17 of the Best Non-Fiction Books of 2024 Book List
The Children’s Book Review
2024 boasts an exceptional crop of non-fiction books for young readers celebrating diversity, scientific discovery, and untold stories.
From picture book biographies of groundbreaking figures to engaging explorations of natural wonders and cultural heritage, these sixteen selections invite readers ages 4-18 to discover the fascinating world around them. Whether diving into the depths of whale fall ecosystems, learning about the science of color, or exploring the vibrant history of the Harlem Renaissance, each book combines compelling storytelling with gorgeous illustrations to make learning an adventure.
Be sure to check out all our Best Kids’ Books of 2024 for all ages here!
Here are seventeen of the best non-fiction books of 2024:
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We Who Produce Pearls: An Anthem for Asian America
Written by Joanna Ho
Illustrated by Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya
Ages: 4-8 | 48 Pages
Publisher: Orchard Books (2024) | ISBN-13: 978-1338846652
This poetic picture book celebration of Asian American identity, history, and strength pairs Ho’s lyrical anthem with Phingbodhipakkiya’s vibrant illustrations to remind readers of their power to transform struggle into joy and create lasting change.
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Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall
Written by Lynn Brunelle
Illustrated by Jason Chin
Ages: 4-8 | 48 Pages
Publisher: Neal Porter Books (2024) | ISBN-13: 978-0823452286
Follow a blue whale’s 90-year life and the century-long process after her death as her body creates a deep-sea ecosystem, providing food and shelter to countless organisms as it transforms from floating giant to clean-picked skeleton.
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Go, Wilma, Go!: Wilma Rudolph, from Athlete to Activist
Written by Amira Rose Davis & Michael G. Long
Illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
Ages: 4-8 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books (2024) | ISBN-13: 978-1547612093
After winning Olympic gold in 1960, track star Wilma Rudolph refuses to attend a segregated celebration in her hometown of Clarksville, Tennessee, leading to the city’s first integrated event and launching her lifelong commitment to fighting for equality in sports and beyond.
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Fighting with Love: The Legacy of John Lewis
Written by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Illustrated by James E. Ransome
Ages: 4-8 | 48 Pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books (2024) | ISBN-13: 978-1534496620
This picture book biography follows John Lewis’s journey from Alabama cotton farmer to teenage civil rights activist and beyond, chronicling how he worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to create lasting change through peaceful action and the fight for voting rights.
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Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller
Written by Breanna J. McDaniel
Illustrated by April Harrison
Ages: 5-8 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Dial Books (2024) | ISBN-13: 978-0593324202
This picture book biography follows Augusta Baker’s journey from story listener to pioneering librarian at the New York Public Library, where she championed Black representation in children’s literature and inspired generations of readers and writers through her storytelling.
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Else B. in the Sea: The Woman Who Painted the Wonders of the Deep
Written by Jeanne Walker Harvey
Illustrated by Melodie Stacey
Age: 5+ | 32 Pages
Publisher: Cameron Kids (2024) | ISBN-13: 9781949480283
Else B. in the Sea tells the remarkable story of Else Bostelmann, a pioneering artist who joined scientist William Beebe’s 1930s bathysphere expeditions to paint the mysterious creatures of the deep ocean. Through Jeanne Walker Harvey’s lyrical prose and Melodie Stacey’s vibrant illustrations, this book celebrates Else’s groundbreaking work combining art and science while exploring themes of curiosity, resilience, and discovery.
Listen to Jeanne Walker Harver discuss Else B. in the Sea on The Growing Readers Podcast.
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The Life-Changing Magic of Chess: A Beginner’s Guide with Grandmaster Maurice Ashley
Written by Maurice Ashley
Illustrated by Denis Angelov
Ages: 6+ | 40 Pages
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (2024) | ISBN-13: 978-1419773396
The first Black Grandmaster shares his journey from Jamaica to chess champion, along with illustrated beginner-friendly instructions for chess moves, strategies, and techniques to help young players discover their own magic in the game.
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What Is Color?: The Global and Sometimes Gross Story of Pigments, Paint, and the Wondrous World of Art
Written and Illustrated by Steven Weinberg
Ages: 6-10 | 144 Pages
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (2024) | ISBN-13: 978-1250833419
Through vibrant illustrations and humorous storytelling, this engaging non-fiction book takes young readers on a global journey through the science, history, and art of color. It reveals the surprising (and sometimes gross!) origins of pigments while introducing famous artists and offering hands-on activities to explore the colorful world around us.
