20 Exciting Nonfiction Books for 3rd Graders

Who Would Win is a popular nonfiction series that uses fun facts, photographs, and realistic illustrations to compare and contrast a variety of animals. This newest edition discusses the characteristics, features, and behaviors of 16 “small but savage” sharks to determine who would win the ultimate small shark battle! A hit for any 3rd grade classroom.

This colorful, entertaining, and fact-filled book explores how certain cave critters have adapted to thrive in the dark. In addition to learning about the types of animals that use caves–permanent residents, part-time residents, and visitors–the book features different types of caves and cave structures around the world. Kids will love learning about lesser-known creatures, such as the Mexican tetra, the spotted cave salamander, the oilbird, and many more.

This award-winning picture book combines narrative and informational styles to give readers a detailed look at wildfires and the firefighters who fight them. They Hold the Line is perfect for reluctant readers because the vibrant illustrations, engaging narrative, and informative sidebars both entertain and educate young readers on fire, fire safety, and firefighting.

The fantastic Race to the Truth series tells the history of the United States from the viewpoint of marginalized communities, correcting misconceptions and celebrating overlooked heroes. This specific book examines Mexican American history, drawing attention to the culture and practices that shaped the Southwestern part of the United States. The introduction stresses the importance of learning the truth, making it clear that the book’s purpose is to understand the past and inspire a brighter future. 

In this graphic-style nonfiction book, readers join a pair of surf-loving tweens as they explore the world of ocean sciences. Along the way, the girls ask and answer questions about tide charts (and their importance for surfers), surfing techniques, strange ocean phenomena, and the variety of animals that live in and around the ocean. My 10-year-old daughter loved this book–both for the abundance of information and the bright, sunny artwork. 

This interactive STEM book is part of the “Science Explorers” series and takes readers on a journey to the ocean’s twilight zone in pursuit of a giant squid! Readers choose their submarine, their pilot, and their path. And since each decision leads to a different adventure, readers learn new facts about marine life and scientific expeditions at every turn. An engaging nonfiction choice for emergent readers.

Part of the bestselling FACTopia series, this book presents hundreds of scientific facts–and each fact is connected to another, forming a trail that your reader will love to follow. Each fact is verified by experts at Britannica and is accompanied by over 300 color illustrations and photographs. Kids love this series, and Science FACTopia the best edition yet. 

Little Guides to Great Lives is a new series that introduces young readers to influential historical figures, telling their stories in an accessible, chronological narrative style. This particular volume explores how Nelson Mandela inspired the world through his incredible life as a revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist. Additionally, colorful illustrations, thought-provoking quotations, and a timeline further immerse the reader in Mandela’s inspiring story. 

When readers first open this book, they accidentally “startle” a magical scarab, who rushes through the museum, awakening the Egyptian exhibits. They then join a mummified cat on a mission to capture the scarab and return order to the museum. Along the way, kids learn all about ancient Egyptian culture and daily life. With its interactive format and colorful (not scary!) illustrations, this picture book will be a hit with 3rd grade readers.

Worst of Friends is a hilarious look at the friendship and rivalry between two founding fathers: Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Although the two had very different personalities, they were close friends–until politics got in the way. This entertaining picture book stays historically accurate while offering kids a closer look at a difficult friendship. This is a perfect read aloud for any 3rd grade classroom. 

This nonfiction series about real FBI cases will be a huge hit with any 3rd grade reader. This particular book examines the Isabella Stewart Gardner heist–the largest and one of the most famous art thefts in history. Presented in a graphic novel format, the book combines comic panels with reproductions of documents and photographs from FBI files. Readers of all ages will be intrigued by the fact that despite years of investigation and dozens of false leads, the case remains unsolved.

In this graphic novel series, a group of kid superheroes use the “power of math” to defeat their evil arch nemesis. In The Shrinking Setback, the superheroes accidentally drink a shrinking potion and must use fractions and decimals to mix an antidote and save the day. The math instruction is well integrated into the action-packed narrative, and would be an excellent supplemental resource for students learning fractions and decimals.

This inspiring picture book is a beautiful tribute to Dr. Jonas Salk, the scientist who created the polio vaccine. Jonas wasn’t a typical “hero” figure. Rather, he was a quiet, unassuming boy who was determined to study medicine and change the world. Despite acknowledging the seriousness of polio and other diseases, the narrative and illustrations are lively and joyful. The blend of science and history make this book an excellent choice for classroom or home read aloud.

Jim was a train track operator in South Africa in the late 1800s. After he lost his legs in an accident, he was unable to perform all the tasks necessary to keep his job. Then Jim met a chacma baboon named Jack who began to help him at home and at work, and the two formed an incredible bond. Railway Jack tells the story of their friendship and highlights the importance of perseverance and resilience despite hardship. The book is incredibly well-researched and includes historical photos, discussion questions, and a history of service animals. We loved this one. 

Aspiring chefs will love this picture book biography about Fannie Farmer, America’s first kitchen scientist. Fannie grew up passionate about cooking but frustrated that most recipes were imprecise, relying solely on “feminine instinct.” After she became a cooking teacher, Fannie realized the importance of precise measurements and specific instructions. Students appreciated her approach so much that she wrote a cookbook, revolutionizing the way people approached preparing meals. 

This popular almanac is filled with amazing photos, lots of fun facts, National Geographic exclusives, games, activities, and interesting features about animals, science, nature, technology, and more. This book makes a great collectible–my son eagerly looks forward to getting a new almanac every January. They are definitely a must-have for any curious kid.

This gorgeous encyclopedia uses over 200 infographics to communicate information about a huge variety of content, including the Earth, space, animals, the human body, and more. The book is packed with facts and statistics presented in a way even younger elementary school students will understand. Encyclopedia Infographica is an essential resource for any home or classroom library and definitely worth the purchase. 

Science Comics is a popular nonfiction graphic series for kids who want to delve deeper into a specific subject. This newest addition explores the world of elephants through a young elephant’s perspective, covering topics like family dynamics, physical characteristics, habitat, and more. The book uses colorful illustrations, charts, interactive quizzes, and more to pull readers into the fascinating world of elephants. The narrative highlights the similarities between humans and elephants, helping young readers understand the connection between species. 

This book is such an interesting look at how technology can help animals live better lives. It tells the story of Karl, an Abyssinan ground hornbill who lives at the Smithsonian National Zoo. Karl arrived at the zoo with a broken beak, making foraging for food difficult, but veterinarians found a way to build him a new prosthetic beak using a 3-D printer! The book details the process step-by-step, and uses photographs and diagrams to draw readers closer to the story. Perfect for any science or technology classroom!

Built by Animals is a great introduction to biomimicry, exploring how animals have inspired the world of architecture, design, and building. This award-winning book highlights over two dozen animals and plants, using detailed illustrations to help explain how these creatures design and construct their homes. Kids will love learning about masters of geometry (honey bees), underground architects (ants), dam engineers (beavers), and many more.