By Erin Silver
Children’s non-fiction is having a moment. There are more kinds of non-fiction books to choose from, and they’re being written and presented in ways that are more creative and appealing than ever before. According to a study in the Journal of Literacy Research, 80 percent of Grade 1 students prefer non-fiction books when given the choice. No wonder it’s been called the “golden age” of children’s non-fiction.
These books are making an impact. As The National Council of Teachers of English points out, non-fiction plays a role in helping young children become “critically, visually, and informationally literate 21st century thinkers and creators.” Non-fiction literature communicates information for young people, but it also “contextualizes primary source evidence, offers multiple perspectives on current and historic events, and shares new scientific discoveries.” Other studies have shown that non-fiction books help children develop critical thinking skills and improve vocabulary. What’s more, non-fiction has the power to empower and inspire.
No matter what kind of non-fiction books you write—or what kind you want to write—there are tricks and tips to doing it well. As a non-fiction author myself, I was excited to reach out to some of my peers to discuss their latest non-fiction books and learn the keys to their success.
Mark Leiren-Young
Author of One Ocean: 7 Ways to Save the Seas (Orca Book Publishers, 2026) and Octopus Ocean: Geniuses of the Deep (Orca Book Publishers, 2025).
Why do you feel non-fiction and STEM books are important for kids to read?
When it comes to saving the planet and the other animals who live here, young people aren’t just the future, they’re the present. Often when it comes to environmental issues, young people are the adults in the room. And young people who are interested in topics want to know EVERYTHING about that topic.
As an environmentalist who also writes books and plays for adult audiences, what are some of the strategies you use to approach complex topics in ways that are accessible and empowering for kids?
I think it’s vital to share the stories of other young people who are doing or have done amazing things. One Ocean features several young people who did more for life on the planet before they turned 16 than most people do in a lifetime. As Jane Goodall said often, “We protect what we love.” I really try to look for the stories—not the stats, facts and figures—but the stories and science that will help people fall in love with the other animals we share the planet with.
By reading your books, what do you hope readers will be inspired to do?
Care. That leads to everything else.
Wanda Taylor
Author of Birchtown and the Black Loyalists (Nimbus Publishing, 2014) and The Sky’s the Limit: Canadians Who Blazed a Trail in Aviation (Nimbus Publishing, 2025).
How did you come to write your latest STEM book, The Sky’s the Limit?
I'm always talking about the importance of representation, and writing stories where children can see themselves, their worlds and their communities represented. One young boy asked if I ever thought of writing about aviation. His words to me were a call to action. I knew very little about aviation then, but I knew that child had a passion, and that he wanted to see people who looked like him in the skies.
What’s special about non-fiction and STEM books?
Non-fiction shows children pieces of the past, fascinating things happening in current times, and the possibilities that can come about in the future. Non-fiction books show the truths of our world—the good, the dark, and everything in between. STEM books help children think about and solve problems. They open up the world and spark new possibilities in the minds of young readers.
How did you approach this book in a way that would make aviation fun and interesting?
I felt that honing in on the work of specific aviators would make it feel real and possible. Sharing the backstories and their journeys was meant to make the reader forget that they were learning something and instead be swept up in the human stories.
Karen Tam Wu
Author of What a Waste: 9 Ways to Fight Climate Change (Orca Book Publishers, 2025).
Why is it important for kids to read non-fiction/STEM books?
Non‑fiction and STEM books help kids make sense of the world. They teach critical thinking, encourage curiosity, and explain the “why” behind everyday things.
What tools did you use throughout the book to explain waste and climate change?
I’m someone who loves facts and data, so I hope giving kids access to clear, engaging information early on helps them build confidence and ask better questions as they grow up.
As an expert in climate and energy policy, how easy or difficult was it to make this topic approachable for readers?
I’m used to breaking down complex topics for people who aren’t experts—politicians, journalists, and general audiences—so simplifying the science wasn’t the hard part. The challenge was making it appealing and relatable for kids. I wanted the information to feel approachable, not intimidating, and to give them a sense of agency rather than worry.
Carolyn Fisher
Author/illustrator of I'm Longer Than You!: An Epic Contest of Measurement (Kids Can Press, 2025) and Cells: An Owner’s Handbook (Beach Lane Books, 2019).
How did you end up becoming a non-fiction author/illustrator?
I love reading and drawing, and I love to explore science and nature. Kids, I know, love to read, and to draw, and to explore science and nature, too! So to me, connecting art and science in a non-fiction STEM book is a perfect pairing for curious kids.
What approaches did you use in your latest books to draw kids in?
