12 Nonfiction Series That Make Kids Curious (Ages 7–11)

Some kids don’t want stories — they want facts. Nonfiction can build reading stamina fast because it feels useful and it’s naturally broken into small chunks.

If your child says “books are boring,” there’s a good chance they mean: “I haven’t found the kind of book I like yet.”

Related guides: Books & Reading Lists · English & Verbal Reasoning · Study Skills & Focus · All blog posts

Why nonfiction works (especially for “fact kids”)

• Instant reward: they learn something real quickly.
• Chunked reading: sections, headings, captions, and diagrams make it easier to start and finish.
• Confidence grows fast: it’s easier to feel successful after one page or one section.
• It trains exam skills quietly: scanning, summarising, and explaining clearly.

How to use nonfiction (without overwhelm)

• Let them choose the topic (ownership is everything).
• Read one section at a time (not “a whole chapter”).
• End with: “What’s one thing you learned?”

Make it even easier with a 3-sentence retell

Ask them to say:

• 1 sentence: what the section was about
• 1 sentence: the most interesting fact
• 1 sentence: one question they still have

This builds comprehension without making it feel like a test.

Great series to look for

These series are reliable because they’re visual, well-structured, and easy to dip into.

• DK Eyewitness
• National Geographic Kids
• Horrible Histories (Terry Deary)
• Usborne Beginners
• Who Was?
• Basher Science
• DK Findout!
• Let’s Read and Find Out Science
• Oxford Reading Tree: Fact (where available)
• Britannica All New Kids’ Encyclopedia (reference-style)
• Time for Kids (books/magazines)
• 100 Things To Know About… (Usborne)

How to pick the right nonfiction book

• If they love animals/nature: National Geographic Kids, DK.
• If they love “gross/funny facts”: Horrible Histories.
• If they love science and diagrams: Basher Science, Usborne.
• If they love people and stories that are real: Who Was? mini biographies.

Try this next

Do a 10-minute curiosity sprint:

• Read one section.
• Share one fact.
• Ask one new question and look up the answer together (with safe search on).

When curiosity is driving the reading, stamina grows almost by accident.

If your child needs a simple daily structure, pair nonfiction with: The 10-Minute Focus Routine.

And if they prefer visual reading, try: Graphic Novels That Still Build Comprehension.