I DO mean simple.
Also, free.
Schweet.
If your library is remotely decent, chances are good that they have a non-fiction section just for kids. If you’ve never perused those shelves in your library, then goodness, you need to!
(well, assuming you have children in your life.)
Our library isn’t huge, but we do have a fairly decent children’s non-fiction section, and as a homeschooling mom, I consider it to be quite the gold mine.
I browse through it when I’m looking for something in particular (I’ve been keeping an eye out for whatever president we’re studying), but I also love to poke around just looking for interesting books.
I think sometimes we get the idea that the only way to properly learn about history is to do it in a neat, orderly, chronological way.
And while I do see the value in that (we’re studying the presidents from George Washington forward, of course.), I also think that there’s value in picking up bits of historical knowledge here and there in a rather helter-skelter, enjoyable fashion.
So, I look for biographies, but not just any biographies. I’m looking for ones with fun artwork and a colorful story…not the sort of book you’d dutifully check out while writing a paper on George Washington, but the kind you’d pick up and read just because you want to.
Less textbook, more fabulous, I say.
When I bring these home, my children are delighted. They read them just for fun, as though I’d carted in a Pippi Longstocking or Amelia Bedelia book.
But as they read these books, they’re learning about Rosa Parks, Henry Ford, Audrey Hepburn, John Audubon, Eleanor Roosevelt, and countless other famous people.
Since the books are engaging, my kids read them without me telling them to.
And since the books are engaging, my kids actually remember what they read, even without a workbook or test. It’s effortless, enjoyable learning.
As you probably know, I’m a huge fan of the non-fiction books Mike Venezia writes for children, but there are other great authors out there too.
Really, just trust your sense as you flip through the books…if it seems appealing and interesting to you, it’ll probably seem appealing and interesting to your kids.
And if your kids aren’t old enough to read through these types of books by themselves, then read aloud to them. I’ve always done lots of that during my children’s preschool and kindergarten years, because even if they could just barely read their Bob Books, they could certainly understand books on a much higher level.
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Do you have any favorite non-fiction picture books to recommend?
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Today’s 365 post: It’s just a little thing right now.
WinterLightHomestead says
When my son was little and we homeschooled, these were huge (“useful” fiction and nonfiction) favorites (read and reread!). All are from Rod and Staff. (Not plugging that company, we just so enjoyed their stuff!)
Baking Day
Bible Stories to Read
(For a long time, we did one of these each night at bedtime.)
Farming with Father
My Book About Bartimaeus (from the Say It Again series)
Julie O says
My son is 9 and loves the Basher series of books on science. Basher takes complex ideas and makes them simple for children, such as explaining the periodic table, algebra, chemistry, biology, the composition of the human body, etc., things you dont normally see in books for young children. They are bright with good drawings and funny comments. You can find them on Amazon.
My son prefers nonfiction so I am always looking out for books for him as his school library seems more focused on fiction. He also enjoyed WW II for Kids.
Susie says
It’s great to hear all the great comments about libraries! I’ve worked in the library for almost 14yrs and have seen a lot of changes happen but it’s still clear that book collections are important! In Ca we are hit hard with budget cuts and zero funding from the State right now and our ILL program was cut to borrowing from one system only but we have a grant to buy books that people request and we don’t have and it’s very popular! I have the honor of purchasing all children’s and young adult books and I am also the type to buy whatever people ask for and am happy to do so
Keep the request coming and thank you for supporting the libraries.
Cindy says
Dear America series- fiction set in historical times
Amy W says
We love the “For Kids” Series. We’ve read Thomas Edison for Kids, Leonardo Da Vinci for Kids, Civil War for Kids, WWII For Kids and many more. We love the writing style and the hands-on projects sprinkled throughout the books.
Janknitz says
These books are fiction, but they taught me a lot about American history and I remember them fondly from my childhood:
1. Ben and Me–about a mouse that lived in Ben Franklin’s hat and accompanied him on his adventures in France.
2. The Liberty Tree–a young boy’s experience in the revolutionary war.
An entire genre of historical fiction for pre-teens and young adults has grown up. I bribed my oldest daughter to bring the books home from her school library so I could read them–I love these books.
AmyB says
If you have little boys, a must read is “Bud and Me” by Alta Abernathy. It’s the true tale of the Abernathy boys who went across the country on horseback at the ages of 6 and 8? It is quite hilarious in parts and a good picture of what life was like at the turn of the century. They met some famous people on their travels. Very good book.
Mairsydoats says
Yes, LOVE non-fiction, from all the sections of the library, including the children’s section. I second the suggestion about museum exhibits for history – especially at children’s museums.
I also have a couple of suggestions for your older kids as they get to be reading at a more adult level. I found, for instance, the apple section of The Botany of Desire to be absolutely fascinating, telling the story of Johnny Appleseed, though a lot less sanitized than the story that gets published in books for the youngers.
And several years from now, when all your kids are a bit older, I really highly recommend seeing a production of Assassins. Great theater, which they will be able to appreciate, since they have a good grounding in presidential history. But not this year, probably.
Merrilly says
Another great way to teach values and history through reading is to use the Valuetale books. They feature historical figures who have to make value calls while in the midst of also making history. The books themselves are rather expensive, but many libraries have the series.
Julie says
I LOVED and still love biographies when I was a kid. That’s how I learned a lot of my history and people/places information – the good old library.
