Traditional nonfiction is made up of survey/”all-about” nonfiction books. They provide a general overview of a topic, are often part of a larger series, and use clean, straightforward language. They are best for an introduction to a topic, and often used early in the research process to build understanding. Keep reading for a list of our best-selling traditional nonfiction titles!
Gymnastics Time!
From the Series Bumba Books® — Sports Time!
- Interest Level: Preschool – Grade 1
- Reading Level: Kindergarten
Carefully leveled text and fresh, vibrant photos engage young readers in learning about the basics of the sport of gymnastics. Age-appropriate critical thinking questions and a photo glossary help build nonfiction learning skills.
Ambulances on the Go
From the Series Bumba Books® — Machines That Go
- Interest Level: Preschool – Grade 1
- Reading Level: Kindergarten
Carefully leveled text and fresh, vibrant photos engage young readers in learning about how ambulances work. Age-appropriate critical thinking questions and a photo glossary help build nonfiction learning skills.
Crayola® Spring Colors
From the Series Crayola® Seasons
- Interest Level: Preschool – Grade 3
- Reading Level: Grade 1
Bright flowers, cute baby animals, fresh plants—colors are everywhere in spring! Explore color in the world around you. What colors make you think of spring? What can you create with the colors of spring? Encourage readers to notice color in the real world and create their own spring-inspired artwork through vibrant photos and lyrical text.
Let’s Visit the Deciduous Forest
From the Series Lightning Bolt Books® — Biome Explorers
- Interest Level: Grade 1 – Grade 3
- Reading Level: Grade 2
The deciduous forest biome is filled with leafy trees. This biome changes with each season. What kinds of animals live and hunt in the forest? And how do people make good use of the trees? Read this book to find out!
Behind the Scenes Gymnastics
From the Series Inside the Sport (Lerner™ Sports)
- Interest Level: Grade 2 – Grade 5
- Reading Level: Grade 3
Learn what it takes to become a professional gymnast! Readers will get a fascinating insider look at the life of a gymnast, from preparing for competition to events outside the gym.
Discover Mars
From the Series Searchlight Books™ — Discover Planets
- Interest Level: Grade 3 – Grade 5
- Reading Level: Grade 3
Vivid photos and up-to-date information teach readers about Mars, including details on climate and geography, how scientists have explored the planet, and what they hope to find out about Mars in the future.
The Unofficial Guide to Minecraft Construction
From the Series My Minecraft (Alternator Books®)
- Interest Level: Grade 3 – Grade 6
- Reading Level: Grade 4
Minecraft construction is the ultimate way to get creative. Players build castles, famous structures, and even entire cities with the game’s construction materials. Filled with fun tips, readers will learn the ins and outs of construction and be inspired by other gamers’ creations. Screenshots and sidebars that highlight STEM and coding concepts round out the experience.
Garbage in Space: A Space Discovery Guide
From the Series Space Discovery Guides
- Interest Level: Grade 4 – Grade 6
- Reading Level: Grade 5
Did you know that companies and governments send more than one hundred satellites into space every year? And that most of those satellites continue to orbit Earth—even after they have stopped working? More than 500,000 old satellites, pieces of metal, and other bits of junk currently pollute Earth’s orbit. And that number is growing. Astronomers, engineers, and politicians all agree that the future of space exploration is in danger if this debris isn’t taken care of. But the problem of garbage in space is difficult and expensive to solve. In this book, learn more about this problem and its potential solutions.
Queer, 2nd Edition: The Ultimate LGBTQ Guide for Teens
- Interest Level: Grade 6 – Grade 12
- Reading Level: Grade 6
Teen life is hard enough, but for teens who are LGBTQ, it can be even harder.
When do you decide to come out? Will your friends accept you? And how do you meet people to date? Queer is a humorous, engaging, and honest guide that helps LGBTQ teens come out to friends and family, navigate their social life, figure out if a crush is also queer, and challenge bigotry and homophobia. Personal stories from the authors and sidebars on queer history provide relatable context. This completely revised and updated edition is a must-read for any teen who thinks they might be queer or knows someone who is.
“A delightful collection of trustworthy and accurate information that tweens and teens need today, all told in a sort of quirky, sometimes goofy, and always approachable tone…a fun, easy to read, and occasionally hilarious guide that should be available on a shelf in every high school library.”
—Diane Anderson-Minshall, Editorial Director, The Advocate magazine
#MeToo and You: Everything You Need to Know about Consent, Boundaries, and More
- Interest Level: Grade 6 – Grade 12
- Reading Level: Grade 6
The #MeToo movement has changed the way many people view the world, but how well do tweens understand it? Middle-grade readers are ready to learn about consent, harassment, and abuse, as well as healthy boundaries in all their relationships.
#MeToo and You includes essential terminology, from consent to assault, from just plain yes to just plain no. Author Halley Bondy explores the nuances of emotions, comfort, and discomfort in sexually charged and emotionally abusive situations. Detailed scenarios, both real and hypothetical, provide valuable examples of what’s acceptable and what is not, along with tools to help everyone treat others appropriately and to stand up for themselves and their peers.
Debunk It! Fake News Edition: How to Stay Sane in a World of Misinformation
- Interest Level: Grade 8 – Grade 12
- Reading Level: Grade 7
We live in an era of misinformation, much of it spread by authority figures, including politicians, religious leaders, broadcasters, and, of course, apps and websites.
In this second edition, author John Grant uses ripped-from-the-headlines examples to clearly explain how to identify bad evidence and poor arguments. He also points out the rhetorical tricks people use when attempting to pull the wool over our eyes, and offers advice about how to take these unscrupulous pundits down. Updated to include a chapter on fake news, Debunk It serves as a guide to critical thinking for young readers looking to find some clarity in a confusing world.
Trashing the Planet: Examining Our Global Garbage Glut
- Interest Level: Grade 6 – Grade 12
- Reading Level: Grade 8
On a global scale, humans create around 2.6 trillion pounds of waste every year. None of this trash is harmless—landfills and dumps leak toxic chemicals into soil and groundwater, while incinerators release toxic gases and particles into the air. What can we do to keep garbage from swallowing up Earth? Reducing, reusing, recycling, and upcycling are some of the answers. Learn more about the work of the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Ocean Cleanup Array, the zero waste movement, and the many other government, business, research, and youth efforts working to solve our planet’s garbage crisis.
Traditional Nonfiction is a category of Melissa Stewart’s Five Kinds of Nonfiction. This post is part of a weekly series of guest articles by nonfiction authors about their craft, their process, and their amazing books. Stay tuned each week to learn more by visiting the 5 Kinds of Nonfiction page for poster and flyer downloads, curated booklists and more. You can also follow the Lerner Blog’s 5 Kinds of Nonfiction series, or the hashtag #5KNF on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.