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A fun book for dog lovers or those hoping to love a dog soon. Librarians should note that the “write-in” elements might cause some issues for circulation.
This brief book offers a great concept but is lacking in thorough explanations and robust resources.
Recommended for libraries and families looking to expand their nonfiction collections for young children.
All students should read about Seacole’s story of determination and perseverance. This picture book biography could find a home in elementary through middle school libraries.
A must-read for every curious child; purchase for all libraries.
An informative, worthwhile addition to most juvenile nonfiction collections. Youngsters will be encouraged to enjoy and photograph the wild world around them.
A good introduction to weightier topics such as refugees or the Syrian civil war.
This inspirational and timely portrait of a lesser-known hero of the sports world and the civil rights movement belongs in every school library.
This well-researched, accessible picture book makes this story bounce off the page.
A delightful overview of flight that can be opened to any page to enjoy and learn.
An excellent nonfiction title focusing on luminous Latinas and Latinos, whose stories are sure to encourage and inspire hope in young readers everywhere.
An inspiring read that will motivate a larger audience, including parents and teachers, to learn about keeping forests alive. Similar reads include the nonfiction illustrated series “Nature All Around” by Pamela Hickman and “Atlas Of,” written by various authors.
A good addition to the biography section and an excellent book to hand to readers always asking for gymnastics titles.
PREMIUM
Australian Sea Life
Chun’s vivid illustrations are the star in this animal nonfiction title. Readers will enjoy learning about the less familiar animals and confirming facts about perennial favorites.
A good title to have in school or public library collections to inspire young creatives, especially young writers.
A truly vital and nuanced guide that is as empowering as it is educational.
An eye-catching resource that is best suited for a social studies curriculum rather than a general library purchase.
A unique and invigorating addition to nonfiction collections for young adolescents.
A well-executed biography that all libraries serving middle and high school students need to have.
A strong addition to middle school libraries and nonfiction collections for youth. Best suited for readers with an interest in history or as an introductory text that can inspire further research.
A fun, informative title. However, if curriculum support is needed, this book serves as a secondary purchase.
Recommended for upper elementary and middle school libraries looking to expand their collected biographies or women’s history nonfiction sections.
An excellent update to titles that detail this time period; students will be able to put history into perspective.
Like any book about current technologies, this one will become quickly outdated. However, this fascinating title presents a strong introduction to a complex topic. A serviceable purchase for those who are interested in the subject.
Recommended for school and public libraries. Duany offers a harrowing but ultimately inspiring memoir.
Rader presents information in a style that will be appealingly fact-packed or disappointingly bland depending on the child. However, the book is a great addition to a lower or middle school library looking for a solid, informative text explaining space travel.
This exciting, highly readable story of survival deserves a place on most library shelves. Perfect for young history buffs and older fans of the “I Survived” series.
PREMIUM
Wolfpack
Recommended for middle school and high school library collections. This will appeal to sports enthusiasts as well as those who can’t tell a basketball from a soccer ball but love an encouraging word.
An essential purchase for all high school libraries. Students will learn about BLM’s beginnings and empathize with the pilgrimage of one individual discovering her true self.
An engaging, impressively illustrated title for middle and high school students who want to understand Einstein’s theory of relativity and the complexities of his discoveries.
A well-structured look at a unique subject for middle graders. Consider for purchase where quirky nonfiction circulates well.
PREMIUM
My Name Is Helen Keller
A well-intentioned, if uneven, portrait of the ever-fascinating Helen Keller.
An inspiring choice for biography collections, especially appealing to music lovers and history enthusiasts.
A motivating collection that celebrates past and present advocates. An additional purchase for elementary school collections.
This refreshingly honest title is recommended for collections where picture book biographies are in demand.
Recommended for any library. Readers will understand the basics of genealogy through a straightforward narrative.
PREMIUM
A Parade for George Washington
This title does not provide enough detail for research purposes and lacks a strong emotional connection with Washington, which makes it hard to determine the audience. A secondary purchase for large collections seeking coverage of the early days of the United States and the Washington presidency.
