Books by genre
Top 12 science and nature nonfiction books for kids
Great science books for kids let you open anywhere. This list favors picture-book nonfiction with strong art and reliable facts, plus reference books that answer a child's questions. Look for ones with a note from the author explaining sources.
Titles were chosen from award winners, ALSC notable lists and long-running library favorites, then each title and author was checked against Open Library in Oct 2026. Checked 2026-10-25. Nobody paid to be here. The buy links are plain search links, not affiliate links, so Peabody earns nothing from them.
Over and Under the Snow
Kate Messner · Ages 4-8
A girl and her father ski over a snowy world while animals live below. Lyrical and accurate.
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A Beetle Is Shy
Dianna Hutts Aston · Ages 5-9
Short phrases and long notes on beetles, flowers and animals. A series with Sylvia Long's art.
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Frogs
Nic Bishop · Ages 6-10
Photographs of frogs that look as though the frog is in your hand. Sibert Honor.
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What If You Had Animal Teeth?
Sandra Markle · Ages 5-9
A silly 'what if' that teaches about animal teeth. Colorful.
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Why? Over 1,111 Answers to Everything
Crispin Boyer · Ages 7-12
National Geographic Kids' collection of questions with short, factual answers.
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The Tree Lady
H. Joseph Hopkins · Ages 6-10
The story of Kate Sessions, who planted trees in San Diego.
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The Magic School Bus Inside the Human Body
Joanna Cole · Ages 6-10
Ms. Frizzle's class goes into a human body. Funny and accurate, with sidebars.
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Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World
Laurie Lawlor · Ages 6-10
How the author of Silent Spring got people to care about pesticides.
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Parrots over Puerto Rico
Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore · Ages 7-11
The efforts to save an endangered parrot. Sibert Medal.
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The Elephant Scientist
Caitlin O'Connell and Donna M. Jackson · Ages 8-12
Scientists study elephants in Africa. Sibert Honor.
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Tornadoes
Gail Gibbons · Ages 5-9
Diagrams of how tornadoes form and what to do. Simple and clear.
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National Geographic Kids Almanac
National Geographic Kids · Ages 7-12
An annual book of facts on animals, geography, science and games.
Watch for: Updated yearly; choose the newest.
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