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OTTER - LET'S GO SWIMMING - CHILDRENS' STORIES

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Rosa Loves to Read | Short Poem | Kid's Book Read Aloud

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A type of fantasy that includes science and technology (robots, time travel, machines)

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We hope your kids enjoy the variety of selections in this blog post perfect for kids who love imaginative science fiction and fantasy stories.

Imaginative Stories for Children

Audience: Grades PreK-3 | Ages 4-8

As a school project, George and Blaise become pen pals, writing rhyming letters about their favorite things to do, unaware that one is human and the other a dragon.

Audience: Grades PreK-3 | Ages 4-8

David, the Magician, loves to perform magic but his favorite trick is not pulling a rabbit out of a hat or finding quarters behind the ears of children. Instead, David knows the magical power of books, which can explore dreams and develop creativity.

Audience: Grades PreK-3 | Ages 4-8

The kids are in for a treat when their parents leave them with an extraterrestrial babysitter.

Series: Spacemice, book 7
Audience: Grades 2-3 | Ages 7-10

Traveling to Cleanix to investigate why floating space junk has engulfed MouseStar 1, Geronimo finds that the planet's alien inhabitants are extremely wasteful and face the threat of rebellion by the robots they've thrown in the trash.

Audience: Grades 3-7 | Ages 9-12

Min, a thirteen-year-old girl with fox-magic, stows away on a battle cruiser and impersonates a cadet in order to solve the mystery of what happened to her older brother in the Thousand World Space Forces.

Audience: Grades 3-7 | Ages 8-12

After learning that humans are headed toward his hidden home, Firedrake, a dragon, is joined by a brownie and an orphan boy in a quest for a legendary valley, finding friendly and unfriendly creatures, and struggling to evade an old enemy.

Audience: Grades 3-7 | Ages 8-12

In Brooklyn, nine-year-old Jax joins Ma, a curmudgeonly witch who lives in his building, on a quest to deliver three baby dragons to a magical world, and along the way discovers his true calling.
Series: Hilo, book 3

Audience: Grades 3-7 | Ages 8-12

Hilo and DJ, with the help of Polly, the magical warrior cat, travel through a mysterious portal and battle bad guys, face disgusting food, an angry mom, and powerful magic to save their friend Gina.
Series: Star Wars Jedi Academy, book 5

Audience: Grades 3-7 | Ages 8-12

Returning to the Jedi Academy, Victor struggles with his older sister's upcoming graduation and contemplates returning to his old ways of being the class clown.

Audience: Grades 3-7 | Ages 8-12

When twelve-year-old Farah and her two best friends get sucked into a mechanical board game called The Gauntlet of Blood and Sand, a puzzle game akin to a large Rubik's cube, they know it is up to them to defeat the game's diabolical architect in order to save themselves and those who are trapped inside, including her baby brother Ahmed.

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10 Great Science Fiction and Fantasy Books for Kids | Toledo Lucas County Public Library

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We hope your kids enjoy the variety of selections in this blog post perfect for kids who love imaginative science fiction and fantasy stories. Audience: Grades PreK-3 | Ages 4-8 As a school project, George and Blaise become pen pals, writing rhyming letters about their favorite things to do, unaware that one is human and the other a dragon.

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Is a type of fiction that contains impossible elements like magical places, talking animals and mythical creatures.
Examples: The Wizard of Oz, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Narnia etc.

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Blog - Posted on Friday, May 17

No matter how old you are, it's never too early to start reading fantasy - especially with so many incredible works out there! And of course, bolstered by a kid's imagination, these stories can truly come to life... which arguably makes children the ideal audience for the genre. 😄 But we think there's something for everyone on this list of the 60 best fantasy books for kids. Even if you're an adult, you're sure to see some of your childhood classics here!

Fantasy books for toddlers and preschoolers
This section consists of picture books and other simple stories designed to introduce very young children to the world of fantasy. From talking animals to raining spaghetti, these books are sure to elicit delighted giggles from kids aged 2-5.
1. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi and Ron Barrett

In the town of Chewandswallow, nobody ever goes grocery shopping. All their food simply falls out of the sky - pizza, pasta, peanut butter, you name it. The citizens seem to have it made in the shade (of a meatball-filled cloud)... until some unfortunate weather patterns start to wreak havoc, and they wonder whether edible precipitation really is such a blessing after all.

2. Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin

We all know that humans love tacos, but you might be surprised to find that dragons love them even more! Join these mythical Mexican food aficionados as they devour tacos of every shape and size, with every ingredient except one: spicy salsa. Which, naturally, causes tummy troubles (and fire-breathing hazards).

3. Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss

"Look sir, look sir, Mr. Knox sir. Let's do tricks with bricks and blocks, sir!" So begin the troubles of the long-suffering Mr. Knox at the hands of the Fox in Sox, who goads Knox into participating in his increasingly complicated tongue-twisters. Don't worry, though - Knox gets the final (and very difficult-to-pronounce) word in this story by the erstwhile Mr. Theodor Geisel.

4. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

Four-year-old Harold has a purple crayon and not much else. But with his artistic talents and a little imagination, he's about to turn his world into a masterpiece worthy of Van Gogh.

5. If I Built a House... by Chris Van Dusen

If you could build your dream home, what would you put in it? Our narrator, Jack, has it all planned out, including - but not limited to - a flying room, a racing room, and an aquarium room. This tale of ultimate wish fulfillment will no doubt resonate with both inventive kids and their Extreme Home Makeover-loving parents.

6. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

"One thing leads to another" has never been more true. A boy gives a mouse a cookie... which makes the mouse want a glass of milk... which makes him want a straw, then a mirror, and so on until he's right back where he started with another cookie. And if that doesn't sound like "fantasy" to you, then riddle me this: when was the last time you got a cookie request from a mouse?

7. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

One of the most iconic Christmas stories of all time, The Polar Express tells the tale of a young boy who steals away on the eponymous midnight train. But he has no idea what magic awaits him in the North Pole, where he'll get the privilege of meeting Santa Claus himself. (Of course, if you're a parent, maybe don't mention that fact that this one's on our "fantasy" list.)

8. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

This largely visual story, full of Mauric Sendak's evocative illustrations, follows a young boy named Max who dares to venture " where the Wild Things are." After proving his own ferocity, Max becomes king of the Wild Things - but soon enough starts missing home, where a hot supper awaits him.

9. Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne

In the Hundred Acre Woods lives a bear called Winnie-the-Pooh, who enjoys an idyllic existence of honeypots and gentle adventures with his friends. This first volume of sweet stories by A.A. Milne is sure to bring a smile to your face whether you're young or old.

10. Uni the Unicorn by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Uni the Unicorn desperately wants to find that most elusive of mythical creatures: a little girl. Everyone keeps telling her that humans don't exist, but they won't stop Uni from dreaming. She knows that if she keeps imagining all the wonderful things they could do together, that this magical girl will come to her... and as it turns out, Uni's best friend isn't quite as far away as she thinks!

Fantasy books for elementary schoolers

11. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

Long before Harry Potter, there was Ged: a wizard of Earthsea. Earthsea is a world of islands where magic prevails, but darkness also threatens. Ged must learn to master his own innate powers and battle this darkness, which takes the form of a "shadow creature" that our hero accidentally unleashes during a duel. Le Guin's rich worldbuilding and excellent characterization are simply unparalleled, and this first installment in the Earthsea series sets the reader up with high expectations for the rest of her hybrid fantasy/science fiction saga.

12. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
These chapter books and novels involve more complex storylines and fantasy elements, such as systems of magic and backstory for major character and plot points, often expanded throughout series. Suitable for kids aged 6-10.
A Wrinkle in Time revolutionized fantasy when it was first published in 1962, and continues to find many devoted readers today. Thirteen-year-old misfit Meg Murry's life is turned upside down when a strange woman appears in her kitchen, claiming, "There is such a thing as a tesseract." This seemingly simple statement sends Meg, her brother Charles Wallace, and their intrepid friend Calvin on the adventure of a lifetime. They must travel through time and space on a quest to find Meg's lost father - who was studying tesseracts before he disappeared.

13. The Adventurers Guild by Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos

A brilliant new take on monsters and magic, The Adventurers Guild follows young residents of the land of Freestone, where people can join guilds according to their career aspirations. Our heroes, Zed and Brock, have concrete plans to join the Mages Guild and the Merchants Guild respectively. That is, until they're pulled into the thrilling yet dangerous "Adventurers Guild" - whose purpose is to fight the otherworldly beasts that threaten Freestone and its citizens.

14. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Down the rabbit hole! This classic by one of the first architects of modern fantasy ( the others being Tolkien and C.S. Lewis) tells the tale of seven-year-old Alice, who follows a white rabbit to a land of strange biscuits, smoking caterpillars, mad tea parties, and of course, murderous queens. If you haven't read it already, it's a fantastic introduction for any child (or adult) to magical, nonsensical fantasy.

15. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

For one of the most interesting hero's journeys in YA, look no further than Artemis Fowl. This eponymous book introduces him as a rather unlikable character - a preteen supergenius who uses his talents to kidnap a fairy for ransom. But as the story delves into Fowl's character and family history, the reader understands his proclivity for crime, and feels compelled to track his unorthodox narrative all the way to the end (of the eight-book series).

16. The BFG by Roald Dahl

When eight-year-old Sophie is kidnapped through her window by a giant, she thinks she's done for. But by a miraculous stroke of good luck, she hasn't been taken by just any old monster; she's in the company of the " Big Friendly Giant," who eats vegetables (namely, snozzcumbers) rather than people. As Sophie and the BFG get to know each other, they hatch a plan to thwart the other cruel, human-eating giants - with aid from none other than the Queen of England!

17. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Whether you prefer the Gene Wilder adaptation or the Johnny Depp remake, we can all agree that the original story is pretty superb. Young Charlie Bucket gets the chance to visit the sequestered Willy Wonka's chocolate factory and see what really goes on inside its walls - and within the brain of the eccentric Wonka himself, who (in true Dahl fashion) has a rather dark sense of poetic justice.

18. Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George

Dragon Slippers centers on a peasant girl named Creel, whose family sacrifices her to a dragon in the hopes that a courageous knight will fight the dragon, marry Creel, and shower them all with riches. But our independent young lady has other ideas, specifically involving a pair of slippers and a political plot that could change her kingdom forever.

19. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Another strong heroine features in this splendid Cinderella retelling. Cursed to be obedient, young Ella learns to manage her affliction until one day, her wicked stepsisters show up and force her to obey their every command. However, despite the presence of a handsome prince, no one can say this is a "damsel in distress" kind of tale. In the end, Ella saves herself, and therein lies the true enchantment of her story.

20. The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

A witch lives in the forest near the village of Protectorate where, each year, the villagers leave an infant sacrifice to keep her at bay. Little do they know that the witch is actually benevolent... and that she feeds the babies starlight and delivers them to new families on the other side of the forest. That is, until she accidentally nurses one of them with moonlight, and must keep the girl (whom she christens Luna) in order to control the power within her - if she can.

21. Half Magic by Edward Eager

When siblings Katherine, Mark, Jane, and Martha find a strange-looking coin on the sidewalk, they don't think too much of it. But an offhand remark soon leads them to realize that this is no ordinary coin, but a talisman, which will grant them exactly half of each wish they make. This, naturally, leads to some hilarious hijinks as they struggle to master its " half magic. "

22. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Of course, in terms of children's fantasy, you can't do much better than the Boy Who Lived. Join Harry in Sorcerer's Stone as he discovers his true identity as a wizard, begins attending Hogwarts, and grapples with the forces of ultimate evil, all at the tender age of eleven.

23. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

If boy wizards aren't your thing, you can always try middle-aged hobbits. Bilbo Baggins and his dwarven compatriots journey "there and back again" in - bravely soldiering forward in the face of mortal peril, all in hopes of restoring the dwarves' lost kingdom (which was taken long ago by the dragon Smaug).

24. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Though the 2004 Miyazaki adaptation brings Howl's Moving Castle to life with incredible vibrancy, you can't miss this original work by Diana Wynne Jones. Sophie Hatter lives in a world of magic, yet can never seem to grasp it for herself. But that's before a witch transforms Sophie into an old crone, and she must find a way to break the spell. From there she's thrown headfirst into the mind-bending world the wizard Howl, his fire-demon Calcifer, and of course, his ever-unpredictable moving castle.

25. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Meggie and her father have always lived a quiet, ordinary life among their books. However, everything changes when a mysterious man named Dustfinger shows up. Meggie soon unearths a hidden family talent: both she and her father can bring characters to life simply by reading their stories aloud. Action and excitement ensues as the father-daughter team attempt to prevent fictional villains from harming their real world, and strive to recover Meggie's mother, who was trapped in a book many years ago.

26. Isadora Moon by Harriet Muncaster

27. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl's first full-length children's fantasy book, James and the Giant Peach follows young James, a boy who's mistreated by his evil Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker. But when an enigmatic stranger gives James a handful of enchanted seeds, James may finally find his means of escape - in the form of a magically grown giant peach, which he and his insect friends fly all the way to New York City!

28. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Another absolute legend of fantasy, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe introduces readers to Narnia, a glorious world under siege by the wicked White Witch. The Pevensie children, who unearth Narnia in the back of a wardrobe, must help the victims of the witch's reign of terror. Luckily, they have help in the form of Aslan: a majestic lion, and Narnia's true ruler.

29. The Magic Treehouse by Mary Pope Osbourne

30. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Jacob Portman has always loved his grandfather's wild tales of monsters and strange children, but of course he's never believed them... until he stumbles upon the titular home himself, and learns the truth about these "peculiars" and the danger that constantly looms in their world.

31. The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

32. No Flying in the House by Betty Brock

Six-year-old Annabel Tippens lives a somewhat unusual life. For instance, rather than parents to take care of her, she has Gloria - a talking dog who's just a few inches tall. Of course, Annabel doesn't think of herself as unusual... until it's revealed to her that she's not just a girl, but a half-fairy! But with this knowledge comes great responsibility, and Annabel has to choose between two lives: fairy or human?

33. My Diary from the Edge of the World by Jodi Lynn Anderson

In Gracie Lockwood's world, the mundane meets the mythical. Dragons burn down department stores, mermaids live along local beaches, and "Dark Clouds" consume people when they die. This diary begins when Gracie and her family set off for "The Extraordinary World," where they believe they can keep her younger brother from being taken by a Cloud. Gracie records everything that happens on their journey, both ordinary and extraordinary.

