Non-fiction books about Nature, for older children

This fascinating non-fiction book features a wealth of fun facts about a range of animals, along with information about some of the ingenious methods scientists have devised to study them. Packed full of colourful, amusing illustrations, it is sure to appeal to budding scientists and anyone with an interest in animals.

Discover more about strange and fascinating species and behaviours, with colour photographs and bite-size facts. Perfect for fact-obsessed children who aren’t squeamish.  

In this fascinating book, children can learn about 50 courageous creatures from around the world and throughout history. There is enough wonder here to inspire kids to consider the richness of animals, and why we should treat them with respect and care.

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.

A self-confessed wildlife obsessive, Rothery’s book isn’t just a collection of his gorgeous illustration but rather a study of the hidden connections between species. Fascinating and beautiful.

Young readers will enjoy taking an underground journey through the layers of the earth in this attractively illustrated, artistic piece of narrative non-fiction.

In any given year, there may be hundreds of large-scale geological or meteorological disasters on earth – and they’re becoming more frequent because of climate change. This colourful and fascinating guide explains why they happen. 

Fiona Robinson’s beautifully blue book about the life of 19th-century born Anna Atkins is an inspiring testament to a father’s commitment to his daughter’s education, and to her passion for the natural world. Young nature lovers will be inspired by Anna’s story.

Children will love this beautiful and fascinating introduction to Everest, and it’s a particularly useful resource for primary schools who are looking at international features such as mountains in Key Stage 1 and 2.

This fantastically comprehensive handbook for young woodland explorers is packed full of ideas about how to make the most of the great outdoors, striking the perfect balance between having fun and staying safe.

Learn about the inner workings of our earth, including earthquakes, volcanoes, thunderstorms and tsunamis; animal life on earth; the earth regions and the impact of humans on the planet, including information on migration, population and sustainability in this comprehensive hardback book celebrating the biodiversity and structure of this fascinating planet.

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.

A big, stunning hardback that pays tribute to a misunderstood animal: the wolf. There’s a nice middle-ground, conservational message here that the wolf is just looking to survive, like everything else – including us.

Ten of the world’s most fascinating and unusual natural habitats are explored here, from The Simpson Desert in Australia to the Weddell and Ross Seas in Antartica. 

In New Mexico in the late 1800s, the wolves that had once roamed the landscape of the Old West were becoming scarce because of the rising number of settlers to the area. 

The Earth’s history – all 4.5 billion years of it – presented in a captivating, hugely informative large-format book. With brilliant colour illustrations and a useful timeline, this is fascinating and thought-provoking natural history.

Part of a series of eight full-colour volumes featuring the causes and effects of the extinctions of iconic animals (including the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Thylacine, Trilobite and other creatures spanning millions of years on earth), Extinct: Hainan Gibbon tells the story of how these particular gibbons have come so close to extinction, and why extinction happens.

This beautifully illustrated portrait of one year in nature is put together by poet Joseph Coelho, with each month assigned a relevant and resonant poem. It reassuringly shows that emotions come and go, like the seasons – and the bad times always pass.

This beautifully illustrated introduction to physical geography takes the reader on an adventurous journey around Planet Earth. It’s sure to inform and inspire budding geographers, conservationists and explorers.