Bascomb, Neal. The Nazi Hunters. (Scholastic; Gr 6-10).
Adolf Eichmann, the S.S. Commander in charge of the transport of millions of Europeans to concentration and labor camps during World War II, is the focus of this compelling and suspenseful title. Bascomb describes in detail the search for Eichmann across continents, the elaborate plans and courageous team assembled to kidnap him, the man’s capture in Argentina, and his trial in the newly formed state of Israel in 1961. In the end, Eichmann went quietly with his captors, and to the end insisted he was following orders. Average quality black-and-white photos, reproductions of documents, and maps illustrate the book.

Hanbury-Tenison, Robin and Robert Twigger. The Modern Explorers. (Thames & Hudson; Gr 9 Up).
Units of study on exploration begin in the early grades and often continue through high school. In years past the focus was on early ocean voyages and the individuals that led them, but since then many histories have expanded to include underwater and space travel. Asserting that “exploration is alive and well and never more popular than today,” the authors of this volume follow up with 39 accounts (including many first-hand) of travels to deserts, forests, mountain ranges, and the open sea with scientists, photojournalists, and adventurers. Numerous black-and-white archival photos and dramatic color images illustrate these remarkable contemporary journeys in search of river sources, remote populations, and an experience of a lifetime.

Hopkins, H. Joseph. The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever (Beach Lane Books; Gr 2-5). Illustrated by Jill McElmurry.
Growing up in Northern California in the 1860s, Kate Sessions felt “at home in the woods,” that “the trees were her friends.” Later, after graduating from the University of California with a degree in science (the first woman to do so), she took a teaching job in San Diego. In that city’s nearly treeless landscape, it wasn’t long before Sessions became a gardener, determined to find plants that could thrive in a dry, warm climate. Hopkins relates how the woman was soon planting trees “along streets, by schools, and in small parks and plazas all over town.” In preparation for the Panama-California Exposition of 1915, Sessions organized planting parties so that visitors could enjoy a shady City Park (now Balboa Park). Thanks to her love of nature and can-do spirit, San Diego today is a “lush leafy city.” McElmurry’s distinguished illustrations, imbued with a range of greens and earth tones, document the landscape’s transformation.

McClafferty. Carla Killough. Fourth Down and Inches: Concussions and Football’s Make-or-Break Moment. (Carolrhoda; Gr 7 Up).
Here’s a title that combines headline news, medical science, and sports. Stories of injuries sustained by both professional and young football players have been surfacing over the past few years, giving rise to concerns about the safety of the game. McClafferty begins with a history of  football, including the 1905 season that ended in 19 deaths and numerous critical injuries, and resulted in early changes to the rules of the sport. Combining personal stories, information on impacts sustained by athletes, the effects of concussions and brain injuries, and current research, the author brings readers up to date on the continuing efforts to make the sport safer. This attractively designed volume is supported by archival black-and-white and color photos, source notes, a bibliography, and a list of further reading. Consider pairing Fourth Down with Perri Klass and David Klass’s fiction title, Second Impact (FSG, 2013) for another look at the topic.

Rosenstock, Barb. Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library (Calkins Creek; Gr 2-5). Illustrated by John O’Brien.
Books were Jefferson’s “constant companions” and he read and purchased them with enthusiasm. His extensive personal library formed the foundation of the second Library of Congress collection after first was destroyed in 1814. Rosenstock tells the story of the man’s passion for collecting “histories and contracts” and tomes on “medicine, music, and math.” Throughout this thoroughly delightful story, the author weaves in information on Jefferson’s personal life and his role as a statesman. Side notes, some framed by an illustration of an open book, offer additional facts and quotes by the man (“All that is necessary for a student is access to a library.”) John O’Brien’s pen-and-ink and watercolor art is rich in detail and its humorous touches that mirror the spirited text.

Cummins, Julie. Flying Solo: How Ruth Elder Soared into America’s Heart. (Roaring Brook/Macmillan; Gr 2-4).
In 1927, the news media was abuzz with Charles Lindbergh’s historic flight across the Atlantic Ocean. People around the world followed the story with fascination and more than a few were inspired to take to the sky. Hearing about Lindbergh, the glamorous and plucky aviatrix Ruth Elder decided to become the first woman to transverse the Atlantic in a plane. Cummins follows the woman’s unsuccessful attempt that ended in a dramatic rescue 36 hours into the flight, and her later career that propelled her both into the sky and the limelight. Dramatic pastel spreads echo the life and charm of this flamboyant woman, endowed with “grit and gumption.” Consider introducing this book in conjunction with some of the other, numerous picture biographies on pilots−men and women−and during Women’s History Month in March.

Goldstone, Bruce. That’s a Possibility! A Book About What Might Happen. (Holt; Gr 3-6).
If you’re reading these words, it’s probable that you work with children and/or purchase books for them. Lucky for you, here’s a new title that clearly defines and carefully explains the difference between “possible,” “probable,” “likely,” “certain” (and their antonyms), and discusses those terms in relation to the word “odds.” With numerous illustrated examples incorporating colorful photos and diagrams, this kid-friendly introduction to probability from the author of Great Estimations (2006) and Greater Estimations (2008, both Holt), will find a home in both literacy and math classrooms.

