60+ Nonfiction Books for 3rd Grade That Kids Will Want to Read

Finding the best 50+ nonfiction books for 3rd grade can completely change how kids experience reading and learning. Really good nonfiction invites children to explore real people, true stories, science, nature, and history with a sense of wonder.

However, I’ve found that nonfiction can sometimes be a tricky genre when it comes to picking good books for my kids. We’ve all read a dry non-fiction book, right? Or had our kids tell us outright, “That was boring, Mom.” But, I’m here to tell you, don’t let that one not-so-great, non-fiction kids’ book cause you to give up on the genre, because there are so many beautiful, inspiring non-fiction reads that will really enhance your child’s education and worldview.

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Why Nonfiction Matters in 3rd Grade

Third grade is a pivotal reading year. Kids are transitioning from learning to read to reading to learn. They are a sponge when it comes to information, ideas, and stories; therefore, it is the ideal time to present a feast of great literature for their growing minds.

From the secret life of sea turtles to the historical biography of Florence Nightingale- from the formation of snowflakes to the man who invented crayons, there are so many questions your kids have that non-fiction books can answer.

In this post I’m going to give you some non-fiction book ideas in these categories:

• Science & Nature Study
• Biographies of Real People
• Inventions and Engineering
• History and Culture
• Art and Music
• Non-fiction Chapter Books

Let’s dive in!

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Best Nonfiction Picture Books for 3rd Grade

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First, for this list, I decided to lean into picture books. While third graders are beginning chapter book reading, I have found, with my kids, that they are still incredibly visual and enjoy the bite-sized non-fiction books the best.

Secondly, since I did not write a snippet or review for each book, I’ve linked each one to Amazon, where you can find more info, read reviews, and decide for yourself if it is a good fit for your kids. (Yes, they are affiliate links. I may earn a commission from sales made. Thank you!)

And lastly, if you have any other book suggestions, leave them in the comments below! Now let’s dive in!

Science & Nature Nonfiction Books for 3rd Grade

1. HoneyBee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera by Candace Fleming
2. Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner
3. Slow Down: 50 Mindful Moments in Nature by Rachel Williams
4. The Butterfly is Patient by Diana Hutts Aston
5.  Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin 
6. The Big Book of Birds by Yuval Zimmer
7. The Big Book of Bugs by Yuval Zimmer
8. What Makes a Shadow? by Claude Robert Bulla
9. Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes by Nicola Davies
10. The Secret Life of a Sea Turtle by Maddalena Bearzi

Biographies of Real People Nonfiction Books for 3rd Grade

11. Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream by Deloris Jordan
12. A Picture Book of Amelia Earhart by David A. Adler
13. A Picture Book of Florence Nightingale by David A. Adler
14. Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille by Jen Bryant
15. The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca
16. Clara and Davie: The True Story of Young Clara Barton by Patricia Polacco
17. Small Wonders: Jean-Henri Fabre and His World of Insects by Matthew Clark Smith
18. Davy Crockett: A Life on the Frontier by Stephen Krensky (beginning chapter book)
19. The Boy Who Grew a Forest: The True Story of Jadav Payeng by Sophia Gholz
20. Johnny Appleseed: The Classic Read-Aloud Folktale by Steven Kellogg
21. Betsy Ross by Alexander Wallner

Inventions & Engineering Nonfiction Books for 3rd Grade

22. Mr. Ferris and His Wheel by Kathryn Gibbs Davis
23. Locomotive by Brian Floca
24. The Marvelous Thing that Came from a Spring by Gilbert Ford
25. Balloons Over Broadway By Melissa Sweet
26. The Boo-Boos That Changed the World: A True Story About an Accidental Invention by Barry Wittenstein (about the invention of the bandaid)
27. The Crayon Man: The Inspiring Illustrated Picture Book Biography of the Inventor of Crayola Crayons by Nastascha Biebow
28. Pop!: The Invention of Bubble Gum by Meghan McCarthy
29. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Picture Book by William Kamkwamba
30. On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne
31. John Deere, That’s Who! by Tracy Nelson Maurer

History & Culture

32. Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford
33. Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers (a fascinating look at the Statue of Liberty)
34. Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear by Mattick (The story of the bear who inspired Winnie-the-Pooh)
35. A Ticket Around the World by Natalia Diaz
36. Spacebusters: The Race to the Moon by Philip Wilkinson
37. If You Lived At The Time Of The Civil War by Kay Moore
38. If You Lived With The Sioux Indians by Ann McGovern
39. If You Were a Pioneer on the Prairie by Anna Kamma
40. What Was World War I by Nico Medina
41. What is the Declaration of Independence by Michael C. Harris
42. The 50 States: Explore the U.S.A. with 50 fact-filled maps! by Gabrielle Balkan

Art & Music

43. Painting Wonder: How Pauline Baynes Illustrated the Worlds of C. S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien by Katie Wray Schon
44. Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion by Shannon Stocker
45. Peter Tchaikovsky (Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Composers Series) by Mike Venezia
46. Symphony for a Broken Orchestra: How Philadelphia Collected Sounds to Save Music by Amy Igntow
47. Gadgets, Gizmos, and Guitars: The Story of Leo Fender by Michael Mahin
48.  Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuoso by Andrea Pinkney
49. Henri’s Scissors by Jeanette Winter
50. My Indigo World: A True Story of the Color Blue by Rosa Chang
51. Becoming Bach by Tom Leonard
52. The Story of the Orchestra by Robert Levine

Read Aloud Nonfiction Chapter Books for 3rd Grade

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53. Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipator by Augusta Stevenson
54. Chocolate by Hershey: A Story about Milton S. Hershey by Betty M. Burford
55. I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941 by Lauren Tarsish
56. I Survived The Great Molasses Flood, 1919 by Lauren Tarsish
57. Martha Washington: America’s First Lady by Jean Brown Wagoner
58. Who was Anne Frank? by Anne Abramson
59. Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.? by Bonnie Bader
60. Albert Einstein: Young Thinker by Marie Hammontree
61. Helen Keller: From Tragedy to Triumph by Kathrine Wilkie

More Booklists for Your 3rd Grade Students:

Must-Read Chapter Books for 8-Year-Olds

125+ Best Chapter Books for Boys Ages 6-18

50+ Engaging Stories for 7-Year Olds

50 Best Books for Third Graders

10 Books to Get You Started on Nature Study

What are your favorite Nonfiction books for 3rd graders?