Introduce your 1-4 years-old to the fascinating world of nonfiction with these beautifully illustrated informational books. Nature, animals, biographies, and more! These picture books for toddlers and preschoolers are highly recommended. The short stories are suitable for preschoolers’ attention span. Choose one based on the child’s interest and let fun learning begin!
21 Best Nonfiction Books For Toddlers & Preschoolers
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Here are the 21 best informational books for toddlers and preschoolers.
You can find them in your local library or nearby bookstores. If they are unavailable locally, you can click on the links or images below to purchase from Amazon.
Table of contents
Nonfiction Books – Nature, Animals
1. Hello, World! Birds
Young kids find birds interesting. Now teach your young one about birds of different shapes, colors, sizes. Each page of the book has a picture of a bird and a few interesting pieces of information about it. The added effect for the bird sounds makes story-time exciting. It is a perfect read-aloud book for toddlers and preschoolers.
2. Whose Track Is That?
Examine the animal track and try to guess which animal it is. And then turn the page to know the answer. A total of 11 different animals are covered. Each track on the page has a description and helpful clue for the readers. This interactive informational book encourages kids to observe and analyze.
3. Chomp: A Shark Romp
Dive into the depth of the ocean and read about different types of sharks living there. Each page of the book covers one shark and its most prominent characteristic. Your child would be amazed to learn how Bull Shark is fierce while the whale shark is gentle and more. Check more shark books here.
4. All About Weather
This book provides the perfect introduction to weather for younger kids. Read about the four main seasons. Also learn how clouds form, what causes a rainbow, how rain happens. There is also basic information such as what kind of clothes kids should wear in each weather. Pretty soon your child would be a weather expert and understand the differences between each one. Check more weather books here.
5. Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef
This nonfiction picture book is worth a look just for the artwork alone. All the illustrations are art created from clay. A variety of sea creatures and their characteristics are included. The text is rhyming, making this a fun read-aloud and easier to memorize.
6. Cactus and Flower: A Book About Life Cycles
This beautifully illustrated picture book talks about the life cycle through the analogy of a flower. Your child would love the different colors of the sky and nature – beautifully portrayed in the book. The narrative is simple and beautiful. Check more flower picture books here.
7. Are You a Bee?
Your child would understand the life cycle of bees and how important they are for the ecosystem. With easy to understand language, this book even explains minute details about how bees dance to show direction. Also included are pictures of real women-beepers families. Check more bee picture books here.
8. My Leaf Book
Your child would learn to identify different leaves after reading this book. There is helpful information regarding each leaf, making the learning fun. The illustrations are truly a work of art and cover a wide variety of leaves. From common leaves like oak to the lesser-known ginkgo – a good variety is covered.
9. Bloom Boom!
Read about how do flowers bloom in spring. This picture book covers the beauty of wildflowers during springtime. The insects around flowers and landscape are showcased through beautiful close-up photographs. There is also additional information like names, locations, etc of different flowers.
10. Roar: A Dinosaur Tour
Read to your child about the different types of dinosaurs that once lived on the earth. Few were huge, while others were small, some moved fast and some slow. The pictures are bright, making this book suitable for kids as young as one year old. Compliment the reading with a trip to the museum.
11. Whose House Is That?
Study a photo of an animal’s house and guess the animal that lives in that. Read about some of the best architects of nature. Beaver dams, bird nests, spider webs – read about some of these fascinating homes. Your child can relate and understand more about these animals from the places they live.
12. Some Babies Are Wild
This adorable book is for your wildlife-loving child. Read about different baby animals living in North America. The pictures are real photographs of animals along with their babies. The accompanying story is short and sweet. Also included are some interesting facts about wildlife.
13. Hello, World! How Do Apples Grow?
Teach your toddler how do apples grow – from a seed. And how soil, air, sunlight, water helps in the growth. Combine the reading with a trip to the local apple orchard. The illustrations are beautiful, and the text is easy to follow. There are also bonus facts included for preschoolers.
14. You Are Home: An Ode to the National Parks
Take your child on a tour of the amazing national parks of the USA. From the coast of Maine to volcanoes of Hawaii and more – all the parks are artistically rendered. The book highlights how animals, plants, trees, rocks – everything adds to the beauty of the parks. A beautiful bedtime storybook.
15. Tall Tall Tree
This book is a tribute to the last remaining old-growth redwood forests and animals living on the northern Californian coast. The rhyming narrative makes it an interesting read-aloud for younger children. Let your young one practice counting with the number of animals living in the forest – chipmunks, bats, slugs, woodpeckers, and more.
Nonfiction Stories and Biographies
16. Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln
Read the story of Teresa Carreño, a child prodigy who played piano for Abraham Lincoln. Fleeing to a Civil War-torn United States as a refugee from Venezuela, the story is sure to inspire kids.
17. I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark
Read about celebrated American Supreme Court Justice – Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Ruth spent her life and career vocally disagreeing with inequality, unfair treatment, gender discrimination, and standing up for equal rights for all. It is a must-read book for all kids starting with toddlers.
18. On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein
Read about the life of celebrated scientist Albert Einstein who never stopped learning. From a child who barely spoke, to a role model inspiring a generation of investors – this book is worth reading. The book highlights the importance of being curious and imaginative. Also included are a few quirky facts about the genius scientist.
19. Inventors Who Changed the World
Read about the nine renowned inventors from around the world and their inventions in this beautifully illustrated picture book. It features Cai Lun, Leonardo da Vinci, Marie Curie, Thomas Edison, Orville and Wilbur Wright, Grace Hopper, Johannes Gutenberg, and Louis Pasteur. The story is kept simple, making it suitable for kids.
20. Dream Big, Little One
Read about 18 black women who inspired and created American history. They fought the obstacles of the way and reached their goal. Each page of the board book has a picture of the featured personality and the work that makes her special. It is an inspiring book for girls.
21. Inky the Octopus: The Official Story of One Brave Octopus’ Daring Escape
This book is based on a true story of an octopus that escaped from the National Aquarium of New Zealand to the ocean. Preschoolers will surely delight and cheer the octopus in its journey. The artwork is creative and narrative in rhymes, capturing the spirit of the adventure. Also included are fascinating facts about octopuses and other true stories of octopuses escapes.
