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Calderón’s concise celebratory text is an essential bilingual reference for the middle grade classroom.
PREMIUM
El tiburón blanco
Realistic illustrations and lovely Spanish text come together to create an informative, enjoyable, and almost peaceful nonfiction picture book about what is often thought of as a fierce predator. A wonderful addition to Spanish-language nonfiction for children.
This engaging and detailed book is an excellent addition to school library collections. Its unique blend of artistic digital illustrations and fascinating biological content about these often-misunderstood ocean creatures makes it a worthwhile purchase for science and nature sections.
PREMIUM
H Is for Hiking
For shelves about the great outdoors, here’s a way to invite young children into the joys of hiking and connecting with nature.
PREMIUM
Puffins!
An appealing dive into the life and environment of puffins for classroom or individual reads.
An informative visual feast that celebrates the natural world on the other side of the door.
This phenomenal historical account of the Alabama River is a must-purchase for all library collections.
A good choice to introduce babies and toddlers to the celebration of Ramadan.
This uplifting and encouraging sports biography is sure to be a great addition to any library’s preschool collection.
An accessible and inspiring introduction to Jella Lepman’s work that provides a meaningful read for children and adults alike, especially those interested in history, literacy, and the transformative power of books.
Recommended only where interest in the Cuyahoga River Valley is high and supplementary resources are available.
A good choice for readers who enjoy browsable, highly illustrated nonfiction; this may be too basic for those wanting details or for research.
Florance’s experimental cosmic handbook is an inventive and informative nonfiction addition for middle to upper elementary students.
A fun and engaging addition to nonfiction collections, especially appealing to children who enjoy reading science-focused works like the DK’s “Eyewitness Books” or learning through hands-on exploration.
A delightfully informative addition to any career or science section, geared towards older readers.
A suspenseful and heartwarming true rescue story to captivate readers and budding conservationists.
Brimming with superficial sentiment and bad prose, this is not recommended for libraries.
One title is for young readers and the other is for middle grade, but both books share the importance of the cultural holiday that begins on December 26 and has been celebrated since 1966.
From poo and tentacles to contemplative picture book biographies, this year’s picks for the Best Nonfiction for Elementary readers are filled with facts, information, and wonder.
This year’s Best Nonfiction for Middle and High School students features true crime, an inclusive puberty book, sports titles, and lots of STEM.
The natural world glows in these pages, but never in a sentimental way; this book pays attention to everything and reminds children to do the same.
A captivating look at the life and work of a childhood favorite, perfect for longtime fans of his work or those just encountering his legacy.
PREMIUM
The Secret World of Spiderwebs
An excellent addition to collections with its helpful illustrations and plentiful facts.
PREMIUM
Snowboarding
A wintery wonderland of facts, introducing the sport and informational books simply and engagingly.
These three titles focus on intriguing, shocking, under-explored disappearances throughout history.
PREMIUM
Mountain Bikes Downhill
A book to beef up any library’s nonfiction sports section, especially where extreme sports are popular.
A beautiful book of photographs with accompanying explanations to educate and inspire.
A must-have for all schools, and if this is any indicator of what the other titles in the series might be like, consider purchasing them all.
Illustrating how the influence of art and writing can become a powerful tool of destruction when the government controls the media, this book is essential for every school library.
A charming story about being accepted despite, or even because of, one’s differences.
PREMIUM
100 Days!
This fun and friendly title is a perfect classroom read-aloud to prepare for, celebrate, or reflect on the joy of learning together.
A challenging topic, mental illness, is given wings by the hope stitched into the many quilts of Tompkins in this wonderful book for all ages.
Devastating global events weave with the steadying beat of a fugue through cinematic, emotional illustrations; this is history writ large and small, for all readers.
A thoughtful, beautifully crafted title that honors a literary classic on the eve of its centennial and introduces “the Best Bear in All the World” to a new generation.
PREMIUM
Forests
The book could stimulate readers to discuss, research, write about, and draw the forests in their neighborhood as well as forests around the world. A good introduction to an important topic.
PREMIUM
Beatrice and the Nightingale
Share with budding environmentalists and readers with a keen interest in music.
Gripping illustrations and very effective text place readers in the middle of this dramatic night in American history. Recommended.
PREMIUM
Himalayan Nights
A solid choice for lower elementary readers and a book that will look great on displays
A solemn and respectful reminder to younger readers of what was paid and what is owed
This book will not spark a reader’s interest in Bernstein or her art.
A significant, if possibly a bit sanitized, addition to baseball’s early history.
The personification works to great effect in this addition to the series and libraries should definitely give Venus her well-deserved spot on the shelves. Highly recommended.
A choice Spanish-language title for nonfiction shelves and curricular tie-ins.
This Spanish-language biography brings to light the incredible life and contributions of Luz Jiménez and is highly recommended for all Spanish children’s collections, especially where there are gaps in Mexican artist representation.
This is an informative and attractive book for your STEM minded readers, suitable for public and school libraries.
While the topic will garner interest, the format may be difficult for some readers. An additional purchase.
A comprehensive overview of an important topic, yet this book suffers from dense text with few pictures or interactive elements, which will hurt its young reader appeal. Recommended for middle school library collections.
PREMIUM
Great Escapes
Daring escapes are a popular topic, and this may interest readers of the ‘I Survived’ series. Reluctant readers will appreciate the short chapters, but those clamoring for detail may want to look elsewhere.
An excellent addition to libraries serving upper elementary and middle school patrons who enjoy sports biographies.
Skillfully interweaving sports history with critical social and political contexts, this is an invaluable resource for students interested in American history, civil rights, and the enduring power of sports. An excellent and insightful historical non-fiction work and a must-have addition for school libraries.
This stylish nonfiction title puts a large amount of information into an accessible, appealing format, ready to be shared instead of hoarded.
