Non-Fiction November: simple ways to celebrate facts, questions and curious kids

If your child loves asking questions (all day, every day), Non-Fiction November is the perfect excuse to lean into it. Instead of feeling like you need to have all the answers, you can team up with some brilliant non-fiction books and do a bit of exploring together.

You don't need fancy projects or a Pinterest-worthy display. A few well-chosen books, ten minutes on the sofa, and a willingness to say "Let's find out" is more than enough.

Why non-fiction is brilliant for young readers

Non-fiction sometimes gets treated like the sensible cousin of storybooks, but for many children it's where the real excitement starts. It can:

• Hook reluctant readers: A child who isn't fussed about stories might devour a book about sharks, space, or football.
• Build vocabulary: Topic books sneak in new words in a really natural way (it's much easier to remember "hibernate" when you're looking at a cosy hedgehog).
• Support school learning: Non-fiction often lines up beautifully with what children are doing in class – from seasons and materials to the Great Fire of London.
• Show different ways of reading: Children learn to skim, scan for facts, read captions, use indexes and enjoy diagrams – all really handy skills for later on.

Most importantly, non-fiction tells your child that their questions matter. If they care deeply about volcanoes, minibeasts or how trains work, there's a book for that.

Easy ways to join in with Non-Fiction November at home

You don't have to overhaul your whole reading routine. Try one or two of these ideas and see what sticks.

1. Have a "fact of the day"

Each day in November, pick one non-fiction book and choose a fun fact together. You can:

• Write it on a sticky note and pop it on the fridge.
• Share it at dinner and let everyone rate it out of ten.
• Draw a quick picture of the fact (perfect for children who like to doodle).

Keep it light and playful. If you forget a day (or three), just start again. No one is marking you.

2. Follow your child's latest obsession

Many children go through strong "phases": dinosaurs, trains, dogs, space, insects, weather… the list goes on. Use Non-Fiction November as a reason to lean fully into the current favourite.

Choose two or three books on the same topic at different levels – a simple one with big photos, a slightly longer one with more detail, maybe a "question and answer" style book. Let your child lead the way by pointing, asking and telling you things they already know.

3. Mix non-fiction into your bedtime reading

Bedtime is usually story time, but there's no rule that says you can't read non-fiction in your pyjamas. Try:

• Starting with a short story and finishing with a quick page of facts.
• Reading one double-page spread per night from a favourite topic book.
• Letting your child "dip in" and choose any page that catches their eye.

Short, snappy pages are great when everyone's tired, but you still want that quiet, connected reading time.

4. Turn questions into mini investigations

When your child asks a big question – "Why do leaves fall?" or "How do planes stay up?" – resist the urge to give a full lecture. Instead, say something like, "Good question. Let's see what we can find in a book."

You might:

• Look in the contents page or index together to find the right section.
• Compare two books and see which one explains it more clearly.
• Jot down the answer in your own words once you've read it.

This shows children that books are tools they can use when they want to know more – not just something adults hand them.

5. Create a tiny "non-fiction shelf"

You don't need a full library. Just gather a small stack of information books together in one place – on a low shelf, in a basket by the sofa, or next to your child's bed.

Mix it up with:

• Simple non-fiction at their current reading level (with clear photos and short sentences).
• More detailed books you can read aloud together.
• Fact books that are fun to dip into, like animal "Top Trumps" style books or question-and-answer collections.

Rotate a few in and out over the month to keep things feeling fresh.

Non-fiction for different reading stages

Non-fiction works for children at every stage of learning to read. A few ideas:

• Early readers (just starting out): Look for very simple information books with one short sentence per page, clear photos and lots of repetition. You can read the sentence together, then chat about the picture.
• Growing confidence: Try slightly longer sentences, labels, speech bubbles and simple diagrams. Many children love spotting "wow" facts in boxes or on brightly coloured panels.
• More fluent readers: Let them choose longer chapters or topic books and encourage them to read in their own way – skipping, scanning and jumping between pages is absolutely fine.

Remember, there's no "right" way to enjoy non-fiction. Some children want to start at the beginning and read every page; others will flip straight to the gory or funny bits. Both are reading.

How Reading Chest can help

If you're running out of non-fiction at home (or you're quietly desperate to move on from the same dog book you've read 47 times), Reading Chest can help. Our book-banded subscriptions include a wide range of non-fiction titles alongside storybooks, all carefully matched to your child's reading level.

You can:

• Add non-fiction titles to your child's book list if they have a favourite topic.
• Mix fiction and non-fiction in each delivery so there's always something to suit their mood.
• Keep things feeling new and exciting without having to buy stacks of books that will be outgrown in a few months.

However you choose to join in with Non-Fiction November, the aim is simple: follow your child's curiosity, share some great books, and enjoy discovering new facts together. The questions won't stop – but you might start looking forward to them a bit more.