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
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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...
I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916 : A Graphic Novel (I Survived Graphic Novel #2). I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916: A Graphic Novel (I Survived Graphic Novel #2)
Ball, Georgia
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...
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!
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. . . ....
The book of heroines : tales of history's gutsiest gals
Drimmer, Stephanie Warren
Paper Book
Everybody needs a role model! Discover true stories of superstars, war heroes, world leaders, gusty gals, and everyday women who changed the world. From Sacagawea to Mother Teresa, Annie Oakley to...
Where on earth?
Abramson, Helen
Paper Book
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
Did you know that the earth is covered in three trillion trees? And that seven billion people weigh about the same as ten quadrillion ants? Our world is full of constantly changing numbers, from a hundred billion trillion stars in space to thirty-seven billion rabbits on Earth. Can you imagine that...
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...
Video games : design and code your own adventure, with 17 projects
Ceceri, Kathy
Paper Book
Catch a glimpse inside a school bus and you'll see lots of kids looking down. What are they doing? They're deciding on strategy, building cities, setting traps for monsters, sharing resources, and nurturing critical relationships. Over 90 percent of kids ages 2-17 play video games....
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...
Weird but true! USA : 300 fascinating facts about the fifty states
Paper Book
It's weird. It's true. And now, it's red, white, and blue! Explore the wonderfully wacky side of the United States of America Weird But True! style. Calling all patriots! Get ready to explore wacky wonders, facts, stats, tidbits, and trivia about America's 50 states and...
The astronaut's guide to leaving the planet
Virts, Terry
Paper Book
In this exciting book, a former NASA astronaut inspires the next generation of space travelers with answers to all kids' questions on how people become astronauts, how they prepare for space travel, and what it's like to live and work in space. A kid's guide to...
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.
Ebook
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...
A journey under the sea
Foster, Craig, (Filmmaker)
Paper Book
From the creator of the Oscar-winning documentary My Octopus Teacher and his diving partner comes a best-in-class photographic picture book about the wonders of the sea. Here's an ode to the mysteries of the ocean, the animals who share our planet, and the healing power of nature from the...
Stories for kids who dare to be different : true tales of amazing people who stood up and stood out
Brooks, Ben
Paper Book
From the New York Times bestselling creators behind Stories for Boys Who Dare to Be Different, this book breaks the stereotype that boys will be boys and girls will be girls by celebrating extraordinary people who break the rules and make positive change.<...
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...

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