Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Home > Books

Format: Non-fiction

Non-fiction

Learn about how different genres started – including classical, folk, jazz, gospel, rock ‘n’ roll, country, punk, grunge and pop. Discover the stories of maestros including Beethoven, Wei Liangfu, Django Reinhardt, The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, David Bowie, Maria Callas, Nina Simone, Louis Armstrong and Beyonce. Marvel at the orchestra with a huge illustration set in the Royal Albert Hall, and find out about ancient instruments from all over the world. Experience amazing musical moments from the first ever saxophone and early sound recording to the invention of the record and artificial intelligence. All this and more features in this richly illustrated timeline of music from 60,000 years ago to the present day.

Non-fiction

What links shipwrecks, Egyptian treasure, and fossilized Viking poo? They’ve all been discovered by archaeologists!

Dig inot the world of archaeology in this book by YouTuber Stefan Milosavljevich. Read about incredible finds such as the terracotta army that hid underground for 2,000 years and the mysterious Ice Age temple made from mammoth bones.

Along the way see if you have what it takes to be an archaeologist and meet the pioneering women and men who have brought the past back to life.

Non-fiction

DK brings you a beautifully illustrated and engaging book to teach young readers how to protect our planet and change the world!

Introducing It’s a Wonderful World – a captivating storybook set out to encourage children to look after the world around them, one step at a time.

Celebrate your child’s curiosity as they navigate through this perfect conservation book to discover all the wonderful ways to protect and preserve the biodiversity of the natural world, whilst learning about the main challenges our planet faces today.

An empowering and practical guide o looking after our planet, your child can discover:

-An excellent introduction to nature conservation for young readers
-A unique guide to studying different ecosystems and the biodiversity within the environment
-Graphic illustrations to complement stunning photography featured throughout
-An enthralling insight into lesser-known animals that inhabit the natural world

Did you know that more than 50% of child psychologists in England are currently seeing patients distressed about the state of the environment? It’s time to change that!

Invest in this all-encompassing environment book and shape your child’s learning for the better.
Proving to be an excellent education tool for children aged 7-9, this is a must-have volume for any young reader with a passion for protecting the planet, whether it’s researching plastic pollution or studying snow leopards, this nature book for kids really does have it all.

At DK, we believe in the power of discovery. So let us quench your thirst for knowledge and teach you a trick or two about balance and biodiversity along the way!

One book at a time, we believe you can change the world!

Non-fiction

Discover the insects of the world!

Earth’s creepy crawlies may be small but they are far from boring! Learn how they contribute to life on the planet, where they live, what they eat, how their bodies work, and what makes them so special.

This beautifully illustrated bug book for kids for ages 7-9 years old is packed with:

– Fascinating information about bugs that supports and goes beyond the curriculum
– Stories and facts to convey the amazing world of creepy-crawlies
– Factual and informative, with detailed illustrations and photographs of insects, spiders, molluscs, and more
– Compelling text written by insect expert, author, and television presenter, Jess French
– Stunning photographs of individual creatures, from beetles to butterflies

Take a magical journey through the forest floor, down into the deepest caves, and even across the open ocean. The Book of Brilliant Bugs , written by insect expert Jess French takes children on an expedition into the bug kingdom. The insect book is filled with fascinating facts about these little animals, how bugs pass on messages, compete for food, seek true love, and fill the air with buzzing wings. It also shows us how bugs help look after our planet and how we can help them.

Young animal enthusiasts can spot and learn all the main bug groups. From worms, snails, millipedes and centipedes, spiders and scorpions, woodlice, bees, and even bugs that glow! This educational natural science book will encourage children to love and appreciate science and nature.

Non-fiction

A stunning new and fully illustrated colour hardback edition of the timely and inspiring Earth Heroes – the ultimate gift for any aspiring climate activist.

When faced with climate change, the biggest threat that our planet has ever confronted, it’s easy to feel as if nothing you do can really make a difference… but this book proves that individual people can change the world. With twenty inspirational stories celebrating the pioneering work of a selection of Earth Heroes from all around the globe, from Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough to Yin Yuzhen and Isatou Ceesay, each tale is a beacon of hope in the fight for the future of our planet, proving that one person, no matter how small, can make a difference.

