If you’re searching for books to help your kids think about the world around them, or you’re looking for a gift, then look no further. Here are my top 10 most inspiring books for kids.
Mythologica: An Encyclopedia of gods, monsters and mortals from ancient Greek (Wide Eyed) – 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?
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!
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.
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.
The School of Life ‘Curious Minds Gift Set’/ Philosophical Questions for Curious Minds
Bringing to life the ideas introduced by the world’s most famous philosophers, this ‘gift set’ of two of The School of Life’s top-selling books for kids, presents readers with more questions than it does answers – but that’s no bad thing.
Great for conversation around the dinner table and it also makes a fantastic present!
Politics for Beginners (Usbourne) – 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!
Trees, Leaves, Flowers and Seeds: A visual encyclopedia of the plant kingdom (DK)
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.
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!
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)?
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: 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 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 most inspiring books for kids! Happy reading…
More Info…
For more book recommendations, head to The 5 Best Books To Help Kids Think About Kindness and Confidence and 16 Books To Boost Empathy In Boys.
Or for kids’ gift ideas, take a look at The Best Gifts For Socially Conscious Kids.
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