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Benthic burrows, rabbit holes, whatever you call them: they are detours well worth the extra mileage. And mostly—they’re not even detours. They’re part of the journey.
Some kids love narrative nonfiction; others, expository literature. Learn more about these two styles of books and browse a list of recent outstanding examples.
PREMIUM
Marvel’s Iron Man Goes Magnetic
Children will come for Iron Man, but stay for the fun science.
A storylike text, with tender turns and intricately laced drawings, this is the best of nature writing.
Science makes you think, but like art or literature, it can also make you laugh, dream, see and appreciate the world, or even just your own brain, in new, exciting ways.
Author Karen Valby discusses her book, THE SWANS OF HARLEM
PREMIUM
When a Book Begins
A silly, slim collection brought down by too many clunky spots. Not recommended.
From mediocre verses about literary characters and politics to consistently shoddy rhymes, this poetry collection is an optional purchase. For updating children’s collections, stick with Chris Harris’s engaging poetry titles.
A fascinating and informative read that celebrates the courage and collaboration behind one of NASA’s most remarkable achievements, this will captivate readers of all interests and abilities.
Breathtaking and beautiful, this resonant Spanish-language book about the author’s experience with English as a child is a must-have for collections everywhere.
Not recommended for libraries. Keepsake pages at the end for recording a baby’s milestones make it better for gifting than library collections.
Seek-and-finds, stories about escape challenges, and other engaging titles.
From ready reference to encyclopedias, these titles will spark curiosity in baseball, ancient times, and dragons, while also providing research resources on Black women's history and space travel.
Humans haven’t stepped onto the Moon since 1972. Now, more than 50 years later, American astronauts are planning to head back, this time to stay.
Are your young readers sad that the holiday season is over? Point them to these titles, featuring holidays celebrated throughout the year around the world.
Providing an important transition point from early readers to chapter books, this is recommended for purchase where many readers are making this leap.
An excellent purchase recommended to any library seeking to embolden readers of a new kind of revolutionary leader.
This is good at rehabilitating sharks’ negative public image, but a little light on overall content. Easily digestible for lower elementary students.
PREMIUM
Are You a Friend of Dorothy?: The True Story of an Imaginary Woman and the Real People She Helped
This nonfiction picture book is a positive addition to library collections with its inclusion of information about LGBTQIA+ history for young readers.
Aspiring archeologists and adventurers alike in all libraries will benefit from the inspiration Maria Reiche offers in being dedicated to new discoveries.
An excellent starting place for educators and young environmentalists alike, this is highly recommended for classrooms and libraries.
With an unending stream of puns, rhymes, and corny dad jokes with some interesting science mixed in, this is sure to appeal to reluctant readers or kids who are attracted to the grosser aspects of life.
This collection will fill a gap in helping all teens navigate their futures in an ableist world.
Hand this book to budding environmentalists or anyone interested in learning more about the plastic problem. A recommended purchase for updating nonfiction collections.
A good choice to middle and high school biography shelves.
PREMIUM
Fighter in the Woods: The True Story of a Jewish Girl who Joined the Partisans in World War II
An important addition to any collection, perfect for fans of Tarshis’s “I Survived” series who are ready to move on to more complex books.
This title does a splendid job of opening ancient worlds to younger readers; it’s a useful addition to nonfiction collections in schools and public libraries.
This engaging history relates the story of the first significant battle in America’s ongoing “culture wars” and is highly recommended for junior high and high school collections.
This educational read is certain to be valued and enjoyed by all who seek to learn more about the native red wolf. A fabulous addition to all nonfiction library shelves.
There is no question, this must be purchased, read, and shared.
PREMIUM
The Astronaut Diaries
Readers will be transported to the International Space Station on an educational and inspirational journey of discovery; this spirited relating of important STEM concepts is an essential purchase.
This work profiles women’s equality in sports like a book about women’s suffrage or education and provides a perspective on the historical and contemporary vantage point of those topics: important to know.
Such smooth nonfiction, this book is the perfect bridge between softer fact-based information and some of the lengthier volumes on science for emerging readers.
Tongue-in-cheek a lot of the time, this book conveys facts with a spoonful of joking and children will eat it up.