This is a well-researched look at the power of protest, the violence protesters sometimes endure at the hands of law enforcement, and the importance of community organization and activism. Purchase where more nonfiction books on the power of protest are needed for elementary readers.
The mechanically inclined and those interested in how machines work will enjoy the many colorful graphics, but the text would most likely require supplementary information.
A quiet, inspirational picture book biography.
A solid purchase for the oceanic and/or shark sections of any public or school library or home collection.
This inspirational true story combines fact with a very readable narrative, spotlighting a pivotal figure in the abolitionist movement. A book that deserves a place on school and public library shelves.
Libraries with elementary students hungry for fact-based reading or looking for real-life math connections could use this book as an introductory text. Recommended.
A hopeful story of a girl’s survival and ultimate success. A must-read nonfiction addition to all libraries.
A useful title for writing reports or browsing. However, given the quality of other readily available World War I titles, this is ultimately a supplemental purchase.
Recommended for biography collections, especially those looking to include more books that cover LGBTQ+ history.
PREMIUM
The Human Race
Although this title presents an engaging historical overview, the strong European perspective mars the content. Readers seeking a more inclusive version of history should look elsewhere.
PREMIUM
Louise Bourgeois
Recommended. A beautiful biography for early grades that focuses on a less familiar artist and features several critical themes.
A visually enjoyable work that is different from other space books in circulation. Add this picture book to solar system units for its artistic flair.
PREMIUM
How Do You Make a Baby?
An informational and fun treatment of what can be a difficult subject. Readers will appreciate the humor and straightforward presentation. Recommended for general purchase.
A necessary addition to every library and history curriculum. Every reader should know about this pivotal moment in the civil rights movement.
A must-have for any collection looking for age-appropriate books to answer questions about current events and social justice issues.
Choose this title as an additional purchase where self-help books for tweens are popular.
Each month until the 2021 ALA Youth Media Awards on Monday, January 25, our Pondering Printz column will feature expert predictions and analysis of this year's Michael L. Printz Award by former committee members. This month our columnist asks, how can this year’s Printz Award contenders help us process our world?
Recommended for school and public libraries serving middle to high schoolers and fans of man-versus-nature adventures.
This informational title and its pleasant format will engage youngsters.
James provides a deep dive into the STEM concepts and the detailed process that Tharp employed to show the world what lies at the bottom of our oceans. Highly recommended for public and school libraries.
PREMIUM
Super Good Baking for Kids
This colorful, insightful, and witty cookbook would make a welcome addition to any library collection.
The brilliant pairing of author, educator, and veterinarian Levine and artist with a funny bone Spookytooth yields a mix of fun, facts, and conjecture. A fabulous addition to classroom studies of animals and nonfiction literature. Also perfect for personal enjoyment.
A serious message delivered with humor, simplicity, and charm makes this book an excellent purchase for families that value open-ended discussions. Also a good resource for classrooms and libraries that welcome diverse opinions and points of view.
PREMIUM
Last: The Story of a White Rhino
A heartfelt purchase for collections that need environmental titles for a younger audience.
A fun, lesser-known story of a very common item, featuring enjoyable visuals. A good addition to a younger reader biography section.
What a match! Beautifully lucid, engaging sentences blend with detailed, informative illustrations that artfully extend big ideas about growth and the role of DNA. This book deserves a wide audience and multiple readings and rereadings. A wonderful addition to science programs and language arts studies of nonfiction books.
Although the text may confuse some young readers, Barron’s stellar artwork is a standout. Her captivating illustrations could motivate readers to further research the featured plants and animals.
Examining environmentalism, animal rescue, and technological possibility, this science-filled book for upper-elementary to middle school readers entertains in many forms.
Turk provides brilliant illustrations in this work about a lesser-known artist who made a tremendous impact. A welcome addition to elementary and middle school nonfiction picture book collections.
Aimed at very young fans, this English import stresses the obstacles Parr faced as a female player; it would pair well with stories of female baseball players, such as Marissa Moss’s Mighty Jackie: The Strike-Out Queen. A useful addition to larger collections.
A fine choice for STEM and picture book biography collections.
