We partnered with Candlewick Press books to review some of their new non-fiction books for kids. These 14 children’s books are full of fun facts, true stories, and beautiful illustrations. I’m providing a brief summary and linking to each of the new non-fiction books for kids. Check them out and share them with a little reader in your life!

Non-Fiction Books for Kids

The Sun Shines on the Sea

The Sun Shines on the Sea (ages 3-5): written and illustrated by Michael Slack

This lift-the-flap board book provides a simple introduction to the food chain. The playful illustrations follow the ocean food chain from krill to fish to shark to whale. The flaps reveal what is in each creature’s belly. The book even has an unexpected twist for young toddlers, as one of the largest animals enjoys feasting on one of the very smallest. This book definitely got some gasps and giggles from our young daughters!

We Are One: How the World Adds Up

We Are One: How the World Adds Up (ages 3-7): written by Susan Hood and illustrated by Linda Yan

This book is a fun look at early math concepts such as part/whole, fractions, and addition. It encourages kids to consider concepts such as two slices of bead make one sandwich, seven colors make one rainbow, and nine innings make one baseball game. It is a fascinating concept that shows that parts are necessary to the whole!

Ada and the Galaxies

Ada and the Galaxies (ages 4-6): written by Alan Lightman and Olga Pastuchiv and illustrated by Susana Chapman

Our girls love learning about the stars, moon, and space. This story follows young Ada, a girl who loves stargazing, as she visits her grandparents in Maine. She goes on outdoor adventures during the day, but longs for the the sun to set so she can gaze at the stars. She becomes concerned that the fog will spoil her plans, but weather can be unpredictable. This beautiful book layers real photographs taken from the Hubble telescope into the artwork!

The Girl Who Could Fix Anything, Beatrice Shilling, World War II Engineer

The Girl Who Could Fix Anything, Beatrice Shilling, World War II Engineer (ages 5-9): written by Mara Rockliff and illustrated by Daniel Duncan

We love reading books to our girls about amazing women in history. This is the true story of Beatrice Shilling, whose brilliance and mechanical expertise helped Britain win World War II. She was an engineer whose hard work and perseverance persuaded the Royal Aircraft Establishment to give her a chance. Then she helped solve an engine problem in the fighter planes which turned out to be a turning point in modern history. Her ingenuity is an inspiring example to young readers.

Prehistoric Pets

Prehistoric Pets (ages 5-9): written by Dean Lomax and illustrated by Mike Love

This fun pop-up books gives kids a close-up look at the prehistoric ancestors of seven of our favorite modern pets. The paleontologist author uses fossil clues to reveal the ancient creatures that have become the animals we currently know and love. This book is full of fun facts about animals and fossils!

Bake, Make, and Learn to Cook, Fun and Healthy Recipes for Young Cooks

Bake, Make, and Learn to Cook, Fun and Healthy Recipes for Young Cooks (ages 5-9): written by David Atherto and illustrated by Rachel Stubbs

Our family loves watching The Great British Baking Show together! This cookbook for young cooks was written by the 2019 winner, David Atherto. The aspiring young chefs in our home are excited to try creating (and tasting!) these mouthwatering recipes together!

Bei Bei Goes Home

Bei Bei Goes Home (ages 6-9): written by Cheryl Bardoe

This book follows the story of the giant panda Bei Bei, who was born in 2015 at the National Zoo in Washington DC. The zookeepers monitored the mother panda and baby by camera, and millions of viewers logged on to the zoo website each day to watch the videos, causing the cub to become an instant celebrity and capturing hearts all over the world. Eventually Bei Bei would make a trip to China, the only country where giant pandas live in the wild, to embark on an important new mission to help prevent giant pandas from becoming extinct. This book is full of real photographs, and lots of interesting facts for young readers!

When We Say Black Lives Matter

When We Say Black Lives Matter (ages 6-9): written and illustrated by Maxine Beneba Clarke

This book explores the meaning behind the Black Lives Matter motto. The narrator explains to a young Black child the strength and resonance behind the words in different situations. The powerful words are paired with moving jewel tones illustrations. This is a helpful book for explaining big concepts to young readers.

Nano The Spectacular Science of the Very (Very) Small

Nano The Spectacular Science of the Very (Very) Small (ages 6-9): written by Jess Wade and illustrated by Melissa Castrillón

We love exploring STEM concepts with our young daughters. This book is a perfect introduction to the world of nanoscience. It is written by a physicist and explores the tiny building blocks that make up the world around us. Atoms, elements, and other very small materials can be used to create nanotechnology, which is a fascinating concept!

Fearless, The Story of Daphne Caruana Galizia, Defender of Free Speech

Fearless, The Story of Daphne Caruana Galizia, Defender of Free Speech (ages 7-9): written by Gattaldo

This book follows the life of Daphne Caruana Galizia, who wanted to be a writer from the time she was a little girl. She used words and pictures to share important stories about her country, engaged in peaceful protests, and worked for a national newspaper as a political journalist, taking on criminals through her writing. She was a fearless advocate for truth and justice, and this book is a fascinating look at her life and legacy.

¡Mambo Mucho Mambo! The Dance That Crossed Color Lines

¡Mambo Mucho Mambo! The Dance That Crossed Color Lines (ages 7-9): written by Dean Robbins and illustrated by Eric Velasquez

This book is set in 1940s New York City. It follows the journey of Millie who danced to jazz music in her Italian neighborhood, and Pedro who danced to Latin songs in his Puerto Rican neighborhood, but they were forbidden to dance together. Then a band and a ballroom broke the rules, as Machito and His Afro-Cubans created a new type of music called Latin jazz and the Palladium Ballroom set aside segregation and invited everyone to dance. This story shows the power of music and dance to transcend racial, religious, and ethnic boundaries.

Africa, Amazing Africa, Country by Country

Africa, Amazing Africa, Country by Country (ages 7-10): written by Atinuke and illustrated by Mouni Feddag

This beautiful book explores the entire continent of Africa, showcasing the uniqueness of all 55 African countries. It covers geography, peoples, animals, history, resources, and cultural diversity. The pages are full of facts about science, industry, food, sports, music, wildlife, landscape features, and even the local languages. This book is perfect as a colorful social studies resource in schools or at home.

Ducks Overboard! A True Story of Plastic in Our Oceans

Ducks Overboard! A True Story of Plastic in Our Oceans (ages 7-10): written and illustrated by Markus Motum

This captivating story follows a real incident, in which a shipping container filled with 28,000 plastic ducks spilled into the Pacific Ocean. Where would all those ducks go? This book looks at the pollution crisis in our oceans, by following one of the ducks as it is washed away on ocean currents, encountering plastic-endangered whales and sea turtles and passing through the giant floating island of marine debris known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Colossus The World’s Most Amazing Feats of Engineering

Colossus The World’s Most Amazing Feats of Engineering (ages 8-12): written by Colin Hynson and illustrated by Giulia Lombardo

This book explores some of the greatest feats of engineering in history, from ancient pyramids to enormous bridges to towering skyscrapers. It’s a fascinating look at how people have used engineering throughout the years to create innovative designs for buildings, bridges, monuments, dams, and tunnels. It also provides inspiration for things we could learn to build or create using scientific and engineering principles!

Need other book ideas? Check out our Favorite Children’s Books, New Books for Kids, Holiday Books for Kids, Books for Kids (That Also Teach!), and Top 12 Tidy Books for Kids.

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