Last updated on June 11th, 2024 at 02:01 pm
Are you looking for inspirational books for students and kids?
Encouraging your children to read more can prove harder as they grow older. That’s why it’s important to choose books that inspire kids and motivate them from an early age. Inspirational books for children will help your kids think about the world around them, expand their knowledge and encourage a growth mindset.
The themes of the books below range from politics to mythology, nature and travel. We’ve loved each of these books and they’ve definitely encouraged a love of learning and a sense of curiosity. So, if you’re looking for some great books for tweens, teens or (mature) younger readers, look no further.
Here are my top 10 most inspiring books for kids.
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Greek Mythology Books for Kids
Our Recommendation:
Mythologica: An Encyclopedia of gods, monsters and mortals from ancient Greek – Dr Stephen P. Kershaw and Victoria Topping
Visually striking and easily understandable for kids, this is a great introduction to Greek Mythology.
Mythologica presents fifty of the most exciting characters from Greek Mythology – such as Midas, Helen of Troy, Cyclops and Medusa, and includes extra fun facts too.
Did you know that Athena turned Medusa’s hair into snakes because her hair was her most beautiful feature?
One of my top picks when it comes to inspirational books for kids, Mythologica will leave them wanting to learn more about this topic!
Books About Animals
Our Recommendation:
Knowledge Encyclopedia Animal!: The Animal Kingdom as you’ve Never Seen it Before (DK and John Woodward)
One for animal-loving kids and one of my daughter’s favourite ever books. I think we’ve now covered every page – it’ll keep you busy for a while!
A good mix of illustrations and facts ensures kids won’t lose interest. From the red-bellied piranha to the mountain gorilla, each creature is given a two-page spread – making it perfect for reading about one animal an evening before bed.
Knowledge Encyclopedia Animal! also covers evolution and extinction, animal history and the animal kingdom. A good introduction to the natural sciences for kids!
Travel Books for Kids
Our Recommendation:
The Travel Book: A Journey through every country in the world (Lonely Planet Kids)
Featuring every country in the world, and giving equal space to each – this is the right mix of educational and fun.
If you’re a family who loves to travel, this is one to read together. There are a couple of themes which might not be suitable for younger readers but with adult oversight, you could skip these bits. It’s a brilliantly inspiring book for teenagers too.
The Travel Book is an eye-opener and a good basis for further discussion. There’s an activity book which you can order separately if you wish.
My top recommendation when it comes to kids’ books about the world.
Motivational Books for Students
Our Recommendation:
Big Ideas for Curious Minds: An Introduction to Philosophy – The School of Life
This is a kids’ book with some big ideas, as its title suggests. It’s an introduction to philosophy in which tweens will get to know history’s most famous philosophers and the ideas they had, as well as ponder on life’s important questions.
Great for developing their own ideas and thoughts and one of the best books to motivate students’ curiosity!
Politics Books for Beginners
Our Recommendation:
Politics for Beginners (Usborne) – Louie Stowell
I read a few pages every evening of this to my son and he enjoyed it way more than I thought he would! It’s written in a concise and simple way and introduces kids to terminology they are bound to come into contact with as they mature.
I’d say this book is for children aged 8 and upwards but probably most suited to children aged 10 or 11.
The book covers different kinds of government, political systems and change, and elections and voting. It also has a chapter on ‘Big questions’ which addresses topics such as human rights, war, poverty, immigration and feminism.
Loads of really important conversations can stem from each of the chapters!
Nature Books for Kids
Our Recommendation:
Trees, Leaves, Flowers and Seeds: A visual encyclopedia of the plant kingdom (DK)
Children will be fully immersed in nature with this book charting everything from the smallest seeds to the largest trees. There’s a lot to learn – with over 1000 images to accompany the fantastic facts you’ll be provided with ( I learnt a lot from this book too).
We’ve used this book to look up the answers to many nature-related questions since too. It also makes a fantastic gift.
Another book from DK and a similar format, this is a great one for kids and adults to share the learning experience (I learnt loads from this book)!
Covering topics such as meat-eating plants, creepers and climbers, bonsai and cacti, this book also covers some of what your kids may be learning in their Science lessons – how roots work, how seeds grow and spread, and the life cycle of a plant.
Books on Curiosity
Our Recommendation:
The Curious Book Lists – Tracey Turner
A collection of lists for the fact-lover, improving their general knowledge and keeping them entertained all at once.
The Curious Book Lists is quirky, which makes it all the more charming. From lists detailing strange facts about cockroaches to presidential pets, kids will never get bored with this book!
Books About Growing Up
Our Recommendation:
The School of Life ‘What Can I do when I grow up’
I do love The School of Life and here’s another recommendation from them!
This book takes some of the pressure away from thinking that you should know what you want to be when you grow up.
Instead, it offers lots of explanations about jobs you may never even have thought of. It focuses on finding out what you enjoy and what type of personality you have – for example, would you like to help others, or would you like to be a leader (or perhaps both)?
Geography Books for Kids
Our Recommendation:
Maps (Big Picture Press) by Aleksandra and Daniel Mizielinski
Beautifully illustrated, this book makes maps fun and accessible. There are a few countries which I was surprised to see hadn’t been added but I guess they can’t cover them all.
Maps is fantastic if you’re planning a trip – your child can locate the country in the index and find out some fun facts about where you’re travelling to. This includes the most popular boys’ and girls’ names there, the food they eat and what animals live there.
A real keep-sake and definitely one of the most inspiring books for kids.
History Books for Kids
Our Recommendation:
History: Year by Year: A journey through time, from mammoths and mummies to flying and Facebook (DK)
A book for all age groups (including adults), this inspiring book runs chronologically through historical events and periods right up to 2019!
Packed full of information, as with some of the other books listed, it’s great to dip in and out of.
I hope you’ve found something that grabs you in my top 10 of the most inspirational books to read for kids! Happy reading…
More Info…
For more book recommendations, head to:
The 5 Best Books To Help Kids Think About Kindness and Confidence
16 Books To Boost Empathy In Boys.
32 Fabulous Books for Tweens and Early Teens
Or for kids’ gift ideas, take a look at:
The Best Gifts For Socially Conscious Kids.
60 Best Gifts for Teenage Boys You Haven’t Thought of Yet
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