The Best 1st Grade Nonfiction Books

Published: August 23, 2022

This book is a Step Into Reading–Step 3 book, which some first graders will be able to read independently. Guided by the “Truth Sleuth,” this latest book in the series invites readers to learn about dogs in a unique way–by having them spot the lie among the facts! The book is organized in an interactive question-and-answer format. Once the lie is revealed, the book elaborates on the facts. Books like this one are fun, boost kids’ reading confidence, develop their critical thinking skills, and encourage them to be engaged and active participants in their learning.

Published: September 1, 2020

In Who Would Win: Ultimate Shark Rumble, several types of sharks compete in a bracketed tournament. Through fun facts, realistic illustrations, and incredible photography, readers learn about the physical features and behaviors of each shark. The Who Would Win series books are a fun way for students to learn how to use evidence to compare and contrast and are perennial favorites among young readers. In fact, a veteran first-grade teacher told me that year after year, her students have their own battles over who gets to read these books first! Available on Amazon Kids+

Published: August 23, 2011

The National Geographic Readers series is great for first graders who are just starting to read independently. These books focus on specific topics, and Ponies is a perfect choice for kids who love horses. The authors use brightly colored photographs, diagrams, fact boxes, and matching games to share tons of interesting facts about ponies. First graders will love the jokes in the margins of almost every page. My daughter is a huge fan of ponies and horses, and this was her favorite nonfiction book in first grade.

Published: June 7, 2022

Crocodile or Alligator?  Porpoise or Dolphin? What’s the difference, right? That’s exactly what this book explains–the similarities and differences between 60 commonly confused animals. The book encourages young readers to look closely at the animals’ physical features to spot the differences and learn how to tell even the closest “copycats” apart. My animal-obsessed kids loved this creative and useful guide!

Published: October 17, 2023

My First Book Of Basketball is a great resource for kids just starting to learn the sport.  The book takes readers through an actual game, featuring a mix of photography, simple text, and word bubbles that explain the rules and basics of basketball, covering dribbling, passing, and shooting. A full glossary of basketball terms provides simple explanations for kids. First graders will especially love the Sports Illustrated action photography and the illustrated “Rookie” characters on each page. This whole series is a fun and educational nonfiction pick for first-grade readers.

Published: January 10, 2023

An inspiring picture book for kids who love soccer, Courage in Her Cleats follows the soccer star Abby Wambach’s career as she overcomes challenges and celebrates victories. As the youngest of seven siblings, Abby always had to be loud and clear about what she wanted—which helped her as she worked her way up from competitive youth soccer to the U.S. Women’s National Team. First graders will love the exciting soccer ball onomatopoeia– “thump”, “whizz”, “whoosh”– and the bold, bright, sparkling illustrations. I loved the author’s repetition of the sentence, “But Abby was tougher,” reinforcing Wambach’s spirit and determination.

Published: September 12, 2023

This book captures readers’ attention from the very first sentence: In the billowy bay waters, hidden in the shadows of towering limestone cliffs, floats the village of Koh Panyee. There, a group of young boys decided to form the town’s first soccer team, even when the adults told them it was impossible to find space to play. Using wood scraps and old barrels, the boys built a floating pitch “plank by plank, earning the respect of their elders and inspiring a younger generation. Once completed, the boys still faced challenges: the swaying and slippery surface tested their balance, and the lack of a fence pushed them to have better ball control. Eventually, the team went to the mainland to play in a district tournament–but they felt like champions already.

Published: September 13, 2022

This picture book is the latest addition to the award-winning Over and Under series. A family kayaking in Monterey Bay, California, observes just some of the wonders of life among the kelp forests. “Over” the waves, they spot sea lions, pelicans, and otters—and are thrilled by the sight of humpback whales lunging out of the water. “Under” the waves, the kelp forests are teeming with life–leopard sharks, schools of anchovies, wolf eels, and moon jellyfish. These alternating perspectives capture the ecosystem’s biodiversity and reinforce the idea of interconnectedness in the natural world. This quiet, thoughtful book would be great as both a bedtime read-aloud or as a mentor text in a science classroom.

Published: May 17, 2022

This book, written by an expert wilderness trainer, shows young explorers how to observe nature’s clues in any landscape: from snowy mountains to sandy deserts and from ocean coastlines to urban parks. Readers will learn to predict the changing seasons by tracking animal migration, learn the “secret messages” of rainbows, and determine if a thunderstorm is coming. The beautifully detailed, double-page illustrations and small fact boxes make the information easily digestible for first graders, and we loved how the book encouraged readers to put away their phones and maps and truly engage with nature.

Published: March 26, 2019

Written by Joanna Gaines (of HGTV’s Fixer Upper fame) and her children, We Are the Gardeners is an empowering book with an important message: “A garden is hard work, but so is most of the good, important stuff in life.” Inspired by their first potted fern, the family shares their story of learning to grow a vibrant, healthy garden. Gardening is full of ups and downs for the family, but their patience and perseverance lead to joyful results–gorgeous garden beds filled with flowers, fruits, and vegetables. We loved that this story is told from the children’s perspective, which helps young readers feel like they can become gardeners too.

