Non-fiction books for toddlers
March 24, 2019 11:39 AM Subscribe
Our toddler is just over two years now, and starting to become interested in somewhat more complex picture books. We currently only own a few non-fiction books for this older age range (mostly fiction and stories, little of anything else so far). What are some great kid's books about the real world for 2+ year old kids?
I'm thinking of books that deal with topics such as the human body, science, how-does-it-work explainers, history, or other cultures and countries (or anything else that's fun/interesting or is a good topic for a kid to be exposed to!), as well as books that would be engaging for her at this younger age that she can also grow up with for a while. Diversity and positive female role models/characters always a plus.
I'm thinking of books that deal with topics such as the human body, science, how-does-it-work explainers, history, or other cultures and countries (or anything else that's fun/interesting or is a good topic for a kid to be exposed to!), as well as books that would be engaging for her at this younger age that she can also grow up with for a while. Diversity and positive female role models/characters always a plus.
Usborne books are great!
Recently my older kid got a book called Do Not Lick This Book which is about microbes and the human microbiome and totally appropriate for a younger kid to have read to them. The Nat Geo "little kids first big book of" books are also great.
posted by soren_lorensen at 2:37 PM on March 24, 2019 [1 favorite]
Recently my older kid got a book called Do Not Lick This Book which is about microbes and the human microbiome and totally appropriate for a younger kid to have read to them. The Nat Geo "little kids first big book of" books are also great.
posted by soren_lorensen at 2:37 PM on March 24, 2019 [1 favorite]
Virginia Lee Burton's Life Story? (Not sure exactly what age range, but it shouldn't take too long to grow up to it.)
posted by huimangm at 3:10 PM on March 24, 2019
posted by huimangm at 3:10 PM on March 24, 2019
Don’t forget the classic, Everyone Poops. The other books by the same author are great as well.
posted by dawkins_7 at 3:47 PM on March 24, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by dawkins_7 at 3:47 PM on March 24, 2019 [2 favorites]
This might be too New York specific for your needs, but we adore Maira Kalman's Next Stop Grand Central
posted by Mchelly at 4:38 PM on March 24, 2019
posted by Mchelly at 4:38 PM on March 24, 2019
Chris Ferrie has a whole series of "_____ For Babies" board books that are pretty cute, maybe more cute for the adults than the kids but my toddler really enjoys doing her alphabet on his "ABCs of Mathematics".
We also have this Maya Angelou board book, it's from a series and I've been meaning to pick up some more because my kid really enjoys it.
posted by cpatterson at 5:06 PM on March 24, 2019
We also have this Maya Angelou board book, it's from a series and I've been meaning to pick up some more because my kid really enjoys it.
posted by cpatterson at 5:06 PM on March 24, 2019
Almost everything has it all... well, almost? It's a giant book with great illustrations of people, homes from around the world, animals, human body, etc. It was our fav.
posted by beccaj at 5:10 PM on March 24, 2019
posted by beccaj at 5:10 PM on March 24, 2019
My kids loved Caroline Arnold’s books at this age. Books like A Polar Bear’s World take the reader through the birth and first year or two of the animal’s life and introduce facts about the animal, its habitat, and its place in the ecosystem with simple, clear stories and lovely art that really engaged my kids. (They both still love these books, and we’re a few years out from toddlerhood.)
posted by Spinneret at 6:03 PM on March 24, 2019
posted by Spinneret at 6:03 PM on March 24, 2019
We have two biographical books, one of Josephine Baker and one of Elizabeth Cotten. They definitely skew older than 2 - the Josephine Baker one is long and has some straight info about racism, the Cotten one is gentler but also just longer and less simple. But our daughter (now 3.5) enjoyed the Josephine one at 2 and we just got the Libba one and she likes it. Always nice to have some of the more advanced books around be Star you never know when they’ll engage in them.
posted by vunder at 6:05 PM on March 24, 2019
posted by vunder at 6:05 PM on March 24, 2019
There is a series of books called Zooborns! that showcase photographs of beautiful animals. National Geographic also has a lot of books in a variety of formats for young children. Jeanette Winter writes fabulous nonfiction for kids, some of her books sway older, but there are lovely simple ones too. Her son Jonah Winter is also an nonfiction author- I especially loved reading his book Frida with my kids. Isabel Sanchez Vegara has a wonderful biography series that the students at my elementary school library love. (they come in board books too.) Finally, Manya Stojic has great nonfiction books about weather.
posted by momochan at 6:26 PM on March 24, 2019
posted by momochan at 6:26 PM on March 24, 2019
I can't remember names or titles but I remember books about trucks, airplanes, street signs, people in various jobs and the like being popular in our house. Sometimes books about seasons or holidays. All obtained from the library.
posted by vignettist at 9:18 AM on March 25, 2019
posted by vignettist at 9:18 AM on March 25, 2019
The Cat in the Hat has a series to introduced kids to nonfiction. I think it is called "the Cat in the Hat's Learning Library." The give facts about thing kids like - but it rhymes! Well mostly, some of the rhymes are really stretching it! My 3 YO son really loves the ones on insects and reptiles - "On Beyond Bugs: All About Insects" and "Miles and Miles of Reptiles: All About Reptiles."
My 2 YO daughter really loves "Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History" by Vashti Harrison. This contains a little illustration and brief history of 40 notable women. It is amazing. There is a smaller board book version that is called "Dream Big, Little One."
Usbourne is also awesome, but expensive and the toddlers just love to rip them up (or mine do). I intend to purchase more of their books when the kids are a little older.
posted by donovangirl at 10:28 AM on March 25, 2019
My 2 YO daughter really loves "Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History" by Vashti Harrison. This contains a little illustration and brief history of 40 notable women. It is amazing. There is a smaller board book version that is called "Dream Big, Little One."
Usbourne is also awesome, but expensive and the toddlers just love to rip them up (or mine do). I intend to purchase more of their books when the kids are a little older.
posted by donovangirl at 10:28 AM on March 25, 2019
currently reading:
the man who walked between the towers
on a beam of light
magnets push magnets pull
one giant leap
posted by sabh at 5:32 PM on March 25, 2019 [1 favorite]
the man who walked between the towers
on a beam of light
magnets push magnets pull
one giant leap
posted by sabh at 5:32 PM on March 25, 2019 [1 favorite]
I really liked Let's-read-and-find-out science for toddlers. I found level one worked well for them and level two was good for preschool age. (They define it differently, but this worked for us.)
posted by Margalo Epps at 2:38 PM on March 29, 2019
posted by Margalo Epps at 2:38 PM on March 29, 2019
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Peek inside night time
What is poop?
Why do we need bees?
99 Things in Nature
Questions and answers about dinosaurs
Questions and answers about nature
From about 3(ymmv) he really liked Ms Fizzle, so he's seen the reboot on Netflix and we have a bunch of the picture books. Now at 4.5 he likes Storybots and some kids Q&A science podcasts too.
posted by jrobin276 at 12:23 PM on March 24, 2019 [4 favorites]