A beautiful look at not only how bridges work but also how they connect people and change lives. Suitable for varying levels of interest, this is a solid purchase for most libraries.
A solid purchase for middle school and YA collections where adventurous, historical novels in verse with real-life male protagonists would be welcome.
This artistic rendition of an intriguing story will be good for fans of Kim Tomsic’s The Elephants Come Home.
A solid introduction for students interested in learning more about the basic categories of disabilities, important facts about disabilities, and about disability activists.
This patriotic board book is recommended for all collections.
Biography sections with well-circulated titles on celebrities, singers, and athletes would benefit from adding this for the singer’s fans and for readers looking for books about mysterious music icons like Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse.
This would be a good resource for families who homeschool or as a supplement to classroom units on the subject.
This great middle grade nonfiction teaches kids about the ecosystem of an fallen oak tree, and how creatures depend on dead trees and aid in decomposition. A must have for libraries.
A captivating look at all the pets and people who inspired Beatrix Potter’s creative world, this is a great companion to Saving the Countryside by Linda Marshall and a good first buy.
An excellent choice for children with big questions about earth’s water, this is well-suited for read-aloud sharing as well as perusing.
Purchase for libraries with expanding DEI collections and where student poetry is popular or included in the curriculum.
A must-purchase for collections where true crime and nearly unbelievable historical tales are popular.
The book’s subtitle tells the whole story: this is a “taste” of the story of chocolate, which may not be enough to satisfy.
This would make a satisfying complementary piece for a social sciences or humanities class and is worthwhile investment for a library.
A good addition to STEM/STEAM collections, especially where information on engineers is lacking.
Engaging and beautifully written and illustrated, this can be read as an adventure story or be used for STEM learning. Regardless, it will inspire readers to learn more about the Kraffts’s lifelong passion and is an outstanding addition to any collection.
A must-have for all libraries, this book would lend itself well to all subject areas in elementary and middle school classrooms.
An excellent resource that lends a lively, humorous tone to a straightforward topic.
With its colorful cast of true characters, this well-researched book goes beyond most war histories, highlighting the unique contributions of double agents and the importance of intelligence in military operations.
A strong choice for Spanish-language collections where there is a need for nonfiction in Women’s History and STEM categories.
A recommended purchase for music lovers, Women’s History Month displays, and collections supporting interest in artists, biographies, 1970s culture, and folk music.
Highly recommended for its compelling content, global inquiry, and stunning illustrations.
This inventive book will engage young readers interested in Asian American history, activism, and social justice.
A great purchase for early elementary school collections and curriculum and for communities serving Spanish speakers.
Purchase for early elementary school collections and communities serving Spanish speakers and learners.
An excellent choice for elementary classrooms, young naturalists, homeschooling families, and any child fascinated by animals, ecosystems, or environmental stewardship, filled with sensory language, and captivating images.
This charming pictorial work will be devoured by budding ornithologists and nature lovers alike. Highly recommended for all nonfiction collections.
This would be a good choice for libraries needing SEL books about change and growth, or natural science books about seeds and the needs of plants.
This lively overview is straightforward and engaging and will encourage young readers to dream of what they can create.
An inspiring look at architectural, engineering, and community creativity in response to climate change.
An evocative and engaging book that turns deep-sea science into a thrilling exploration. This is an excellent, educational addition to any library and perfect for readers fascinated by the natural world’s greatest mysteries.
Whether Shark Week or not, this is a good choice for collections where shark books are popular.
A worthwhile addition to collections where books about bees, gardens, and pollinators are popular, this is sure to spark curiosity about how even the smallest creatures make a big impact.
This is a stunning collection of animals and their nests that will make an ideal addition to any nonfiction picture book collection.
A unique globe-trotting scientific exploration sure to pique the interest of budding young mycologists and naturalists.
A beautiful reminder that America is shaped by many different stories and experiences, and that the goal is to continue expanding who is included in that “we.” Perfect for all libraries.
A necessary purchase, this glorious collaboration between author and illustrator brings the world of jellyfish to unforgettable life.
A must-purchase for the elementary shelves, offering aspects of under-represented languages and cultures for well-rounded collections.
A delightful, curious, and engaging collection; if there is only one poetry book to add this year, this is it.
The evocative language, layered illustrations, and purposeful historical framing make this a meaningful addition to classroom libraries and a valuable anchor text for conversations about history, identity, and contribution.
A visually appealing and browsable offering that will be appropriate for many nonfiction collections.
This strong nonfiction picture book is a first purchase for all children’s collections.
Not suitable for a science lesson, but the visual and sonic energy, plus the unusual format, may provide enough oomph for infant and preschool story hours.
A crisp light text accompanied by compelling graphics, this book will entertain small children and prompt older readers learning about Indigenous culture and language to explore further.
Essential for any collection, especially those looking for picture books for older readers, this book is perfect for those interested in science, exploration, and the extreme frontiers of our world.Graphic Nonfiction
A must-purchase for elementary biography and music collections for the comprehensive look at the contributions of Black women to country music.
An informative and appealing introduction to the Victorian era, ideal for readers who enjoy learning through a blend of facts and illustrations, despite the busy layout.
Children will enjoy poring over the presented facts and the exquisite illustrations, and budding entomologists will adore this thought-out and well-designed book. Highly recommended.
Useful information and a wide range of wilderness scenarios with helpful advice make this a first purchase for libraries.
A useful and thoughtful resource, offering a wide array of skills and ideas that encourage teens to explore, reflect, and prepare for life beyond graduation, even if they choose to take its advice with a bit of independence.
