Nocturnal animals are active at night and we never see many of them during the day. Discover all the fascinating creatures you have been missing by reading a great book.
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Nonfiction
Beginning Reader
Nocturnal Animals by Abbie Dunne
An introduction to animals that are active a night. Features short sentences, controlled vocabulary, and big, enticing photographs. The back matter includes an activity suggestion.
Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Paperback: 24 pages
Publisher: Capstone Press (August 1, 2016)
ISBN-10: 1515709787
ISBN-13: 978-1515709787
Many beginning reader books focus on one particular type of nocturnal animal, such as the following:
Porcupines (Nocturnal Animals) by Mary R. Dunn
Did you know that one reason we rarely see porcupines is because they are nocturnal?
Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Series: Nocturnal Animals
Paperback: 24 pages
Publisher: Capstone Press (February 1, 2011)
ISBN-10: 1429661933
ISBN-13: 978-1429661935
Fireflies (Nocturnal Animals) by Mary R. Dunn
Fireflies are beetles that light up the night with their ability to glow.
Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Series: Nocturnal Animals
Publisher: Capstone Press (August 1, 2011)
ISBN-10: 1429671203
ISBN-13: 978-1429671200
Raccoons (Nocturnal Animals) by J. Angelique Johnson
Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: Capstone Press (February 1, 2011)
ISBN-10: 1429661941
ISBN-13: 978-1429661942
Picture Books
Night Creatures: Animals That Swoop, Crawl, and Creep While You Sleep by Rebecca E. Hirsch and illustrated by Sonia Possentini
As the sun sets, night creatures awaken. While camping out in their rural backyard, a parent and child watch bats flap, bobcats pounce, and rabbits race. Gorgeous illustrations bring the nocturnal world to life in this lyrical and informative picture book.
Be sure to check out the incredible free activity guide to accompany the book. It is perfect for any unit on nocturnal animals. Rebecca has instructions for taking a night hike, as well as activities that reflect how your senses change in the dark. What might you touch and feel? How might your color vision change? What might you hear? What might you smell?
Reading age : 5 – 10 years
Publisher : Millbrook Press ™ (September 7, 2021)
ISBN-10 : 1541581296
ISBN-13 : 978-1541581296
You’re Invited to a Moth Ball: A Nighttime Insect Celebration by Loree Burns and photographs by Ellen Harasimowicz
What is a moth ball? It is a nighttime party to attract moths to your yard. Learn how to make a moth bait that will attract buggy guests (recipe included). Or you can entice moths by hanging a sheet over a line with a light shining through (instructions included). Then wait for the guests to arrive!
The book is illustrated with lovely photographs taken at an actual moth party. They look like so much fun.
See more and activity suggestions at Growing with Science.
Reading age : 5 – 8 years
Publisher : Charlesbridge; Illustrated edition (April 7, 2020)
ISBN-10 : 1580896863
ISBN-13 : 978-1580896863
Night Creepers by Linda Stanek and illustrated by Shennen Bersani
The simple, lovely text makes it shine. The detailed sidebars and extensive back matter sends it to another level of usefulness for educators.
Direct link to extensive .pdf teaching guide
Age Range: 3 – 7 years
Publisher: Arbordale Publishing (September 10, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1607183234
ISBN-13: 978-1607183235
Nocturnal Animals (Learn about Animal Behavior) by Kelli L. Hicks and Bernd Heinrich (Consultant Editor)
Age Range: 6 – 9 years
Publisher: Capstone Press (August 1, 2012)
ISBN-10: 1429693126
ISBN-13: 978-1429693127
In his newest picture book, The Bat Book illustrated by Nate Jensen and Tristan Jensen, Conrad Storad uses a story within a story format to engage young readers. He also throws lots of science into the mix.
In the book Little Boy Bat, the main character who lives under the famous Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas, decides to write a book to help humans learn bats are not frightening. The result is both enlightening and fun.
Ages: 5-10
Publisher: Sunbelt Publications (March 25, 2015)
ISBN-10: 189179566X
ISBN-13: 978-1891795664
Where Are the Night Animals? (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1) by Mary Ann Fraser
Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: HarperCollins; First Edition edition (December 12, 1998)
ISBN-10: 0064451763
ISBN-13: 978-0064451765
Sounds of the Wild: Nighttime (Pledger Sounds) by Maurice Pledger
What could be more fun than a pop-up book that also makes the sounds of nocturnal animals around the world?
Nightime emphasizes how many animals that are active at night communicate via sound.
Age Range: 5 and up
Publisher: Silver Dolphin Books; Pop edition (October 28, 2007)
ISBN-10: 1592234712
ISBN-13: 978-1592234714
Out of Sight Till Tonight!: All About Nocturnal Animals (Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library)
by Tish Rabe
Age Range: 5 – 8 years
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (March 24, 2015)
ISBN-10: 0375870768
ISBN-13: 978-0375870767
Moonlight Animals (Lightbeam Books) by Elizabeth Golding and illustrated by Ali Lodge
Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: Running Press Kids; Nov edition (August 30, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0762443162
ISBN-13: 978-0762443161
Middle Grade
The Bat Scientists
Author Carson accompanies bat scientist Merlin Tuttle into a cave in Texas to find out what studying bats in like. Immediately the reader learns that this field is not for the squeamish. Why would anyone wade through bat guano teeming with insects while breathing through a respirator in a smelly cave at temperatures of 100° F? They do it because it turns out that bats are pretty important in the scheme of things. By learning more about them, hopefully we can protect these fragile and misunderstood little creatures before it is too late.
Reviewed at Wrapped in Foil
Age Range: 10 and up
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers (September 28, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0547199562
ISBN-13: 978-0547199566
Fiction
Night Animals by Gianna Marino
Age Range: 3 – 5 years
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers (July 14, 2015)
ISBN-10: 0451469542
ISBN-13: 978-0451469540
Do you have any suggestions for our list of children’s books about nocturnal animals? We’d love to hear them.