High-Interest Nonfiction Books for 4th Graders

What’s your morning school routine? You might whip up a quick breakfast before dropping your little one off for a day of learning. But kids in other parts of the world get to school in all sorts of other ways. Determined to obtain an education, children in other countries walk for several hours, ride in rickshaws, walk over wire bridges and travel under other extraordinary circumstances to get to school. This fascinating book follows 13 real students as they embark on their sometimes dangerous treks in pursuit of knowledge. 

While not technically nonfiction, this adorable animated book does give little kids an excellent intro to American history through the lens of one of our greatest inventors. Named a National Science Teachers Association Best STEM Book, this is the story of Ben Franklin’s first invention, swim fins! Created in conjunction with actual Franklin experts, this whimsical tale will take your kid along young Ben’s journey through the scientific method, and teach them some inspiring lessons and trivia along the way.

How about side-stepping the history books for a moment and learning about the story behind the iconic Winnie the Pooh? This #1 New York Times Bestseller and Caldecott Medal-winner tells the remarkable story of Harry Colebourn. A veterinarian by trade, he heads to the front during World War I to treat horses when he rescues a baby bear. He names her Winnie, after his hometown of Winnipeg, and takes her with him. Told by Colebourn’s great-granddaughter, this is the true story of how the real-life Winnie made her way from the fields of Canada to an army base oversees and finally to the London Zoo, where Winnie made another new friend: a boy named Christopher Robin.

This award-winning picture book tells the true story of Grammy-nominated musician Troy Andrews during his childhood in New Orleans. Nicknamed “Trombone Shorty” because he was so small that his trombone was twice his size, he attends the New Orlean’s Jazz Heritage Festival with his mom and is invited on stage to play with the great Jazz musician Bo Diddley. From that moment forward, he’s been performing ever since. This beautiful, upbeat book is a love note to music and an ode to following your dreams. Perfect for a read-aloud!

Is your 4th-grade kid into topics like climate, ecology and conservation? This fascinating picture book captures Antarctica, the coldest and most extreme environment on Earth. With vivid illustrations and well-researched, easy-to-follow text, it gives kids an overview of this important topic and its effects on the rest of the planet. From the weather and ocean currents to sea levels and wildlife, it’ll teach your kid about life on Antarctica, and how protecting it means protecting our planet. It’s a great resource for budding science lovers, and an important read for the rest of us.

This remarkable picture book biography follows William Still, known as Father of the Underground Railroad. It starts when his parents are forced to escape slavery without two of their children. He then grows up to work for the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society, raising money, as well as helping to rescue and assist slaves traveling north. Reunited with his brother Peter after recognizing a familiar family story, he devotes his life to collecting other such stories to reunite other families. With powerful storytelling and emotionally evocative illustrations, this is an inspiring look at the life of one of Civil Rights history’s most prominent African American heroes.

Using stunningly detailed imagery and poetic language, this award-winning picture book details the life cycle of “Apis” the honeybee. On day one, Apis emerges as a tiny honeybee and sets to work serving the hive. Apis takes care of larvae in the nursery, creates wax combs 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 the honey. Your kid will delight in learning about this bee species through Apis’s experiences in this great book.

Did you know dolphins can use tools? Or that some can jump as high as 15 feet? Let your aspiring marine biologist dive into a trove of fun, often heartwarming accounts involving these playful toothed whales. With vibrant photography and facts sprinkled throughout, your kid will enjoy true tales of the funny, heroic and talented dolphins and their friendships in this fascinating chapter book.

Few themes are more thrilling to young readers than a good spy fantasy. And this nonfiction STEM journey will teach them about some of the most famous spy missions of all time. With humorous comic-book style illustrations, it’ll fill them in on the details behind top-secret missions, including underwater wire tap networks, a fake movie production company and events that inspired several James Bond movies. Plus they’ll learn a lot about historic figures and events along the way.

Is your kid into comics? Whether interested as a hobby or future career, this informative, interactive guide will teach them everything they need to get started in the world of cartooning. From doodling and conveying emotion to drawing and lettering, it’ll help them complete their very own comic. It even offers tips for educators and parents for picking and reading comics with kids, and for using them to build vocabulary.

Did you know that the liver has 500 jobs? Or that the heart is an actual battery with its own electrical supply? The human brain even makes enough electricity to power a lightbulb. These are just a few incredible tidbits your child will discover in this kid-friendly anatomy book. With hilariously icky illustrations and mind-blowing facts, this creative volume will captivate you just as much as your kid. And if they like this, they’ll love the Epic Originals book “Truth Sleuth: Science.”

As the American Revolution rages on, 14-year-old Dicey Langston overhears that a ferocious Loyalist leader known as Bloody Bill is heading straight toward her brothers’ camp. This gripping true story follows a real-life heroine as she risks her life to save countless others. The colorful illustrations and engaging narration make this a suspenseful read as well as a little-known account of American history.

In this installment of the hit series exploring history’s most pivotal advancements, your kid can learn about about computing. Starting with the world’s first calculators in ancient times, it explores the journey of computer programming from simple machines to the advent of AI, guiding spaceships to the moon and the invention of smartphones. Your kid will also learn about key figures such as Ada Lovelace, Alan Turing and Bill Gates. With easy-to-understand narration and engaging graphic novel-style imagery, this book is a testament to the power of creativity, discovery and ingenuity over time. If your kid likes this, “Big Ideas That Changed the World No. 1: Rocket to the Moon!” is also available on Epic.

This gorgeous picture-book biography follows Nina Simone, also known as the High Priestess of Soul. Known for her eclectic style combining gospel, pop and classical music, she was one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century. But more than that, she was an activist. With evocative black-and-white illustrations and melodic prose, this books teaches kids about her career, her struggles as a Black woman and her role in the Civil Rights Movement.

Give your kid a comprehensive look at this important period with this dynamic rhyming book. It tells the story of women workers during World War II, when military enlistment left male workers in short supply in occupations traditionally occupied by men. Across America, hundreds of thousands of women known as “Rosies” began operating machinery and working on assembly lines to produce ships, tanks, ammunition, uniforms and more. This book is an ode to their skill, bravery, patriotism and longterm contributions to not just the war effort, but women’s rights. It also includes a timeline and a glossary to help kids with some of the more complex concepts.

Jump into music history with “The Roots of Rap!” This fun nonfiction picture book captures how rap and hip-hop originated from folktales, spirituals and poetry. It’ll show your kid how the fresh sounds of jazz, the showmanship of James Brown, the birth of graffiti art and break dancing all led to music that’s popular today. Written by award-winning author and poet Carole Boston Weatherford, this book’s captivating rhythm mirrors the styles of rap, hip-hop and R&B. It oozes cool vibes, and feels more like entertainment than learning to even the most reluctant readers.