It is fair to say that the fundamental purpose of books is learning. This becomes more obvious as children grow up. Girls and boys of six and above require nourishing of both their hearts and minds. For this reason, we have compiled a list of ten books thatcan be great for ambitious learners who are just starting to move on from picture books to chapter books.
1. Everything Mythology (National Geographic Kids)
Everything Mythology (National Geographic Kids) features a wide variety of awesome facts and incredible visuals to portray famous figures in mythology. It presents a diverse array of legends from all over the world in a funny and engaging manner. Most importantly, the book educates the reader as to what a myth is, how myths originated, and where they overlapped with religion.
It is written by Blake Hoena,who grew up in central Wisconsin and, in his youth, wrote stories of robots conquering the Moon and trolls lurking in the woods. He has written more than one hundred children’s books. These include several graphic novels, such as the graphic novel versions of Peter Pan and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
2. 100 Things to Make You Happy
100 Things to Make You Happy is an inspirational book full of suggestions, pictures, and amazing quotes to cheer you up whenever you’re feeling blue. The book is chock-full of fun, scientific facts relating to animals, history, technology, and much more. It also comes with nuggets of expert tips, jokes, and exercises that make it an empowering read to nurture children’s mental health.
The writer Lisa Gerry is the author of numerous National Geographic Kids’ books. She received her BS in journalism from James Madison University. Her work has appeared in Woman’s Day, Ladies’ Home Journal, USA Weekend, and other respected magazines. She loves writing on subjects concerning mental health, happiness, social activism, and travel.
3. Animal Records
National Geographic Kids’ Animal Recordsintroduces us to some of kids’ favorite animals such as the fastest, the smallest, the largest, the deadliest, and the weirdest. The book has excellent illustrations accompanied by gorgeous sprinklings of information in a whimsical and eye-catching layout. It includes fantastic animal stories and high-resolution photographs featuring beautiful animals such as the long-tongued sun bear, the Japanese giant salamander, the goblin shark, and the black eagle.
The book is written by Sarah Wassner and Kathy Furgang. Sarah has written several titles for National Geographic, such as Awesome 8, This Book Stinks, and 1,000 Facts about the White House. Kathy is a writer and editor who provides educational materials for publishers worldwide. She is also the recipient of the 2014 Louis J. Battan Author’s Award, K-12, for her book Everything Weather.
4. Brain Games
Brain Games includes five chapters filled with mind-bending games, fun challenges, and creative puzzles. Its focus is the most powerful computer in existence; the human brain. It teaches kids all the fundamental aspects of the brain they need to be aware of, such as how memories are formed, how emotions arise, and how decisions are made, all in a highly-interactive and eye-catching way.
The author Jennifer Swanson is an award-winning writer whose love for science was ignited when, at the age of 7, she started a science club in her garage. She has come a long way since and has written more than 40 fiction and nonfiction children’s books. She has frequently spoken at National NSTA conferences, the World Science Festival, andthe Library of Congress’ National Book Festival.
5. How to Speak Cat
Cats are magnificent, independent, and affectionate pets. However, sometimes, even the most-caring parents can be perplexed by their own pet’s behavior. How to Speak Cat helps you identify the language of cats. Why do cats rub their faces against our legs? Why do they like to meow at the window? And what’s up with their tails? The book answers all these questions and many more in a fun-to-read manner featuring countless adorable cat pictures.
The book is co-authored by Aline Newman, popularly known for her “animal anecdote” articles and children’s books written for National Geographic. She loves to travel and interview amazing people on exciting topics. She wroteHow to Speak Cat with the guidance of veterinarian expert Dr. Gary Weitzman to ensure the truth and accuracy of her facts while providing an entertaining experience for children.
6. Welcome to Mars
Life’s greatest inspiration is exploration, and for today’s kids, that exploration happens to be space exploration. Welcome to Mars challenges young minds to imagine Mars not as a distant, desolate red-planet, but rather as the future home of humanity. It is an absorbing read containing simple definitions of what kind of tools are needed for space exploration, a brief history of Mars exploration, challenges we would need to overcome, and even a topographical map of Mars.
The book is written by Marianne Dyson, who is a former NASA flight controller as well as an award-winning author. It is co-authored by Buzz Aldrin, the famous hero-astronaut who followed Neil Armstrong to be the second person to step on the Moon and inspired generations of children to appreciate the glory of space travel. In Welcome to Mars, the authors combine their knowledge to seed the imagination of future interstellar explorers.
7. Uncle John’s Smell-O-Scopic Bathroom Reader for Kids Only!
Uncle John’s Smell-O-Scopic Bathroom Reader for Kids Only! is packed with knowledge on a variety of topics covering history, pop culture, sports, science, amazing kids, and other random subjects. Though a little text-heavy, it educates kids through light snippets of information featuring fun facts, tantalizing true stories, riddles, jokes, quotes, and much more.
The book is written by the Bathroom Readers’ Institute, who describe themselves as a movement to stand up for those who sit down to read in a bathroom. Since 1988, they’ve been introducing thrilling anthologies of a wide variety of topics for adults and kids alike.Their first series, Uncle John’s Bathroom Readers, is the most popular and longest-running series of its kind in the world.
8. Fox Talk
Fox Talk is a research-based and educational book that aims to answer questions related to the domestication of dogs from the wolf species. It does so by talking about the close relatives of dogs; the fox. The book features stunning photography and illustrations to delve into the history of human-dog relations. The book also features the fascinating research findings of the Russian scientist Dmitri Belyaev.
Author Lindsey Carmichael publishes nonfiction science books under the name L E Carmichael. During her career as a scientist, her Ph.D. thesis“Ecological Genetics of Northern Wolves and Arctic Foxes” earned her the Governor General’s Medal in 2006. In her book Fox Talk, she uses all her knowledge and passion for foxes to provide an easy-to-understand, science-approved material on a fascinating subject.
9. Say No to Bullying
Just as bullies, bullying comes in all shapes and sizes, in different environments, and in different manners. Say No to Bullying is an excellent resource for parents to have a frank discussion with their children about bullying. It covers everything about bullying, from identifying bullying and recognizing its cause to dealing with the victim. The book has the perfect balance of useful information and engaging visuals.
The author Louise Spilsbury is a children’s book author who has written and co-written over 200 books on almost every subject, including science, geography, art, history, social issues, and literacy. She lives with her husband and two kids in Devon, UK.
10. The World Almanac for Kids 2014
The World Almanac for Kids 2014 consists of over 35 categories of everything from animals, inventions, geography, and environment, to sports, movies, books, music, and mythology. It includes fascinating facts and homework help for a large number of subjects. All information is displayed through the combination of kid-friendly and incredible infographics, colors, and pictures.
The World Almanac and Book of Facts has been America’s best-selling reference book for more than one and a half-decade. It serves as the ultimate source of information for collective education, entertainment, and reference needs. It has sold more than 82 million copies, while The World Almanac for Kids 2014 has sold over 4.4 million.
Conclusion
Getting into educational books can be tricky for children new to the idea of a book with more prose than colorful pictures. Thus, it’s important to introduce kids to different kinds of subjects and to different aspects of education such as storytelling, fact-based learning, or learning through riddles and challenges to identify the best book for your kid.