34. The People in Pineapple Place by Anne Lindbergh

What if you met a group of people that only you could see? This is both the plight and the privilege of August Brown, who discovers the people of Pineapple Place - seven children who are invisible to everyone but him, and with whom he enjoys some fantastic (and time-traveling!) adventures.

35. Peter and Wendy by J.M. Barrie

Though most of us have enjoyed the tale of Peter Pan through Disney, this book ( a novelization of the original stage play) continues to be a well-loved fantasy favorite today. If you've ever wanted to know what it's like to fly through Neverland, play with the Lost Boys, and narrowly escape Captain Hook, Peter and Wendy - which is now over a century old! - lays it all out in delightful detail.

36. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

A young, bored boy named Milo goes through the "phantom tollbooth" and emerges in an exotic world of countless curiosities, which reignites his sense of wonder. Lovers of puns and wordplay, rejoice: if you haven't already read The Phantom Tollbooth, the prose alone is sure to tickle your funny bone.

37. Rainbow Magic by Daisy Meadows

This prolific and popular beginning-reader series concerns a group of fairy friends who've gone missing, and a couple of human heroines who must recover them - lest Fairyland turn gray!

38. Secrets of Droon by Tony Abbott

39. Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar

From the author of Holes comes this gut-busting low-fantasy anthology about a school that's more than a little topsy-turvy. Each chapter is titled after a different character and provides a brief vignette - and from a teacher who turns her students into apples to a girl who survives a 30-story fall, you certainly can't say that Wayside School is ever boring.

40. The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black

Similar to Narnia, the Spiderwick Chronicles series centers on a group of siblings who discover a society of fairies right in their own backyard. However, they soon realize that they're in over their heads, especially as humans were never meant to find out about the fairy world.

41. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

If you enjoyed DiCamillo's quaint small-town novel Because of Winn-Dixie, you'll love Despereaux's innovative fantasy premise even more. A mouse named Despereaux aspires to rescue the lovely Princess Pea from a rat called Roscuro, who has imprisoned her in her own castle's dungeon. It's a touching story of love, courage, and going after your dreams - even when everyone else thinks you're too small to achieve them.

42. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

Would you want to live forever? This simple yet haunting question forms the premise of Tuck Everlasting, the tale of a family that becomes immortal after drinking from an enchanted spring. Ten-year-old Winnie Foster happens upon the Tucks in the woods and bonds with the youngest son, Jesse (who's actually 104). But with a suspicious yellow-suited man on their heels, the Tucks can't stay for long, and Winnie must make a choice: will she, too, drink the spring water and go to live with the Tucks... forever?

43. The Uncommoners by Jennifer Bell

Perfect for those with "a Hogwarts-shaped hole in their lives," this series is sure to sweep you off your feet - and down into a secret underground city called "Lundinor." This is where our young heroes Seb and Ivy will discover the truth about their family, and the irrepressible forces of evil with which they must now contend.

44. Watership Down by Richard Adams

An utterly unique hybrid of Beatrix Potter and Robinson Crusoe with just a pinch of fantasy, Watership Down revolves around an intrepid group of adventurers: rabbits traveling to their new home. If you haven't yet experienced the magic of Hazel, Fiver, Blackberry and their epic odyssey to a hill called Watership Down, you're in for an unforgettable treat.

45. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Her family may be poor, but young Minli is rich in imagination, and especially loves hearing her father's imaginative stories. Little does she know that she's about to live out a legend of her own - complete with a wise old sage, a dragon companion, and a treacherous green tiger, as she strives to bring good fortune and happiness to her impoverished village.

46. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

There's no place like home... and for readers both young and old, the familiar-yet-fantastical adventures of Dorothy and her trusty friends in the land of Oz is a go-to literary home. From traversing the yellow brick road to melting the Wicked Witch of the West, the iconic scenes of Baum's original masterpiece simply cannot be beat.

Fantasy books for middle schoolers and older

47. The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander

An epic bildungsroman spanning five books total (including The Black Cauldron, which Disney infamously animated in 1985), the Chronicles of Prydain follow young pig-keeper Taran as he attempts to prove himself and fight the evil Lord Arawn and his army of the undead.

48. The Cloak Society by Jeramey Kraatz

Twelve-year-old Alex Knight was born into a society of supervillains, and has never questioned his place among them. But one day, just as he's setting off on his first nefarious mission, he saves the life of a Ranger of Justice... and starts wondering whether a life of crime really is his destiny. Centering around this fantastic antihero and ruminating on complex issues of good and bad, The Cloak Society is recommended for the highly thoughtful reader.

49. Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Penned by Paolini when he was only 16, tells the story of a simple farm boy whose life changes forever after he finds a mysterious stone - which (spoiler alert) turns out to be the egg of a dragon.

50. The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

"Stay away from the Hazel Wood. " So reads the message left by Alice's mother, who otherwise disappears without a trace. Of course, Alice has no choice but to venture into that forbidden land to find her - encountering an array of strange creatures and inexplicable phenomena along the way, in a journey not unlike a twisted version of #14 on this list.

51. His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman

Lyra Belacqua is the brilliant heroine of His Dark Materials, an elaborate supernatural and religious fantasy in which she and her "daemon" familiar must defeat forces of supreme evil... including the first angel himself, who goes by the moniker "The Authority."

52. The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper

On the day he turns eleven, Will Stanton discovers that he's no ordinary boy, but an "Old One" destined to go up against the powers of The Dark. Which is - you guessed it - rising. If you love elaborate mythological fantasy featuring adolescent chosen ones, this is the series for you.

53. The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan

Speaking of adolescent chosen ones: Carter and Sadie Kane are descended from Egyptian magicians and pharaohs, but they only find out when their egyptologist father is taken by the god of mischief, Set. Now the siblings must harness powers they didn't even know they had to rescue their father, and indeed all of North America, before Set annihilates them.

54. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

When Thomas wakes up in "the Glade," he has no memory of who he is or how he got there. But as our hero quickly learns, his past doesn't matter so much as his dire present. He and the other "Gladers" are trapped by a complex maze and lethal creatures called Grievers, which draw ever closer to them. And of course, the only way is through the maze; luckily, Thomas's strange telepathic powers might just be able to help them.

55. Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

56. Redwall by Brian Jacques
We've categorized these fantasy works as "for middle schoolers" and older based on their having slightly darker themes and more advanced language. However, note that elementary schoolers may enjoy them as well - it all depends on the reader!
In Mossflower Woods, the food chain works a little differently. Instead of being prey, mice work together with cats and owls to defeat their ultimate enemies: snakes and rats (obviously). Our hero in is Matthias the mouse, whose courage and cunning help him in his quest to find the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior (also a mouse) and defeat Cluny the Scourge, a diabolical rat who wishes to take the land of Redwall for himself.

57. The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott

Based on legends surrounding the actual historical figure of Nicholas Flamel (i.e. not the Harry Potter character), this book follows teenage twins Sophie and Josh, who realize that Josh's boss "Nick" is none other than the famous alchemist. They're soon swept into a series of thrilling escapades around the globe, as they try to untangle a prophecy that could destroy them all.

58. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Seraphina is a young musician serving on the court of Goredd, where humans and dragons coexist diplomatically - if not entirely happily. But Seraphina has a secret: she herself is half-dragon. And when a member of the royal family is murdered, seemingly at the hands (talons?) of a dragon, Seraphina must protect herself while getting to the bottom of the mystery... before the killer strikes again.

59. Sabriel by Garth Nix

Another titular heroine, Sabriel also possesses an extraordinary (if slightly macabre) talent: she, along with her father, can communicate with the dead. And it's her father's job as the Abhorsen to make sure that they've all been laid to rest in a place called the "Old Kingdom." Only one problem: Sabriel's father has gone missing, and now Sabriel must venture into the Old Kingdom to find him and restore him to his balancing role as the Abhorsen... before Death can tip the scales too far.

60. Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce

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Can't get enough? Check out 100 children's books to spark young imaginations or the 30 best YA fantasy books for teens!

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Blog - Posted on Friday, May 17 No matter how old you are, it's never too early to start reading fantasy - especially with so many incredible works out there! And of course, bolstered by a kid's imagination, these stories can truly come to life... which arguably makes children the ideal audience for the genre.

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Is a folktale that takes place in a magical land rules by loyalty and the characters are either good or evil.
Examples: Cinderella, The sleeping beauty, Snow White.

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The casting for the live adaptation of The Little Mermaid was announced and some people reacted to the announcement that Ariel will be portrayed by a Black actress with shock and dismay. It surprised me how some people I considered to be open-minded and accepting were reacting with anger about a fictional character. My second reaction was that they have never been exposed to the wonderful array of stories out there. We have so much work to do when it comes to diversity and inclusion but one way that we can make a real difference is to teach students that these stories are told in so many ways. The reality is that so many of the fairy tales we read are based on folk tales from all over the earth. Let's make sure we use a wider lens and a more varied library of fairy tales in our classrooms - if you need some titles there are so many out there, this list is just a small sample appropriate for early childhood classrooms.

This book list contains affiliate links that provide me with a small commission if purchases are made.

The Little Mermaid by Hannah Elliot is part of one of my favorite board book series Once Upon The World. The story is pretty familiar, no big changes from what you would expect from a telling of The Little Mermaid, but it is set in the Carribean with vibrant island colors and a notably dark-haired and darker-skinned Little Mermaid. I love the illustrations by Nivea Ortiz, they are vibrant and keep my little ones who aren't reading independently yet enthralled.

La Princesa and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya is a funny re-telling of the classic fairy tale Princess and the Pea. Set in Peru and with a dash of Spanish words throughout the rhyming text tells the story of a prince who is being prepped for marriage and his mother who is making sure that only a real princess makes the cut. The queen is absolutely a monster-in-law, but the sweet prince makes up for her and then some. This book is a fantastic read-aloud, and I can't give it away, but there might be a funny twist at the end too.

Hanzel and Gretel by Rachel Isadora is a scary tale of two brave children who are captured by a scary witch and must save themselves or be eaten. There is no candy in this retelling set in Africa but there are incredible illustrations that capture some of the rich colors and textures of Africa.

The Princess and The Pea by Rachel Isadora is stunning, the illustrations will transport readers to Africa. There are no twists or changes made to the classic tale and the text is short enough for a circle time read. Children adore the rich colors used in the illustrations and I love that there are no big changes to the story, simply a different lens and location.

The Little Red Fort by Brenda Maier is an updated version of The Little Red Hen with a strong independent little girl at its center. Ruby is a little Latina girl who decides to build a fort and asks her brothers for help... you can probably guess what their response was. Doesn't matter, she builds it anyway, with a little help from mom and grandma. I love that this book effortlessly breaks stereotypes and assumptions and inspires readers to use their imaginations and build something. It also helps to teach children how to make amends and right their wrongs. I love this book!

Cinderella by Chloe Perkins is one of the board books that my students grab over and over again. This fairy tale is set in Mexico and the colorful artwork throughout the board book is so vibrant; I am often sad to turn to the next page. The story itself hasn't been changed simply the environment which is the point of this series. It aims to look at classic tales through a different world view without changing too much of the story. I think there is a place for completely different tellings as well as this sort of shift.

Rapunzel by Chloe Perkins is another Once Upon A World board book that my students love. Rapunzel is Indian in this version of the story but other than that it's pretty much the same tale. This year I had a three-year-old ask me what her name was. I said, "It's Rapunzel." The three-year-old thought about it, then said " I have a movie and she wears a purple dress and has yellow hair. This girl has brown hair like me." While my student was caucasian, she still connected to how she had something in common with THIS Rapunzel that she didn't feel with the one she saw in Tangled. I loved that and this whole board book series.

Snow White by Chloe Perkins will take you away to Japan but tells the same Snow White story you are probably familiar with. This is not an update, the prince still kisses an unconscious Snow White which many people wish was removed but I see it as an opportunity to talk about why we don't do that. I love the illustrations by Misa Saburi, and they make me want to book a flight to Japan ASAP! I love that this book and all the books in this list give children a chance to imagine these tales and so much more than just the Disney rendition. There are so many ways to tell these stories.

The Ghanaian Goldilocks by Dr. Tamara Pizzoli introduces us to Kofi, a boy who lives in Ghana and spends so much time outside that his hair is bleached by the sun. Like the Goldilocks story you may be more familiar with he is sent to deliver some things to a neighbor and when they aren't home he decides to make himself at home, in their house. This is a story about respect and how there is a difference between being comfortable in other people's houses and crossing lines that shouldn't be crossed. Beautiful book that celebrates these lessons and the West African culture of Ghana.

Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion by Alex T. Smith is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood that has a sick Auntie with spots and it's up to Little Red to get her what she needs. Instead of a wolf, there is a Hungry Lion who has no clue what he's getting himself into! Kids love this book, the illustrations are hilarious and the story is fun. I don't think it's particularly African, in the way that Rachel Isadora's books successfully incorporate cultural references in a much deeper way, but this is a fun read that has a brave little heroine and is definitely worth reading and finding a place for it on your bookshelf.

Goldy Luck and The Three Pandas by Natasha Yim is a retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears that takes place during Chinese New Year. Goldy Luck is asked to take some food over to her neighbors but when they aren't home curiosity gets the better of her and she gets into all kinds of trouble. What I specifically love about this version of the fairy tale is that Goldy goes home to think about what she did and how to make it right. I love that there is that addition to the more traditional telling of the story.

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Culturally Diverse Fairy Tales - 11 picture books for your classroom - No Time For Flash Cards

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The casting for the live adaptation of The Little Mermaid was announced and some people reacted to the announcement that Ariel will be portrayed by a Black actress with shock and dismay. It surprised me how some people I considered to be open-minded and accepting were reacting with anger about a fictional character.

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Real books that tell, inform, teach and, explain.
Examples: Math, history, science, biography books.

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Get your 8-year-olds (3rd graders) reading nonfiction books! It's a different kind of reading than fiction and extremely important for their future success when they'll be reading for information. Here's a list of good book recommendations and reviews to get them started.

