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Non-fiction is a very popular genre for adults to read. Nowadays, reading takes on a more functional nature, the purpose of which is self-improvement and gaining knowledge. Therefore, non-fiction has spread to children’s literature. Here are some of my recommendations for children’s non-fiction books on current topics:

“Fake News (What’s the Issue?)” by Tom Jackson. This book is about the art of fact-checking. A lot of kids have access to the Internet and social networks, so the information about how the mass media and bloggers can lie, manipulate and distort the facts is one of the key points all kids should know. First published in 2020 by QED Publishing (English). Ukrainian translation was released in 2023 by Knyholav Publishing.

“A Book About Garbage” by Halyna Tkachuk. A thing that we face every day, but not everyone understands its importance and impact on us. A thing that always exists nearby, wherever we are. A thing that is easy to create, but hard to get rid of. This book is about garbage. It tells children what garbage is and how to deal with it if we don’t want to destroy our planet. First published in 2019 by The Old Lion Publishing House (Ukrainian).

“Unstoppable Us, Volume 1: How Humans Took Over the World” by Yuval Noah Harari. How did the first people appear? What did they look like and how did they live? The world-famous historian Yuval Noah Harari will provide answers to these questions in an easy form for children. The book has many illustrations. This is the first part out of four, which are planned. First published in 2022 by Bright Matter Books (English). The Ukrainian translation was released in 2023 by BookChef Publishing.

How to Build Your Own Country by Valerie Wyatt. What is the country and how to build it from the start? Why do we need the flag and the anthem? What are the government, elections, geography, and global issues? What are the law and constitution? This book is the answer to all these difficult questions. It helps kids to understand how all countries function and what processes take place in each state. First published in 2009 by Kids Can Press (English). The Ukrainian translation was released in 2019 by Zhorz Publishing.