Books about animals are often a big hit for kids, whether they’re fiction or non-fiction. Today, I’m sharing 20 of the best non-fiction books about animals. These books share animal facts in an enjoyable, entertaining way, often including brightly colored pictures on every page. If your kids are big on animals and fact books, these non-fiction animal books are some fun choices for them!
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20 Best Non-Fiction Books About Animals
Here are 20 of the best non-fiction animal books:
The Not-Bad Animals
Published: April 7, 2020
Spiders, foxes, hyenas, vultures, and pigeons — what do these creatures have in common? To many of us, they’re BAD animals. Annoying, dangerous, or just a plain nuisance. But that’s not the whole truth. These animals and more get a chance to change their public reputation in this non-fiction book – the NOT BAD animals. Kids will learn that the hyena is smarter than it’s portrayed and that pigeons are more than just poopdroppers. They have an impressive sense of direction! I love that this book presents facts in an enjoyable way with fun graphics, speech bubbles, and plenty of humor.
Here’s what it looks like inside:
Solitary Animals: Introverts of the Wild
Published: March 8, 2022
Are you an introvert? Then you’ll love this new picture book about solitary animals in the wild. We learn that some animals are more social and move in packs while others prefer a more solitary life. The dazzling imagery and animal trivia in this picture book make it a breathtaking read.
Some Bugs
Published: March 4, 2014
Get the buzz on bugs in this picture book from Angela DiTerlizzi! Featuring insects including butterflies and moths, crickets and cicadas, bumblebees and beetles, this zippy rhyming exploration of backyard-bug behavior is sure to have insect enthusiasts of all ages bugging out with excitement!
Polar Bear
Published: December 6, 2022
As spring approaches in the Arctic, a mother polar bear and her two cubs tentatively emerge from hibernation to explore the changing landscape. When it is time, she takes her cubs on a forty-mile journey, back to their home on the ice. Along the way, she fends off wolves, hunts for food, and swims miles and miles. This companion book to the authors’ Sibert award-winning Honeybee explores the life and habitat of a majestic endangered species through dramatic text and sumptuous illustration.
Dogs: From Predator to Protector
Published: October 31, 2017
How well do you know our favorite furry companion? Did they really descend from wolves? What’s the difference between a Chihuahua and a Saint Bernard? And just how smart are they? Join one friendly mutt on a journey to discover the secret origin of dogs, how genetics and evolution shape species, and where in the world his favorite ball bounced off to.
Fur, Feather, Fin: All of Us Are Kin
Published: May 1, 2018
There are so many wild and wonderful animals in our world. Some have fur, some have feathers, some have fins, but all are connected. This fact-filled rhyming exploration of the diversity of the animal kingdom celebrates mammals, birds, insects, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and more! It’s a perfect match for budding naturalists and animal enthusiasts everywhere.
A Whale of a Tale
Published: May 23, 2006
Onboard a vessel that would make Jacques Cousteau green with envy, the Cat and Co. take to the high seas in search of whales, dolphins, and porpoises—those aquatic mammals known as cetaceans. While learning how cetaceans stay warm without hair, have teeth or baleen, swim in troops, spyhop, spin, breach, and see via ecolocation, kids are introduced to almost 20 different species—including sperm, right, humpback, and blue whales; Gulf, spectacled, and finless porpoise; and boto, common, hourglass, and bottlenose dolphins. A shipshape selection for summer reading!
An Anthology of Intriguing Animals
Published: October 2, 2018
The animal kingdom is so much bigger than young minds can fathom and there is always more to learn. An Anthology of Intriguing Animals is a stunning animal encyclopedia for young readers to explore, with reference pages packed with fascinating information, little learners will be captivated as they discover the facts, stories and myths behind their favourite animals. Whether it’s where the slow-motion sloth lives, how the plodding pangolin protects itself from predators, or which animal the Ancient Egyptians thought rolled the Sun across the sky, children can learn all sorts of fun animal facts from the storybook descriptions.
Tiny Bird
Published: April 14, 2020
Robert Burleigh’s narrative nonfiction picture book follows a hummingbird’s migration south for the winter, with stunning art by Wendell Minor. When the last summer flowers open their petals to the sun, it’s time for a tiny ruby-throated hummingbird to dip its beak into the heart of each bloom, extracting as much nectar as possible before the hard trip ahead.
Today is the day Tiny Bird begins its amazing journey south for the winter, traveling as fast as thirty miles an hour for hundreds of miles on end. The trip is long, with savage weather and many predators along the way, but Tiny Bird is built for this epic journey and eventually arrives at its winter home.
Can an Aardvark Bark?
