Nonfiction

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.

Eighteen exceptional informational works made SLJ's list of the best nonfiction for children and teens published in 2019. 

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.

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.

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.

A collection of personal essays by immigrants in high school empowers them and affects their peers.

Larry Dane Brimner's new book, Accused!, chronicles the 1931 Scottsboro trial, where nine black teenagers were falsely accused and convicted of a crime they didn't commit. In this Op-Ed, Brimner reflects on how the trial is still relevant.  

Cecile Richards, the former president of Planned Parenthood, discusses why she chose to adapt her memoir Make Trouble for a young readers edition and why she didn't shy away from tough topics like "reproductive rights, privilege, racism, or the heartbreak of losing elections."