A fun and fascinating look at current topics in science that will appeal to a wide audience. A recommended purchase.
This uneven handbook covering common animals for children eager to explore is pretty but not a first purchase.
With some guidance and encouragement, this offers strong potential for sparking questions, discussion, and deeper classroom inquiry. Put this in the hands of science teachers.
As a harrowing survival story and informative science book about the Amazon, the book successfully demonstrates the interconnectedness of life and nature in a unique setting.
Many children are drawn to the creepy unknown, and with bats delivering just that, kids will come away with enough interest to keep learning. Recommended.
This lovely homage to the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and nature is a must-buy for all Spanish-language picture book biography collections.
At the 2026 Youth Media Awards, author Candace Fleming became the first person to receive the Children’s Literature Legacy Award and the Margaret A. Edwards Award in the same year. In addition, her book Death in the Jungle won the Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults.
Offering a valuable contribution to diaspora studies, ethnic studies, and feminist cultural theory, Sethi’s book is an additional purchase for professional libraries where works by Carolyn Huynh and Prachi Gupta are popular.
Nafousi offers an uplifting, approachable, and comprehensive guide for kids to learn how to navigate tough emotions and reframe their mindsets.
Hand this helpful book to young superhero fans or to newcomers who have just seen the latest DC movie and are eager to learn more.
While this one-time use beginner’s guide is geared for a younger age than most, libraries might get more value out of more comprehensive Minecraft books.
An informative read for those who enjoy treasure hunts, adventures, and history.
An excellent picture book biography that amplifies one of the unsung heroes of science.
Perfect for budding space explorers, this captivating title will pull readers in like the gravity from a black hole.
Conveying Sarria’s enduring message and honoring the struggle for civil rights, this book is a worthy addition to biography collections.
A great book to fill in collection gaps about first aid; will be particularly useful in classrooms and group settings.
Over and above offering helpful guidelines for fledgling authors, this introduction to Alcott and Little Women will prime yet another generation of readers and listeners to fall in love with a perennial classic.
A nonfiction/fiction mashup that will make a good addition to any library’s picture book collection, particularly those needing titles about wildlife conservation.
A must-purchase for all elementary collections in need of a beautiful ode to Black hair that weaves poetry and history in a meaningful way to educate and empower.
These informational works for kids of all ages shine a light on the many contributions Black icons, such as Zora Neale Hurston, Serena Williams, and Malcolm X, and more, have made on American culture.
STEM titles cover lunar phases, turtles, and carbon atoms. Picture book biographies celebrate artists, such as Matisse and Yo-Yo Ma, and current changemakers, such as Ketanji Brown Jackson and Lionel Messi.
The latest history books from Ann Bausum, Gail Jarrow, and Kate Messner will astonish. Empowering offerings about incredible women will inspire. And high-interest cookbooks will entice young foodies.
With its strong focus on the historical context of segregation and its comprehensive coverage of the sport’s indomitable heroes, this title is an excellent addition for upper-elementary and middle school collections, appealing strongly to both sports enthusiasts and readers seeking diverse historical perspectives.
While it may have benefited from more in-depth non-Western coverage, this work is still a useful addition for libraries looking to build up their STEM collections.
This biography is an honest depiction of the cruelty in Canada’s First Nation residential schools from the perspective of a survivor. An important addition to every library’s juvenile biography section and classroom.
A fun, humorously written but superficial first introduction to chemistry and chemical reactions that may spark scientific curiosity.
A compelling, narrative-driven collection of astonishing ocean stories. Purchase for collections where incredible true accounts are in high demand.
An interesting addition to any collection serving older teen readers. This highly practical guide provides essential, relatable lessons for success by translating the mechanics of baseball and softball into meaningful life skills.
This hopeful take on confronting climate change is perfect for young readers experiencing climate anxiety.
A fun and eye-opening road trip travelogue perfect for young students of American history.
Short, compelling chapters present good read aloud opportunities to share in a family or classroom setting.
A solid purchase for libraries with plenty of animal lovers and nonfiction browsers.
Fans of basketball and Griner will enjoy this memoir; the themes of racism, body image, and LGBTQIA+ rights will appeal to a larger audience.
An essential memoir for all school libraries about an influential individual impacting our country who used their experiences to show how the law can provide solutions that change people’s lives and bring about monumental change.
An informative and attractive introduction to science careers, useful in most libraries catering to children and their interests.
A visual delight and excellent take on Houdini’s life through his love of books and learning. Sure to be popular with book and magic lovers alike plus those interested in unusual illustration styles. A must have for most libraries.
A solid entry into the basics of soil and a solid purchase where needed.
A fascinating and beautifully designed exploration of an under-examined topic. A must-have for all collections.
A great class read-aloud to accompany lessons on ecosystems and environmental conservation.
This is an excellent addition to any nonfiction picture book collection.
With its brief, thoughtfully chosen words, parts of this book could easily serve as an introduction to climate issues, environmental justice, and biodiversity for young children. The book can broaden and strengthen collections while gently introducing young children to what can happen when the Earth’s resources are misused.
This would make an excellent classroom book for units on history, but it also works for its uplifting message and positive affirmations.
A charming and informative look at life inside an egg that will work beautifully for read-alouds and is an essential addition to all collections.
A buoyant shout out to our body’s most important organ (though look what’s telling us that)
A strong addition to nonfiction board book collections.
A purchase for most libraries.
A lovely choice for potential nature lovers everywhere, and their caretakers.
A strong general purchase for most collections.
A first purchase for all shelves.
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