Over the past couple of years, you may have noticed your child’s teachers placing greater emphasis on reading nonfiction. With the adoption of Common Core standards in many states, elementary-school students are now expected to spend 50% of their reading time on literature and 50% on informational texts (i.e., nonfiction) to help them develop deeper knowledge of the world.
While some kids naturally gravitate toward informational writing, those who love a good story often feel that reading nonfiction is a chore. Drawing from my web site Bookopolis.com — a social network where kids between the ages of 7 and 13 safely share reviews and book recommendations with friends — here are 12 nonfiction books that have gotten rave reviews from young readers.