Elementary Non-Fiction
A Frog’s Life
by Irene Kelly, illustrated by
Holiday House
Nominated by: aquafortis
Written with engaging informational text and detailed scientific illustrations, this book will open readers’ eyes to the life cycle of frogs. The book uses a variety of species to teach readers about how a frog lives out its life. The well-written text explains aspects of frogs, such as how they breathe, eat, and lay eggs. The accurate illustrations depict frogs in their natural environments. A truly stunning nonfiction text that allows readers a glimpse into the world of a fascinating family of creatures.
Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code: A Navajo Code Talker’s Story
by Joseph Bruchac, illustrated by
Albert Whitman & Company
Nominated by: Maggi Rohde
With moody, evocative art and straightforward text, this book is an unflinching and moving biography of Chester Nez, the last surviving member of the original twenty-nine Navajo code talkers. Born in 1921, he was sent to a boarding school run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the age of eight where he was assigned the name Chester. Nez joined the United States Marine Corps, just a few months after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, as part of a special program to create an unbreakable code. The code talkers kept their work secret for decades, and only recently has the story of the vital work they did during World War II been told. A fascinating window into a little reported period of American History, Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code is an accessible introduction to a complex time period.
Flying Deep: Climb Inside Deep-Sea Submersible Alvin
by Michelle Cusolito, illustrated by Nicole Wong
Charlesbridge
Nominated by: rjs38
With engaging second-person text and detailed digital illustration, readers become Alvin pilots exploring the deep sea depths. Not only does one experience the anticipation and thrill of the journey going DOWN DOWN DOWN, but also mysteries about how scientists actually work are revealed page by page: How to see as the water turns black? How to breathe? How to go to the bathroom? Readers remain breathless through the dangers presented by rocky columns and poisonous, scalding jets. Complete with a glossary of the more challenging terms, this book leaves readers enchanted and inspired both by the deep oceans and by the scientists who explore them.
Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor
by Patricia Valdez; illustrated by Felicita Sala
Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publisher/ Author Submission
From its title promising dragons, to the subtitle and from cover to cover, this picture book will capture the attention of many readers. Even children who normally shy away from non-fiction books will feel a spark of interest when presented with a biography about a dragon doctor! As an added bonus to the reader, Joan’s exploits with lizards starts with her fascination for them as a child, when she drew, studied, and kept them as pets — one day even getting a baby crocodile for her sweet sixteen! An inspiring character, Joan followed her passion and her strength and began a career as an assistant to a curator of reptiles and fish at London’s Natural History Museum, becoming a scientist who cultivated “the museum’s vast collections and published research papers on pit vipers and pancake tortoises.” In addition, “she created exquisite models and drawings for the reptile exhibits.” So many wonderful things exist in this book — a strong, passionate woman, an intriguing subject, a friend to animals, a zoo occupation, STEM/STEAM and crocodiles, snakes, lizards and dragons! This wonderful book will win readers over with its kid appeal, claws down!
Saving Fiona: The Story of the World’s Most Famous Baby Hippo
by Thane Maynard
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Nominated by: Stormy
Saving Fiona is the story of the first premature baby hippo raised by humans. Thane Maynard, director of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, was there from day one and shares the journey with readers in this captivating story. Photos document each step of Fiona’s journey, from the time before she was born, when Hippo Cove was created to welcome her parents Bibi and Henry, to her harrowing journey with the medical setbacks any premature mammal might experience, and finally her reunification with her family in the water. #TeamFiona learned, along with the world, one day at a time, how to best care for a premature baby hippo. Fun facts are included throughout and concentrated in a final section of the text as well. #TeamFiona found that Fiona had a following and after reading this account, you’ll count yourself among them!
The True Tale of a Giantess: The Story of Anna Swan
by Anne Renaud, illustrated by Kids Can Press, Ltd
Nominated by: Cindy Mitchell
This is the story of Anna Swan, born in the year 1846 in Nova Scotia. At birth, Anna weighed 13lbs and at age 6, Anna was 5 feet 6 inches tall. At 17, when Anna stopped growing, she stood almost 7 feet, 11.5 inches tall and weighed over 180 pounds. Told in first person, this picture book biography captures Anna’s world, which was primarily designed for the not-so-tall people. Fitting in was a literal challenge, and Anna had to find a place for herself. She found her happy place when she made friends at PT Barnum’s. Soft, pastel-colored, mixed media illustrations capture the various hardships for this gentle giantess. Anna’s journey will resonate with children who are learning how to fit in. An author’s note captures more details along with sepia-colored photographs of Anna at 17 and with her husband Martin Bates. True Tale of a Giantess captures the life of a little-known personality and highlights challenges that are very much relatable even today.
What Do You Do with a Voice Like That?: The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan
by Chris Barton, illustrated by
Beach Lane Books
Nominated by: DWhite
Chris Barton’s text begs to be read aloud. Using alliteration and repetition, it reverberates with the big booming voice of former U. S. Congresswoman from Texas, Barbara Jordan. Ekua Holmes’ mixed media illustrations are as bright and bold as Barton’s text and perfectly capture the late 1960s and early 1970s. In the author’s note and a two-page spread timeline in the back matter, readers discover that Barbara Jordan —who retired early from public service because she had multiple sclerosis — died too young at 59. What Do You Do with a Voice Like That? is a wonderful choice for Black History Month, for Women’s History Month, and for all the months of the year.
