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Nonfiction Fact Books for Kids

10 Fun Nonfiction Fact Books for Kids

Posted on February 3, 2017April 30, 2024 by Pragmatic Mom

I’m not sure if it’s a boy versus girl thing, but my son loves nonfiction fact books much more than my two daughters ever did. I have to say that I’m enjoying learning about various topics; I feel like I’m preparing for Jeopardy! or an intense round of Trivial Pursuit.

I’m giving away a copy of My Encyclopedia of Very Important Things by DK, a gateway book for younger kids to explore nonfiction reference books. Please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom to enter.

What about you? Do you and your kids like nonfiction books? Thanks for sharing your favorites in the comments!

10 Fun Nonfiction Fact Books for Kids

My Encyclopedia of Very Important Things by DK

This is a four-color appealing encyclopedia for younger kids. With illustrations mixed with photographs, there is plenty of explanations written in short, simple sentences to keep kids engaged. It’s perfect for young learners with lots of questions. [nonfiction illustrated encyclopedia, ages 5 and up]

It Can’t Be True 2 by DK

This is similar to National Geographic Kids 5,000 Awesome Facts [About Everything] so when you finish up that book and feel a void, continue with this series by DK. My son and I are working our way through the National Geographic Kids series of fact books and these fact-based trivia books make perfect bedtime reading material because you can start and stop at any point, making for easier “lights out.” It Can’t Be True 2 series has more illustrations with a bigger type than the National Geographic Kids 5,000 Awesome Facts so it might be more appealing to reluctant readers. If you read aloud to your child, you can start at a younger age, like 5 or 6. If your child is reading independently, then this series would be perfect for ages 8 and up. [nonfiction factbook, ages 6 and up]

5,000 Awesome Facts (About Everything) 3

Find fascinating knowledge nuggets on all kinds of cool topics, from bubble gum and ice cream to outer space and the North Pole! This book offers hours of unplugged fun for curious kids who love to be the trivia expert in the family. [nonfiction factbook, ages 8 and up]

Weird but True 8

Kids love Weird But True! The latest, and greatest in this endlessly fascinating series – now with more than 20 titles — is full of 300 all-new wild and wacky facts and pictures. [nonfiction fact book, ages 8 and up]

National Geographic Kids Almanac 2017

Get inspired for the year ahead with the most popular kids’ almanac on the planet! It features 350+ pages of incredible photos, fun facts, news, activities, and features about animals, science, exploration, technology, culture, and more. [nonfiction fact book, ages 8 and up]

Science Stunts: Fun Feats of Physics by Jordan D. Brown, illustrated by Anthony Owsley

I like this book more than Oh, Ick! below because with 25 experiments, it’s more manageable. Also, this book is in four color, making it more appealing to read. These experiments also are easier to pull off; the requirements for the tricks tend to be common household objects. I also like how the science behind each trick is explained in detail. This is the kind of science experiment book that my son would like. I would use this for summer entertainment with him. [nonfiction science experiment book, ages 8 and up]

Oh, Ick!: 114 Science Experiments Guaranteed to Gross You Out! by Joy Masoff, Jessica Garrett, and Ben Ligon

This giant book of gross science experiments would be good for homeschoolers or for summer activities. The text is pretty dense and it’s printed in two color so older kids might like flipping around and reading it but it might be too much text for younger kids. [nonfiction science experiment books, ages 8 and up]

Who Wins?: 100 Historical Figures Go Head-to-Head and You Decide the Winner by Clay Swartz, illustrated by Tom Booth

This is a kind of gamer version of history. There are two panels of historical figures with their bios and little-known facts on the back. The middle panel is the challenge of Who Wins? For example, between two figures that the reader selects, who would sell the most Girl Scout Cookies? Or Survive a zombie apocalypse. The game is set up so that you rank them in six categories: wealth, fitness, wisdom, bravery, artistry, leadership, and intelligence. This is a fun way to learn about a wide range of people from across history. Think of it as a book that is disguised as a board game. [nonfiction historical fiction reading game, ages 8 and up]

Super Cool Tech: Technology, Invention, Innovation by DK

I do like this four-color book that explains how things work but I don’t like how the book is bound vertically but meant to be read horizontally. It’s unwieldy to read it that way, especially for my son and I as we like to read lying down in bed at night. Still, my son will like this factoid book that includes how objects that he owns — Xbox One, 3-D Pen, and Glow Sticks — work, as well as other interesting feats of science, engineering, and technology. [nonfiction fact book, ages 8 and up]

The Skeleton Book: Get to Know Your Bones, Inside Out by DK

My 12-year-old son is learning the basics of anatomy in order to improve his manga drawing skills so I’ll pull out this interesting reference book for him as the need arises. My 11th-grade daughter will also benefit from this book as she plans to study Anatomy next year. This is a visually beautifully designed book, though the font size is pretty small. It’s fun to flip through and the information that compares human anatomy to that of different animals is fascinating. [nonfiction reference book on skeletons, ages 8 and up]

My Encyclopedia of Very Important Things by DK GIVEAWAY

Please fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter. I can only mail to U.S. addresses due to the high cost of shipping.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

p.s. Related posts:

Books for 8yold Boy Reluctant Reader

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From Reluctant Reader to Voracious Reader: What Worked for Me

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Best Books for Boy Readers, Reluctant or Otherwise (ages 7-14): Part 2, Authors M-Z

Best Books for Boy Readers, Reluctant or Otherwise (ages 7-14): Part 1, Authors A-L

Best Books for Boy Readers, Reluctant or Otherwise: Part 3 (Non-Fiction)

Best Books for Boy Readers, Reluctant or Otherwise (ages 7-14)

Books for Reluctant Boy Readers

Hi-Lo Books for Middle Readers

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Fun Nonfiction Fact Books for Kids & GIVEAWAY!

