ELEMENTARY NONFICTION | MIDDLE-GRADE NONFICTION | HIGH SCHOOL NONFICTION
ELEMENTARY NONFICTION
A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen
Erin Frankel, illustrated by Paola Escobar
Random House Studio
Nominated by: Sarah Polumsky
This starts with Jose’s passion for cooking as a young boy. We see his love and bonding with his father over a big pan of paella. Readers journey along through his life, learning more about him and also the great work he has accomplished with World Central Kitchen. The care and compassion Jose has for humanity shines through all the different conflicts described. The themes in the book are repeated often and lyrically, centering on the important truth that everyone deserves to eat. This heartfelt message is conveyed with respect and elicits empathy and engagement. The book ends with a call to action and inspires kids with ideas on how they can make a difference in their local communities.
Born Naughty
Jin Wang and Tony Johnston; Illustrated by Anisi Baigude
Anne Schwartz Books
Publisher/ Author Submission
Born Naughty: My Childhood in China, looks back through a childhood lens at the life of a rambunctious and lively little eight-year-old growing up in Inner Mongolia. Jin Wang’s true life story is written from a child-like place in her memory, as a chapter book, but for younger readers who are ready to dive into stories like Ramona or Ivy and Bean. The cartoon-like illustrations draw on Jin’s cute personality, helping make her antics irresistibly adorable. She’s just the right character to introduce new readers to a new culture and often difficult way of life. She climbs trees, struggles to get water, battles windy dust storms, and does it all with charm and wit. Children will be captivated by her humble beginnings and unique memories, in a story full of warmth and affection.
Creep, Leap, Crunch! A Food Chain Story
Jody Jensen Shaffer, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
Knopf Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Sandy Brehl
In this excellent introduction to the food chain, Jody Jensen Shaffer masterfully uses rhythmic and rhyming text to accurately depict a food chain within a deciduous forest; beginning with the crucial role of the sun and ending with the apex predator, the black bear. But, do all the critters become lunch along the way? Ending on an upbeat note, this is a perfect read-aloud with plenty of opportunities for young readers to engage in the reading with its cumulative format. Christopher Silas Neal’s masterful illustrations brings you up close to the action. Back matter includes a glossary, and a deeper dive into food chains, photosynthesis, and temperate deciduous forests. Highly recommend for any home or classroom library!
Daughter of the Light-Footed People: The Story of Indigenous Marathon Champion Lorena Ramírez
Belen Medina, illustrated by Natalia Rojas Castro
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Melissa Fox
This biography brings to life the story of Lorena Ramirez, gold medal winning indigenous athlete. Lorena caught the public’s eye during the Ultra Trail Cerro Rojo in 2017 for both her enormous skill and her attire – brightly colored skirt and rubber-made sandals known as huaraches. The text highlights Lorena’s background as part of the Rarámuri, meaning ‘light-footed people’, an indigenous tribe native to Mexico, and her determination in maintaining her culture while competing in challenging distance races. The illustrations in this book are artfully designed to highlight the beauty of the Mexican landscape, and draw readers into the triumphant story of Lorena’s journey. This text emphasizes the combination of cultural heritage and individual achievement, with back matter including photographs and autobiographical material from interviews with Lorena Ramirez. This picture book is a beautiful display of Lorena’s story to be enjoyed by all.
My Antarctica: True Adventures in the Land of Mummified Seals, Space Robots, and So Much More
By G. Neri, illustrated by Corban Wilkin
Candlewick Press
Publisher/ Author Submission
Award-winning children’s author G. Neri wins a grant to visit the McMurdo Station located in Antarctica so that he can create educational materials for children, which includes this book. From October to December of 2017, Neri shadowed several scientists working at “five basic things: Earth, its history, its living creatures, how it all works together, and even outer space!” (p. 38). The book includes photographs taken by over 50 Antarctica residents, augmented with illustrations. These drawings are primarily cartoon versions of Neri playfully interacting with scientists as they use high-tech equipment to study the landscape and its inhabitants: ice, seals, penguins, sea angels, fossils, clouds, cosmic rays, a volcano, and more. Neri and Wilkin project a lot of warmth in how they engage young readers in learning about scientific inquiry in this chilly environment.
