Here are some of my favorite informational picture books for your young readers! With the common core becoming very important in the classrooms, non-fiction books will start to take on a whole new meaning. Check out these fabulous picture books that all young children will enjoy.
The Boy who loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos by Deborah Heiligman and Illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Meet Paul, a young boy who loves math. All he can do is think about numbers all day long. Read about his story in picture book format about how he found his way in the world by making friends and sharing his ideas. Learn how he grew to be one of the most famous mathematicians ever.
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Recommended reading for ages 4-8 yrs.
The Man with the Violin by Kathy Stinson Illustrated by Dusan Petricic, Postscript by Joshua Bell
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Dylan noticed things. Unfortunately his mom didn’t. One Friday in January in Washington D.C. while taking the metro train, Dylan noticed a man with a violin. He wanted to stop and listen, but his mother said no. He thought about that man all day and the beautiful music that he played. He could hear the notes in his head. Once home that evening, he finds out that the young man in the station was a famous violinist, Joshua Bell, who was down at the metro giving a free concert. But why did nobody listen? A beautiful and compelling story about remembering to open our eyes and our ears and notice the beauty that surrounds us.
Recommended for ages 4-8 but even teens and adults will enjoy this one too!
On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne and Illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky
It is not an easy feat to describe one of the most intelligent men in the world to young minds. This is an informational book in picture book format giving an overview of Albert Einstein’s life beginning with a young boy riding his bicycle but really wondering about how he could travel the speed of light. An incredible book that journeys the reader through Albert Einstein’s life through curiosity, laughter and self discovery.
Recommended for ages 6-9 yrs.
Jumping Penguins and Laughing Hyenas by Marije Tolman
Did you know that a sloth moves so slowly that green algae grows in it’s fur? This is a fabulous informational book, great for common core, that gives funny, disgusting, unbelievable and weird facts about 50 different animals. These facts are pretty straightforward and the illustrations are pure fantasy. I give this one five stars!Recommended for ages 5 and up.
That Book Woman by Heather Henson and illustrated by David Small
This is a rare and very moving story about the Pack Horse Librarians. These people brought stories to many, many children in the Appalachian mountains of Kentucky. This project was founded in the 1930’s by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, by helping bringing books to very remote regions where there were few schools and absolutely no libraries. Written in picture book format, the story follows a family where one child loves to read and can’t wait for new books each month and the other child, Cal, does not. But in the end, Cal comes to understand the power of the written word.
Recommended for ages 4-8.
