Nonfiction

Stories of strong, determined women who changed the course of history make amazing subjects for booktalks. Elizabeth Blackwell, Louisa May Alcott, and Clara Lemlich are just a few of the tough cookies with indomitable spirit who persevered in the face of adversity, achieved their goals, and became role models for others. They are featured in three recently released books that are perfect for booktalking.

Earlier this year, on my personal blog, I talked about how I had been reading a lot about crime, and specifically about wrongful convictions and the Innocence Project.  So when I saw the subtitle of Susannah Sheffer’s book, I assumed that there would be quite a bit about defense attorneys fighting to prove their clients’ [...]

Why are scientists interested in this elusive creature that looks like a cross between a hippo and an elephant? Sy Montgomery explains.

The diversity of our nation and our struggle for civil rights are clear themes in this month's new titles. Among our selections are two books that address the historic 1963 March on Washington, celebrating its 50th anniversary this month: one in graphic format for older students written by John Lewis, and the other, a picture book by Andrea Davis Pinkney.

More math fun (Goldstone), more frogs (Himmelman), and more

On trains, cooking, and volcanoes.

Solid biographies and nautical poetry

It’s all too easy to dismiss colorful, fun books of this sort, with their brief chunks of text and apparently oversized photos, as merely motivational in nature.

An assortment of recent books that examine both historical milestones and current research in exploring our solar system and beyond.