Published: June 13, 2017
Barks, grunts, squeals—animals make all kinds of sounds to communicate and express themselves. With a growling salamander and a whining porcupine, bellowing giraffes and laughing gorillas, this boisterous book is chock-full of fun and interesting facts and is sure to be a favorite of even the youngest animal enthusiasts.
Animalium
Published: January 1, 2014
Welcome to the Museum is a series of books set on the “walls” of the printed page, showcasing the world’s finest collections of objects from natural history to art. Open 365 days a year and unrestricted by the constraints of physical space, each title in this series is organized into galleries that display more than 200 full-color specimens accompanied by lively, informative text. Offering hours of learning, this first title within the series “Animalium” presents the animal kingdom in glorious detail with illustrations from Katie Scott, an unparalleled new talent.
The Book of Turtles
Published: May 2, 2023
From National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestseller Sy Montgomery comes an ode to one of the most diverse, fascinating, and beloved species on the planet: turtles. With dazzling illustrations and emotionally engaging, fact-filled text, this picture book will speak to the wisdom these long-lived animals can lend.
Don’t Let Them Disappear
Published: April 2, 2019
Did you know that blue whales are the largest animals in the world? Or that sea otters wash their paws after every meal? The world is filled with millions of animal species, and all of them are unique and special. Many are on the path to extinction.
In this book, Chelsea Clinton introduces young readers to a selection of endangered animals, sharing what makes them special, and also what threatens them. Taking readers through the course of a day, Don’t Let Them Disappear talks about rhinos, tigers, whales, pandas and more, and provides helpful tips on what we all can do to help prevent these animals from disappearing from our world entirely.
Crazy About Cats
Published: September 5, 2017
Did you know that the fishing cat has partially webbed paws for catching fish? Or that pumas can leap over 15 feet into trees? There are roughly 38 species of cats today, each one superbly adapted to their environment – whether that be in the rainforest or the desert!
Animalphabet
Published: January 1, 2018
From ant to butterfly to caterpillar . . . to zebra and then back again, Animalphabet is an entertaining puzzle as well as a gorgeous alphabet book to treasure.
Who can slither better than a rabbit? A snake! Who can growl better than a snake? A tiger! There are clever hints and peekaboo holes within the artwork that will amaze and delight young children as they learn to use the alphabet. This is a preschool must-have.
The Elephant Scientist
Published: July 11, 2011
In the sprawling African scrub desert of Etosha National Park, they call her “the mother of all elephants.” Holding binoculars closely to her eyes, American scientist Caitlin O’Connell could not believe what she was seeing from these African elephants: as the mighty matriarch scanned the horizon, the other elephants followed suit, stopped mid-stride, and stood as still as statues. This observation would guide the scientist to a groundbreaking discovery about elephant communication: elephants actually listen with their limbs.
Fanatical About Frogs
Published: June 18, 2019
Owen Davey returns with another guide to animals, this time digging into the wonderous world of frogs! Cool illustrations and fun facts give you all a kid could want to know, and more about frogs!
Did you know that there are over 4,000 known species of frog? Some are bigger than your dinner plate, while others are small enough to sit on your fingernail, and in between is about every color and size you can imagine! Leap into this fascinating illustrated guide to the most diverse amphibians in the world, from the lumbering common toad to the beautiful but deadly poison dart frog.
In the Woods
Published: April 7, 2020
The animals in the dark woods are secretive, their inner lives a mystery. The stealthy bobcat, the inquisitive raccoon, and the dignified bear waking up from his winter nap are just a few of the glorious animals featured in this clever collection of poems and woodland scenes. This companion to In the Sea, In the Wild, and On the Farm is the first collaboration between David Elliott and Rob Dunlavey, whose colorful, expressive art pairs with the author’s charming poems to create a love letter to the animals of the forest.
Look Up!: Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard
Published: March 12, 2013
This conversational, humorous introduction to bird-watching encourages kids to get outdoors with a sketchbook and really look around. Quirky full-color illustrations portray dozens of birds chatting about their distinctive characteristics, including color, shape, plumage, and beak and foot types, while tongue-in-cheek cartoons feature banter between birds, characters, and the reader (“Here I am, the noble spruce grouse. In a spruce grove. Eatin’ some spruce. Yep.”). Interactive and enjoyable tips bring an age-old hobby to new life for the next generation of bird-watchers.
Do Doodlebugs Doodle? Amazing Insect Facts
Published: March 27, 2018
Do bed bugs wear pajamas? Do dragonflies breathe fire? Do stink bugs take baths? Silly questions, the kind kids often ask, are followed by informative answers sure to make every reader eager to learn more about insects. Find out in Do Doodlebugs Doodle?, which will have kids laughing out loud as they explore the fun and fascinating world of insects!
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There they are: 20 of the best non-fiction animal books! Which of these books have you read and loved? What did I miss?
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