Non fiction
Sometimes, as they say, truth is stranger than fiction. If you enjoy reading real-life stories and books about facts, explore our fantastic non-fiction collection.
Art, craft, games and coding, animals, the natural world, history, real stories about real people, and more.
Amazing animals (and dinosaurs!)
Australia's extraordinary animals by Frances Payne
Fauna: Australia's most curious creatures by Tania McCartney
The illustrated encyclopaedia of dangerous animals by Sami Bayly
The illustrated encyclopaedia of ugly animals by Sami Bayly
Guinness world records: Wild things edited by Ben Hollingum
Don't let them disappear: 12 endangered species across the globe by written by Chelsea Clinton
Incredible living things by Rob Colson
Humanimal: Incredible ways animals are just like us! by Christopher Lloyd
The ultimate animal alphabet book by Jennifer Cossins
DINOSAURS
My book of dinosaurs and prehistoric life: Animals and plants to amaze, surprise, and astonish by Dr Dean Komax
Dinosaurs and other prehistoric life by Chris Barker and Darren Naish
Super dinosaur by Chris Barker
Dinosaurs: A children's encyclopedia
Natural world
Life cycles: Everything from start to finish by Steve Setford
I ate sunshine for breakfast: A celebration of plants around the world by Michael Holland
The magic and mystery of trees by Jen Green
Awesome matter and materials by Rob Colson and Jon Richards
A hollow is a home by Abbie Mitchell
Natural world: A visual compendium of wonders from nature by Amanda Wood and Mike Jolley
What's out there?: Amazing plants, rocks, creatures and cultures that make Australia extraordinary by Nicole Stewart
Amazing evolution: The journey of life by Anna Claybourne
Phenomenal plants by Rob Colson and Jon Richards
The Mysteries of the Universe by Will Gater
Climate change and life on Earth by Chinwe Onuoha
Climate change by Izzi Howell
Elemental Earth series by William Anthony
Real stories about real people
Daring Women series
- 25 women who thought of it first by Jill Sherman
- 25 women who dared to go by Allison Lassieur
- 25 women who fought back by Jill Sherman
Little people, big dreams series by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
- Amelia Earhart
- Audrey Hepburn
- Charles Darwin
- Coco Chanel
- David Attenborough
- David Bowie
- Ernest Shackleton
- Greta Thunberg
- Muhammad Ali
- PeleĢ
- Rosa Parks by Lisbeth Kaiser
- Stephen Hawking
- Steve Jobs
Stories for boys who dare to be different 2: Further true tales of amazing boys who changed the world without killing dragons by Ben Brooks
Stories for kids who dare to be different: True tales of boys and girls who stood up and stood out by Ben Brooks
Super scientists: 40 inspiring icons by Anne Blanchard
Eco heroes: Lives in defense of the planet by Federica Magrin
Philosophers by Susanna Wright
I am not a label: 34 disabled artists, thinkers, athletes and activists from past and present by Cerrie Burnell
JUNIOR BIOGRAPHY
The extraordinary life of Neil Armstrong by Martin Howard
Harry Houdini by Kjartan Poskitt
A computer called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson helped put America on the moon by Suzanne Slade
Martin Luther King Jr. by Laurie Calkhoven
The extraordinary life of Freddie Mercury by Michael Lee Richardson
Malala: My story of standing up for girls' rights by Malala Yousafzai
Incredible history
AUSTRALIA
Young dark emu: A truer history by Bruce Pascoe
The upside-down history of down under by Alison Lloyd and Terry Denton
The story of Australia by Robert Lewis, in association with National Museum of Australia
GENERAL
The story of people: A first book about humankind by Catherine Barr and Steve Williams
First history encyclopedia: A first reference book for children by Philip Wilkinson
The apartment: A century of Russian history by Alexandra Litvina
China through time: A 2,500 year journey along the world's greatest canal edited by Edward Aves and Abigail Mitchell
Ancient Egypt by George Cottrell
A Timeline of ... series
- Adobe shelters to steel skyscrapers: a timeline of building
- Counting pebbles to writing code: a timeline of mathematics and computers
- Foraging to supermarkets: a timeline of food
- Hieroglyphics to hypertext: a timeline of the written word
- Leeches to lasers: a timeline of medicine
- Smoke signals to smartphones: a timeline of long-distance communication
- Stargazing to space travel: a timeline of space exploration
- Wooden spears to military drones: a timeline of warfare
Games, coding and STEM
Leonardo's science workshop: invent, create, and make STEAM projects like a genius by Heidi Olinger
Creative coding in Python: 30+ programming projects in art, games, and more by Sheena Vaidyanathan
More hands-on science: 50 amazing kids' activities from CSIRO edited by David Shaw, Jasmine Fellows and Kath Kovac
Robots by Max Wainewright
How to be a coder by Kiki Prottsman
Astonishing atoms and matter mayhem by Colin Stuart
Australia's amazing inventions by Frances Payne
Cutting-edge stem series:
- Cutting-edge 3D printing by Karen Latchana Kenney
- Cutting-edge artificial intelligence by Anna Leigh
- Cutting-edge robotics by Karen Latchana Kenney
Game on! series by Kristy Holmes
- Action-adventure games
- Building virtual worlds
- Co-ops, teams, & MMOs
- Platform games
- Speed racers
- Strategy games
Emotions and feelings
Just feel: How to be stronger, happier, healthier, and more by Mallika Chopra
Life skills: Creativity; problem solving, mindfulness, empathy, teamwork by Keilly Swift
All about feelings by Felicity Brooks
Hey warrior by Karen Young
Decoding the mind series:
- Why we laugh: the science of giggles by Pamela Dell
- Why we cry: the science of tears by Matt Lilley
- Why we love: the science of affection by Matt Lilley
- Why we rage: the science of anger by Melissa Mayer
- Why we worry: the science of anxiety by Melissa Mayer
My body is growing: A guide for children, ages 4-8 by Dagmar Geisler
Let's talk about body boundaries, consent and respect: A book to teach children about body ownership, respectful relationships, feelings and emotions, choices, and recognizing bullying behaviors by Jayneen Sanders
Art, craft and making
Leonardo's Art Workshop: Invent, Create, and Make STEAM Projects Like a Genius by Amy Leidtke
Busy Little Hands: Art Play! Activities for Preschoolers by Meredith Magee Donnelly
Super Slime!
Recycled art by Emily Kington
The LEGO® neighborhood book: Volume 2 - Build your own city! by Brian Lyles and Jason Lyles
Easy origami woodland animals by John Montroll
Art for Little Kids: 26 Playful Projects for Preschoolers by Susan Schwake
ARTrageous!: more than 25 drawing, painting and mixed media projects for adults and children to create together by Jennifer McCully