This solid but unexceptional title is an additional purchase for schools and public libraries looking to grow their science picture book collections.
This work offers a glimpse into the Old Testament for young readers, but the term guide could cause some confusion.
This fun and engaging resource could strengthen astronomy collections.
Camerini offers a detailed look at this youth activist. Sure to be popular for biography projects.
Students writing reports will like the book’s interesting photography and appreciate the wealth of information. Amphibian lovers will dive in.
Give this visually appealing book to readers who love math and are looking to explore concepts beyond their textbook.
SLJ spoke to Martin W. Sandler, author of 1919: The Year That Changed America, about his 2019 National Book Award for Young People's Literature, his creative inspiration, and his extensive research process.
Children should be encouraged to look closely at the world around them and ask questions. These recently published titles for preschool and early elementary students will do just that as they build a solid foundation for STEM work and wonderings.
This introduction to some very unusual animals, birds, and sea creatures is a delight.
Recommended for public and school libraries; while not essential, it would be useful as supplementary biographical fare for strong, mature readers in women’s studies and art history classes.
Hulick’s collection is a good jumping-off point for further research. A useful addition to a collection serving curious middle grade students.
While these artists may not be familiar names to many Americans, they are significant in Canadian and world art history. Their adventurous stories will intrigue young art lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.
This vibrant cookbook will satisfy the curiosity of budding vegetarians and appeal to readers looking for meat-free recipes.
Brian takes on a potentially touchy subject with humor and clarity. This is a book that can be read in an hour, but its lessons should, and will, stay with readers for a lifetime.
This resource will enrich current issues or environmental sections and is recommended for middle school libraries.
Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn and co-author Kathy Lowinger seek to reclaim Indigenous history in their book, What the Eagle Sees: Indigenous Stories of Rebellion and Renewal.
Recent releases from Cherry Lake include thorough overviews of special sporting events, clear and organized guides to Fortnite, and books about different ways kids can help others at home, at school, on the playground, and around town.
A flawed but still engaging first look at the various states of matter, supported by hands-on components that are accessible to even the youngest experimental scientists.
While not for reports, this book is perfectly browsable, especially for young transportation enthusiasts.
An inspiring story about 20th-century icons that will be unfamiliar to most young readers. Recommended for schools and public libraries.
This pleasing exploration of Lewis will appeal to young fans who want to learn about the inspiration behind “The Chronicles of Narnia.”
Readers looking for a short biography of Alexander Hamilton will appreciate this engaging work.
A well-thought-out biography that highlights a different side of Carver and will be a first purchase for school and public library collections.
Young readers may struggle to make a connection with Fraser Pryce and her achievements. A secondary purchase for most libraries.
Those looking for an elementary but thorough discussion of time will find it here.
A solid addition to U.S. history collections for its subject matter and its first-person historical narrative.
A worthwhile addition to most collections, particularly those needing more biographies of innovative women. Empowering and fresh.
An informative survey for students of biology and environmental science and just a tick denser in language and content than Emily Morgan’s Next Time You See a Bee.
A necessary title for public and school libraries. Argueta presents a candid look at the reality many children and families face and the difficult choices they have to make when trying to change their lives.
This title will appeal to librarians looking to beef up their solar system nonfiction collections.
A good purchase for all libraries. An important reminder about the Holocaust, especially for reluctant readers or children with an interest in World War II literature.
This picture book biography of self-taught ballerina Sylvia Townsend is a tale of ambition and perseverance. A satisfying addition to nonfiction collections for younger readers.
The repetitious nature of the information and the flat poetry weaken the overall strength of this collection.
Overall, the combination of modern and historical insight is extremely effective. A valuable resource for anyone seeking to learn more about Indigenous history and a vital purchase for all collections.
Purchase where Tougias’s other books are popular or where other maritime adventure stories are in demand.
This is a worthwhile addition to any middle grade biography section. An informative and entertaining read.
Expect this book to garner Heiligman another nonfiction award. Pair this with Susan Wood’s historical fiction novel Lifeboat 12.
Considering the recent flood of advice books for young adults penned by social media influencers, it’s a huge plus that this one is written by a highly experienced clinical psychologist. Give to tweens who want to take action and become positive forces in their communities.
This collection is inspirational, uplifting, and encouraging for readers of all genders. Elliott may not think of herself as a poet, but her creativity and deft wielding of rich language prove otherwise.
