Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award 

Alberto Salas Plays Paka Paka con la Papa: Join the Quest with Peru’s Famed Scientist and Potato Expert by Sara Andrea Fajardo (text) & illus. by Juana Martinez-Neal. Roaring Brook. ISBN 9781250838612.

 Gr 2-5–With keen eyes, Alberto Salas searches the Andean landscape, collecting and cataloging varieties of potato. Fajardo’s picture book biography capably foregrounds the science of plant collection and identification, specifically within the context of the planet’s changing landscape and climate. In both editions, the titular phrase appears alongside additional Quechuan vocabulary, honoring the Indigenous inhabitants of Peru, while accenting the lyrical text with bursts of rhythm ideal for reading aloud: “Qacha, Qacha,” “Kallpa, Kallpa.” Martinez-Neal’s distinctive style is textured by a variety of mediums, including paper collage, pastels, and acrylics, among others. The earth tones are enlivened by the depiction of Salas in yellow attire, a metaphorical beam of light spotlighting the humble papa. Perspective shifts capture peeks of the Peruvian landscape, while close ups allow for a peek at Salas’s handiwork using a pickaxe to loosen soil, or delicately pressing plant samples onto paper. The English edition includes Spanish throughout, and extensive back matter further illuminates Salas’s work, the importance of plant diversity, and notes from the author and illustrator about their connection to the text. VERDICT Thematic connections to environmentalism and sustainability in our changing modern world, told through a Latinx lens, this is a highly recommended title for all nonfiction collections.- Jessica Agudelo 

Robert F. Sibert Informational Honor Books:

At Last She Stood: How Joey Guerrero Spied, Survived, and Fought for Freedom by Erin Entrada Kelly. Greenwillow. ISBN 9780063218901.

 Gr 4-8–Kelly’s biography reveals the extraordinary life of Josefina “Joey” Guerrero. Despite considering herself ordinary, Guerrero was anything but. At 22, she contracted Hansen’s disease (leprosy) yet remained steadfast in her Catholic faith and unwavering in her commitment to serve. Short in stature but mighty in courage, Guerrero’s friendly nature and bilingual abilities in Tagalog and English made her an ideal operative for the U.S. and Philippine resistance forces during WWII. She transported classified information through enemy lines while aiding wounded soldiers, earning the Medal of Freedom from President Truman. Post-war, misconceptions about her illness forced Guerrero into hiding and then to the prisonlike Tala Leprosarium near Manila, which she helped transform into a sanctuary. Later, she moved to Carville, the only U.S. facility for Hansen’s disease patients, where treatment lasted 10 years instead of the expected two. Despite receiving American citizenship, persistent discrimination compelled Guerrero to adopt a new identity and conceal her history. Kelly’s meticulously researched work provides rich context on Philippine colonization, WWII, and Hansen’s disease, complemented by maps, historical photographs, and illustrations. The cover artfully depicts Guerrero’s profile surrounded by Filipino flora and fauna, a sun resembling Japan’s military emblem, and symbols representing her espionage work. Grayscale illustrations, some based on photos, also complement the text. VERDICT This compelling biography belongs in every library, enhancing instruction and research on women’s history, WWII, the Philippines, and Hansen’s disease.-Ruth Quiroa

Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer by Quartez Harris (text) & illus. by Gordon C. James. Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316483933.

 Gr 2-5–In descriptive and poetic language, this book reveals how reading and writing were powerful motivators for young James Baldwin. Growing up in Harlem, he was drawn to the language he heard around him and to the books he found in the library. As he grew up, the impact of reading and writing on his life continued to grow, leading him to a career as a celebrated writer. The illustrations help bring the story to life, showing Baldwin’s early years in Harlem and the people and places that influenced his decision to become a writer. These depict children playing on the streets, the police who threatened Baldwin, and his stepfather who discouraged his writing ambitions and his mother who encouraged them. An abundance of words sprinkled around the illustrations show what Baldwin heard and what he saw. When Baldwin left Harlem and moved to France, his writing career emerged and blossomed. VERDICT This book is especially recommended because it not only explains the growth of a successful writer, but it also can stimulate discussions of the ways in which reading and writing enrich our lives.-Myra Zarnowski

The History of We by Nikkolas Smith (text) & illus. by Nikkolas Smith. Penguin/Kokila. ISBN 9780593619681. 

