Planets (Fifth Edition)
A reliable, clear reference for kids who want to know the difference between a dwarf planet and a gas giant without getting bogged down in jargon.
Read this next
All picks after this →
National Geographic Kids: Sharks
by Anne Schreiber
Nonfiction · ages 6–9 · 620L · 2008
Solid, photo-heavy shark encyclopedia that satisfies kids' obsession with the subject without sensationalizing; National Geographic's reliable formula at its best for this age.
Mr. Justice Holmes
by Clara Ingram Judson
Nonfiction · ages 8–12 · 650L
Earnest mid-century biography that introduces a towering legal mind; dry by modern standards and Holmes's actual legal reasoning will sail over most 8–10-year-olds' heads, but solid for history-curious kids who like nonfiction.
Twisters!
by Kate Hayden
Nonfiction · ages 6–9 · 580L · 2023
Vivid, fact-dense introduction to tornadoes with enough real-world detail to hook curious kids without being sensationalist; the photos and diagrams do heavy lifting.