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28 thoughts on “10 Fun Nonfiction Fact Books for Kids”

  1. Mother of 3 says:
    February 3, 2017 at 8:26 am

    My boys love the Weird but True and Amazing Facts series!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      April 7, 2017 at 8:21 am

      My son too!! And I have read so many of them that I am hooked too! National Geographic Kids has such engaging nonfiction factoid books for kids!

      Reply
  2. Julie F says:
    February 3, 2017 at 8:45 am

    I love these type of books for kids! Such a nice switch up from chapter books!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      April 7, 2017 at 8:22 am

      Hi Julie F,

      I agree! There are times at bedtime where we don’t have much time so reading a chapter from a chapter book is not going to work but reading the nonfiction books is perfect because we can skip around and it feels as satisfying as a longer read.

      Reply
  3. Olivia says:
    February 3, 2017 at 9:23 am

    Awesome list – you can’t go wrong with National Geographic! And the Who Wins? series looks interesting since they get to decide who “wins” based on the facts presented.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      April 7, 2017 at 8:22 am

      Hi Olivia,

      I need to read the Who Wins? books!! Thanks for that great suggestion!

      Reply
  4. Patricia Tilton says:
    February 3, 2017 at 11:54 am

    Our 10-year-old great granddaughter loves books that have facts — the stranger the better. Great suggestions.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      April 7, 2017 at 8:23 am

      Hi Patricia,
      I am new to these nonfiction fact books. My son introduced me and I do think they are fascinating! I’m glad girls enjoy them too. My two girls didn’t read these kinds of books, so I missed them.

      Reply
  5. Kathy says:
    February 3, 2017 at 3:18 pm

    We have a book called Hippos Can’t Swim and Other Fun Facts that is full of fun and unusual facts about animals – fun for kids and adults!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      April 7, 2017 at 8:24 am

      Hi Kathy,
      That book sounds great!!! Will look for it! Also did not realize that about hippos!

      Reply
  6. Elaine Butler says:
    February 3, 2017 at 5:58 pm

    Children’s books about facts are a good starter for adults wanting to start studying a new subject. They give a starting point and help the reader learn the basics.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      April 7, 2017 at 8:25 am

      That’s a great point Elaine! I like how they are quick reads and allow for flipping around. We appreciate the design of the book too as the page layout becomes really important.

      Reply
  7. John Smith says:
    February 3, 2017 at 11:24 pm

    The best nonfiction books for kids are collections of biographies, or books with wacky, interesting information about animals, the world, etc.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      April 7, 2017 at 8:25 am

      We like those kinds of books too! I haven’t seen as many on people than animals or the world though.

      Reply
  8. maryanne @ mama smiles says:
    February 4, 2017 at 1:04 am

    My kids love the National Geographic book as well as the DK books. This one you are giving away sounds excellent.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      April 7, 2017 at 8:25 am

      Hi MaryAnne,
      We love those two series too! This series would fit right in!

      Reply
  9. Jennifer Oliger says:
    February 4, 2017 at 6:35 pm

    My fourth-graders love non-fiction, which is about half of our classroom library. They especially like The Who/What Was? and Who Would Win series?

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      April 7, 2017 at 8:27 am

      I have to find those series! Thanks so much for putting it on my radar Jennifer!! My son loves nonfiction fact books so I am just now exploring this genre with him.

      Reply
  10. Tina Estlinbaum says:
    February 5, 2017 at 10:54 am

    So excited about ALL of these great books!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      April 7, 2017 at 8:29 am

      Thanks so much for entering Tina!!

      Reply
  11. Ashleigh Kane says:
    February 5, 2017 at 2:23 pm

    My boy loves to read about bugs and the skeleton. Nat Geo is a favorite!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      April 7, 2017 at 8:30 am

      My son is the same!!

      Reply
  12. Alyssa Annico says:
    February 6, 2017 at 8:33 am

    Anything with animals is always a hit!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      April 7, 2017 at 8:31 am

      Hi Alyssa,
      For us too!

      Reply
  13. Erik - TKRB says:
    February 10, 2017 at 9:30 am

    That’s a really neat list! I’ve found that I like nonfiction books that are slightly older for some reason. I just usually find them more interesting. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      April 7, 2017 at 3:04 pm

      I can see that! You are probably learning so much from nonfiction books; the younger books are full of factoids to get kids reading which is fun too.

      Reply
  14. olga says:
    February 19, 2017 at 6:34 pm

    My favorite book is Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      April 7, 2017 at 4:52 pm

      I heard that book is great Olga. It seems sad so I’ve avoided it.

      Reply

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