ALSO READ:
All Book Lists by Age All Picture Book Biographies Nonfiction Reading Comprehension Strategies Fiction Books for 8-Year-Olds
Nonfiction Books for 8 Year Olds

The Squirrels' Busy Year (A First Science Storybook) by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Richard Jones
Follow the owl and squirrels as they go through a year. The book starts with winter. The squirrels are " curled up in their cozy nest". Each season shows readers the different weather and behavior of the animals. It's a lovely introduction to seasons and animals. (Added to: Picture Books to Teach Children About the Seasons)

by Jerry Pallotta, illustrated by Rob Bolster
Teachers tell me that their students can't get enough of the Who Would Win? books. This book pits two ocean carnivores against each other. First, you'll learn facts about a sperm whale, then you'll learn about the giant squid. Finally, read what happens when these two creatures face-off. Can you predict who will win? See all the addicting informational books in the Who Would Win series.

by Ellie Crowe, illustrated by Richard Waldep

Well-written like all of the books in this series and totally fascinating! Kids will love learning about cool but lesser-known people like Duke, a famous Hawaiian who is known for his dominance of the sport of surfing as well as being an Olympic swimmer. Helpful informational insets give readers background on topics covered in the biography such as how surfboards are made. Love it.

This is another new 2018 biography series that I highly recommend for elementary-age readers. Written like a narrative story, these little books are fast-paced and informative. This particular title is about one of the world's most admired activists and leaders, Nelson Mandela. Little Guides to Great Lives series contain perfect text to picture ratio, captivating illustrations, informative content, and just-right pacing. Plus, they're very well-written.

by Isabel Thomas, illustrated by Paola Escobar
Anne started a diary that would share how the world was changing with the rise of the Nazis in Europe. In her diary, Anne described her life in hiding which was in the building of her father's business. She dreamed of becoming a writer after the war but never got the chance. This biography shares about the events surrounding Anne's life with a call to action to read The Diary of Anne Frank for yourself. (When you're older.) Lavender and red illustrations throughout support readers as they read the information.

Get schooled with this fascinating book about animals. It focuses on the how and why these animals move as well as cool facts. For example, did you know the gnu moves in a zigzag pattern when in danger and kicks up a dust storm when it spars? Great for kids who love bite-sized facts about animals, or any nonfiction subject.

What If You Had an Animal Nose!? by Sandra Markle, illustrated by Howard McWilliamColorful, well-designed layout make this pleasing to read. First you'll read a page with color photographs and information about the animal's unique nose. Then, the next page shows an illustration with a kid that has the animal nose instead of a human nose. Learn how the Tapir has a handy nose made of muscle to bend and move which is called a proboscis. If you had a tapir's nose, you could use it to catch a home-run ball. What other noses will you learn about? An elephant, cottontail rabbit, saiga, star-nosed mole, rhinoceros, giant anteater, Bourret's horseshoe bat, and hammerhead shark. The book concludes with information extolling the virtues of you human nose. Plus, how to take good care of it.

The Inventors of LEGO Toys by Erin Hagar, illustration by Paige Garrison
This informational book rocks! It's well-written, nicely illustrated, and very interesting! Learn the history of Ole Kirk Christiansen and his start as a woodworker. From yo-yos to plastic bricks to LEGO now, this is one of the best nonfiction books I've seen. Highly recommended.

Shape poems paint a picture on the page - and these do an amazing job. The Hanger poem is shaped like a hanger, Dominoes are shaped just like falling dominoes with fun texts about pushing single file down the row. I love the Corners poem about a hungry mouse looking for cheese that is shaped like a maze. These are inspiring!

The Diamond and the Boy: The Creation of Diamonds & the Life of H. Tracy Hall by Hannah Holt, illustrated by Jay Fleck
Brilliantly conceived and exceptionally written using a parallel storytelling. The structure shows the similarities between the rocks of the earth and a boy's life using the descriptions of HEAT, PRESSURE, CHANGE, and WAITING. As we read, we learn about the graphite in the earth as well as the curious boy who finds solace in the library. We see the diamonds waiting to be discovered while the boy grows up to work in a lab where he patiently builds an invention - a machine that makes diamonds. (This is a real thing!) I love the unique presentation and beautiful wordsmithing in this 2018 book.

What Makes a Monster? Discovering the World's Scariest Creatures by Jess Keating, illustrations by David DeGrand
Monsters - real animal monsters - is a topic that kids love reading about. Keating writes in a way that gives kids lots of information in a readable, engaging way. I love the design, too -it's a mix of photographs, illustrations, cool fonts, and bright colors. What Makes a Monster is a must-read filled with unexpected information about fascinating, dangerous animals.

by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Julie Morstad

Beautifully written and illustrated, these poems capture the beauty of each season in relatable verses that seem like magic just like the poem below describes the first snow.

The Blobfish Book by Jessica Olien
I LOVE how creative this book is with a cartoon-like blobfish with a big personality who interjects said personality during the book's photograph and textual information about life in the deepest parts of the ocean. Perfect text to picture ratio (aka. not too much!) makes this a nonfiction home run!

by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann
Amazing, gigantic illustrations give us a bees-eye view of a honeybee's life from her birth to the days of working in the hive, guarding the hive, and searching for nectar. Beautifully written and illustrated, this book accomplishes being an informative book about the life-cycle of bees that sensitively ends with a reflection of our honeybee's accomplishments (" She has visited thirty thousand flowers...Her work is done."), her final flight in the warm air, and the birth of a new honeybee.

by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
Buy this book for your primary classroom or homeschool, it's a beautiful presentation of science concepts including life science, earth and space, physical science, and inventions. Eye-pleasing, colorful photographs and layouts make this kid-friendly and readable.

Hippos Can't Swim and Other Fun Facts by Laura Lyn DiSiena and Hannah Eliot, illustrated by Pete Oswald
My daughter loved this book so much she read all the facts to me throughout her reading of it. It's in a picture book format with lovely illustrations making it enticing to read. Did you know these facts . . .
. . . zebras are attracted to things that are black-and-white striped - just like they are. If you painted black-and-white stripes on a wall, a zebra would walk toward it.
. . . worker ants in a colony don't sleep all day or all night. Instead, they each take about 250 naps throughout the day, each nap lasting just longer than a minute.
I bet your 8 year olds won't want to put this book down, either.

You Are Home: An Ode to the National Parks by Evan Turk
Gorgeous oversized illustrated pages capture the natural beauty in our National Parks with lyrical text that invites us into the experience with all our senses. " ...beneath the soaring doorways of stone and peaks that pierce the ceiling of clouds...from every river, star, and stone comes the eternal refrain: you are home. " Back matter shares more about the parks and animal in the book. This rich ode to nature that is a must-read mentor text for descriptive writing.

The Brain Is Kind of a Big Deal by Nick Seluk
BODY
Kids will learn so much about the brain in this well-done, humor-filled book with pacing and flow that will hold readers' attention. Plus, they'll love the cartoon panel illustrations and the text to picture ratio.

A Zeal of Zebras by Whoop Studios
Reading this picture book, I couldn't help but wonder who the heck made up these crazy animal group names. You'll see when you read this crazy (and informative) book about the collective names of species. For example . . .
an implausibility of gnus
an ostentation of peacocks
a pandemonium of parrots
a troubling of goldfish
Hard to believe, isn't it?! But, it's a GREAT conversation starter at dinner and fun to learn. Which will be your favorite?