When I write and illustrate a picture book, I'm not thinking about readers. I'm following my own curiosity into a subject and teaching myself while making jokes along the way. For instance, I wrote a story about a Supersaurus and a Blue Whale who have a contest to see who is longer. I thought it would be funny if a millipede measured the Supersaurus in millimetres, and an inchworm measured the Blue Whale in inches. That story became I'm Longer than You!
How do you create non-fiction artwork?
I made the art the way I always do: an idea popped into my head, and travelled from my brain to my arm, to my hand, to my pencil—and then I watched what came out of the pencil onto the paper! I redrew that picture dozens of times until it said what I wanted it to say. I never know what the picture will be until I get the pencil on the paper. That's when I find out.
Laura Alary
Author of The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne: Discovering the Stuff of Stars (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2026) and Sea in My Cells (Pajama Press, 2025).
What is your most recent STEM picture book about?
The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne is a picture book biography about the pioneering astrophysicist Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin. At 48 pages, it’s longer than a typical picture book and is aimed at an upper elementary audience. The longer word count gave me scope to tell more of Cecilia’s life story and how she figured out the answer to one of her biggest questions: What are stars made of? There is lots of back matter in this book, including timelines of Cecilia’s life and scientific discoveries through history which contributed to her work, as well as additional information about the Harvard Computers (women who worked with astronomical photographs at the Harvard Observatory).
Why is it a great idea to expose children to non-fiction stories?
Non-fiction books can spark or feed a child’s curiosity about the natural world and how it works. Curiosity then ignites imagination and a desire for deeper understanding. The more we understand, the more we become aware that we are part of something much bigger than ourselves. This can affect not only how we see our own place in the web of life, but also how we perceive the world around us.
How do you approach STEM books that might be different from others?
Non-fiction is not limited to a single literary style. There are so many ways of approaching it, including poetry and narrative. It’s not all sidebars and chunks of information (though those can be fascinating too). With the exception of the picture book biographies, my STEM books tend to be very lyrical—almost poetic. I enjoy writing this way because it helps bring out the beauty and imagination that is part of science. Poetry also leaves a lot of space for wonder and humour, and I’ve found that good illustrators can draw out both!
Maria Birmingham
Author of Chomp-O-Rama: The Strange Ways that Animals Eat (Owlkids Books, 2025) and Left-Handed: Getting a Grip on Handedness (Owlkids Books, 2026)
Tell me about some of the strategies you used to research and write your latest books.
I like to try and include different themes in my middle-grade books whenever possible. I feel like this variety makes a book more interesting for a young reader. And during the research phase, I often look for peculiar facts that I can include in the hopes of drawing readers in, making them think twice, or even giving them a laugh along the way.
How do you know when a non-fiction subject will land not just with readers but also publishers?
It’s important to keep yourself open to unusual or unconventional ideas. When I came up with the concept of a book about left-handedness, I almost talked myself out of writing it because it’s such a niche topic. I thought no editor would be interested in it for that reason. But I went with my gut. I figured the concept could be interesting. And if it struck a chord with me, perhaps it’d be the same for a young reader. So I wrote it anyway. And thankfully it worked out!
Are there trends in non-fiction publishing you can share?
There are often trends that come along in publishing. But I shy away from those. I want to focus on topics that intrigue me and that I think have the potential to do the same for a non-fiction reader. I don’t want to write about something just for the sake of writing it. I lean towards researching and writing books that my “kid self” might have picked up and enjoyed.
Peter Wohlleben
Author of Piet Cools Off (Greystone Kids, 2025) and Piet Finds A Home (Greystone Kids, 2026), among many other titles.
Tell me about your latest picture books, Piet Cools Off and Piet Finds a Home.
Both picture books share scientific information about the forest and its animal inhabitants for children as they follow the adventures of Piet, a spunky squirrel who, in the first book, looks for ways to cool off from the summer heat, and in the second, searches for a new home.
What’s your strategy for engaging children in books about nature and how is it different from writing for adults?
Love and empathy for other living beings come from education—education that’s fun. That’s what I try to do with my books. I try to describe the animals and their needs in a way that allows children to empathize with them. Writing children’s books is no less challenging than writing books for adults. The brevity of the texts requires focusing on the essentials while describing everything in a way that sparks children’s imaginations. To do this, everything must be fact-based yet still tell an exciting story. My test audience—my four grandchildren—tells me whether it works.
Erin Silver is an award-winning author of more than 30 books for children, including many non-fiction and STEM books, such as Mighty Scared: The Amazing Ways Animals Defend Themselves and Plant Attack: The Fascinating Ways Flora Defends Itself. Visit her at ErinSilver.ca.