A valuable work of nonfiction, this book will encourage girls and boys alike to treat all genders with equal dignity and respect.
PREMIUM
Grind: An Ode to Skateboarding
The jazzy look of this book will attract readers, who will appreciate its upbeat message most if they are already familiar with the sport.
A resource about sources in need of sources. Lots to like with a few critical flaws.
The expansion and analysis of love languages in various contexts may be valuable to teen and adult readers alike, but teens may not relate to all examples or situations.
Purchase this artful, colorful book for budding authors, for classes on writing, and to expand on Blume’s works in young-reader collections.
In 1838, sisters Sarah and Angelina Grimké were the best-known, most hated women in the United States. My book tells why.
From tales of ghosts and vampires from around the world, to famous shipwrecks, these books are perfect for young readers excited to explore the world, and hear some fun stories and tales along the way!
Author and TikTok star Taylor Cassidy joins us to talk about her new book, Black History Is Your History.
A program that brings school librarians together over Zoom to share ideas and support one another has helped collection development.
An additional purchase for middle grade collections in need of an eye-catching and accessible mythology anthology.
Recommended for high school libraries in need of a collective biography of prominent Latine figures to inspire further study.
An unforgettable, fast-paced survival story written in language that is both accessible and authentic. A must-purchase for middle-grade collections where adventure, resilience, and true survival tales are in demand. Perfect for Hatchet fans looking for their next read.
Dr. Whitney Casares discusses her book, One-of-a-Kind Body and body image with pre-teens and teens.
A unique book among space-exploration titles, this is recommended for browsers and as a first step in the research process.
An important and well-done title that teachers will want to explore with their students.
Give this to fact fiends and fans of the “Science Comics” series.
Readers approaching adulthood need the reassurance, hope, and bravery that Budde provides. A strong purchase for middle grade and teen collections.
An excellent addition to earth science classrooms, elementary school libraries, and medium to large public libraries. Ideal for children who gravitate toward visual nonfiction and enjoy collecting interesting facts.
PREMIUM
World Soccer Kings
With a stealthy intention to bring poetry to sports-minded young readers, this book may be too light on sports facts to appeal to soccer fans and too basic in its execution to be a meaningful resource for aspiring poets.
The collection format makes it easy for libraries to offer multiple battles in one simple book and is a must-have for those serving elementary readers.
At a time when Messi biographies are in abundance, this one stands out for its celebration of the phenom’s dedication and resilience in the face of childhood struggles. A first purchase for school and public library biography shelves of an admirable role model.
With vibrant visuals and an incisive narrative, this compelling new look at the Age of Exploration is a first purchase for children’s nonfiction collections.
PREMIUM
To the Top of the World: Barbara Hillary, the First Black Woman to Reach the North and South Poles
Recommended for purchase for any collection wishing to spotlight a truly remarkable individual.
A remarkable tribute to those who made space travel possible in unexpected ways, this is a highly recommended STEM purchase to inspire a new generation of women.
An inspiring and energetic account of one man’s record-breaking journey around the world in a wheelchair, this is an uplifting and visually engaging biography of resilience and advocacy and a strong choice for classrooms and collections featuring changemakers and social justice role models.
A landmark work in the “kids love poop” genre, this is a must-buy for every collection.
PREMIUM
When Beavers Move In
A great read-aloud to celebrate Earth month, Indigenous innovation, and the resilience of the natural world.
PREMIUM
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
A rousing rendition of a classic song celebrating baseball’s legacy and appeal. Recommended for collections that are looking for sports-themed titles in their picture book collections
Beyond bold illustrations and pitch-perfect rhythm make this bio-book a great pick for the shelves.
PREMIUM
Baby Go!: France
Board books are an inherently inviting form, but this title does not inspire travel, language skills, or even reading to the end.
PREMIUM
Messy or Neat
An ideal book to acclimate kids of all ages to the notion of clean-up; this book could not be more cheerful.
PREMIUM
Peek & Boo Day at the Zoo!
A simple search-and-find that also carries a warm message of friendship, this board book works for large groups and one-on-one readings.
This merits wide readership as a triumph in the fight for civil rights that may well be new even to better-read students of the era.
This engaging and informative starter look at soil and the wide variety of the flora and fauna that live there is a solid purchase for all libraries.
Potentially confusing for many readers and without an anchoring demographic, this is an unnecessary purchase for most libraries,
The topic is well worth exploring, but whale falls are not haunted and the elegance of how they function within the ecosystem is anything but spooky.
In picture book format, a light historical look at women who bucked societal conventions to wear athletic gear that allowed them to be faster and better. Good purchase for most libraries.
Informative and colorful, this biography is a great book for libraries, especially those paying attention to kaiju in manga, graphic novels, and other media.
Gr 1-4–Using a friendly tone and speaking directly to readers, this book explains how a carbon atom that is now in a human might once have been in the body of a dinosaur...
This is not compelling as a collection of stories as implied by the title, but it’s a serviceable addition to nonfiction collections.
Succinct text, audacious facts, and vibrant imagery make this nonfiction text a good selection for preschool-aged readers with an interest in animal adaptations.
PREMIUM
Flick! The Truth About Lizards
Lots of photographs and surprising information about lizards make this book both appealing and informative; this book could help launch student inquiries into a wide range of animal life.
PREMIUM
TIME for Kids: Planets
A strong purchase. Add this to your collection, especially if your science section could use a little star power.
A good choice for fans of the “Little People, Big Dreams” series, this biography will help inspire young athletes and bring much deserved attention to women’s sports.
A nice biographical introduction of an amazing woman and a good selection for a well-rounded collection.
Informative and engaging, this is an important addition to nonfiction library collections for elementary school-aged readers. Grades K-3
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