Kids get lost in fantasy and fiction every day, but sometimes you want to shake things up and make them think in a whole new way. The following list of new-releases in the kid’s non-fiction category will keep them learning, laughing and loving the world. Read on for our picks.
image courtesy Lonely Planet
1. Lonely Planet Kids: First Words
Beat summer brain drain by learning a new language with your kiddo! Lonely Planet—your favorite travel guide and phrasebook publisher—presents a new series with young readers in mind. Recently released First Words: French and First Words: Spanish intro kids to 100 words they’ll love to learn complete with pictures and simple pronunciation guides. In addition, you can go online with the kids to listen to interactive audio guides to help perfect their inflection.
Ages: 5-8
Cost: $12.99
Learn more at lonelyplanet.com/kids
image: amystewart.com
2. Wicked Bugs (Young Readers Edition): The Meanest, Deadliest, Grossest Bugs on Earth
Amy Stewart has wowed us through the years with her bestselling Wicked Plants, Wicked Bugs and The Drunken Botanist. There’s even been a Wicked Plants Coloring Book!. Now for the first time, her book is available for a younger audience. This edition of Wicked Bugs is just as cool and creepy as the original, it’s incredibly informative and written with Amy’s unique sense of humor and quirk. Pre-order it now because it’s coming out August 8, just in time for those last lazy days of summer bug hunting!
Ages: 8-12
Cost: $12.95
Pre-order on Amazon here.
image courtesy amazon.com
3. Atlas of Miniature Adventures
What happens when you take a compact-sized book and fill it full of facts and detailed drawings about minature things? You get a trip around the world for the tiny! This “pocket-sized collection of small-scale wonders” includes places to visit small things (pygmy rabbits, model railroads, th world’s smallest post office) is full of illustrated maps, funny facts, in-depth descriptions and more. If you are over the age of 40 you probably will need a magnifying glass to read this one, which is why it’s the perfect travel companion for your next road trip. It will keep the kids absorbed and you’ll learn a thing or two along the way.
Ages: 6-9
Cost: $9.99
Buy it online at Amazon
image courtesy amazon.com
4. This Is How We Do It: One Day in the Life of Seven Kids from around the World
Follow seven kids from Japan, Peru, Uganda, Russia, Italy, Iran and India to learn what a day in the life entails. Be enchanted by different traditions and reminded of common experiences: the perfect armchair travel book for children to explore the world.
Ages: 8-12
Cost: $17.99
Get it online at chroniclebooks.com
image: Disney-Hyperion
5. Soldier Song: A True History of the Civil War
War is never an easy topic to talk about with kids but Soldier Song tells the true story of the Civil War in a way that kids can digest. Lest you think it is inappropriate or too brutal, this nonfiction picture book is actually full of beautiful illustrations and demonstrates the power of music, a bright moment in one of the bloodiest battles in history. Help the kids learn about U.S. history without giving them nightmares!
Ages: 9-12
Cost: $18.99
Purchase it at amazon.com
photo: geniusgames
6. My First Science Textbooks
Science books for toddlers? Yes, please! These super cool books that kids of any age can handle are great for early intro to atoms, proving even a toddler can learn chemistry. There are currently three books in the just-released series: My First Science Textbook: Protons and Neutrons; My First Science Textbook: Atoms and My First Science Textbook: Electrons. As an added bonus, they are available in hardcover and board-book formats!
Ages: 2 and up
Cost: $29.99-$44.97 for a set of three
Find them online at geniusgames.org
What’s your favorite new non-fiction book for kids? Tell us in a comment below and we’ll add it to our list!
—Amber Guetebier
