Narrative nonfiction has the same goals as any novel – to use these same techniques of conflict, setting, characterization, etc. to build a world that a reader cares about.
Originally published in Russian, this is a beautiful addition to nonfiction collections looking for books on the subject, and those seeking more translated works.
Recommended for high school libraries as a memoir that may offer words of encouragement to those ailing, grieving, or seeking inspiration.
Practical and entertaining, this is a worthy resource for budding story writers.
A well-researched account of an essential historical account of the U.S. labor movement. Highly recommended for middle school readers and beyond.
An excellent addition to nonfiction collections for young readers.
A love letter to Muslim children at a time when it is needed most. A recommended first purchase for school and public libraries.
A nice guide to keep at the desk or to use in school rooms.
Strongly recommended for all young adult collections.
A solid and browsable introduction to the veterinary profession that will pique the interest of young animal lovers.
A worthy purchase for the animal lovers in the library.
Recommended for libraries where biographies for younger children are popular.
An exceptional addition to all collections.
With the format leaning more explorative and “surfable” than research-focused, this book may need some handselling to find the right audience. An additional purchase.
Its edgy title may attract attention, but it’s the compelling narrative and enlightening content that will keep readers engaged from cover to cover. A recommended read for high school students and educators alike.
This book’s comprehensive approach and conversational style invite readers to learn about the election process for its top leader, from declaring candidacy to the first day on the job. Highly recommended for all juvenile nonfiction collections.
A must-buy for board book collections, the inclusive look and easy recipes allow young children to have a hand in family meals and snacks.
A must-buy for libraries serving aspiring chefs and their grown-ups wanting to start family cooking traditions. The layout and emphasized introduction to kitchen safety and preparedness make this a worthy addition to collections.
A lovely, highly informative tool for learning about how food is grown, the value in healthy eating, and how to respect the environment while also taking care of one’s body, this farm-to-table offering is highly recommended for school and public libraries.
Recommended for school libraries for its whimsical presentation of delicious treats.
Sesame Street fans and novice chefs will find much to appreciate in this collection of easy recipes.
A warm and festive holiday tie-in with recipes for many skill levels, recommended for school and public libraries.
An additional purchase for upper elementary and middle school cookbook collections.
A large collection of innovative, experimental recipes, recommended for middle and high school libraries.
Readers of all ages, especially those who love basketball, will rejoice over “Wat’s” triumphs.
A fascinating and beautifully illustrated biography of one of our most celebrated architects. Highly recommended.
Animal lovers and nonfiction readers will delight in this compelling work and surefire hit.
An impressive assemblage of the building blocks of the language, this work is especially recommended for linguists and families of the Cherokee and other Indigenous groups.
In addition to being a useful mentor text on the second-person voice, this is an excellent addition to biography collections and displays highlighting Black and Women’s History months.
Ideal for classroom study of the Holocaust and for history lovers. Recommended.
Revelatory. Shelve this alongside Howard Zinn’s A Young People’s History of the United States and Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz’s An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People for a more complete understanding of American history.
This thoroughly useful biography, highlighting a woman who used her privileged upbringing to bring about major social change, is a strong buy for women’s history or school reports.
While there is much to fascinate budding biologists, the writing in this extensive text can be slow moving and is best suited to patient middle school readers.
Recommended for school and public libraries with a persistent Minecraft following.
A beautiful collection of recipes marking an important national holiday, highly recommended for school and public libraries.
A visually delightful take on global food, recommended for school and public libraries.
A charming, approachable cookbook that evokes the spirit of the holiday season.
A book that lives up to its title, recommended for school and public libraries with a Dahl fanbase.
For readers who don’t get queasy easily and are interested in how weird nature can get.
A stellar combination of words and illustrations sure to inform and inspire children across a wide range of ages. A must-read.
A solid introduction to the hippopotamus for beginning readers. Recommended for general purchase for a public or school library nonfiction section.
Science and art come together in meaningful ways in this bilingual book, and kids will be inspired to experiment with STEAM concepts in playful ways. A great choice for bilingual board book collections.
This book comes highly recommended for all libraries for its handling of a traditional hot pot meal.
For libraries looking for introductions to cuisines also try companion titles It’s Time for Hot Pot.
This colorful book will have young readers laughing at the Ricardos’s 1950s TV antics, told in both English and Spanish.
The lack of back matter makes this more fitting for perusing rather than reports, but the entertaining package and perennial topic make this a great choice for Spanish-language nonfiction shelves.
A biographical text that teaches the importance of inclusion, heritage, and seeing yourself in the stories you read. A must for biography shelves.
An excellent, Spanish-language choice for the elementary civics curriculum, especially leading up to the election season, that can be used for read-alouds or independent reading.
Gravel’s effort to include all types of families and professions makes this an important read to break down how gender barriers divide people instead of bringing them together. Purchase where there’s a need for accessible, informational titles about gender in Spanish.
All aboard! This is a fun and informative book about locomotives for Spanish-language early elementary collections.
A great addition to nonfiction collections covering dams, ecology, and history of the Southwest.