Seiple has done an excellent job researching and presenting a topic that is sometimes mentioned in other historical accounts, but seldom thoroughly covered. A sound addition to any upper elementary or middle school collection.
Readers will learn much from this thought-provoking memoir, but may be better served by reading the original.
Van Draanen’s memoir can serve as a guide to embracing the creative life. Recommended especially for libraries with readers of the author. A good addition to collections that carry Jack Gantos’s Writing Radar and Gail Carson Levine’s Writing Magic.
Readers will appreciate this admiring account of the film and kung fu legend, but should seek out additional sources for a more nuanced portrait of Lee.
Bernstein, a licensed psychologist with over 30 years of experience, takes a positive and enlightening approach in discussing teen stress. Recommended for purchase.
This book is a smart read-alike for fans of Daniel James Brown’s The Boys in the Boat or its young adult adaptation. It would also add to any student’s study of the origins of World War II and the eventual involvement of the United States. An exciting and overlooked slice of history.
Goldstone has provided new and compelling insight into the societal impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions related to voting rights. A must-buy for all high school collections.
"Room on Our Rock" and "A Place To Land" honored by National Council of Teachers of English.
If you’re looking to pad your stats and build a sports nonfiction dream team, we’ve got your back. We’ll walk you through the prospects so you can make smart picks to benefit your roster.
Whether readers have an interest in physically traveling to another place or they enjoy experiencing different scenery from home, these series make exploring more accessible. Readers can pick up these titles and embark on adventures to cultures, countries, mountain peaks, and landmarks that are around the planet and out of this world.
MacGyver has become a verb, and readers will be MacGyvering all over the place with books that teach STEM skills, encourage tinkering and repeated testing, and show how to reuse recyclables. The series below offer original activities, new takes on old favorites, and great-looking reproducibles for library, club, or classroom use.
A fundamental piece of building literacy, and ultimately developing a lifelong love of reading, is providing readers with engaging texts that meet and support them where they are. Two categories of texts that play a powerful role in achieving this goal are beginning readers and hi-lo books. Librarians will find a wide variety of texts to support developing and reluctant readers in this season’s offerings.
Animal books continue to be among the most popular titles in nonfiction collections, both for school assignments and general interest. The series below provide interesting information and useful visual content, so selectors should find strong candidates for purchase.
Popular contemporary figures and classic report topics represent the latest in biographical series. Some books are introductions for youngsters while others contain report information for older readers; a few provide interesting reads.
No matter what series you look at, there are connections to be found between the reader, the topic, and the world at large. The best new science books offer captivating photos, helpful diagrams, and explanations or descriptions that draw readers in—then send them out to discover more.
Many of the most important issues facing Americans today are the same matters the United States and its citizens have been struggling with for centuries. One could argue many of these contentious debates are hotter than ever. The following series look at foundational documents and major social issues, while clearly and effectively showing how meaningful change has come about and what roadblocks still exist.
According to many adults, “If you have your health, you have everything!” Children and teens, however, may not be as familiar with this saying. But after reading these series, students will more fully understand their elders’ maxim and know much more about their bodies.
With a mix of books that highlight castles, gladiators, and famous historic sites alongside the current geopolitical and cultural climate, this season’s series have a lot to offer readers of all ages. These titles help make history come alive.
Twenty-first-century job readiness and the skills required to achieve career success are critical topics for readers in any grade. This season’s series present a wide range of career options in a variety of fields and industries.
Beguiling series packed with great stories are forthcoming: ancient myths and gods’ exploits; literally haunting tales; descriptions of fanciful creatures; and odd, inexplicable experiences that plagued real people. While these stories are exciting and strange, what they really have in common is their humanity.
The social sciences shed light on the world around us and help us understand our place in it. This season’s selections cover a wealth of seemingly unrelated topics that touch our lives daily, even though we may not realize to what extent.
Educators and librarians know the importance of minority and English language learning in conjunction with children seeing themselves in the books they read. As evidenced by this season’s series of Spanish and bilingual books, it’s clear that some publishers are responding to the rising demand for the representation of complex and intersectional identities in children’s media.
With new tech being rolled out at an exponentially faster pace year after year, replacing old volumes can be hard to justify. Libraries eager to meet their patrons’ needs will see the value in weeding and supplementing their tech collections on a more consistent basis. The series we’ve selected for this section include cutting-edge inventions, machines both simple and amazingly complex, future-minded creations, and coding prep for the youngest readers.
