6 New Nonfiction Series that Cultivate Curiosity and Creativity

The Up Close series, by Heidi Fiedler
The Up Close books shine a giant magnifying glass on the world and let readers see everything from a bug to a seashell in a whole new way. They feature amazing macro and micro photography with quirky captions, playful brainteasers, and fun facts that leave readers curious to learn more. DIY tips and tricks help young photographers turn up the zoom to 11 and get started taking their own close-up pix. Sea Life and Bugs and Butterflies are the first two books in the series.

Maps, by Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski
Young armchair travelers who pored over Maps by Aleksandra Mizielinska will delight in the new Maps Activity Book. Just like the original, the activity book shows kids there is more than one way to see the world. It prompts readers to discover details like where yaks live, and to draw their own animals, people, and places. The book’s puzzles and projects invite readers to ask questions about geography—and create their own maps that reflect the world they live in.

Zentangle for Kids, by Jane Marbaix
Zentangles are already a huge hit with adults, and this new drawing book is especially designed to help kids untangle their own creativity and develop their abstract thinking skills. There are also craft projects that show kids how to use their Zentangle masterpieces as art, bookmarks, cards, or gifts. Titled “‘Nzeppel” and “Heartrope,” even the project names are creative!

Photicular series, by Dan Kainen
Polar is the latest book in the Photicular series you have to see to believe. Each book uses sliding lenses and video imagery to make the images in the book look like they’re moving. It’s pretty much as close to a movie as you can get in a book! If this book doesn’t spark your kids to want to make their own movie magic or explore new ways to print and publish books, I don’t know what will. In Polar, snowy owls, penguins, and reindeer all get the Photicular treatment. (There’s also Safari, and Ocean.)

Minecrafters series, by Megan Miller
For fans, Minecraft is about way more than just staring at the screen. It’s a hugely creative space for self-expression, testing and trying, and more. This series, which includes The Big Book of Hacks for Mindcrafters and Hacks for Minecrafters: Master Builder helps players go from following the directions in other books to making up their own rules and inventing entire worlds. There are tips and tricks on building, fighting, farming, enchanting, and mining. It’s perfect for kids who ask “Why not?” more often than they ask “Why?”

Tinkerlab, by Rachelle Doorley
Technically this book isn’t a series—at least not yet—but it’s an extension of a brilliant website that’s known for its art and science projects. The activities in this new book are kid friendly (even for tots as young as two) and easy enough for adults to dive right in, while still giving kids lots of freedom to tinker. All the activities, including “The Naked Egg Experiment” and “A DIY Lava Lamp,” are infused with a creative spirit that encourages kids to think of themselves as young inventors.
What nonfiction reads do your kids love?