A wonderful addition to library collections; this book is perfect for budding historians and those who enjoy learning new facts on a range of subjects.
This fun, easy-to-follow Kawaii drawing guide will have wide appeal among kids and tweens.
Fifteen outstanding books of poetry and seven novels in verse have been recognized as 2024 Notable Books. Selections include a range of formats—lively nonfiction, fantasy, and moving verse novels—written by familiar poets and debut authors.
Tweens will enjoy the fresh approach to the Loch Ness Monster phenomenon; instructors seeking engaging, unconventional books on the topic of fake news will find this an excellent fit.
A decent addition to nonfiction collections seeking more books about the ocean and marine ecosystems.
A validation of self through historical heroes to engage readers in the classroom and at home. This book allows young readers to see that real-life heroes find the ability to make a difference by speaking their minds and letting their truths be known.
A heartwarming and nerve-racking poem that accurately portrays one family’s emotional roller-coaster, told in the voices of its feline and canine companions, and a must-have for libraries.
Put this book of poems in the hands of talented science teachers.
An excellent addition to poetry collections, this volume will excite and engage, and—most importantly
Recommended for poetry collections, although it is best suited for guided reading.
This great blend of nonfiction with narrative and amazing illustrations will engage readers in the life of bees and their significance to the Gitxsan Nation. A solid general purchase.
An insightful and solemn yet hopeful memoir that will hook readers. Fans of Ji-Li Jiang’s Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution will find this memoir just as remarkable.
A recommended purchase that will find a satisfied audience among tweens and teens researching food or American history.
Strongly recommended for juvenile nonfiction collections.
Despite the confusing format, this compelling volume on mid-20th-century American politics is a must for research students and history buffs alike.
Difficult but necessary, this work is both triggering and empowering.
A highly readable and thought-provoking addition to true crime collections for teens.
Strongly recommended for juvenile nonfiction collections.
This combination of poems and planets is a fun way to introduce readers to both. An excellent purchase, though the full-page gatefolds may limit shelf life.
The concept of worldwide changes to better support urban wildlife is told through exquisite rhymes wrapped around big, bold blossoms of color that, along with the plentiful learning resources, will captivate readers. A must-have poetry book worthy of close attention.
A fine foray into canonical poetry for young learners.
A unique and accessible title that helps young children connect to weather in a foundational and introductory manner.
An endearing addition to collections where poetry books are popular, or a suitable choice for National Poetry Month.
Children and teachers will thoroughly enjoy this well-organized, beautiful book about rocks and where they come from. Recommended for wide adoption.
A well-done portrait of one woman’s quiet act of wartime courage, recommended for larger collections.
A great resource for students, parents, teachers, and anyone who needs a friendly, understandable introduction to the game of chess. Every library should have this book.
An interesting collection of basic poop information with illustrations that will engage young readers wanting to know more.
An enjoyable, if unnecessarily incomplete, picture book biography.
Highly recommended for all collections serving elementary students, this is a fantastic journey into bug land.
Definitely good for those living in tsunami-prone areas in explaining to students what happens and how to prepare for safety. For all others, it’s equally informative, but perhaps not immediately relatable.
Informative and eminently readable, this book has a graphic format that makes the topic approachable and is sure to engage young readers.
For all sports/Black history/LGBTQIA+ shelves, this book is a must, but supplement it with historical resources.
Children and adults will thoroughly enjoy this vivid memoir that weaves past and present in a timeless celebration of family and culture. A recommended, essential purchase.
A thoughtful and deeply engaging use of format, content, and information, this is a must-add to the primary shelves.
Today's list is of new and forthcoming nonfiction.
Oozing confidence, Clark’s sports memoir imparts advice to inspire a new generation.
Welcome a new generation into the Hoban household and help them over the threshold into the land of Lillian Hoban and Russell, too.
She didn’t invent measuring cups, but she “influenced” the sales of them; this book rightfully bestows hall of fame status to a woman who insisted on accuracy when it came to getting success—not waste
An essential purchase not to be missed
An additional purchase for children’s nonfiction collections.
The best kind of nature walk, with an entertaining guide out front, and yet one more blurred line between fiction and nonfiction that offers children more than the sum of its parts.
Whether for the art shelves or the science collection, this biography cannot go deep, but it covers the surface events of Santiago Ramón y Cajal’s journey in a way that is breathtaking, unbelievable, and inspiring.
Offering a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of Olympic athletes, these books encourage readers to believe that their own bodies and minds can achieve amazing things.
These books help support positive discussions with students about the climate crisis.
Put this in the hands of young activists and any middle school students interested in bringing about change.
An accessible introduction to environmental activism for younger readers, introducing them to a woman who deserves to be remembered for her life’s work.
In part 2 on her discussion of Nonfiction and Middle Grade, author Deborah Hopkinson discusses middle grade nonfiction with several of her fellow authors
In part 2 on her discussion of Nonfiction and Middle Grade, author Deborah Hopkinson discusses middle grade nonfiction with several of her fellow authors
Author Deborah Hopkinson discusses what she calls the neglected guest at the party - middle grade nonfiction!
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