Informative and colorful, this biography is a great book for libraries, especially those paying attention to kaiju in manga, graphic novels, and other media.
Gr 1-4–Using a friendly tone and speaking directly to readers, this book explains how a carbon atom that is now in a human might once have been in the body of a dinosaur...
Great for fans of Annette Leblanc Cate’s Looking Up! Birdwatching in Your Own Backyard, this is a delightful addition to any elementary library and a fun introduction to ornithology.
A simple search-and-find that also carries a warm message of friendship, this board book works for large groups and one-on-one readings.
Despite the sprawl of information she’s offering, Saber neatly extends the idea of seeking and applying the wisdom of humans as well as animals in service of working with and caring for others. It’s a good idea.
This is not compelling as a collection of stories as implied by the title, but it’s a serviceable addition to nonfiction collections.
Beyond bold illustrations and pitch-perfect rhythm make this bio-book a great pick for the shelves.
A must-have book for educators and libraries about the importance of medicine.
Cassidy excels in making history personal in a way that middle grade readers will connect to and feel empowered by and lets young people know they too can be creative, break down barriers, and help their communities.
A thoroughly researched, visually appealing, and reader-friendly title that brings the hidden world of fungi to life
This merits wide readership as a triumph in the fight for civil rights that may well be new even to better-read students of the era.
In picture book format, a light historical look at women who bucked societal conventions to wear athletic gear that allowed them to be faster and better. Good purchase for most libraries.
A good textbook for classroom use, or as a resource for reports.
Messner’s newest entry in the massively popular “History Smashers” series is accurate, entertaining, and compulsively readable–a must-purchase for library and classroom collections alike!
Board books are an inherently inviting form, but this title does not inspire travel, language skills, or even reading to the end.
An ideal book to acclimate kids of all ages to the notion of clean-up; this book could not be more cheerful.
For collections in need of more diversity in their political leader sections, this book will make a great addition.
This engaging and informative starter look at soil and the wide variety of the flora and fauna that live there is a solid purchase for all libraries.
This is a brief introduction to some of the world’s museums but doesn’t provide detail beyond a cursory level. Recommended purchase for larger collections or those looking to expand their nonfiction holdings.
Potentially confusing for many readers and without an anchoring demographic, this is an unnecessary purchase for most libraries,
The topic is well worth exploring, but whale falls are not haunted and the elegance of how they function within the ecosystem is anything but spooky.
The idea for this book is a good one, but the execution doesn’t hold up. Purchase other magic books instead.
Not an essential purchase, but a work that will add to WWII collections.
Recommended for purchase for nonfiction collections in both school and public libraries. This is a perfect nonfiction text for reluctant readers who may need some lighthearted humor.
Succinct text, audacious facts, and vibrant imagery make this nonfiction text a good selection for preschool-aged readers with an interest in animal adaptations.
An accessible title to both educate and show readers they are not alone. Reviewer: Amanda Borgia.
Lots of photographs and surprising information about lizards make this book both appealing and informative; this book could help launch student inquiries into a wide range of animal life.
A strong purchase. Add this to your collection, especially if your science section could use a little star power.
A good choice for fans of the “Little People, Big Dreams” series, this biography will help inspire young athletes and bring much deserved attention to women’s sports.
A nice biographical introduction of an amazing woman and a good selection for a well-rounded collection.
A must-purchase for libraries looking for books on algorithms, bias, and media literacy.
A driving call to dream big
Informative and engaging, this is an important addition to nonfiction library collections for elementary school-aged readers. Grades K-3
A recommended purchase. Young readers interested in exploration will enjoy learning of these intense expeditions that occurred without modern winter gear and technologies.
From a personal immigration story to the latest picture book from Sonia Sotomayor, these works for young people highlight the accomplishments and history of Latine people.
For nonfiction that elicits an emotional investment from readers, this is an excellent purchase for all libraries.
Yang’s abstract approach favors concepts over factual depth, making it less useful for reports but potentially valuable as a springboard for future research. A thoughtful addition where science-themed read-alouds or inspirational STEM titles are in demand.
A must-purchase biography that illuminates both an important American innovator and the origins of a timeless art form.
This animal-centric picture book will be a hit with animal lovers but may not be enjoyable for others.
This book offers a clear, vivid, and detailed look at the birth of genetics, and the many photographs and illustrations make the story come alive.
Great for nonfiction and adventure lovers; a good start for history projects and reluctant readers in late elementary and early middle school.
To echo Guatemalan Archbishop Gerardi’s words, “Knowing the truth is painful, but liberating. Without it, the scars will never heal.”
A light overview of dog evolution wit mixed results.
A solid choice that digs a little deeper into an often-overlooked subject.
Engaging, dynamic, and filled with bat facts, this nonfiction picture book is a strong addition to library collections.
A strong first buy for its explanations and examples of how to become an ally, while clearly explaining that it is ongoing and personal work.
The illustrations combined with compelling text will be a page-turning read for dragon lovers. Highly recommended.
A superb effort for enthusiasts who want the latest technological advances in dinosaur research. Perfect for libraries, classrooms, and research.
With extensive information and illustrations about relationships in nature, this is an excellent purchase for elementary where poetry and nature books are popular.
Apologies to everyone in my life is going to be so sick of me asking if they've heard of Tambora and the climate shock that followed. Tambora might be my whole personality now.
Check out these encyclopedias about useless facts, a compendium of curious contraptions, and a biography on Sally Ride. These ready reference titles will keep every fact nerd occupied and satisfied.
Purchase this resonant and relevant work for all middle grade nonfiction, Spanish-language collections.