My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story
George Takei, illustrated by Michelle Lee
Crown Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Sondra Eklund
Author GerogeTakei, better known to some as Star Trek’s Mr. Sulu, examines memories of his life in Japanese internment camps during World War II. He focuses on the facts of his and his family’s incarceration experience, bringing history to life from a child’s perspective. Illustrations reveal subtle but undeniable reality. The text, illustrations, and incidents, including a dog, invite empathy and engagement from modern readers and families. He emphasizes the strength of love, resilience, and community without diminishing injustices imposed and deeply felt. Back matter includes a glossary, author’s note, and annotated family photos, humanizing this important American story. This picture book is an ideal way to share his story with young readers.
When Beavers Flew
Kristen Tracy; Illustrated by Luisa Uribe
Random House Studio
Publisher/ Author Submission
WHEN BEAVERS FLEW tells the triumphant story of a forgotten hero who made it his quest to save a group of beavers who were becoming a nuisance to the inhabitants of McCall, Idaho, in 1948. The book shows how Game warden Elmo Heter approached the problem with compassion and a desire to work with wildlife not against it. As it talks about the process Heter went through to find a workable solution—from the spark of an idea to its successful execution— the story teaches valuable lessons about ingenuity, determination, hard work, and the duty we have as humans to protect nature and wildlife. With simple text and soft, colorful illustrations, WHEN BEAVERS FLEW tells a unique story that is engaging, educational, and inspiring.
MIDDLE-GRADE NONFICTION
Barracoon: Adapted for Young Readers
Zora Neale Hurston and Ibram X. Kendi, illustrated by Jazzmen Lee-Johnson
Amistad
Nominated by: G. Plastrik
This is the story of the last survivor of the Atlantic slave trade who shared what his was like before he was captured in Africa. Working from direct interviews with Cudjo Lewis, the survivor of the last legal slaveship to the United States, author Nora Zeale Hurston’s original BARRACOON (for adults) is an undisputed classic. This adaptation by historian Ibram X. Kendi provides an age-appropriate introduction to a remarkable African-American figure. Readers are transported back in time with text written in the language spoken by Cudjo. Barracoon For young Readers is written as a first-person account, encouraging connection and empathy. This poignant memoir includes powerful illustrations and reveals invaluable shared American history.
Meet the Cats
Kate Peridot, illus by Becca Hall
Welbeck Children’s
Publisher/ Author Submission
Join a virtual global journey in this nonfiction picture book to observe eight feline cousins of mammals that now prowl through our homes: cats! This book features appeals to all ages with an unnamed main character and their mother whose interest in art and cats has won them a trip to study eight large cats in their natural habitats. Each of eight wild cats has two pages with illustrations and texts dedicated to showing habitat, fun facts, common prey, and a guide to drawing them. This book emphasizes the differences and similarities between species around the globe, and uses art to showcase their beauty. Back matter contains several informational graphics; a map of the world illustrating where each cat featured in the text resides, a sizing chart comparing the cats to each other as well as an average human, wild cats not mentioned in the text previously, and tips for observing bigger cats featured in the text. Text and illustrations collaborate in this fun informational book. Accessible and interesting to preteens of any reading ability.
Sightseeing with Aliens: A Totally Factual Field Guide to the Supernatural
Insha Fitzpatrick
Quirk Books
Nominated by: Niki Brooks
As you can tell from its title, SIGHTSEEING WITH ALIENS: A TOTALLY FACTUAL FIELD GUIDE TO THE SUPERNATURAL is a fun, entertaining read about an intriguing subject. It’s written in a conversational, never-takes-itself-too-seriously style that makes it especially engaging. Although the book is undeniably diverting, it’s also educational, focused on presenting facts about the real study of outer space and possible alien life. While the book is about extraterrestrials, it teaches a much broader lesson about the importance of being open to learning from people who might seem “alien” because they are different from us. Illustrations throughout the book feature mostly kids of color as well as those with religious affiliations and physical differences that are not necessarily the norm, beautifully enhancing the book’s overall messages of inclusion and acceptance.