This fascinating narrative provides an in-depth history of skywalkers, the Caughnawaga, and their contributions to our cities and infrastructure. Strong first buy.
Full of drama and heart, this is the story of a heroic man of faith who boldly spoke out against slavery; his story has a place in all library collections serving upper elementary students. Highly recommended.
This outstanding book with great information is endearing as well, demonstrating the power of perseverance, love, and commitment. A first purchase wherever children flock.
A strong addition wherever animal and ecology books are popular.
PREMIUM
We Are the Scrappy Ones
A meaningful work for children with disabilities and those who interact with them, this is a purchase for all collections.
PREMIUM
Take Me Out to the Ball Game!
A great angle for a global sport, and a recommended purchase for all libraries.
Teachers and librarians will be able to use this as a mentor text for research projects; young readers and their families will love poring over the pictures and telling friends about the new facts they’ve learned. A must-have for any elementary library.
No matter the level of reader familiarity with spirituals, this title brims with lyricism and soul-lifting strength through its emotional illustrations and compelling text.
A humorous way to engage with a serious topic. Recommended as a secondary purchase for middle school libraries.
Visually engaging and with approachable text, Sick! is chock-full of super interesting information about animals and is recommended for middle school science collections.
This compendium is perfect for science buffs, true-crime lovers, herbalists, and teens drawn to the macabre. A must-have for anyone with a curiosity about nature’s most sinister secrets.
The Young Adult Library Services Association announced the finalists for the Morris Award for a YA title by a previously unpublished author and the Excellence in Nonfiction Award for nonfiction YA books for ages 12 to 18.
NCTE has announced Stealing Little Moon: The Legacy of American Indian Boarding Schools by Dan SaSuWeh Jones and The Last Stand by Antwan Eady, illus. by Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey, as the 2025 Orbis Pictus and Charlotte Huck award winners, respectively.
Only for those who want a slimmed down adaptation of the original.
PREMIUM
Athletes Who Changed the Game
Browsers and sports fans will be drawn to these concise yet engaging vignettes and will want to learn more about and cheer on these noteworthy athletes.
Great and engaging nonfiction.
Primarily for browsers; but offers plentiful food for thought on this critical topic.
Despite the sloppy presentation, this book is a valuable addition and a good resource for a language that its speakers are diligently working to keep alive.
PREMIUM
Transport
This book is packed with fun facts and charm; add to collections where Richard Scarry’s “Busy Town” or Raul the Third’s “¡Vamos!” series are popular.
Regardless of classroom uses, young readers will enjoy this one immensely; it’s a first choice for libraries needing nonfiction about diving and deep ocean travel.
With these titles, young readers can see some of the many different ways people celebrate Christmas around the world.
The mysterious octopus is explored in-depth through its evolution and ecology in this young readers adaptation, targeting engaged and patient tweens.
A strong overview of a wide range of Asian American icons who have helped, and are helping, to shape the world; recommended for juvenile nonfiction collections, and as a research jumping-off point.
For collections requiring more on the hijab and its importance to devout Muslim women, this book is an ideal addition; those seeking comprehensive biographical information on female Muslim athletes will need to look elsewhere.
PREMIUM
Weirdest Animals on the Planet
While this book is not recommended as a first purchase due to its disorganized formatting, it will circulate well in children’s collections where books on unique animals are popular and desired.
An attractively designed fact book that stumbles in its execution; purchase only where the series is popular.
An excellent mentor text for either poetry or science, this book is also an elegant way to compare and contrast different kinds of wind in a toddler or preschool setting. A first choice for any library.
A fascinating and well-told look at a little-known African animal. Recommended.
PREMIUM
Meet Bisticeratops
This series is a solid purchase, offering access for younger readers while providing new knowledge for older ones.
PREMIUM
TIME for Kids: Weather
A rich array of science terminology is woven into this visually appealing book, designed to challenge upper elementary readers with advanced syntax and introduce meteorological phenomena.
Keleti’s life experiences will captivate new generations of readers while simultaneously teaching important history lessons.
A fun book that would be great in the hands of readers who want to learn more about where their food comes from but aren’t ready for in-depth information.