The book’s anecdotes and chapter-specific discussion questions could be particularly useful in a classroom or book group setting to allow the sharing of ideas from multiple perspectives.
A must-buy for any school library (and many public libraries) where patrons are actively using AI tools or considering AI-related careers. This book is equally valuable for librarians (and teachers) developing instruction on research methodologies, digital literacy, or copyright ethics.
History lovers and budding political enthusiasts will enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at presidential history.
Complex, beautiful, and thought-provoking. The eternal presence and voices of the Old Ones will be a spiritual paean to some and a ghost story to others.
An excellent addition to any collection for its beautiful illustrations and rich history lesson. An added bonus is that its lessons of inclusivity could be a real lifeline for any child navigating difficult times.
An unusual and inspiring variation on the archetypal hero’s journey in which personal courage, family loyalty, and the broader cultural context all play equally strong roles.
Emotive illustrations and honest language capture the story of a young girl’s journey. Highly recommended for all collections, this tale shines light on the enduring impact of colonization but also the transformative power of love and connection.
Recommended for all biography collections, this book would work beautifully in lockstep with any classroom unit on Where the Red Fern Grows.
Ades treats questions of identity with a light touch, which only gives the story more power. A necessary addition to the shelves.
Unique in its approach to the discussion of environmental conservation, this is a compelling, important addition to nonfiction collections for older elementary readers.
An exceptional choice for libraries that cherish the stories of unsung, exceptional American people.
This book is a fine choice for supplementing and supporting studies of plants, animals, and natural settings. It is also useful for examining how written text and illustrations can work successfully together to inform and surprise readers.
A colorful book that celebrates potentially infinite diversity, this will be a story time hit for preschool and kindergarten audiences.
Recommended for general purchase for early reader collections.–Kristen Todd-Wurm
An ideal addition to collections where STEM titles fly off the shelves.
A tender, accessible introduction to an underrepresented part of American immigration history. Recommended for collections where immigrant narratives are lacking.
A generous view of the phases of the moon, written with great care, pacing, and illumination.
A lovely homage to Matisse’s life and work, this is a positive addition to nonfiction biography collections for young readers, and it is especially well-suited to reading aloud.
Another excellent title from Fitzharris. Recommended for all middle schools.
Children, and adults, who enjoy baking, and decorating their creations will value this crafty book most.
Heiligman’s depth of research and absorbing, crisp writing makes for a page-turner about a fierce, complex, and influential dissident. Recommended for all libraries.
A thoughtful and visually rich collection that honors the depth of Persian mythology while making it approachable for a new generation of readers.
Delving into a unique element of WWII, this book will be well received by students, teachers, and anyone interested in military strategy.
Highly recommended, especially for older tweens drawn to true stories of grit, growth, and survival against the odds.
This engaging collected biography would be a wonderful addition to any library. The eye-catching cover and title may encourage reluctant readers of nonfiction to explore these mystifying women of magical history.
While shelving a title this size could pose some challenges, this is a beautiful book to return to again and again for the images, descriptions, and overview it offers.
Devastating, obscure history brought to light. Highly recommended for schools’ Native American units, research, and general reading.
This call to action for the middle grade set is chock full of information and concrete suggestions for kids to participate in the effort to combat climate change. Recommended for young environmental activists and foodies alike.
Recommended for library collections and social studies classrooms.
Purchase where activism books are popular.
Despite some odd changes in point of view that might confuse readers, this is a compelling title that will appeal to younger readers without overwhelming them with morbid details or lengthy exposition. Recommended as an additional purchase where books about history, mystery, and criminal trials are popular.
A great introduction to the science of reproduction in a way that makes animal babies the star of the show.
A gorgeous, genre-blurring work of art and science. Ideal for classroom libraries, environmental studies, or anyone seeking to fall in love with the living world. Highly recommended
This is a meticulously wrought book and there is an audience for it, but it will require some direct marketing.
A well-designed, fact-filled introduction to dolphins, enriched with images and text features that support literacy and science learning. Highly recommended as an update for animal nonfiction collections.
With tenuous alliances and ongoing negotiations ever-present in the news, this book cannot be added faster to any collection to help teens understand the background of the countries and the men who lead them.
Highly recommended for fans of Rick Riordan, or reluctant readers who enjoy Marvel’s Thor and Loki adventures.
Young chefs and bakers will gobble up these cookbooks that run the gamut from spooky sweets and fake cakes to activism-inspired family recipes!
This roundup of active nonfiction features forays into nature, hands-on science experiments, and SEL guidebooks.
This tale has an unusual ecological theme that makes seed preservation not only an essential task, but sacred one. A must-have story for all libraries.
Great book on the science of stars, purchase wherever there is interest in space at the library.
The memory of a song helped inspire my latest nonfiction book, Many Voices, Building Erie, the Canal that Changed America.
Betsy Bird looks at the state of children's nonfiction. In many ways, with nuanced and interesting topics, it is the "golden age of informational books for kids," she says. But it's also a time of unprecedented book banning—and that includes many nonfiction titles.
A strong addition to the series that will inspire young readers to embrace who they are.
With its lilting text and gorgeous artwork, this is the rare book that amplifies the ferocity and the necessity of fire in nature, employing the ecology of the sagebrush.
An excellent choice for social studies units dealing with geography, as well as integrated studies showing how art and social studies can work together to create meaning. This is a beautiful, fascinating, and uniquely told book.
A highly accessible format and inspiring message make this a great pick for young most collections.
Abari’s accessible text sheds light on a group of women who did not receive enough recognition during their time; students will be inspired by the story of this brave and hard-working battalion. A first purchase.
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