Growing Reader
Tween
12 Nonfiction Books Kids Will
Actually Read
by Kari Ness Riedel
Over the past couple of years, you may have noticed your child’s teachers placing greater emphasis on reading nonfiction. With the adoption of Common Core standards in many states, elementary-school students are now expected to spend 50% of their reading time on literature and 50% on informational texts (i.e., nonfiction) to help them develop deeper knowledge of the world.
While some kids naturally gravitate toward informational writing, those who love a good story often feel that reading nonfiction is a chore. Drawing from my web site Bookopolis.com — a social network where kids between the ages of 7 and 13 safely share reviews and book recommendations with friends — here are 12 nonfiction books that have gotten rave reviews from young readers.
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Picture Books with Complex Texts
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Worst of Friends: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and the True Story of an American Feud
History meets humor as readers learn about the rivalry and friendship between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams and about the issues they tackled in the early days of American government. Recommended for 4th grade and up.
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Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum
The delightfully entertaining history of gum and of how our modern-day love of bubble gum came to be. It reads like a great fictional story, made even better by McCarthy’s fantastic illustrations. Recommended for 3rd grade and up.
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I, Fly: The Buzz About Flies and How Awesome They Are
For kids who need to be grossed out to be engrossed, this is a great pick. Told from the point of view of a fly who is irritated by everyone’s fascination with butterflies, this book leaves the reader with amazing knowledge about an oft-overlooked insect. Recommended for 2nd grade and up.
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Facts & Figures
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Guinness World Records 2016
Each page is full of superhuman achievements, wacky animal talents, crazy natural occurrences, or other wild records. These are great books to read along with your kids if you need a few cocktail-party conversation topics. Recommended for 3rd grade and up.
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Weird but True! series
These books fly off the shelves at our school book fair. Kids do not even realize they are learning as they absorb these random facts about science, food, geography, boy bands, and more. Recommended for 3rd grade and up.
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Ken Jennings’ Junior Genius Guides
This series from "Jeopardy!" star Ken Jennings tackles topics from ancient Egypt to U.S. presidents to outer space and beyond in a kid-friendly and engaging way. You and your kids will feel smarter after reading these. Recommended for 3rd grade and up.
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Graphic Novel Autobiographies
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El Deafo
This Newbery Honor book is the author’s true story of suffering hearing loss at age four and of her experiences navigating elementary school with her Phonic Ear hearing aids. Funny, sweet, and relatable to all kids. Recommended for 3rd grade and up.
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Smile
Being in sixth grade is hard enough — but it was made worse for author Raina Telgemeier when she fell and knocked out her two front teeth. Smile recounts her painful and hilarious adventures of orthodontic treatments and the other struggles she overcomes throughout middle and high school. Kids literally line up to check out this über-popular book from the library. Recommended for 4th grade and up.
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Relish: My Life in the Kitchen
The coming-of-age story of Lucy, a comic artist who is the daughter of a chef and a foodie. Filled with recipes and memories of food that shaped her family life, friendships, and career choices, this book is great for kids who have an interest in cooking or just enjoy a good memoir. Some mature references; recommended for 6th grade and up.
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Nonfiction Narratives for More Advanced Readers
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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Young Readers Edition)
This is the exciting story of William Kamkwamba, a young boy from Malawi, and how he used scrap metal to invent a windmill and bring electricity to his tiny village. His journey is inspiring and gives kids a broader, more global perspective. Recommended for 5th grade and up.
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Bomb: The Race to Build — and Steal — the World's Most Dangerous Weapon
This Newbery Honor book tells the frightening and suspenseful story of how the atomic bomb came to be. Thought-provoking and engaging, this is great for students interested in history. Recommended for 5th grade and up.
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The Port Chicago 50
This is the true story of a massive explosion that killed hundreds of sailors at the segregated navy base in Port Chicago, California, during World War II. Sheinkin’s account looks deeply at the prejudice and racial injustice that are not often addressed in wartime histories. Recommended for 6th grade and up.