Middle Grade Non-Fiction
Death Eaters: Meet Nature’s Scavengers
by Kelly Milner Halls
Millbrook Press
Nominated by: Mrs. Shh
This sometimes gruesome but always fascinating book introduces readers to some of the lesser-known decomposers in the animal kingdom, plus more familiar scavengers. Rich with facts and research findings of what happens to animals after they die, Death Eaters gives readers a unique perspective on how the earth naturally recycles living forms. Paired with full-color photos and detailed descriptions of decomposition, readers will be introduced to a new aspect of science and the cycle of life in a respectful but engrossing fashion.
Dog Days of History: The Incredible Story of Our Best Friendsby Sarah Albee
National Geographic Children’s Books
Nominated by: Jennifer W
Progressing in chronological order, author Sarah Albee explores the relations of people and dogs in the ancient world, middle ages, through modern times, and takes a peek at the future. To add interest, she features glimpses of famous dogs through history like Lewis and Clark’s dog Seaman, for example. The illustrations are a combination of high-quality stock photographs, and art featuring dogs from a variety of times and places. The extensive back matter includes “A Note About the Research,” which explains that many stories about dogs seen on the Internet may be exaggerated or fabricated. Albee includes a fun list of the words used in various languages to represent the sounds dogs make. As appropriate for a history book, there is also an extensive three-page “Bibliodography,” plus references for all the quotes. Dog Days of History will thrill both dog lovers and history buffs. It is a handy reference young readers are likely to return to again and again.
Frenemies in the Family: Famous Brothers and Sisters Who Butted Heads and Had Each Other’s Backs
by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by
Crown Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Jennie
With sets of siblings spanning the centuries, Frenemies in the Family features the good, the bad, and the Gosselins. Kathleen Krull includes related information interspersed between each family’s chapter and Maple Lam’s illustrations add a touch of levity to some pretty serious situations, i.e. the cover art featuring feuding, murderous royals involved in a pillow fight. Some siblings embraced their relationship and the rivalries that resulted, while others denied the other’s existence altogether, like Edwin Booth (brother of John Wilkes Booth). One thing that can’t be denied is the page turning nature of this compilation of family dynamics that both kids and adults will pick up and have trouble putting down!
Maya Lin: Thinking with Her Hands
by Susan Goldman Rubin
Chronicle Books
Publisher/ Author Submission
Organized by Lin’s major architectural projects (beginning with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC), this biography engages readers first by introducing us to a shy, doesn’t-quite-fit in “class-A nerd” before taking us on a journey through activism, cultural diversity and American history. Readers get a glimpse into the working life of an artist, including the inspiration behind each project, and the power of art to speak about issues that matter to the artist, and to the world. With strong, detailed writing and clean layout, including many family and professional photographs, this account is pleasing and accessible, and most of all, inspiring and empowering.
The Hyena Scientist (Scientists in the Field Series)
by Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Nominated by: Maria Gianferrari
Did you know that even though they look more like dogs, hyenas are more closely related to cats? Or that spotted hyenas live in groups called clans where the females are in charge? Contrary to their portrayal in folklore and movies like The Lion King, spotted hyenas are not cowardly, skulking thieves but are actually skilled hunters, killing 60-95% of their food. The Hyena Scientist by Sy Montgomery, with photographs by Nic Bishop, takes us to Fisi Camp in Kenya, home to one of the longest continuously running field studies of any mammal in the world. While they might get a bad rap in popular media, hyenas are actually some of the weirdest and most interesting mammals in the animal kingdom. Readers are pulled into the compelling field work currently being done to learn more about hyenas, and at the same time learn about daily life in Fisi Camp and the various paths that the members of the team have taken to becoming scientists. With amazing close-up photography and vibrant text, The Hyena Scientist is sure to be a winner with animal lovers and budding scientists alike.
The Ultimate Book of Sharks (National Geographic Kids)
by Brian Skerry
National Geographic Children’s Books
Nominated by: Greg Pattridge
No other creature captures readers’ imagination and fascination more than a shark. Humans have created numerous movies, tv shows, books, and other media on this cartilaginous fish in the past few decades; so what makes “The Ultimate book of Sharks” stand out from the shiver of shark media? For one thing, the photography captures these creatures in all their majesty. Photographs of a variety of sharks, from the feared great white to the gentle whale sharks, will certainly delight members of the Shark Week fandom. The author breaks the content down in sections ranging from shark anatomy and shark myths, to content on spectacular and unique sharks (most massive, speediest, funkiest and spookiest). A final chapter is a call to action for the reader to be a “shark defender”. Throughout the book, author Brian Skerry intersperses “Skerry encounters,” highlighting some of his own dive experiences and unique observations as a photojournalist specializing in marine wildlife. The Ultimate book of Sharks dispels myths, teaches new and interesting facts, and introduces unique shark species for shark enthusiasts. Readers of all ages can get their teeth into this book!
Two Truths and a Lie: Histories and Mysteries
by Ammi-Joan Paquette and
Walden Pond Press
Nominated by: alohajeanne
The first outstanding quality of this book is its ability to come off the page and into a child’s life. In addition to reading about fascinating topics, presented in sets of three stories, (which contain two truths and one lie), the child is challenged to “discuss the stories with friends, family or teachers” and “to ask questions.” There’s even Talk It Out discussion questions and challenges following the texts. In a time when communication, both in person and online, can be challenging, this book proves a wonderful tool for learning and interacting. Each and every story is stocked with kid-appeal — spooky caves, bat poop, prehistoric dentists, mummies, pharaohs, witches, a railway of the dead, a tin man, a haunted ship, cannibal rats and kingdoms — and these are just a few. Full of food for thought and interest for curious readers, the stories are also presented in manageable sizes for those limited in attention span or reading time. It’s no mystery to this reader why this book is an excellent choice to interest a child in history and get them reading, thinking and discussing.