Best Nonfiction Books for 2nd Graders on Epic!

Full disclosure: this is technically fiction. BUT it still tops our list of best nonfiction for 2nd graders for one very important reason: it’s a great way to teach little ones about sea life, conservation and the spirit of cooperation—and it even includes practical tips on how to help preserve our oceans. 

Walt the lobstah’s greatest dream is to win first place in the annual Swell Gahdens contest. But year after year the honor goes to his “chowdah-head” rival Milton.

Your elementary school readers will love this high-interest graphic novel. Alan Turing was a real-life mathematician, cryptographer and… superhero?! Turing played an important part of history both in the world of mathematics and in defeating the Nazis during World War II. This book in the My Super Science Heroes book series explores the true story of his contributions with a superhero twist, and how he used his curiosity superpower to crack codes and solve problems. 

It’s 1968 and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is just beginning what will be his final fight for justice before his assassination—during the Memphis sanitation strike. When the city refuses to improve working conditions after two African Americans are killed due to unsafe equipment, going on strike is the workers’ only option to stand for civil rights. As 9-year-old Lorraine Jackson watches the events unfold she’s inspired to see her father, a sanitation worker, join the stand for equality. 

What’s not to love about animals? Especially animals that look creative, crazy and downright weird! From the oddities of the star-nosed mole, to the green fur of a three-toed sloth, this book is full of the unique and different stand-outs of the animal kingdom. Your kid can explore forests, tunnel underground and dive beneath the surface to encounter the strangest creatures on earth. They’ll be completely drawn in as they study informational texts about the behaviors, diets, habitats and stories of some seriously weird animals.

Discover the life of film sensation and martial artist Bruce Lee with your kid! Although he was born in America, he grew up as a child star in Hong Kong. That’s until he started getting into trouble and his father decided to get him on a successful path by sending him to the United States. This fun, inspiring biographical sketch from the best-selling Little People, BIG DREAMS series has a little bit of everything: adventure, drama, excitement and a flash of inspiration. Your kid will love learning about the lives of bees through the experience of Apis in this uniquely beautiful and accessible nonfiction read.

Why does the moon look different from night to night? Why does it have a “dark side?” What does it have to do with the ocean’s tides? What’s an eclipse again, and how does it occur? “The Moon Book” will take your kid through space and into a world of riveting, high-interest fun facts. Informative, simple and flat-out cool, this classic scientific read by Gail Gibbons is a fun way for them to learn everything they want to know about the moon.

You’re kid will learn a ton about weather in this comprehensive National Geographic read! Like, what causes lightning and thunder? How do tornadoes form? What are the different types of clouds? From rain and snow to hurricanes and twisters, this book covers weather-related topics like a poncho in a downpour.

Engaging facts combined with brightly colored photos make this book a hot read for grade-school kids. And it’s easy-to-read text makes it a perfect choice for kids at beginning reading levels looking to build confidence as they learn.

This award-winning title details the lifecycle of a honeybee with rich, poetic language and stunningly detailed illustrations. Apis emerges as a tiny honeybee and sets to work serving the hive. Apis takes care of larvae in the nursery, creates wax comb to house honey, transfers pollen and eventually grows to a point where she can finally leave the hive. She branches out and becomes an adventurer bee where she can gather nectar to make honey. Your kid will love learning about the lives of bees through the experience of Apis in this uniquely beautiful and accessible nonfiction read.