The House That Cleaned Itself: The True Story of Frances Gabe's (Mostly) Marvelous Invention by Laura Deashewitz and Susan Romberg, illustrated by Meghann Rader
An awe-inspiring biography with excellent writing and lovely pastel illustrations! Frances's jaw-dropping inventions for cleaning her house are quite inventive. She's a really smart problem-solver, that's for sure. When she gets fed up with her "job" doing all the housework, she creates a house with rooms that clean themselves. Imagine an automatic carwash inside the house with air jets and a slanted floor!! Although her ideas didn't catch on, maybe one day another inventor will build on Frances's ideas.

Manhattan: Mapping the Story of an Island by Jennifer Thermes
I couldn't put this down! It's the history of the island of Manhattan s tarting with the Lenape people and continuing to the present day with subways and bridges and 1.6 million people. You might not know that when settlers organized into a city, the city's long-term plans meant that homes and farms were relocated and destroyed which also happened when Central Park was later created. That's when eminent domain forced an entire African American community called Seneca Village to move, disappearing forever. This book is packed with information about the city including the ecosystem, fires, and slavery. Gorgeous illustrations and readable informative writing, this oversized picture book will interest all readers, especially those who like American history or live in the New York area. Highly recommended.

Animal Planet Animals A Visual Encyclopedia by Animal Planet
Beautiful photographs and bite-sized chunks of information showcase more than 2,500 animals from the seven major animal groups: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects and arachnids, invertebrates, and fish are featured in 1,050 stunning full-color photos, plus dynamic illustrations, maps, and charts.

Strange But True! Our Weird, Wild, Wonderful World DK
This is a favorite book - I literally couldn't help but read so many of the pages out loud to my kids, they were just so interesting. First the photographs grab your attention - then the headlines - and then the text. This is a GREAT book for your reluctant readers because it's practically irresistible to read through it. Love it for a gift idea!

Extra large pages of continents show the biomes and animals who live in each. Subsequent pages feature colorful close-up photographs of animals matched with information about the animal- where it lives, why it lives there, and what it eats. This atlas is SO colorful and well designed, any reader will be drawn to look at the photographs and read it extensively. Impressive!

LEGO Awesome Ideas What Will You Build?
Awesome barely begins to describe this book - it's jam-packed with so many ideas from different themes like Outer Space, Modern Metropolis, the Wild West, Fantasy Land, and The Real World. I just love browsing through the ideas. Be warned: Your kids will want you to order A LOT more Legos for these new projects.

In the Past: From Trilobites to Dinosaurs to Mammoths in More Than 500 Million Years by David Elliott, illustrated by Matthew Trueman
Aptly-oversized to reflect many of the gigantic creatures within, these poems and gorgeous illustrations celebrate prehistoric creatures. Creatures like the weird-looking dunkleosteus or terrifying yutyrannus. Some of these creatures you'll know, many will be new. The text is very accessible. Each creature includes their scientific name plus the geologic timeline in which they lived. SO cool, right?

Snakes
This level 3 early reader book is visually appealing with solid information and good photographs like all the TFKs books and their magazine.

by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Boris Kulikov
Fascinating and important history meet gifted storytelling in this new picture book biography about Louis Braille. We follow the life of precocious, sightless Louis who desperately wants to read and write but is disappointed with his limited options. Despite being chronically ill, a child, and lots of failed attempts, Louis invents a system for the blind to read and write that is still in use today.

by Robbie Robertson, illustrated by David Shannon
The Peacemaker was a real person who choose a man named Hiawatha to help him communicate his message of peace and unity to the five nations of Iroquois. The message wasn't well-received at first but the Peacemaker helped the tribal leaders understand forgiveness and unity. United, the Iroquois nation became a model for democracy which was said to have influenced Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.

Rocket to the Moon: Big Ideas That Changed the World by Don Brown
Instead of reading a narrative nonfiction book, this fact-filled history about the first moon landing is an exciting, well-written, black-and-white graphic novel. Reading this book will help your 8 year olds understand our country's competitiveness with Russia, the many attempts to launch rockets, and the eventual success of sending astronauts into space.

by Aleksandra Artymowska
We're enjoying this search and find and spot the difference puzzle book where readers help Captain Nemo search for adventure and treasure. Each full-page spread is intricately illustrated so there is a lot to notice. Then use these illustrations to solve the tasks. For example, find a diving helmet that is different from the others. Or find identical seashells. Fun, right?

Weird But True SPORTS: 300 Wacky Facts About Awesome Athletics National Geographic Kids
I wasn't sure what to expect but again, National Geographic outdid themselves. The facts weird (did you know professional hockey players can be penalized for tucking their jerseys into their pants?!) and come from a wide range of topics and sports. Learn crazy facts about skateboarding, ostrich races, and jetsprint boats! Highly recommended. ALSO READ: Awesome Sports Books for Kids

Mad Libs Junior Animals
Make up super silly stories with your friends and family. No need to remember parts of speech because the junior book uses pictures instead. Best for kids in first, second, and third grades, or ages 6 - 9.

Sticker Dolly Dressing on Vacation by Lucy Bowman, Vici Leyhane, Stella Baggott
24 pages and stickers of girls on vacation - my own kids adore these sticker books and save them forever. (Much to my dismay.)

A-Maze-Ing Animals 50 Mazes for Kids by Joe Wos
I saw this book on a tweet and fell in love with it! Each of the mazes is a design of the animals in 5 difficulty levels. From bats hanging in a cave to colorful underwater creatures, these mazes will develop visual-spatial skills in a totally fun, engaging way. And I'm pretty positive that once you get started, you won't want to stop.

by Raymond Huber, illustrated by Brian Lovelock
Set up in a parallel structure, we read the narrative story about a day in the life of Gecko as well as expository facts about geckos. Visually appealing and interesting.

If an Egg Hatches . . . and Other Animal Predictions by Blake A. Hoena
I like this book for two reasons. First, the fantastic color photographs. Second, the questions that get the reader to engage fully with the text before they flip the page to read the answer. For example: "Every animal in nature is important. Imagine if there weren't any predators like wolves. What would happen to the populations of elk and deer?"

Show Me Dogs My First Picture Encyclopedia by Megan Cooley Peterson
Do your kids love animals? This book, and others like it in this well-designed series will entice your kids to devour facts all about the animal they love - like dogs!

Highlights Hidden Pictures Sticker Book
Younger learners can the stickers to find the hidden objects. So fun! My kids always preferred the sticker hidden picture books to the color books.

Orangutan Houdini by Laurel Neme illustrated by Kathie Kelleher
What an interesting picture book story based on real life story! Fu Manchu, the orangutan, keeps escaping from his enclosure in the zoo. He doesn't leave the zoo, just hangs out in the trees and always returns when his keeper comes to get him. Fu is one clever orangutan! Written like a story in narrative format, this is an excellent nonfiction picture book.

Tuesday Tucks Me In: The Loyal Bond between a Soldier and his Service Dog by Former Captain Luis Carlos Montalvan, USA with Bret Witter, photographs by Dan Dion
This picture book follows a typical day in the life of Luis and Tuesday from breakfast to bedtime. The photographs are gorgeous! The text is totally perfect - not too much, just right. It's powerful to witness the bond between a service dog, Tuesday and his person, Luis who experiences post-traumatic stress disorder and other disabilities. Tuesday helps Luis with his nightmares and helps him balance as he walks down the subway stairs. I highly recommend this amazing nonfiction book - it will tug at your heart strings. And, if you want to read about Luis and Tuesday, get his full-length memoir,Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him.