Krull, Kathleen. Lives of the Scientists: Experiments, Explosions (and What the Neighbors Thought). (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Gr 4-7). Illus. by Kathryn Hewitt.
In her characteristic lively prose, the author offers profiles of 20 scientists (including two teams), from Chinese astronomer Zhang Heng (born 78 AD) to English ethnologist Jane Goodall (born 1934). The entries are filled with anecdotes about the subject’s personal lives, personalities, interests, and quirks (more than a few of the scientists were accomplished painters, a couple were loners, and readers will find a confirmed grouch or two in the bunch), as well as the passions that lead to their significant, sometimes world-changing observations, discoveries, and theories. Spot art and full-page oil portraits of the individuals, each carrying tools of their trade, accompany the profiles. Scientists is the latest entry in Krull’s well-regarded “Lives of” series that includes volumes on artists, presidents, musicians, and others. A great read-aloud choice, that is sure to send readers to the biography shelves.

Rusch, Elizabeth. Eruption! Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives. (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Gr 5-10). Photos by Tom Uhlman.
In 1985, the Columbian volcano Nevado del Ruiz erupted, killing more than 23,000 people in the nearby town of Amero. The book follows scientists working with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Volcano Disaster Assistance Program (VDAP), in particular their efforts to monitor the impending eruptions of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines (1991) and Mount Merapi in Indonesia (2010). As one of the scientists noted, “Volcanoes don’t necessarily move from deep sleep to violent eruption in a straight orderly progression, they ramp up and drop down, ramp up and drop down,” making the tracking of these events difficult, dangerous, and often, dramatic. The book discusses what scientists must consider when determining whether a volcano is ready to erupt, when to evacuate populations, and the array of hazards produced—from lava bombs and landslides to toxic gases and acid rain. Maps and color photos offer before-and-after images of landscapes and towns that have experienced the destruction wrought by these powerful forces. Who knew the United States has 160 volcanoes?

Anderson, Tanya. Tillie Pierce: Teen Witness to the Battle of Gettysburg. (Lerner, 2013; Gr 6-9)
A courageous 15-year-old’s account of the July 1863 battle, first recounted in her 1889 memoir. Along with excerpts from that memoir and other primary resources, Anderson adds background information about the Pierce family, the Civil War, and the pivotal, three-day confrontation that took place in Pennsylvania field. When Pierce and her neighbors became trapped at a nearby farm, they witnessed the bloody battle (“…I felt as though we were in a strange and blighted land”) and cared for wounded and dying. Sidebars and captioned maps and archival black-and-white photos provide further information. Source notes; a bibliography; a select list of websites; and “Taking Tillie’s Path,” a Google Earth activity, are also included.

Berne, Jennifer. On a Beam of Light. (Chronicle, 2013; Gr 2-6) Illus. by Vladimir Radunsky.
The name Einstein is synonymous with “genius,” but what does that word mean to a youngster? Berne’s picture book offers readers few biographical details, focusing primarily on the physicist’s intellect through the concepts that puzzled and excited him from his early years on—light, sound, gravity, and later, atoms, motion, and time. This was a person who spent his life “imagining, wondering, figuring and thinking” and asking questions. Radusky’s delightful pen-and ink illustrations depict events from Einstein’s life, his thoughts, and a few of his quirks. When considering an author’s approach, this book makes a noteworthy companion to Lynne Barasch’s picture book Ask Albert Einstein (FSG, 2005) and Mareé Ferguson Delano’s photobiography, Genius (National Geographic, 2005).

Cunningham, Darryl. How to Fake a Moon Landing: Exposing the Myths of Science Denial. (Abrams, 2013; Gr 6 Up).
Ever hear of the moon hoax? The MMR vaccination scare? What do you think about climate change? Evolution? The author takes a look at these and other topics and the myths that surround them—in a graphic format. While Cunningham exposes intentional misinformation presented to the public by corporations and politicians, readers may question the breadth of his reporting in a few areas. However, as New York Times science writer Andrew Revkin (who introduces the book and calls Cunningham out on chiropractic and “fracking”) comments, chances are the author wouldn’t object. What Cunningham asks readers to do—beyond considering how information has and can be manipulated—is to think critically. This book will appeal to leisure readers, debaters, and future scientists, as well as fans of the graphic format.

Crump, Marty.The Mystery of Darwin’s Frog. (Boyds Mills, 3013; Gr 4-8). IIlus. by Steve Jenkins and Edel Rodriguez.
The authors of this month’s ‘On Common Core’ column note that nonfiction writers sometimes approach their topics through our “gaps in information.” Here Crump explores how we know what we know about these pointy-nose frogs, the astonishing role that the male plays brooding the young, and the questions scientists still have about these creatures—in particular, why their population is declining. A fascinating text, informative color photos, and collage illustrations, work together to create a visually appealing, accessible package supported by an illustrated time line, endnotes, a glossary, a list of related websites, and more.

Simon, Seymour. Seymour Simon’s Extreme Oceans. (Chronicle, 2013; Gr 3-8). In his last title, Seymour Simon’s Extreme Earth Records (Chronicle, 2012; Gr 3-7), the author took “young readers on a tour of the most punishing places and severe geological events on the planet.” In this fact-filled, photo-packed guide kids will learn about the plants and creatures that inhabit our planet’s watery environs, and the extreme weather conditions experienced on and in them from La Niña to tsunamis. A brief chapter on climate change is included.

If you missed last month’s “Nonfiction Notes,” it’s still available online.