Recommended Non-Fiction for Elementary Readers
A month or so ago I asked on Facebook and Twitter for recommended non-fiction books for advanced, but young, readers. Here’s what I got, reformatted and linked for your enjoyment! Looks like the Horrible History series was the most-recommended.
Use your professional judgment, as I haven’t read most of these!
From Facebook
- Michelle Hendricks Kavars – The “Who is…” biographies with big headed people on the cover are great! That would cover historical figures.
- Lea Davis Roark – “The Bomb,” the story of the development and testing of the atomic bomb. There’s also a history of underwear that tickled my kids–can’t remember the title, but it should be pretty easy to find.
- Jennifer Morocco – She should look at Old Western Culture from Roman Roads Media. My girls are on year 3. The man who lectures is amazing. It combines literature with history and philosophy through classics including Herodotus and Socrates and many others.
- Jennifer Morocco – We loved the Genevieve Foster books George Washington’s World, Abraham Lincoln’s World etc. but they may be below this young persons reading level? If so look for autobiographies and source documents. Common sense, federalist Papers, Constitution, Winston Churchill’s History books
- Liz Mulroney – I just bought the young adult version of “Hidden Figures” for my math-loving, social-justice bent 3rd grade son, and he loves it so far! We are going to go see the movie when he’s done reading.
- Institute of Meaningful Instruction – A couple introductory texts to behavioral science that show how the philosophical assumptions can apply to behavioral science. :)
- Michelle Cowan – ‘Horrible Histories‘ series – funny, gruesome and historically accurate
- Emily Rector Harmon – Author Jean Fritz has a great selection of historical fiction/nonfiction books about American history.
- Tracie Frederick Gones – Split History Books are great! Half the book is the issue/event from one perspective and the other half from the other perspective.
- Stephanie Hudson Tanner – Here’s a high level 3/4/5 non fic Pinterest board I started.
- Kristi von Aspen – Number the Stars
- Mike Henry – “You Wouldn’t Want to live ____” books are fantastic.
- Stefany Snyder – Horrible Histories series and The History of US collection by Joy Hakim.
- Frances Winters – There are some good books on Australian inventions.
- Vicki Pope My story series (Here’s an example)
- Sco Mo – The pig that wants to be eaten?
From Twitter
- @mariaselke – definitely the Nathan Hale graphic novel series (though Donner Dinner Party may be much if child is sensitive) The Great American Dust Bowl (also a graphic novel)
- @BeniyWaisanen – Horrible History series is good. Published in UK though, so might be hard to source. (Ian note: they’re on Amazon as Kindle books and also as used paperbacks)
- @saracarl – “A little history of X” were enjoyed by my kid around that age.
- @jugray05 – just finished reading Freedom Walkers with my 5th gr gifted students. Paired with other soc just issues & passion project.
- @MsBaker_GT – A Light in the Forest; any of a number of accounts of Mary Jemison; Sarah Bishop … History or historical fiction with complex POV