Tiger by Suzi Eszterhas
Read about tiger cubs as they grow up in India. See the tigers in their rocky cliff cave, learn that the cubs won't grow into all their stripes for two years, watch the family move to a new forest den, follow as the cubs learn to hunt, and then see how big the tigers get in two short years. A page of tiger facts finishes out this book.

by W.H. Beck
I LOVE the photography in this beautiful nonfiction picture book and think you will as well. Brightly colored (glowing) plants and animals with bioluminescence pop out of the pages on black backgrounds. Each two page spread page has both large and medium sized text with the perfect amount of text - not too much! Read to find out why these creatures glow. You'll learn how they use this adaptation for a purpose such as hunting, hiding, and tricking. Impressive.

DNA Detective by Tanya Lloyd Kyi, illustrated by Lil Grump
Colorful and easy to read, I very much enjoyed this informational book and it's kid-friendly layout. Plus it's packed full of fascinating facts about the science of DNA and how researchers figured it out and use it in practical applications like solving crimes.

Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins, illustrated by Jill McElmurryKate Sessions helped plant San Diego with a variety trees that would grow in the city's climate. She worked hard to make sure that by the World's Fair, there were enough trees for shade that the attendees wouldn't be too hot. Beautifully written and illustrated!

A Strange Place to Call Home: The World's Most Dangerous Habitats & the Animals That Call them Home by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Ed Young
You got to love a poetry book about ice worms, spadefoot toads, limpets, and other animals who live in dangerous habitats. Here's an example:

Thousands
of them are born
in carrion, water,
or soil. But not this crew. They hatch
in oil.

The mixed media collage illustrations will blow you away. Fabulous.

Elephant by Suzi Eszterhas
Journey along with an elephant calf as he grows up. I found this nonfiction book to be fascinating and highly recommend it!

If an Egg Hatches . . . and Other Animal Predictions by Blake A. Hoena
I like this book for two reasons. First, it has fantastic color photographs. Second, the questions in it get the reader to engage fully with the text before they flip the page to read the answer. For example: " Every animal in nature is important. Imagine if there weren't any predators like wolves. What would happen to the populations of elk and deer? "

Show Me Dogs My First Picture Encyclopedia by Megan Cooley Peterson
Do your kids love animals? This book, and others like it in this well-designed series will entice your 8-year-old kids to devour facts all about the animal they love - like dogs!

Eat Your U.S. History Recipes for Revolutionary Minds by Ann McCallum, illustrated by Leeza Hernandez
History-themed recipe book with recipes for Thanksgiving Succotash, Revolutionary Honey-Jumble Cookies, and Independence Ice Cream, among other foods, will give kids background and information about each and a yummy way to discover early American history.

by Nancy Honovich and Annie Griffiths
Learn the equipment, the best composition, and so many tips for cool photographs on your digital cameras or smart phones. We like that you can flip through and find ideas quickly, that it's not a cover to cover read.

by Aleksandra Artymowska
This is a GREAT gift book for the entire family to enjoy. Visual discrimination never looked so beautiful! My kids and husband were hooked on it as soon as this book arrived in the mail. So together or individually, you'll have so much fun with this book that celebrates the world! I love how the puzzles give kids practice with visual discrimination skills and following directions. And in this unique book, there is a lot of white space while still requiring detail orientation. See the pieces of the Eiffel Tower and answer - " Which of these pieces isn't part of the Eiffel Tower?" and " Can you arrange the other pieces in the correct order? "

by Bridget Heos, illustrated by Jennifer Plecas

8-year-olds will enjoy this picture book with comic dialogue about the oft-neglected fly. You see, kids always study butterflies and rarely know that flies metamorphose, too - and Fly wants to convince you that you should really know more about him! Flies are so interesting - they make noise (butterflies don't) and they have big families (500 maggots) and help solve crimes (age of maggots on a dead body . . . ) just to name a few things.

by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen

I think this nonfiction picture book actually has the perfect ratio of words to text! It's informative without being an epic essay and the warm water-color illustrations are gorgeous. You'll learn that feathers can shade, warm, protect like sunscreen, make high-pitched sounds. You'll discover examples of birds in the wild with each feather fact. Honestly, I never appreciated feathers before this book. It's so well-presented, it should be included in all classroom studies on birds.

by Sally M. Walker, illustrated by Jonathan D. Voss

Did you know that Winnie the bear was a real bear? Canadian vet and WWI soldier, Harry Colebourn, rescued a bear who he named Winnipeg and took her with him to training in England. But when he was sent to battle, Harry sent her to the London Zoo so she would be safe from battle. That's where Christopher Robin and his father, A. A. Milne, met Winnie. The real Winnie are so cool!

by Jonathan London, illustrated by Matthew Trueman
Excellent writing and illustrations make this one of the best nonfiction animal books! Bigger text pairs with smaller factual text to give readers maximum learning. Hippos are COOL and DANGEROUS which you'll find out when you read this book.

Leopard & Silkie One Boy's Quest to Save the Seal Pups by Brenda Peterson, photographs by Robin Lindsey
A group of volunteers called Seal Sitters, watch out for baby seals who are left on Seattle shore while their mothers hunt for food. This photographic story tells the story of baby seal, Leopard, who is crowded by onlookers and dogs. Young volunteer, Miles, calls his fellow Seal Sitters to help him move the people away from Leopard. Miles and his grandpa decide to build a floating dock for Leopard so he will be safe when his mother hunts. It's a compelling story about the real dangers that marine mammals face every day, perfect for 8 year olds (3rd graders) who love animals.

It's All About Me-Ow by Hudson Talbott
HILARIOUS! If you own or love cats, your 8-year-old kids will be able to relate to the quirkiness depicted in this delightful picture book about cats. It's written to a new cat, explaining cat life with diagrams and punny definitions that are so funny. My favorite page is:
"Humans May Forget That You Are The Center Of Their World. Here's how to fix the problem:
Race wildly around the house for no reason.
Stare at them - They'll wonder why, but you won't tell them.
Stop eating your favorite food, even if you're hungry. You have to keep them guessing."

Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin by Gene Barretta
Get it? Now and then/Ben? This informative nonfiction picture book shows us what's happening NOW that we can credit to BEN. It's simple and to-the-point, making it a fantastic nonfiction picture book for 3rd graders. Now . . . bifocals are very common. Bifocals combine two sets of lenses into one pair of glasses. The bottom lens helps see near, and the top lens helps see far. Ben . . . originally designed bifocals for himself after he grew tired of switching between two pair of glasses.

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Nonfiction Books for 8 Year Olds (3rd Grade) | Imagination Soup

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Get your 8-year-olds (3rd graders) reading nonfiction books! It's a different kind of reading than fiction and extremely important for their future success when they'll be reading for information. Here's a list of good book recommendations and reviews to get them started.

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A story using made up characters that takes place in modern times. Real people doing real things.

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Realistic fiction can be defined as a genre of writing in which the characters, setting, and events are made up but could be real. The word "fiction" indicates that the story is imagined, while the word "realistic" means it is true-to-life. These stories resemble real life because they reflect real experiences-things people like you and I go through. Once you get into the world of adult books, you'll see the term "literary realism," but today we're focusing on realistic fiction books for kids and teens. We'll cover the elements of realistic fiction, discuss some classics of the genre, and provide a few great contemporary recommendations.

