Castles – children’s nonfiction books

Castles – here’s our selection of great castle themed nonfiction books and topic books for children. These reading suggestions contain a range of books suitable for primary aged children aged 5-11 in KS1 and KS2.

Children’s books about castles

See Inside Castles by Katie Daynes

Castles by Colin Thompson

Castles by Maggie Freeman

What Were Castles for? by Phil Roxbee Cox

Stories of Castles by Lesley Sims

Castle by David Macaulay

Peep Inside the Castle by Anna Milbourne

Castles: a 3-Dimensional Exploration by Gillian Osband and Robert Andrew

Medieval Castle: A Carousel Pop-Up Book by Phil Wilson

Everything Castles: Capture These Facts, Photos, and Fun to Be King of the Castle! by Crispin Boyer

Crackin’ Castles (Horrible Histories) by Terry Deary and Martin Brown

Avoid Being in a Medieval Castle! by Jacqueline Morley

Castle (Eyewitness Guides) by Christopher Gravett

Castle Life (Knights and Castles) by Laura Durman

Castle Diary by Richard Platt

A Medieval Castle (Spectacular Visual Guides) by Mark Bergin

Medieval LEGO Hardcover by Greyson Beights

Stephen Biesty’s Cross-Sections Castle by Stephen Biesty

Evil English Castles: Nasty Deeds & Skulduggery Paperback – by David Gall

Castles (Graphic Medieval History) by Gary Jeffrey

Dark Knights and Dingy Castles by Terry Deary

Castles Picture Book by Abigail Wheatley

Lift, Look & Learn Castle by Jim Pipe

Make this Castle (Usborne Cut Out Models) by Iain Ashman

George And The Dragon by Christopher Wormell

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table by Marcia Williams

Knightology by Dugald Steer

If You Were a Kid in a Medieval Castle by Josh Gregory

Castles and Cannons (Early Reader Non Fiction) by Scoular Anderson

LEGO: Knights and Castles by Scholastic

Navigators: Knights and Castles by Philip Steele

Knights (Knights and Castles) by Laura Durman

Siege (Knights and Castles) by Laura Durman

A Samurai Castle (Spectacular Visual Guides) by Fiona MacDonald

Himeji Castle: Japan’s Samurai Past (Castles, Palaces & Tombs) by Jacqueline A Ball

Look Around A Medieval Castle (VIRTUAL HISTORY TOURS) by Clare Hibbert

Himeji Castle: Japan’s Samurai Past (Castles, Palaces & Tombs) by Jacqueline A Ball

Fast Facts! Awesome Knights by Kingfisher

Life on a Medieval Manor (Medieval Worlds) by Marc Cels

Castle (Inside History) by Julia Bruce

Castle: Medieval Days and Knights by Robert Sabuda

Storm the Castle!: A Pop-up Board Game Book by Bob Moulder

Castle Dracula: Romania’s Vampire Home (Castles, Palaces & Tombs) by Barbara J Knox

Castle Story by Sheila Sancha

Building a Castle (Knights and Castles) by Paul Humphrey

To order all the books in this list, or to bulk order class sets of books, click here.

For even more topic books about fortresses, dragons and knights, see this list.

Castle resources for teachers

• English Heritage’s Teaching Medieval History guide brings together free activities for KS1 to KS4, covering why castles were built, siege warfare, castle communities, medieval feasts, strategic locations, heraldry and contemporary accounts of attacks.
• The National Archives offers a source-based KS4 enquiry into the purpose and significance of medieval castles. The lesson includes original records, supporting questions and teachers’ notes examining castles as fortresses, residences and centres of authority.
• The Royal Armouries’ Knights and Castles resource is a free collection for EYFS and KS1 containing a teachers’ pack, videos, an audio programme with a transcript, home-learning activities and collection images exploring knights, armour, tournaments and the development of castles.
• Cadw’s KS3 education packs include separate castle-themed literacy and STEM resources, accompanied by Welsh curriculum links. The downloadable activities can be used in the classroom or alongside a visit to one of Cadw’s historic monuments.
• Historic Environment Scotland’s Castle Science resources use films and practical investigations to explore the engineering behind castle construction and siege warfare. Activities include building and testing catapults and arches while examining force, friction, gravity and structural strength.
• Historic Royal Palaces provides a searchable collection of learning materials that can be filtered for the Tower of London. Resources include teacher presentations, historic sources, biographies, timelines, printable activities, quizzes, videos, virtual tours and materials supporting SEND learners.
• Northern Ireland’s Department for Communities offers downloadable castle resources from nursery and KS1 through to KS3. These include Carrickfergus Castle information and activity books, an introduction to Anglo-Norman castle architecture, observation activities and guidance for visiting Carrickfergus and Dundrum castles.
• The National Trust’s Bodiam Castle page includes a free teachers’ resource pack supporting self-led educational visits. It helps pupils investigate a historic site while learning about castle design, medieval life and the changing purposes of castles.