{Adventuresindinner} says
Love these two. Keep your eye open for your areas version of a Human Library too we have this even once a year and it is amazing for bringing diverse experiences and history alive.
Erin says
This is a great approach, but definitely beware. There are many books that are completely ahistorical and do way too much “hero-fication” at the cost of “the people’s history.” Sometimes simple means you need to do more work vetting the books.
Lisa S says
Down the Colorado : John Wesley Powell, the one-armed explorer
I found this one the other day at the library for the kids. Great book! I’ve always read the kids picture book biographies. One year when the kids were smaller, in December, I asked the girls whose birthday was on Christmas. My oldest daughter answered Clara Barton. I had to think a minute, but she was right. We had read a book about her a few days before. It wasn’t quite the answer I was looking for, but I was pleasantly surprised at how well she remembered.
Sara Tetreault says
We also love (and I mean adults and kids alike) Bob Raczka’s books about art. Our library carries all of his books and our local elementary school library purchased many of his books to supplement their arts program. They’re easy to read and cleverly written. You don’t even know you’re learning – which is important to my kids who have long days at school!
Elizabeth says
I just may have read that Philio Farnsworth book! Back before internet I read a book on him and when I had to do an inventor for a report I chose him. I remember having the hardest time finding numerous sources for my report since he isn’t one of the more famous inventors and there are only so many books a public library carries.
EngineerMom says
Hurray for reading! The whole library is full of good books, not just the fiction, science fiction, or romance sections.
Kris says
Woo hoo! Book and author recommendations! I’m thrilled! I have an 8 year old boy and a 6 year old girl (both read above grade-level). I don’t homeschool but we love love love the library. I think I could live there. I pick up books for them weekly during the school year (it just doesn’t work out schedule-wise for me to take the kids) and I sometimes struggle with appropriate reading material, especially for my son (we love fiction . . . ). Thank you for the book/author suggestions. May I request that you give an age-range when you make your suggestions?
TracyDK says
Our library is small but thank goodness for the interlibrary loan system! Oh and I know you’re not from around here, but not far from here we have the John James Audubon State Park. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_James_Audubon_State_Park)
I can’t wait until my son gets old enough to have interest in such things.
Molly says
“How Things Work”
Actually, anything by David Macauley… maybe not biographies, maybe not historical, but man! engineering is cool.
Lori says
There is this series (Graphic Library: Inventions and Discovery) that has historically- and scientifically-accurate comic books about the work of famous scientists. We have the ones about Newton, Edison, Curie, Morse, and Salk. They are awesome. Thomas loves them, and often picks them as what he wants to read before bed. I would highly recommend them, particularly for homeschoolers with middle-elementary-aged boys (or adults who prefer their information to come comics-style ;)).
I wish our library system was part of the larger Michigan interlibrary system, but we’ve got an extensive enough collection that it’s okay. I can get almost anything I want, and have it sent to our local branch. It’s a small branch and they don’t get many reserves, so the librarian knows that, whenever a kids’ non-fiction book comes in, it’s for me.
Katy @ Purposely Frugal says
Great article!! I’m currently reading the American Girl books to my almost 4 year old. I know they’re not about real people, but she’s still learning about history and how people used to live.
Linda H. says
I work for two libraries and I agree. A lot of the newer children’s non-fiction is great! The kids love the “how things work” books and the bios about current celebrities. And, of course, books about animals. William B. is absolutely right also. Kids books are great for learning new things in a pared down way-there are great NF books on knitting, cooking, origami, etc.
Jen says
We do not homeschool but boy do we use our library! I don’t ever buy anything without checking with the library first, and even then, I request them to purchase books, videos, etc ALL THE TIME and I have never been turned down! Not once! And if I’ve requested they buy it, I get to have the item first! Can’t beat that!
Kristin, be sure to check out the inter library loan program. You can get books from any county in the state. It’s fabulous!! Yeah for libraries!!
WilliamB says
“If your library is remotely decent, chances are good that they have a non-fiction section just for kids. If you’ve never perused those shelves in your library, then goodness, you need to! (well, assuming you have children in your life.)”
I disagree. I find the kids nonfiction section a great place for adults who are looking to learn a new subject. Kids’ nonfictions tend to be pared down to essentials and well-organized, just what I’m looking for when I’m learning something new. Next up: a kid’s book on electricity. But don’t hold your breath.
Condo Blues says
My parents encouraged reading by enrolling me in the library’s summer reading program one year. I wasn’t too keen on doing it the following year because the librarian refused to believe I read books above my age level and grilled me during my book reports. I still love to read though!
The best way my parents turned me onto history is by visiting living history and museums on vacations and for fun. It’s one thing to read about how people lived in a book but it really sends it home to a kid when they see it, do it, or talk to an interpreter about it. My parents snuck in learning on my summer vacations so well and often, I became a historical reeninactor myself!
RuthS says
My son really likes the Who Was and the Childhood of Famous Americans biographies.
Battra92 says
My third grade teacher forbid me from taking out non-fiction books from the school library (and even told the librarian not to let me take them out.) My mother was quite annoyed at this and I have a pretty decent collection of nonfiction books at home.
I still read 10 times more non fiction than fiction.
Jackie says
Hurray for “living books”! We have been enjoying some of Holling C Holling’s books this year (Tree in the Trail and Pagoo). Much more interesting and engaging than the average textbook.
LisaFitz says
I use this with the Special Education students I teach. The text books are so clinical (read dull
) . My students are more engaged when I show the literature like this vs. reading something from the district provided text.