Educational Books for Kids to Keep Reading Skills Sharp

This collection of classic coming of age stories should be enough to keep any child occupied for at least the next couple of months. Including Polyanna, The Secret Garden, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, each beloved novel features bright, confident heroines who are determined to achieve whatever they set their minds to.

We’re guessing your child has seen film adaptations of Peter Pan, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and The Swiss Family Robinson. But if they haven’t read the originals, they’re missing out. Reading each one of these children’s adventure books adds an element of imagination that films can never quite capture.

These “direct and surprisingly accessible” histories, often told in the actual words of key figures from the American past, are a brilliant blend of fact and imagination (Publishers Weekly). Including direct excerpts from the diary of Christopher Columbus, writings from pilgrims on the Mayflower, and realistic fiction based on the Lewis and Clark expedition, the Revolutionary War and a whole lot more, this collection of stories is an excellent introduction to America’s history.

We know—reading the dictionary doesn’t sound appealing. But this kid-friendly tome is a fun way for kids to improve their vocabulary and may even inspire budding readers to pick up other books. Along with standard pronunciation guides and definitions, this reference book includes quotes from books like The Hobbit and Island of the Blue Dolphins for each word, helping kids put them in context.

A favorite introduction to science and history, dinosaurs have been fascinating children for generations. Kids who are just starting to read on their own will love this book’s fun facts, eye-popping visuals and prehistoric pronunciation guide.

Related: Stay Curious with Curious George Books 

We may be stuck at home for now, but with this book your kid can feel like a globetrotter. Each page covers a different country, and includes facts about wildlife, sports, foods and how people live, giving your child a sense of just how big the world really is.

Most adolescents aren’t excited about reading the classics, but Jules Verne is a great author to draw them in. The science fiction master, who also penned Around the World in Eighty Days and Journey to the Center of the Earth, features a strange monster in this adventurous tale. 

In this seminal science fiction novel, the Atlantic Ocean is being plagued by the presence of a strange monster. Harpoonist Ned Land joins marine biologist Aronnax and his servant, Conseil, in order to track down and kill the sea creature. However, the task is not as simple as it seems.

This memoir from Elizabeth Keckley is a remarkable look at life for a black women in America during the 1800s. The text is stunning in its simplicity. Without mincing words, Keckley shares the story of how she was born into slavery; the cruelty that she suffered until she was able to purchase her own freedom; how she began to work for the Lincolns; and later, how she worked to fight for equal rights for Black Americans.

Related: How Former Slave Elizabeth Keckley Befriended the Lincolns

Kids (and adults) who love trivia will devour this text from YouTube sensation Joseph Pisenti, aka RealLifeLore, which tackles everything from “Why do we have borders?” to “Why did Vikings wear helmets?”

In his debut book, Pisenti explores the nonsensical humor of the universe with in-depth analysis of empires, economies, and ecosystems as he helps answer the ridiculous. Why, you ask? Because someone has to. Using line drawings, graphs, and charts, Pisenti not only details the absurd—he also provides explanations on why things are . . . and why they aren’t.

Related: Summer School: 11 Fascinating Nonfiction Books for Teens

Perfect for young adults who enjoy the finer points of writing and learning how grammar works (we exist!), this reference guide answers common questions about grammar with smart, simple responses. Just be prepared for your student to argue back if their teacher tells them not to end a sentence with a preposition.

This A-to-Z historical encyclopedia of US people, places, and events contains nearly 1,000 entries, “all equally well written, crisp, and entertaining” (Library Journal).

From the origins of its native peoples to its complex identity in modern times, this unique, highly readable reference book covers the political, economic, cultural, and social history of America—there's everything from James Monroe to Marilyn Monroe to the Monroe Doctrine.

Budding creative writers will treasure this guide from Newbery Medal-winning author Marion Dane Bauer. The text “provides mentoring and practical and technical advice in this handy how-to book . . . as useful to teachers as to young writers” (School Library Journal, starred review).

The guide shows students how to write fiction from beginning to end, including creating a story plan, choosing the best idea, bringing characters to life, deciding on a point of view, creating realistic dialogue, keeping readers hooked, and revising and polishing the finished product.

Related: 15 Inspiring Quotes About Writing to Help You During NaNoWriMo