Series Made Simple aims to provide a well-rounded overview of the season’s best and worthwhile nonfiction series selections. Fall 2019's familiar offerings are bountiful. We hope that this curated list will not only inspire your patrons to further explore the highlighted subjects but look more closely at themselves and the world around them.
This is an ideal pick for kids who enjoy books filled with facts, such as David Macaulay’s The Way Things Work Now or DK’s The Way Science Works. A supplemental purchase for most collections.
A solid choice for nature units and general collections.
Readers should get their ancient history elsewhere.
A fun, casual read for children who are interested in exploring the animal kingdom, and a worthy supplement to world geography lessons.
An engaging read-aloud, peppered with plenty of facts for the scientists in the crowd.
A flashy, brilliantly designed piece of museum promotion.
Worthy of any library or history classroom. A range of readers, from elementary-age code breakers to rising high school students, will enjoy this title.
With the 2020 Olympics on the horizon, this will be a good biography to have handy.
Inviting illustrations and peppy text combine to make this book a winner for beginning music enthusiasts.
A well-written book for the intended audience. A good addition to a classroom or elementary school library.
Highly recommended for all libraries’ graphic novel collections and for teachers seeking alternatives to more didactic texts on immigration.
Bennett’s work provides necessary insight into girls’ lives across the world. The book’s beautiful design make it a wonderful graduation or birthday gift.
Eighteen exceptional informational works made SLJ's list of the best nonfiction for children and teens published in 2019.
A lovely addition to nonfiction collections looking to strengthen sections focusing on endangered animals.
A compact, illustrated book covering young activists and their causes. Recommended for larger collections with a need to supplement nonfiction social justice and activism materials.
Kids and adults will enjoy these quirky write-ups and could inspire readers to write their own reviews. A fun resource for browsing.
Make room on your read-aloud shelves for titles that will ignite discussions about contemporary issues, highlight little-known true stories, and tug on the heartstrings.
Memorabilia and objects have long inspired the work of writers and artists. Here are stories about particular items that have stirred their imaginations or brought a period, person, or idea into sharper focus.
This glossy package may get lost on library shelves and should not be considered a definitive collective biography. It could serve as a resource for middle grade readers where there is a need.
Uwitonze’s story of strength and bravery will appeal to most middle grade readers.
The no-frills writing style might appeal more to adults reading along with children than independent young readers. Pass.
An excellent option for poetry and animal nonfiction collections.
While the subject is important and the text is engaging and appealing, with illustrations and helpful sidebars throughout, the lack of rigorous documentation makes this title an additional purchase.
This informational picture book may fill the needs of upper primary teachers seeking supplementary materials to introduce Darwin’s theories. Could also appeal to children with an interest in nature and librarians looking for fresh, simpler titles pertaining to Darwin’s ideas.
A positive addition to collections looking to offer age-appropriate LGBTQ topics for the primary grades.
Recommended for readers who enjoy National Geographic’s ocean-centered series for children or crave armchair adventures.
Using photographs, images of objects, and medals, the National Museum of African American History and Culture has created a rich compilation of visual sources to present an extremely important segment of American history that needs to be preserved. An essential purchase.
My Story Starts Here author and activist Deborah Ellis talks with Youth First President & CEO Liz Ryan about how our society treats youth crime and the faults of the criminal justice system.
Fun and informative for fans of American history and innovation, this book shares the story of Ford’s lesser-known soybean pursuits.
A candid book of poems that may connect readers with affable memories associated with their own childhoods. A complementary addition to the Dewey 800 section of the children’s room in public libraries.
This well-researched, riveting biography will inspire readers.
Harrington and Taylor have rescued a worthy scientist from obscurity. Recommended for all libraries serving this grade range.
This empathetic and informative study of August Wilson’s early years explores the complexities of the black experience in America. A book that will resonate not only with bookworms and fans of the playwright but with black children wishing to see themselves reflected in the world around them.
This striking book will resonate with readers in search of biographies of pioneering black men in history.
A delightful addition to any collection.
This memoir, complete with glossaries in both English and Spanish, drawings of important technical details, and photos from the author’s childhood, is an ideal read for students who are excited about the expanses of the universe. Hernández makes his message clear: If you have a dream, you can achieve it; you just need to be ready to fail a few times first.
This quick introduction covers the challenges the snow leopard faces and its conservation status.
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