 Gr 1-5–This is a gorgeously illustrated nonfiction picture book about the beginning of civilization from an African point of view. Each spread joyfully illustrates a seminal event in the history of humans. The melodic narrative celebrates the achievements of early people in language, art, fashion, healing, and exploration. The text mirrors the flowing movement of the detailed, evocative images. This would be a lovely book to introduce world history to younger readers or as an alternative to folktales about the origins of the human race as well as other nonfiction texts about the history of humanity. It would also make an excellent addition to Montessori libraries as a part of the history of man unit. VERDICT This is a first choice for any library seeking picture books about the fascinating origins of “We.”-Debbie Tanner

Silenced Voices: ­Reclaiming Memories from the Guatemalan ­Genocide by Pablo Leon (text) & illus. by Pablo Leon. H­arperCollins/HarperAlley. ISBN 9780063223561. 

 Gr 8 Up–The horrific atrocity of the Guatemalan genocide is recounted as a historical fiction graphic novel based on the truths experienced and researched by author and illustrator, Leon. Painting a full picture of the past meeting the present, brothers Jose and Charlie know their mother Clara was from Guatemala, though they were both American born. Without much help from a father who left when they were young, Clara quietly worked hard and raised the boys without hinting at the past. Yet a chance encounter and a trial provide Jose with clues about the genocide and a goal to learn more. The plot uses intergenerational conflict as a necessary lens to showcase how trauma endures across generations. Clara’s secret keeping underscores the torment of being separated from family and watching neighbors die, never knowing who to trust and whether there were survivors. Evocative images that don’t shy away from portraying the tactics used by the guerrilla fighters and military are coupled with pervasive propaganda that will engender an emotional response from readers. Coarse language and violence are included, adding to the impact. Close-up images of the characters’ faces and well-paced discoveries make for a gripping and unforgettable read. VERDICT In every way, this title is hard to put down, difficult to forget, and unequivocally needed in all collections as buried stories of marginalized groups are brought to the forefront through the refreshingly accessible graphic novel format.-Alicia Abdul

A World Without Summer: A Volcano Erupts, A Creature Awakens, and the Sun Goes Out by Nicholas Day (text) & illus. by Yas Imamura. Random House Studio. ISBN 9780593643877. 

Gr 5-8–In April, 1815, the Tambora volcano eruption on Sumbawa Island in what is now Indonesia pulverized 5,000 feet of the mountain’s slope, launching a plume of ash 27 miles into the sky. The death toll, though uncertain, may have reached over 100,000, taking into account starvation and disease. But the long-term effects were much greater and farther reaching. Worldwide climate disruption from airborne ash caused drought in some areas and flooding in others, frigid temperatures in New England’s summer, and starvation leading to food riots across Europe. It was during this climate shift that 16-year-old Mary Godwin scandalously eloped to Switzerland with the already married Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Forced to remain inside due to incessant cold rain, the author, now Mary Shelley, conceived the idea for her novel Frankenstein as part of a horror story contest with her husband and also fellow poet Lord Byron. Day makes the case that many references and themes in the novel are drawn directly from her experiences that year and that the story itself constitutes a climate change novel, drawing parallels and contrasts with our own current climate emergency. The volume concludes with an eight-page bibliography and extensive source notes. The writing assumes a tone that seems intended to be colloquial and informal, but too often tilts into a high style that can feel glib and pedantic. VERDICT This is a meticulously wrought book and there is an audience for it, but it will require some direct marketing.-Bob Hassett