This is a wonderful STEM book to add to any collection; the witty, lighthearted format will engage readers across a broad age range.
For music collections, biography, or even Americana, this book lends itself to story hours and certainly as an icebreaker for conversations on style, substance, and marching to the beat of a different drummer.
Perfect for young marine biologists, this title uses humor and fascinating facts to capture the imagination and remind readers that new discoveries are being made every day.
This serves as an accessible introduction to a civil rights hero, regardless of flaws, and is worth an add to larger collections.
Suited for classrooms and browsers, this is an excellent choice across the curricula and a winner across the board.
PREMIUM
Meet Mbiresaurus
This series is a solid purchase, offering access for younger readers while providing new knowledge for older ones.
PREMIUM
Meet Meraxes Gigas
This series is a solid purchase, offering access for younger readers while providing new knowledge for older ones.
PREMIUM
Meet Yuxisaurus
This series is a solid purchase, offering access for younger readers while providing new knowledge for older ones.
The blossoming ranks of stellar biographies for young readers continue to crowd the shelves. Japanese athletes hit their summits in two vastly different ways, an author attempts to right the record on Rosalind Franklin, and a forgotten sports hero at last gets his due. And that's just the start of the Best Books in the category of nonfiction for the elementary grades. Come have a look.
SLJ's 2024 best middle and high school nonfiction selections run the gamut from insightful memoir; thoughtful explorations of cultural, biological, and environmental phenomena; to unrelenting exposures of dark times in our world's sociopolitical history—and the crucial lessons we must learn from the past.
An interesting take on the planets and exoplanets with great illustrations but an uneven text structure.
PREMIUM
A Kids Book About Diversity
Somewhat preachy, this title is a serviceable tool for parents and teachers on a very important topic; it may function best when combined with a storybook on a similar theme to enhance lessons on diversity.
Well-crafted and inspiring, this is an excellent choice for readers interested in sports and issues of gender and social justice.
The best poems educate with their facts and inspire with their beautiful flow of words. These 11 titles contain poems that do both exceptionally for young readers of all ages.
SLJ will reveal the 193 titles selected for this year's Best Books list starting November 19 and culminating November 25 with a live webcast.
Highly recommended for any high school library in need more memoirs emphasizing the importance of sports and mental health.
Humor and detailed illustrations make this a great introduction to oceanography and marine biology for upper elementary and middle grade readers.
PREMIUM
Kamala Raised Her Hand
A cursory biography that focuses on encouraging children to raise their hands; the highest demand for this will be at public libraries.
This lovingly designed, poetic nonfiction story introduces young readers to the life and challenges of the sea wolf species.
PREMIUM
We Miss You, George Floyd
A valuable book for libraries and classrooms interested in continuing conversations on systemic racism, police violence, and community loss and grieving.
There is a joy to asking questions and learning new things. It’s fun to explore, and to find the answer to a question. It’s exciting to learn that the world works in ways we did or did not expect.
The detailed illustrations and the dual layers of text make this a versatile and informative addition to collections.
Despite the playful presentation and the problems inherent in a “tear-out” section in a library, this is polished nonfiction; irreverently fun and informative, it’s an excellent selection.
A wonderful volume that gives insight into the powerful source of joy and intention; Powder’s dedication to her teachings extends into the next generations with every turn of the page.
A “loud and proud” celebration of the roots and branches of a unique musical heritage.
Enticing glimpses of both a country’s troubled history and of a cultural icon who will be new to most young audiences.
This first children’s book about an important trailblazer “abzuglutely” belongs on the shelf of every library alongside other portraits of leading Jewish women, such as I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy, Goldie Takes a Stand!: Golda Meir’s First Crusade by Barbara Krasner, and Emma’s Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty by Linda Glaser.
An excellent resource for children who are experienced in the outdoors, those new to it, or teachers and classroom staff prepping students for an excursion.
With the wish for young cooks to “seek out global flavors,” this team has created a beautiful and informative cookbook that will inspire children to find connections with cuisines and cultures around the world.
This beautifully written homage to a great American writer is a must-purchase for picture book collections.
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