Books for Giving: Nonfiction for Children

Here are a few of our children’s librarians’ choices for great nonfiction books for children:

Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteauby Jennifer Berne
This dreamy picture book biography tells the story of the young French boy who fell in love with the sea and grew up to become the world’s most famous oceanographer. 

L Is for Lollygag: Quirky Words for a Clever Tongue (from Chronicle Books)
Gee whillikers! This outlandish dictionary is packed with a hodgepodge extravaganza of linguistic delights and has the wherewithall to entertain curious minds of all ages.

Women Daredevils: Thrills, Chills, and Frills by Julie Cummins
Between 1880 and 1929, the fourteen thrill-seeking women featured in this book challenged the conventions of their time by performing extraordinary, dangerous feats.

Grow It, Cook It (from DK Publishing)
Step-by-step instructions teach basic gardening and cooking techniques. Fun garden projects are paired with delicious, easy recipes for each vegetable or fruit grown.

How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly? by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
How many ways you can use a leaf, dig a hole, or catch a fly? Vivid paper collage is used to illustrate unique skills animals use to do amazing things.

Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman by Marc Tyler Nobleman
Ross MacDonald’s vintage, comic-book-style illustrations help to tell the tale of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, who created the first, and possibly greatest, superhero of all time.

Balls!: Round 2 by Michael J. Rosen
In this sequel to Balls!, learn more about dribbling, batting, rolling, tossing, bouncing, playing sports and games with that ever-versatile, round object – the ball.

Chee-Lin: A Giraffe’s Journey by James Rumford
Masterful storyteller and artist, James Rumford, shares the story of an African giraffe that was given as a gift to the emperor of China in the fifteenth century.

Eggs by Marilyn Singer
Amazing eggs of all shapes, sizes, and colors, and the animals that lay them, are realistically depicted in gorgeous water color illustrations by Emma Stevenson.

Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane by Carole Boston Weatherford
Brief text and vibrant illustrations introduce young readers to the musical childhood of jazz great, John Coltrane.

More suggestions for Books for Giving: See our Children’s Classics, Irresistible Books for Children, Chapter Books, Multicultural Books and Picture Books lists.