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The Fastest Drummer: Clap Your Hands for Viola Smith!
Written by Dean Robbins
Illustrated by Susanna Chapman
Ages: 7-9 |40 Pages
Publisher: Candlewick (2024) | ISBN-13: 978-1536224863
This energetic picture book biography celebrates Viola Smith, the pioneering female drummer who defied gender barriers in the early twentieth century, from her start as the youngest member of the Smith Sisters Orchestra to becoming a legendary musician who continued performing well into her hundredth year.
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Thomas Jefferson’s Battle for Science: Bias, Truth, and a Mighty Moose!
Written by Beth Anderson
Illustrated by Jeremy Holmes
Ages: 7-10 |48 Pages
Publisher: Calkins Creek (2024) | ISBN-13: 978-1635926200
This engaging picture book reveals how Thomas Jefferson used scientific methods and inquiry to challenge European naturalist Count Buffon’s biased claims about American wildlife, showcasing Jefferson’s lesser-known passion for science and his determination to prove the natural wonders of his young nation.
Beth Anderson discusses Thomas Jefferson’s Battle for Science on The Growing Readers Podcast.
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Everywhere Beauty Is Harlem: The Vision of Photographer Roy DeCarava
Written by Gary Golio
Illustrated by E. B. Lewis
Ages: 7-10 |48 Pages
Publisher: Calkins Creek (2024) | ISBN: 978-1662680557
This picture book biography follows photographer Roy DeCarava through 1940s Harlem as he captures everyday moments of Black life through his lens, celebrating and documenting the beauty he sees in his community.
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The Iguanodon’s Horn: How Artists and Scientists Put a Dinosaur Back Together Again and Again and Again
Written and Illustrated by Sean Rubin
Ages: 7-10 |48 Pages
Publisher: Clarion Books (2024) | ISBN: 978-0063239210
This picture book traces how scientists and artists have repeatedly reimagined what the Iguanodon looked like since its bones were first discovered in 1822, showing how new discoveries continue to reshape our understanding of dinosaurs and the scientific process.
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Colossal Words for Kids: 75 Tremendous Words: Neatly Defined to Stick in the Mind
Written by Colette Hiller
Illustrated by Tor Freeman
Ages: 7-12 | 80 Pages
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books (2024) | ISBN: 978-0711278752
Through playful rhymes and quirky illustrations, this collection introduces young readers to 75 challenging vocabulary words from “Ambiguous” to “Zealous,” making their meanings memorable through rhythm, humor, and engaging visuals.
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Priya’s Kitchen Adventures: A Cookbook for Kids
Written by Priya Krishna
All Ages | 240 Pages
Publisher: Harvest (2024) | ISBN: 978-0358692935
New York Times bestselling author Priya Krishna invites young readers on a delicious global adventure through this vibrant cookbook that combines her childhood travel stories with kid-tested recipes from twelve different countries, showing how cooking can be a passport to exploring world cultures and cuisines right from your own kitchen.
Listen to Priya Krishna talk about Priya’s Kitchen on The Growing Readers Podcast.
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Spooky Lakes: 25 Strange and Mysterious Lakes that Dot Our Planet
Written and Illustrated by Geo Rutherford
Ages: 9+ | 96 Pages
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (2024) | ISBN: 978-1419770531
From TikTok sensation Geo Rutherford comes this fascinating illustrated guide to twenty-five of Earth’s most mysterious lakes. It combines stunning watercolor artwork with scientific research to explore natural phenomena like Tanzania’s mummifying Lake Natron and Venezuela’s lightning-struck Lake Maracaibo while emphasizing the importance of protecting these unique aquatic wonders.
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The Unboxing of a Black Girl
Written by Angela Shanté
Ages: 14-17 | 160 Pages
Publisher: Page Street YA (2024) | ISBN: 979-8890039538
Through poetry and vignettes set in New York City, this creative nonfiction collection explores Black girlhood, examining how society both nurtures and exploits young Black girls while incorporating cultural footnotes to deepen understanding.
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Flamboyants: The Queer Harlem Renaissance I Wish I’d Known
Written by George M. Johnson
Illustrated by Charly Palmer
Ages: 14-18 | 144 Pages
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (2024) | ISBN: 978-0374391249
In this powerful collection of essays, New York Times bestselling author George M. Johnson celebrates fourteen Black LGBTQ+ icons of the Harlem Renaissance, weaving together personal narratives, poetry, and stunning illustrations to illuminate the often-overlooked queer history that has profoundly shaped American culture.