Published: March 28, 2023

I Am Temple Grandin is a part of the Ordinary People Change the World picture book biography series. The book uses cartoon-style illustrations, text, and word bubbles to narrate the life of Temple Grandin, an academic, scientist, and animal behaviorist who is on the autism spectrum. During Grandin’s childhood, few people understood autism. However, Grandin’s mother and teachers encouraged her to explore ideas in her own unique way. This important book celebrates differences, helping readers–no matter their age–understand that “the world needs all kinds of minds.”

Published: August 16, 2022

In 1817, when Kate Moore was five years old, her family moved to Connecticut’s Fayerweather Island so her father could become the new lighthouse keeper. As a child, Kate accompanied her father everywhere, thinking of herself as his assistant. Instead of insisting on more “ladylike” behavior, Kate’s father taught her everything he knew. When he becomes physically unable to perform the lighthouse keeper’s demanding duties, 12-year-old Kate takes over. After 47 years of tending the island and the lighthouse, and after saving at least 23 lives, Kate is finally named the official lighthouse keeper.  My daughter and I love picture books about women who defy traditional gender roles, and also those that bring attention to lesser-known heroes like Kate.

Published: August 16, 2022

This book, written by a structural engineer, provides children with a comprehensive introduction to construction by exploring various building challenges, such as how to construct tall, strong, wide, or underground structures. Despite covering many topics, the colorful and engaging artwork helps prevent the book from becoming too dense, illustrating the principles that the author discusses. This is an ideal book for an adult to browse with a young reader interested in engineering, architecture, or construction. As they read, kids can attempt several home-based engineering projects offered throughout the book.

Published: September 6, 2022

From the world’s craziest cakes to the most elaborate gifts, kids will be captivated by the unbelievable ways people around the world celebrate birthdays. My own kids couldn’t wrap their brains around the fact that the world birthday cake-eating champion ate 14.5 pounds of cake in under 8 minutes! This edition is a must-read for anyone who loves quirky facts, silly trivia, and captivating photography. Our family has bought several copies as gifts, and they are always a hit with readers of any age.

Published: October 9, 2018

Everything and Everywhere is a non-fiction book that invites curious kids to embark on a visual exploration of the world. It features elaborately illustrated pages dedicated to 15 diverse cities, countries, and continents and offers tons of information about food, culture, climate, architecture, and animals. This book is ideal for browsing and is especially fun for readers to flip through together. I keep our copy in the car—my children and their friends pore over it constantly and point out the fascinating things they discover.

Published December 15, 2020

This beautiful picture book introduces children to the myriad ways people from different cultures and countries express love. Each two-page spread begins with a metaphor, such as: In the Netherlands, love is a poem; and In Chile, love is a dance, and then gives a simple explanation of the ways love or connection might be expressed in that particular country. Love Around The World explores cultural celebrations, customs, and traditions and focuses on themes of family, friendship, and love as a universal language.

Published: May 2, 2023

If your first graders are little comedians, they’ll love this guide to writing–and telling–jokes. While the book is packed with examples of great jokes, what makes LOL 101 unique from other joke books is that it teaches kids how to construct a great joke: introducing patterns, word play, storytelling, exaggeration, and more. The author also uses examples to teach kids about timing and delivery–and also how to deal with a joke that doesn’t get any laughs. This book is smart and thoughtful—you can tell the author really cares about helping kids become more creative and confident.

Published: November 26, 2019

Many first-graders love pirates! But how many of them know the difference between Hollywood and historical pirates? In this fun picture book, Captain Parrot serves as a guide to show kids the difference between fictional and real pirates during 1650-1730, the golden age of piracy. Kids will find these real pirate facts almost as interesting as the tall tales. Who Wants to Be a Pirate is perfect nonfiction for first graders who love pirates and are ready to learn some fascinating facts.

Published: August 9, 2022

In America, 360 slices of pizza are eaten every second. In fact, all over the world, people love pizza. But where did pizza come from? This picture book, written and illustrated by Geisel award-winner Greg Pizzoli, takes readers through a simple history of pizza. Kids will love the bold color palette and short, clear sentences narrated by a cute cartoon, “Pizza Rat.” They’ll also love learning about the different types of pizza from different countries. (Bananas and peanuts on Swedish pizza! Shredded coconut on Costa Rican pizza!)

Published: May 2, 2023

My Indigo World is the author’s tribute to the beauty of the color blue and the history of the indigo plant. This unique picture book pays tribute to the science and art of growing the indigo plant and making indigo dye. The author, who has loved the color blue since her childhood in Korea, shares her passion for planting and harvesting indigo seeds and weaves in information on the cultural significance of indigo around the world. Simple instructions for growing your own indigo and making homemade dye will inspire young readers.