Non-fiction and fact books that children aged 4-8 will love

This attractive, large-format board book, featuring pop-ups and flaps to lift, introduces young children to a range of animals from around the world.

This informative and exciting picture book details the journey of Belka and Strelka (dogs sent into space as part of the Soviet programme): through training to orbiting the earth and returning home safely.

A quirky combination of fact and fun, this distinctive picture book about food poses questions that inquisitive children typically ask, such as: ​‘If I eat jelly and I eat fish, can I eat jellyfish?’ Stylish, witty and informative.

This beautifully designed picture book with exquisite illustrations explores a variety of shapes relating to Islamic objects and practices. It is perfect to share with children at home or in the classroom.

This gorgeous large hardback explores what happens under the earth and in our oceans and seas in fantastically colourful and accessible double-page spreads. This is a really excellent example of nonfiction that is both comprehensive and fun.

An energetic, fun introduction to different types of weather, using rhyme and vibrant, bright illustrations.

This charming picture book from Emily Snape has a simple and reassuring tone for little ones who may also feel anxious about new tasks or not feel very confident in themselves. It’s practical too with lots of easy and effective activities for parents and carers to try with children.

Published to coincide with the centenary of the end of the First World War, this beautiful book tells the story of Stubby, the most decorated war dog of the First World War. The storytelling is sublime and the illustrations are profoundly beautiful. 

A book with 26 differently illustrated and themed alphabets is an original idea, and it’s fun to dip in and out of – both to marvel at Allan Sanders’ fabulous eye for design, and perhaps in schools as a source of advanced vocabulary-building for Years 2 and 3.

An inspirational picture book biography of an amazing woman: the feminist, journalist and activist Gloria Steinem. Aura Lewis’ dreamy, girly 70s-style watercolour illustration makes for a beautiful read for all children with a passion for justice.

Frida Kahlo’s life story is adapted for younger readers – with bold and colourful illustrations, and an inspiring facts and photos section at the back.

Full of brilliant detail about a vast range of sports, this highly entertaining illustrated picture book gives children a good introduction to their rules and ethos. Perfect for sporty children but also those less competitive! 

How does the human body develop and change in a lifetime? Hoffman and Asquith explore these questions and more in this honest, entertaining and fact-filled celebration of the human body, which also reflects the diversity of the world we live in.

This insightful and uplifting picture book recounts the life of Nelson Mandela through the eyes of his great-grandchildren, Zazi and Ziwelene, as they ask their grandmother (Mandela’s daughter) a series of questions about him.

This delightful and very funny cartoon-style guide to food chains is a brilliant introduction to the concept, and gives young readers/​listeners some simple facts about a range of animals and their eating habits, and the natural cycle of life. 

This enjoyable read is a mix of a fictional story about Libby the cat and her life with Miss Lewis, intertwined with facts and information about cats from author Dr John Bradshaw, a biologist with a special interest in cats.

The latest in Owen Davey’s amazing nature series featuring individual species, Curious About Crocodiles gives facts and curious details alongside accessible and beautiful graphic design, making a fascinating read about these sometimes misunderstood ancient creatures.

Learn to think like a scientist in this beautifully illustrated book, which celebrates and inspires readers to be curious and explore the world around them. This book will be very handy for keeping kids and adults busy on a rainy day.

Luna and her granny learn how to be astronauts together. Packed with space facts, and brilliantly illustrated, this is inspiring STEM content for any child. 

Including topics such as stars, planets, moons, gravity and even how astronauts are able to eat and sleep, each page of this fascinating book is a journey through the complexities of space.

This beautiful and profound book chronicles the struggles and achievements of historic and contemporary black women. Not just for girls, this is an inspiring book for any child as it shows how determination, ambition and hard work can bring important change.

A perfectly pitched story of Black history that brings it back to the personal for a little girl.

This funny non-fiction picture book for older readers is packed full of fascinating facts about poo and enthusiastically explains why this natural waste product is one of the most useful things on earth.

Written and illustrated by a direct descendant of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, this colourful picture book is full of facts about 13 inspirational women from history, showcasing their achievements in a fun and accessible way.

Wow your friends and family with 400 more jaw-dropping facts in this jam-packed followup to Factopia.

What Came First sets out a useful timeline showing young readers a sometimes surprising order of events with several quirky ​“which came first?” questions per page. 

Featuring simply-told stories and glorious illustrations, this book about incredible, determined women from around the world is sure to inspire a generation of young readers.

An inspiring introduction to 20 adventurers and explorers from the last 700 years. This book will encourage readers to live more adventurously, think a little more boldly and go a little further themselves.

This wonderful book about the magic of clouds is full of surprising and original poems, perfect for upper key stage two children either at school or at home. 

This glorious book will introduce you to the bee world. It is fantastically illustrated in a cartoonish style that is big, bold and great fun.

It could be said that physics is the science of absolutely everything: clouds to cars, time to rainbows and rain to sandwiches. But, as a subject, it can seem a bit complicated – or, can it?

This fun, colourfully illustrated non-fiction book explores the ways in which different creatures communicate with one another. It will delight, entertain and inform in equal measure.