The best non-fiction books for children combine real facts with vivid storytelling and illustration. Top picks include Amy Gets Eaten by Adam Kay, Footprints by Stephen Davies, The Stuff That Stuff Is Made Of by Jonathan Drori, The Week Junior Real or Rubbish, Corpse Talk by Adam and Lisa Murphy and The Earth Transformed by Peter Frankopan.

Children are endlessly curious about the world around them, and they love collecting weird and wonderful facts. Our round-up covers every age from toddlers to teens, with books that turn “why?” and “how?” into a love of learning. Whether your child is a keen reader or a reluctant one, there’s something here for them.

Non-Fiction for Babies and Toddlers 

Jamie’s Little Food Library by Jamie Oliver

In A Dash of Fun and a Pinch of Learning, our Series of the Month feature, we explore how Jamie Oliver’s board books introduce toddlers to food, cooking and discovery. With flaps to lift, vibrant illustrations and simple, playful language, they spark curiosity about ingredients and kitchen skills from an early age.

A First Book of Dinosaurs by Simon Mole and Matt Hunt 

A glorious celebration of everything dinosaur! Simon Mole’s witty poems bring these amazing creatures and their long-ago past to life capturing their curious characteristics through fresh and unexpected details. Don't miss Simon performing some of the poems in the videos on the book pages. 

Non-fiction for ages 5-8

Start Small, Think Big by Mary Auld 

Mary Auld’s factual storybook series weaves true facts, narrative and imagination together to help children see the big picture behind everyday things. Our feature, Start Small, Think Big: A Fascinating Factual Story Book Series, shows why it’s a great way to encourage knowledge, wonder and conversation.

The Let’s Talk series by Molly Potter

Written by bestselling author and PSHE expert Molly Potter, these books use engaging stories and supportive prompts to help children explore feelings, relationships and everyday challenges. Read more in The Let’s Talk Series. They’re a useful resource for parents and carers who want to open up dialogue.

Cosmic Cruise by Owen Davey 

This stunningly illustrated book in Owen Davey’s distinctive style is an actual space tour, with a knowledgeable and friendly guide taking readers aboard the spaceship. It’s a highly appealing book on a very popular topic.

A River Running Through You by Amy-Jane Beer

Bestselling nature writer Amy-Jane Beer spirals through time and space to show that water is more than a resource: it is part of who we are. An excellent example of an informational picture book, it complements topic work on rivers for a wide age range and is a beautiful, enjoyable learning resource.

Non-fiction for ages 8-12

The All About series from Collins Kids

Packed with facts, super stats and Q&As with experts, these books are ideal for school projects, homework or a rabbit hole at home. Topics include Earthquakes and Volcanoes, Dinosaurs, Space and Animals.

African Queens by Onyinye Iwu 

A great gift for history-loving children, and well suited to the classroom. Author and illustrator Onyinye Iwu is a secondary school teacher, and the book covers the extraordinary feats of its subjects across all corners of the African continent over 2,000 years.

Once Upon an Island by Alice Albina 

This beautifully illustrated atlas introduces 20 islands across the globe, covering their geography, fauna and flora, people and stories. It informs young readers and also instils an awareness of the unique magic of islands.

Money and You by Anna Young, Joanne Bell and Astra Birch 

This series makes financial ideas clear and age-appropriate, guiding young readers through spending, saving, earning and value with stories and practical examples. Our feature, Money and You: Helping Children Understand the World of Money, explains how it works at home or in the classroom.

The Wonder of Life on Earth by Henry Gee, illustrated by Raxenne Maniquiz 

Nature writer Henry Gee and botanical illustrator Raxenne Maniquiz tell the story of life on Earth, from its very beginnings to its end, perhaps a billion years from now. It informs, fascinates and inspires in equal measure.

Non-fiction for older children and teens

Big Ideas from The School of Life 

This series turns complex emotional, social and philosophical ideas into accessible, beautifully illustrated books for young readers and their grownups. In Big Ideas from The School of Life, we explore why it’s an excellent pick for parents and teachers who want children to think more broadly about life, values and relationships.

The Earth Transformed by Peter Frankopan, illustrated by Romolo D’Hipolito 

Fresh, fact-packed and stunningly illustrated, this book widens the lens through which young readers understand world history. It begins with the Big Bang and cataclysmic events in Earth’s distant past, then moves to the origin of our species and how environmental change shaped human evolution.

Questions we get asked

Are there non-fiction books for toddlers?
Yes! Non-fiction is great for toddlers starting to learn about the world around them and these books will also introduce a wonderful array of new words. Jamie’s Little Food Library explores food and simple recipes, The Nose, Toes and Tummy Book helps little ones learn about their own bodies, and 50 Words about Nature: Animals is a great early information book describing different animals in words and pictures.

What are the best non-fiction books for 5-year-olds?
By 5 many children have started to find subjects and topics that fascinate them - space, dinosaurs, animals, flags, football players....find books for all of these subjects and more in this collection or scroll down for links to some specialist book collections. 

What non-fiction books are best for school projects and homework?
For Geography projects the All About series from Collins Kids is full of facts, stats and expert Q&As on topics including Space, Dinosaurs, Animals, and Earthquakes and Volcanoes. The What Was It Like to Be...series by David Long is great for popular history topics such as Ancient Greece, Rome, the Vikings and Egypt. And Giselle Clarkson's guides are non fiction and graphic novel style information books that are great for science projects on nature and wildlife.

How do I get a reluctant reader interested in non-fiction?
The best way to get a reluctant reader to read is to find out what they are interested in. Music, pets, sport, cooking...we have expertly curated book collections created around popular hobbies and interests for children in our Best Books for Kids Who series to help hook young kids into reading...

Take Off: Best Children's Books for Kids Who Love Space

Roarsome: Best Children's Books for Kids Who Love Dinosaurs

Play On: Best Children's Books for Kids Who Love Sport

Sing it: Best Children's Books About Music

And find many more in our Best Books for Kids Who...series

And as most of our featured titles have an opening extract to download you can take a peek inside the books before you order. 

Scroll down for our favourite recently published factual titles, plus some timeless favourites that have been inspiring children for years.