5 Nonfiction Books About the Mysteries of Nature for Curious Young Scientists
28 September, 2025 ● Written by STORYVOR Team
Spooky Season is right around the corner, and our environment-themed month is behind us, so here at STORYVOR, in order to make a gentle transition between the two, we’re suggesting five wonderfully mysterious, intriguing, and ever-so-slightly spine-tingling nonfiction books about nature, its secrets, and its hidden quirks. These books are perfect for young readers excited to delve into scientific themes, and for parents and teachers looking to spark conversations with young readers who haven’t yet caught the STEM bug. The books are engaging, accessible, and richly illustrated, the kinds of science books that feel like they might almost be fantasy books in the way they show the wonders, strangeness, bursting colors, and bizarre truths of the natural world.
Hand these reads to your science-obsessed — and to your not-so-science-obsessed — children and students. All will be equally enthralled.
(Note that we kept the age ranges wide open. We feel that with these books they can be enjoyed at pretty much any age.)
Spooky Lakes
By Geo Rutherford
Dive into the most mysterious waters around the world (if you dare) in Spooky Lakes, an illustrated nonfiction book from TikTok star and educator Geo Rutherford.
From Geo Rutherford — the creator of the hit series Spooky Lake Month — comes this thrilling nonfiction book that plumbs the depths of 25 unusual lakes around the world.
Backed by extensive research and packed with all-new content, including eerie and eye-popping watercolor illustrations, Spooky Lakes takes readers on an adventure through weird and wild waters.
Reading age: 6+
The Secret World of Spider Webs
By Jan Beccaloni, illustrated by Namasri Niumim,
All of us have seen a spiderweb. But do we really know how they work, what sorts of spiders make what sorts of webs, and what their purpose is for the world and the environment?
From classic orb webs and spectacular tent webs to hidden trapdoor webs and water webs that attach to the surface of a flowing river, The Secret World of Spiderwebs reveals the incredibly diverse ways spiders catch their prey.
Featuring foil-stamped illustrations that accentuate the intricacy of spider-web designs, The Secret World of Spiderwebs is a remarkable, beautiful, and spine-tingling tribute to spiders.
Reading age: 6+
Humongous Fungus
By Lynne Boddy, illustrated by Wendi Tang
Mushrooms aren’t quite animals, but nor are they quite plants. They’re something in between, mysterious, wonderful, and fascinating for young readers to discover, in this beautifully illustrated science book.
From tiny microbes to the largest living thing, fungi are everywhere! Without fungi, our ecosystem would not work. It provides food for plants and animals and creates a place for them to live. But beware, some types of fungi can destroy crops through fungal diseases or even change animals’ behavior. This fascinating foraging book for kids is sure to keep little ones engaged and entertained.
Reading age: 7+
Weird and Wonderful Nature
By Ben Hoare
The natural world is full of weirdness and Ben Hoare brings 100 of those wierdnesses to life in this extraordinary collection.
Why do Mexican jumping beans jump? How do sea cucumbers defend themselves? What causes the northern lights? This book is filled with facts about the most surprising and curious plants, animals, rocks, and phenomena in nature.
Reading age: 7+
The Street Beneath My Feet
By Charlotte Guillain and Yuval Zommer
Have you ever wondered what's going on deep in the ground under your feet?
This book makes the layers of the earth clear to young readers. One side of the foldout shows the ground beneath the city, while the reverse side shows the ground beneath the countryside. The underground scenes include tunnels and pipes, creatures' burrows, layers of rock, and the planet's molten core, each running seamlessly into the next.
Mixing urban and rural settings, covering subjects such as geology, archaeology, and natural history, The Street Beneath My Feet offers children the opportunity to explore their world through a detailed learning experience. And its foldout, laperello (or concertina) style, which extends to eight feet in length, is ideal for spreading out on the floor to pore over for hours.
Reading age: 4+