Beautifully illustrated by Amy Blackwell, this updated new gift edition features amazing additions Felix Finkbeiner and Charles and Perrine Herve-Gruyer, as well as Amelia Telford, Andrew Turton and Pete Ceglinski, Bittu Sahgal, Chewang Norphel, David Attenborough, Doug Smith, Greta Thunberg, Isabel Soares, Isatou Ceesay, Marina Silva, Melati and Isabel Wijsen, Mohammed Rezwan, Renee King-Sonnen, Rok Rozman, Sheila Watt-Cloutier, William Kamkwamba, Yin Yuzhen and Yvon Chouinard.

Non-fiction

Around 1,200 years ago the legendary voyaging Norsemen set sail to raid and trade – the Viking Age had begun. Step back in time to find out what Viking life was like, how they travelled, where they traded and their rich mythology. Come face to face with a fearsome berserker, explore inside a Viking longhouse and learn how these expert boat builders made their fleets.

Bold graphic illustrations of vibrant Viking characters, incredible artefacts and stunningly detailed scenes by author-illustrator Jack Tite showcase the Viking Age in full brilliant colour. Lively, engaging text throughout is informative and easy to read, and big fold-out pages allow you to discover the Vikings in exciting detail.

Consulted by Viking expert, Chris Tuckley, of the Jorvik Centre in York.

This book is a must-read for any history-mad child.

Non-fiction

Discover over 100 of the world’s most remarkable creatures in this beautifully illustrated tour of Earth’s wildlife.

Animals come in all sorts of weird and wonderful shapes and sizes. From the record breaking tongue of a chameleon to the dashing dance of the peacock spider, you’ll learn about the most amazing examples from air, land and sea. Discover playful dolphins, sleepy koalas and even a fish that keeps its babies safe in its own mouth, uncovering the secrets of their survival, the incredible habitats they call home as well as the environmental threats putting them in danger.

A central gatefold offers a world map which reveals the locations of all the animals included in the book.

Non-fiction

Set your spirit of adventure free with this lavishly illustrated trip around the world , which brings together more than 100 activities and challenges from every corner of the globe to inspire adventurers of any age.

Whether you’re visiting the penguins of Antarctica, joining the Carnival in Brazil or taking a canoe safari down the Zambezi River, this book will take young travellers on whole host of fascinating adventures across the continents.

Each section begins with an infographic map of the region it explores , followed by richly detailed two-page spreads featuring its most fascinating locations . You’ll get to go to sleep under the Northern Lights, meet millions of monarch butterflies in the boreal forests of Mexico’s volcanic mountains, shower with an elephant in Chiang Mai and go snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef, among many other amazing adventures.

This book celebrates the great diversity of our planet : with every turn of the page, you’ll come across different animals, people and sights unique to each of the locations. Look out for two adventurers in every scene as you travel through the book. Discover with them hundreds of things to spot and learn about .

Interesting facts and figures pepper the scenes. Did you know that London’s Big Ben clock bell weighs as much as a small elephant? Or that more than one-third of the world’s commercial supply of pineapples comes from Hawaii? A ‘Can you find?’ page at the back challenges you to explore the pages even deeper by locating the pictured people, animals and things.

With epic adventures from the four corners of the globe and discoveries to be made on your own doorstep, this book will inspire you to set off on your own journey of discovery.

Non-fiction

As the summer sun sets over the Arizonan desert, wildlife gathers to witness a very special annual event. The night flower is about to bloom. This celebration transforms the quiet desert for just a short few hours into a riot of colour and sound, as mammals and insects congregate from miles away to take part in this miracle of nature. From pollinating fruit bats to howling mice and reptilian monsters, explore the unusual wildlife the desert has to offer in this beautiful rhyming non-fiction picture book.

Non-fiction

What is it like to live in space? Is there life on other planets? What exactly is a black hole?

Join Professor Astro Cat and the gang as they travel across space to find out everything there is to know about our galaxy, the solar system and the Universe. From asteroids to alien life and rockets to rovers, there’s so much to discover in the Frontiers of Space.

Blast off with this revised edition featuring new content and the latest research and discoveries.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Your Review

Stone Girl Bone Girl

review

Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:

Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:

Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?

Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?

Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?

yes

Curriculum links (if relevant)

Curriculum links (if relevant)

Any other comments

Any other comments