The Bard and the Book: How the First Folio Saved the Plays of William Shakespeare from Oblivion
Ann Bausum, illustrated by Marta Sevilla
Peachtree
Nominated by: Christopher Helton
This exciting introduction to the creator of ubiquitous English classics reveals history and behind-the-scenes stories. The creation, distribution, mysteries, benefits, and weaknesses of historic Shakespeare texts make a centuries-old society and its own pop-culture feel relevant and intriguing. Author Ann Bausum, a reliably thorough and compelling nonfiction researcher/writer, keeps young minds fully engaged using a familiar voice in direct address, even commenting on outrageous elements with parentheses (“Yes, it really says that.”- P. 39). The well-organized text presents a fascinating account of the technical processes involved in seventeenth century book production as well as the social/cultural patterns surrounding stage plays prior to the first folio’s existence. Author notes and appealing back matter reveal her family history involving First Folio research and Shakespeare emersion. The organization, format, design, and contents of this book are ideal for late elementary and middle grades, but readers of any age beyond that are also likely to find it informative and entertaining enough to want to read.
The Girl Who Fought Back: Vladka Meed and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (Scholastic Focus)
Joshua M. Greene
Scholastic Focus
Nominated by: Kristen
Joshua M. Greene relays an account of resistance fighter Vladka Meed (b. 1921), who smuggled secret messages and ammunition into the Warsaw Ghetto during the Nazi occupation of Poland. The book focuses on Vladka’s witness and participation in wartime events from 1940 to 1945 with some biographical details about her before and after. Many Jews in the Warsaw ghetto were killed, including Vladka’s immediate family; however, she avoided imprisonment in part because she was fluent in Polish and Aryan passing. She does, however, believe that “Survival was an accident” (p. 127). Despite the risks, Vladka and other members of the Jewish Fighting Organization courageously fought the Nazis during the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. It is alarming to read about the horrors that the Nazi soldiers inflicted on the Polish Jews, but more harrowing was the indifference the Christian Poles displayed to these wartime atrocities.
The Observologist: A Handbook for Mounting Very Small Scientific Expeditions
Giselle Clarkson, illustrated by Giselle Clarkson
Gecko Press
Nominated by: natalietate
Every child has found themselves outside, wondering at the small creeping things around them. Childhood is full of just such very small and very crucial scientific expeditions. The Observologist reminds us how to explore and wonder about the small pieces of nature we find in most of our yards, just steps from the sidewalk. Cartoon illustrations in a comic style trick us into forgetting this is nonfiction, but remind us of the fun, the wacky, and the wild in everyday nature.
Why We Need Vaccines: How Humans Beat Infectious Diseases
Rowena Rae and Paige Stampatori
Orca Books
Publisher/ Author Submission
WHY WE NEED VACCINES is a fascinating deep dive into the world of vaccinations – covering the history of plagues and infectious diseases, early vaccine discovery, the medical research and innovation behind vaccinations throughout time, and the efforts being made for future pandemics. Numerous careers in the medical field are highlighted throughout. The content for this book has been thoroughly researched and presented in a way to intrigue and educate readers of all ages. This book would be a fantastic addition to a variety of curricula, including science, history, biomedical engineering, health history, and more. Photographs and vibrant illustrations complement the expository text wonderfully, providing opportunity for engagement and continued interest.
HIGH SCHOOL NONFICTION
A Greater Goal: The Epic Battle for Equal Pay in Women’s Soccer-and Beyond
Rusch, Elizabeth
Greenwillow Books
Nominated by: G. Plastrik
The toughest battle for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team wasn’t fought on the field, but rather around the negotiating table. Elizabeth Rusch explores the players’ decades-long fight for pay equality, from the origins of the team in the 1980s following the passage of Title IX, to their meteoric rise to success at the Olympics and beyond, and to their ultimate struggle against the United States Soccer Federation for a contract equal to their male counterparts (almost as electrifying to read about as the matches themselves). Action-packed tournaments are brought to life with pulse-pounding language, and personal stories of different players, including the heartbreaking conditions many experienced, make this absorbing reading. Ultimately, it’s the spirit of these players—and their commitment to equality for both current and future generations—that makes this truly compelling reading.
