Make reading time fun for your 4th grader with these interesting nonfiction books. Read about how trains worked 150 years back, or courageous story of a NASA Astronaut. And which 9-year-olds does not like to read about slimy, wiggly Eels! There is even a book for the artistically inclined. Dive in and have fun!
This post contains affiliate links.
Best Nonfiction Books for 4th Graders (9 Years)

Explore the below list of popular nonfiction books for your 4th grader to read.
Chasing Space
This book is the Winner of the 2019 Grand Canyon Reader Award for Tween Non-Fiction.
Authored by Leland Melvin, this is his remarkable life story. Leland – a football star, NASA astronaut, songwriter, and many more. Read this inspiring story of how he made dreams come true with courage and resolve, even when faced with injuries. This one is a popular nonfiction read for 9-year-olds.
Where Is Machu Picchu?
This book is part of highly popular Where Is series. As you read this book, it takes you back in time. Machu Picchu becomes alive with the simple yet and exciting storyline. A good historical nonfiction for fourth graders to read.
Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France
Read this interesting story of how Benjamin Franklin upstaged a fraud and helped the king and queen of France. The fraud was convincing people to pay money to cure illness, control thoughts, change tastes! Benjamin Franklin used scientific methods to prove him wrong.
The book is history and science rolled into one. The illustrations are creative and detailed. It is a narrative nonfiction to understand the power of the human mind.
Be Bold! Be Brave!
If you are looking for a motivational nonfiction for your 4th grader to read, this is a perfect choice. It narrates the story of eleven Latin women who made USA history in the fields of medicine, law, science, sports, politics.
This book tells the young children that no matter their background, kids can still excel in their choose field by sheer determination and hard work. The rhyming text and playfully clever pictures make this book a fun read.
Locomotive
Read how the American trains worked in the year 1869. The level of information and detailing is amazing. It even talks about the waste system working of the train. Reading the book, you get a feel of how it was being a train passenger or working on the train during that time.
The illustrations are technical while being quite gorgeous. Filled with interesting facts, this one is a popular nonfiction read.
Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera
Read the lifecycle of a honeybee in this artistically illustrated picture book. Understand how bees are important to the world. Also included are a two-page diagram of the bee’s body parts and two pages of reference material. This book is a great informational read about nature and science.
Eels (Superpower Field Guide)
Did you know eels have superpowers such as double invisibility, shape-shifting, and more! This slimy, wiggly creature and its extraordinary talents have continued to baffle scientists for a long. Read all about eels in this beautifully illustrated and fun book.
The Keeper: The Unguarded Story of Tim Howard
Read about star goalkeeper – Tim Howard, who created a record in the 2014 World Cup. Tim shares his remarkable journey from a child with Tourette Syndrome to reaching the world stage. It is an inspiring sports book for kids struggling with issues and who feel “different”.
The Arts: A Visual Encyclopedia
Take a tour through time and appreciate the greatest of paintings, sculptures, photography, music. The period covers paints from prehistoric caves to current street art. What interests the children, even more, is – the book narrates the facts behind the arts- why and how they are made.
An informative book for kids to learn to appreciate art and start a conversation around it.
Ugly
Read the true story of a boy with an “ugly” face in this narrative chapter book. Robert Hoge was born with a tumor on his face. Doctors had to remove his nose and create a new one from one of his toes. Read Robert’s story of extraordinary courage in the face of bullying and shunned by society. The book is a fabulous literary work.
When the Beat Was Born
Every child loves music. This informative book will tell your kid how popular American music hip hop was born. It covers the timeline from the time Clive Campbell – as a teenager, created it – to when it became a rage and must for any party.
Bugs: A Stunning Pop-up
One might think that a popup book is only for small children, but this book is an engineering marvel of smart paperwork. As you open the book and turn the pages, bugs pop out from everywhere. Look at the inside of the cockroach’s body, open wasp’s nest, and many more.
With useful fun information on every page, this book is a delight for bird lovers.
Prairie Boy
This nonfiction picture book narrates the early life experience and creative journey of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. A great book, showing how one’s imagination and passion can shape the world.
Spot the Differences Book 1
This book features many famous and well-known arts from Leonardo da Vinci, Van Gogh, Degas, and Rousseau. Two identical reproductions of the arts are shown side by side. Reader is asked to identify the differences.
Not only this book sharpens the observation skills, but it makes children appreciate arts in its minute details, which is sometimes overlooked.
The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs
If you are looking for a cooking book for your 4th grader, this is a perfect choice. Recipes tested by hundreds of kids, to make the instructions age-appropriate, along with step-by-step pictures and pro tips make the kids cook like an expert.
With a delectable spread of vegetarian recipes, this book is a healthy choice for children.
The Highlights Book of Things to Do
This book places creativity and imagination into one. With a variety of activities in the offering, it appeals to a wider age range.
Winner of many parental awards – this nonfiction Highlights books has an array of things to do. Included are – outside, inside, science experiments, cooking, recycling, write and many more activities.
How Reading Nonfiction Helps 4th Graders?
4th graders are independent readers and can comprehend complex texts. Reading nonfiction at this age helps develop knowledge about history, people, environment. Nonfiction also adds to the ever-growing vocabulary of 9-year-olds.