Nonfiction text surrounds us in our everyday lives, but often younger students struggle to find nonfiction texts that they can both read and comprehend easily. Not only am I going to share some of my favorite nonfiction series books for kids, but I’m also going to give you a peek into some of these books so you know what to expect!
Throughout this post I have included links to a few of the books in each nonfiction series. You can click on book covers to learn more about them.
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National Geographic Kids
National Geographic Kids does a great job of introducing information in an age-appropriate way without overwhelming young readers. These books are also known for including photographs that bring the content to life. Many of the books in the series are given a level (1-3) to identify an increase in content and reading level. Level 1 books are generally for 1st and 2nd grade readers. Level 2 and 3 books are more appropriate for 2nd and 3rd grade readers. These levels are fairly consistent and reliable with a few exceptions.
Topics: Weather, Pyramids, Pandas, Spiders, Sharks, Giraffes, Skyscrapers, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and more
Guided Reading Level: J-P
You can find book companions for many of these National Geographic Kids books here.
Magic Tree House Fact Trackers
These nonfiction texts were written to accompany books in the Magic Tree House series, but they can stand alone. The format of each book is written in chapters and told from the perspective of Jack and Annie completing research after their adventures. Readers will find a lot of content, illustrations, photographs, vocabulary, and side notes written by Jack and Annie.
Topics: Dinosaurs, Ancient Olympics, China, Space, Abraham Lincoln, Pirates, Polar Bears, Ancient Rome, and more
Guided Reading Level: M-S
I have created several book companions for the Magic Tree House Fact Tracker books. You can find those companions here.
Fly Guy Presents by Tedd Arnold
These nonfiction readers combine the kid-friendly humor of Fly Guy with high-interest nonfiction topics. Fly Guy and Buzz will take the reader on a mini field trip filled with fun facts, interesting information, photographs and a little humor!
Topics: Bats, Sharks, Dinosaurs, Space, White House, Castles, Firefighters, Police Officers, and more
Guided Reading Level: K-P
You can find a handful of book companions for the Fly Guy Presents series here.
Books Written by Gail Gibbons
Gail Gibbons is one of the leading authors of nonfiction books for children. Her stories are written in a friendly, picture book format which makes them perfect as a whole class read aloud. She is also the artist behind the richly colored illustrations in her books.
Topics: Sharks, Bats, Apples, Tornadoes, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Coral Reefs, Seeds & Plants, and more
Guided Reading Level: J-O
I have created some book companions to go with several books written by Gail Gibbons. You can find those book companions here.
Scholastic Leveled Readers
These leveled nonfiction readers break down content into a way young readers can both read and comprehend. I will tell you that a level 2 book does not look the same from book to book because there are a variety of authors who write for this series. Students will enjoy the amount of photographs included in each book. Scholastic also has a variety of sight word readers and vocabulary readers that are great choices for younger students.
Topics: Bats, Frogs, Supersize Animals, Life on Mars, Titanic, Robots, and more
Guided Reading Level: J-P
Scholastic: True or False
Each of these books provides a thought-provoking statement on a page. Students have time to predict whether that statement is true or false before turning the page to find out the answer. Each book includes about 20 true or false statements along with photographs to support the text.
Topics: Planets, Dangerous Animals, Storms, Mammals, Baby Animals, Rocks and Minerals, and more
Guided Reading Level: M-P
Rookie Readers: Read-About Science
Rookie Read-About Science books are great for younger students who are curious about science topics, but not ready for complex texts. These books break down content into kid-friendly language and include photographs that support the information included.
Topics: Sound, Light, Matter, Bees, Electricity, Space, Food, and more
Guided Reading Level: F-M
Let’s Read and Find Out Science
These leveled books explain science concepts in simple terms that children in the primary grades can understand. Books in this series read more like a picture book which is a friendly format for young readers. The amount of text per page and content does increase slightly between levels 1 and 2 in this series.
Topics: Human Body, Seeds, Sun and Moon, Simple Machines, Animals in Winter, Dinosaurs, and more
Guided Reading Level: J-O
A Picture Book of…
Students who are curious about people from the past might enjoy the A Picture Book of… series. These picture book biographies tell the story of each subject’s life in a way that reads more like a story. Each book contains colorful illustrations to support the text.
Topics: Thomas Alva Edison, Jackie Robinson, Harry Houdini, Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, and more
Guided Reading Level: M-P
Who Was…?
For students who are ready to dive deeper into biographies, the Who Was…? series is a great choice. These chapter books go into great detail into each subject’s life and include black and white illustrations throughout the text.
Topics: Amelia Earhart, Walt Disney, Claude Monet, Babe Ruth, Henry Ford, George Washington, and more
Guided Reading Level: P-S
What are your favorite nonfiction series books for kids? I’d love to check them out!
Happy Reading!
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