Elements of Realistic Fiction

Look for the following elements of realistic fiction to see if a story fits into the genre.

Characters. The people and animals in realistic fiction stories could exist in the world as we know it. That means no superheroes, no talking pets, and no fairytale creatures. A realistic character might remind you of yourself, or they might help you understand people of a different culture, religion, gender, sexuality, level of ability, or socioeconomic status. Reading about realistic characters with different experiences can help us empathize better with the people in our real lives.

Setting. Realistic fiction stories usually take place in an ordinary part of the real world-a setting that is not just possible but likely. Think somewhere like a school or neighborhood, not outer space. The exact town or school can be made up, but it has to resemble real places that we know exist on earth.

Events. The characters in realistic fiction books deal with real-world problems that drive the story. Maybe they're being bullied at school, dealing with family issues, or struggling with friendship drama-these are all problems that you or people you know might go through. Often realistic fiction books deal with social issues, like racism, LGBT+ rights, mental health awareness, and more.

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Time. Most realistic fiction stories take place in the present or recent past from the time they were written. A story set long ago is more likely to fit into the historical fiction genre. However, some classic realistic fiction children's books will seem like historical fiction to modern readers-just remember they were contemporary when they were written. Let's dig into some of those examples, from picture books to YA.

Classic Realistic Fiction Children's Books

by John Steptoe (1969)

At first, Robert resents having little Stevie around, the boy his mother watches during the week. But once Stevie's family moves away, Robert realizes what he misses about his "little brother." Stevie was a landmark picture book for its realistic portrayal of black childhood, and it launched author John Steptoe's twenty-year literary career. Watch Gordon from Sesame Street read Stevie aloud!

One day, a young boy came up to librarian Beverly Cleary and asked, "Where are the books about kids like us?" There weren't many, so she set out to write some. This tale about an ordinary third-grade boy and his adopted stray dog led Cleary to write dozens more beloved realistic fiction children's books that are still in print today.

Eleven-year-old orphan Anne Shirley comes to live with brother and sister Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. Her arrival is a disappointment, though-the siblings thought they were adopting a boy. Anne must win over the Cuthberts and the rest of her new community on Prince Edward Island. This memorable redheaded heroine has inspired numerous film adaptations and charmed her way into the hearts of countless readers.

Fourteen-year-old Ponyboy Curtis' world is divided into two groups of people: socs, who have money, and greasers, who don't. Ponyboy's a proud greaser-one of the eponymous social "outsiders"-until a violent gang incident goes too far. S.E. Hinton wrote The Outsiders in high school and sold the book at 17. Her work's success proved that teens were hungry for realistic fiction that engages critically with social issues; this helped establish the precedent for many of today's YA bestsellers.

Contemporary Realistic Fiction Children's Books

Writing realistic fiction for children really took off in the second half of the twentieth century. This genre doesn't shy away from major social movements and issues, so these books are a great way to educate readers on important topics. Today we're seeing more diversity than ever before so more kids can see themselves represented in fiction. Here are some great contemporary realistic fiction books for kids and teens that highlight what's been happening in the genre recently.

Realistic Fiction Picture Books

When Ada Twist starts speaking at age three, she begins spewing as many "Why?" question as she can think of. In second grade, she begins researching smells "both the stinky and good," until her experiments get out of hand and land her in trouble. Ada's interest in science is empowering, and her experiments remain believable for her age-her constant questioning reminds me of another curious kid I know. As the books says, "She asks lots of questions. How could she resist? It's all in the heart of a young scientist."

I know we said realistic fiction character aren't superheroes, but Isaac's powers aren't really superhuman-he just has Asperger's syndrome. In the book, Isaac explains how his Asperger's gives him "powers" but can also make his social interactions more challenging. It's a great way to introduce kids to the concept of autism and can help them better relate to those on the spectrum.

Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan and Sophie Blackall

When Rubina gets invited to a birthday party for the first time, her mom insists she takes her little sister Sana. Rubina's embarrassed because that's not how things work in their new country. She begrudgingly brings Sana along, and she ends up stealing the show and Rubina's party favor: a big red lollipop. This sweet story explores a specific part of the immigrant experience while reminding readers that some things, like sibling rivalry, are universal.

MIDDLE GRADE Realistic Fiction Books

Auggie Pullman is a normal fifth grader getting ready to start public school for the first time. The only issue? He was born with a facial deformity that draws unwanted attention wherever he goes. The story follows Auggie through his fifth-grade year as he makes friends, deals with bullying, and shows the school what a wonder he really is. It demonstrates how, as my friend who teaches elementary school put it, "Kids adapt!"

Twelve-year-old Josh Bell and his twin brother Jordan are unstoppable on the court. Their relationship shifts, however, when Jordan gets his first girlfriend. Just when Josh thinks he can't handle any more change, their dad's health takes a turn for the worse. This story about brotherhood, basketball, and beats is narrated in verse, which makes it a great, quick book for reluctant readers. It won the 2015 Newbery Medal, and it'll win you over, too, whether or not you're into sports.

When faced with a family tree project at school, eleven-year-old Robbie doesn't know where to start. She's doesn't look like her dark-skinned grandfather, but he doesn't like to talk about the past, so her deceased mother remains a mystery. As his memory gets worse, Robbie fears she'll lose him, and all her family history with it. When her mounting stress leads to a violent outburst against her bully, she ends up in a therapy group at school where she discovers that she's not the only with a complicated family.

YA Realistic Fiction Books

Aristotle Mendoza doesn't understand other teenage boys, and he has no real friends until he meets Dante Quintana at the pool one summer in El Paso, Texas. Together, they set out to discover the secrets of the universe-and of themselves. Though set in 1987, this 2012 book deals with plenty of enduring teen struggles-family issues (Aristotle's brother is in prison), sexuality (Dante realizes he like boys), and cultural identity (what does it mean to be a Mexican-American?).

This critically-acclaimed book deals with the tough issue of police brutality. The story follows 16-year-old Starr Carter, who is in the car with her childhood best friend, Khalil, when he's shot by a white police officer. This book provides a first-person perspective of life inside the Black Lives Matter movement, while also dealing with other relatable teen topics-friendship drama, community ties, and interracial romance.

Sixteen-year-old Aza Holmes struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Her anxiety periodically hijacks her brain, causing her to get swept-up in all-consuming thought spirals. This makes everything in her life a little more worrying, from friendship to school to kissing to trying to solve the mysterious disappearance of her old friend's billionaire father. Aza's narration brings readers into the head of someone who doesn't feel at home in her head, giving them a new perspective on what it's like to live with mental illness.

What are your favorite realistic fiction children's books or teen reads?

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Realistic Fiction Books for Kids and Teens: A Beginner's Guide

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Realistic fiction can be defined as a genre of writing in which the characters, setting, and events are made up but could be real. The word "fiction" indicates that the story is imagined, while the word "realistic" means it is true-to-life. These stories resemble real life because they reflect real experiences-things people like you and I go through.

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A story containing puzzling events that are not solved until the end of the story.
Examples: crime, detective and investigation stories.

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Are based on the traditions and beliefs of people. Often teach a lesson and usually uses animals to symbolize a human quality.
Examples: The little red riding hood, three little pigs, the hare and the tortoise, jack and beanstalk.