Best of 2025: Children's Nonfiction Books about People and Places - Christchurch City LibrariesLike this list

73 items

• 100 Things to Know About Money

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  A graphic information book with 100 facts you never knew about money.

• Rise and Fall

  Great Empires That Shaped the World

  Allen, Peter, 1964-

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  Journey back in time to discover the fascinating histories of nine ancient civilisations; their rise, their decline and their legacies.

• The Extraordinary History of Witches

  Atkinson, Hazel

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  A powerful, empowering book about witchcraft, and the women, and sometimes men, accused of practising it across the world.

• Marvellous Messages

  Ayling-Ellis, Rose, 1994-

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  Join Rose Ayling-Ellis, her cool cat Halo, and their magical tour guide, Perky the Pigeon on a time-travelling, globetrotting adventure to explore the story of communication as never before.

• Rākau

  the Ancient Forests of Aotearoa

  Barraud, Ned

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  This book introduces key species and highlights the significance and use of different native trees and the impact of humans on their vitality.

• All About Brains

  a Book About People

  Bell, Lake, 1979-

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  Lake Bell weaves a joyfully whimsical story that celebrates the beauty of neurodiversity.

• The Great Big Book of Museums

  Bensard, Eva

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  A fascinating tour of some of the most amazing museums around the world.

• Lost and Found in History

  a Search-and-find Book

  Booth, Clara

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  Young readers are invited to lose themselves on a journey through history, seeking people and objects with stories to tell across nine different eras.

• Mariam's Dream

  the Story of Mariam Al-Shaar and Her Food Truck of Hope

  Boukarim, Leila

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  Once Mariam decides to start a food business in the refugee camp where she's spent her whole life, she must see her dream through.

• The Biggest Kiwi in the World

  Brown, Colleen, 1950-

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  Our national emblem - the KIWI - was carved into the chalky slopes of Beacon Hill, above Sling Camp in Southern England by NZ soldiers at the end of WW1. Discover how our Kiwi was saved from extinction by Danny Fisher a British soldier, and his men…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The World Entire

  a True Story of An Extraordinary World War II Rescue

  Brown, Elizabeth, 1964-

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  This magnificently illustrated picture book biography tells a moving story of Aristides de Sousa Mendes a Portuguese diplomat who saved the lives of thousands in World War II.

• Emilie Walks Te Araroa

  a 7-year-old, a Backpack and 3,000 Kilometres of Mud, Magic & Adventure Through New Zealand

  Bruce, Emilie

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  What happens when a seven-year-old sets out to walk the length of Aotearoa New Zealand with her mum? An unforgettable adventure begins - one filled with mud, magic, and moments of true courage.

• Food Around the World

  Budgell, Gill

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  Introduce young readers to a variety of countries and cultures through an exploration of food.

• Bust! Or? Trust

  a Kids' Mystery Book

  Small Wardour

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  Uncover the secrets behind famous mysteries such as: Bigfoot, The Loch Ness Monster, The Legend of King Arthur and much more.

• Snore, Sneeze, Burp!

  Butterfield, Moira, 1960-

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  Burp! A-a-a-choo! PARP! Hic, hic, hiccup! COUGH! PARDON YOU! What's going on? How come our body makes noises without us telling it to?

• Titanic

  Ship of Dreams

  Callery, Sean

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  Explore every inch of the doomed Titanic in this photo- and fact-filled book.

• The Treaty of Waitangi

  Te Tiriti O Waitangi

  Calman, Ross, 1971-

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  Ross Calman's The Treaty of Waitangi has taken top honours at the 2025 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, winning both the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year and the Elsie Locke Award for Non-Fiction.

• Origin

  Cardozo, Nat, 1982-

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  Portraits of Indigenous children and their communities from around the world in a stunning presentation emphasizing community and a connection to the land and the environment.

• Heroines of the Ancient World

  Cargill, Honor

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  Celebrate the stories of incredible women from the ancient world in this beautifully illustrated book.

• She Speaks

  the Women of Norse Myths in Their Own Words

  Cargill, Honor

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  Discover your favourite Norse myths - with a twist. This time you'll hear from the female characters in their own words.