PREMIUM
My Rainbow
There are very few books widely published and readily available that spotlight Black trans girls and women; this picture book is an affirming, uplifting story to add to school and public library collections.
A possible supplement to animal studies. Educators and caretakers should read the book first before sharing so that they are ready for responses to some of the more unsavory animal attributes such as the beetle’s “poop umbrella.”
Recommended for any classroom, library, or home collection.
A superb choice for students who are studying animal adaptation and how climate change impacts Antarctica. The well-researched text and captivating illustrations work well to convey the importance of conservation.
PREMIUM
Amazing Places
Young readers will be turned off by the dense text and older ones by the illustrations, but the book could be of some use for reports.
A good addition to collections looking to update their biology section.
An engaging book that introduces children to large numbers, sizes, and distances. Recommended.
PREMIUM
Teatime Around the World
This colorful book is filled with refreshingly diverse scenes depicting how tea is enjoyed around the world. A great purchase for elementary nonfiction picture book collections, especially where more cultural appreciation texts are needed.
Curious young creators will adore this book. A worthy purchase for most libraries.
This pleasant narrative detailing an unexpected discovery could appeal to readers interested in a variety of subjects: history, science, fashion, and uplifting stories of perseverance.
This appealing and detailed resource will introduce readers to the young people who are making a difference in the modern era. An excellent starting point for students working on biography projects or those who want to learn more about how kids and teens can get involved in the causes that are important to them.
A timely title that offers solid research and an engaging structure. Recommended for upper junior high and high school libraries, and students with a nose for news.
An enlightening purchase for all nonfiction collections.
A solid purchase for high school and college collections.
A smart addition to upper elementary and middle school nonfiction collections. Dorey weaves a narrative that appeals to young readers with a personal interest in becoming “superheroes” while offering enriching lessons and general knowledge on environmental sustainability.
This stellar nonfiction work reads like a heart-pounding adventure story. Every library should have a copy.
An in-depth educational science resource for middle and high school readers with basic astronomical knowledge. Readers will achieve a greater understanding of the science of cosmology and its related content, from the big bang to a star’s life cycle to Earth’s geosphere.
PREMIUM
Your Voice Is Your Superpower: A Beginner’s Guide to Freedom of Speech (and the First Amendment)
The Bohrers showcase a powerful idea. There aren’t many books that discuss the First Amendment for young readers, so this title is a recommended addition to school and public libraries.
A conversational handbook that decries the sexist idea that “boys will be boys.”
PREMIUM
A World Together
A refreshing and joyous picture book that showcases the universality of the human experience.
PREMIUM
Adelita, a Sea Turtle’s Journey
A nice addition to school and public libraries that will help readers learn about endangered or threatened animals and also about the natural habits of these amazing turtles.
A good choice for lower elementary libraries. Children will enjoy learning about astronauts to practice their language skills.
A thoughtful, gentle work that highlights the connection between animals and humans. This tender picture book will inspire reflection.
A solid, additional title that can serve as an introduction to Holocaust literature.
A stirring collection that strongly makes the case for kindness as a formidable way to transform the world for the better. Perfect for young people starting off on their journey of change.
A valuable addition to biography collections, especially where author studies are in demand.
PREMIUM
Even More Fantastic Failures: True Stories of People Who Changed the World by Falling Down First
These narratives examining successful people overcoming setbacks and long odds are encouraging and contain a lot of information to flesh out biography reports. Look no further for a collective biography to inspire middle schoolers to keep trying.
A gorgeously illustrated nonfiction book about the Apollo program and the space race that does its best to highlight diversity and the human story but focuses primarily on engineering. An engaging second-level purchase for medium and larger libraries.
This lovely book should be savored. The pages should be studied for every detail, then read alongside Andersen’s stories for a wholly immersive experience.
PREMIUM
Hamilton
Skip this one; other treatments of Hamilton’s life are more useful for report writing and sharing as a picture book. Try Teri Kanefield’s The Making of America: Alexander Hamilton for a more report-worthy title, or David Adler and Matt Collins’s A Picture Book of Alexander Hamilton for a similar illustrated approach with more punch.
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