, and you suddenly had the superpower of an ocean animal? If you could shapeshift like a giant Pacific octopus, you could squeeze through even the smallest gaps. If you could snap your claws...
What is the story of Jurassic World?
Gigliotti, Jim
Paper Book
Prepare to be thrilled by an imaginary world where dinosaurs have been brought back to life and roam alongside humans in this Who HQ book all about Jurassic World! Discover the action-packed history of Jurassic World and how dinosaur fans of all ages came...
Stomp, soar, dino roar
Amato, Max
Paper Book
A romping, rhyming, onomatopoeic tale of Terri the Triceratops and the world of dinosaurs! Terri the Triceratops's world is full of strange sounds, from crawling critters and shaking trees to scorching volcanoes and frozen seas. As she embarks on a journey through the Late...
How tall was a T. Rex?
Limentani, Alison
Paper Book
Explore everyone's favorite dinosaur in this graphically striking and innovative picture book from an extraordinary new talent.   Everyone's fascinated by T.rex and wants to know what this big, fearsome creature was really like. ...
Why do elephants have big ears? : questions--and surprising answers--about animals
Jenkins, Steve
Paper Book
Fascinating "Why" questions about animals, and plenty of new ones, take center stage in the latest book by Caldecott Honor-winning duo Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. Do you know why a camel has a hump?  A Zebra has stripes?
Solar system : by the numbers
Jenkins, Steve
Paper Book
By the Numbers infographic readers, accessible nonfiction packed with full-color cut-paper illustrations from Caldecott honor-winning Steve Jenkins. Solar Systems focuses on ever-astonishing outer space. Through infographics and illustrations readers will learn...
Toes, teeth, and tentacles : a curious counting book
Jenkins, Steve
Paper Book
This latest book by the Caldecott Honor-winning team of Steve Jenkins and Robin Page highlights the numerous strange and fascinating features and appendages from teeth to toes to tongues of all kinds of animals. Did you know... a praying mantis only has...

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.