American Wings: Chicago’s Pioneering Black Aviators and the Race for Equality in the Sky
Smith, Sherri L. and Wein, Elizabeth
G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Becky L.
In the 1920s, a group of determined Black young people are determined to take to the sky, and make it happen, in spite of the systemic racism that threw obstacles into their path at every step of the way. This gripping account of how they succeeded not only tells the history of black aviation in the US, but also makes the people involved beautifully real to the reader. It is an engrossing and powerful journey celebrating grit and resilience, told with just the right mix of broad history and individual lives to engage young readers.
Flamboyants: The Queer Harlem Renaissance I Wish I’d Known
Johnson, George M., illustrated by Palmer, Charly
Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Nominated by: Rachael
At a time when many teens feel depressed and anxious, Flamboyants is a welcome burst of joy. The inspiring stories of Queer Harlem Renaissance figures, brightened with exuberant illustrations, lift the readers spirits while vividly retelling this piece of Black history and culture. This is so much more than a compilation of minibiographies (though the people profiled here are certainly interesting enough to make minibiographies well worth reading!). What makes it outstanding is that the author is right there, sharing his own experiences and thoughts as a black, gay, writer, and this makes it personal, deeply thought-provoking, and revelatory.
Marked Man: Frank Serpico’s Inside Battle Against Police Corruption
Florio, John and Shapiro, Ouisie
Roaring Brook Press
Nominated by: Sheila Ruth
Surrounded by cops on the take, in a system where speaking up would see you punished or expelled, Frank Serpico tried as hard as he could to walk on the side of right as a young New York police officer in the 1970s. His refusal to be part of the systemic corruption of the NY police department got him shot, bleeding out while his partner just looked on. Authors Florio and Shapiro tell of Serpico’s integrity in the face of tremendous adversity without unnecessary embellishment, including sections in Serpico’s own words, bringing to vivid life a story our present-day teens probably have never heard before which resonates powerfully today. At only 160 pages, it is highly accessible and griping, cutting straight to the heart of Serpico’s story.
Represent: The Unfinished Fight for the Vote
Dyson, Michael Eric and Favreau, Marc
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Melissa Fox
This history about the past 250 years of the struggle for representation in the US is told with beautiful clarity and perfect pacing, charting the journey to a more democratic country (that still has work to do). It is full of historical detail that paints a vivid and engrossing picture of the various battles fought for the right to vote while never being overwhelming. The reader is left appalled by the past, ultimately inspired to continue the progress people in the past suffered to achieve (and also amazed at how quickly the pages turned!).
Rise Up and Sing!: Power, Protest, and Activism in Music
Warner, Andrea, illustrated by Reimer, Louise
Greystone Kids
Nominated by: Terry Doherty
Rise Up and Sing is a celebration of the many ways music has galvanized social movements. In a period where activism has more visibility than ever, learning how various artists have lent their voices to different causes is sure to appeal to a teen audience, with illustrations and photographs lifting up the text. The music of a wide variety of different causes (Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ, environment justice, Indigenous people, and more) is showcased, allowing readers to find what resonates with them the most. The playlist included at the end of each chapter is a fun bonus.
Road Home
Ogle, Rex
Norton Young Readers
Nominated by: Sondra Eklund
Road Home is a powerful memoir that walks readers through a tremendously difficult period of the author’s life. Kicked out of his home by his father when he comes out as queer, Rex Ogle describes how he found himself homeless in New Orleans. Enmeshed in a toxic relationship, and then desperately trying to stay alive on what he can scavenge on the streets, readers will be almost as relieved as the author when he ultimately makes it to a place of safety. This gripping book is important reading, especially for teens who might otherwise feel unseen or underrepresented, and it is a kind and empathetic window for those with a different life experience.
Comments 1
A wonderful collection of books – hard to choose out of so many good ones this year!