Elementary

The Big Book of Useless Science Knowledge: 250 of the Coolest, Weirdest, and Most Unbelievable Science Facts You Won’t Be Taught in School. illus. by Hannah Li, Kay Wolfersperger & Liz Kay. 208p. (Useless Knowledge). Neon Squid. May 2025. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9781684493777.

Gr 3-5–Get ready for any child’s favorite phrase: “Did you know…?” There’s a volcano in Indonesia that erupts blue lava? Or that there’s a spacecraft graveyard in the Pacific Ocean? Or that some bacteria eat plastic waste? These and other not-at-all useless facts fill the pages of this brightly colored and often silly early elementary nonfiction transplant from the United Kingdom. The chapters cover many topics from all over the world and throughout time, separated into irreverent categories like “Useless Nature Knowledge” or “Useless Earth Knowledge.” Almost every spread gives two or three facts with corresponding illustrations, with the “Useless Technology Knowledge” chapter adding the element of pixilation to its pages to amp up the fun. Humorous quips from people, animals, insects, and even aliens keep the tone light and enjoyable. The black font used throughout is hard to read on pages with darker backgrounds, and some vocabulary may be difficult for younger readers. However, there is back matter featuring a glossary of scientific terms and an index. VERDICT A fun and engaging reference point for elementary readers interested in science. A good addition to a grade school library.–Jessica Durham

Factology: Greek Myths. 96p. (Factology). Button Bks. Aug. 2025. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781787081796.
Gr 2-8–There is an enduring demand for accessible, engaging books on Greek mythology, and this title is a strong addition to the genre. Organized in short, digestible chapters, the book explores Greek cosmology, major gods and goddesses, legendary heroes, mythical creatures, and iconic stories. The visual appeal is immediate: golden age comic book–style illustrations and dynamic layouts filled with call-out boxes, trivia, and factoids will capture the attention of reluctant and enthusiastic readers alike. Notably, the introductory chapter offers a valuable explanation of what myths are, why they matter, and how they continue to influence culture today, an important foundation often overlooked in similar texts. The chapter on the gods includes helpful quick-reference elements, such as symbols, skills, personality traits, and core myths associated with each deity. Back matter includes a quiz and glossary for further fun and education. VERDICT Highly recommended for elementary and middle grade nonfiction collections, especially in libraries serving readers who enjoy mythology, the Percy Jackson series, and visually engaging informational texts.–Rachel Joiner

Dolbear, Emily J. The World Almanac 2,501 Incredible Facts for Kids on World Cup Soccer. 216p. Skyhorse. Sept. 2025. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9781510782235.
Gr 3-5–Built more for established soccer fans than newbies exploring the sport, this is packed with photos and snackable information on rules of the game, pivotal matches through history, and star players from men’s and women’s teams. Each chapter consists of a series of lists with anywhere from five to 75 facts on a given topic. These tidbits are connected to the sport, but not explicitly soccer-related: a fact about young Ghandi starting a football (as soccer is better known internationally) association from “50 Facts About the Origins of Football” is followed by more information about his historical significance. This volume is built for browsing more than research, despite a thorough index in the back matter. Lists with titles like “24 Football Quotes You Need to Hear” read like clickbait articles. The lists and chapters could easily be read in any order, and the format itself appeals to ways in which students enjoy consuming information, particularly those working on their reading endurance. VERDICT Catnip for elementary school soccer enthusiasts looking to bulk up their trivia knowledge.–Alexandra Quay

Goldfield, Anna. A Compendium of Curious Contraptions: A Guessing Game About History’s Most Unusual Artifacts. illus. by Paula Zamudio. 64p. Neon Squid. Sept. 2025. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781684494538.
Gr 3-6–Drawing on historical objects from a range of places and times, this lift-the-flap exploration of history’s mysteries is a quirky, engaging read. From Arctic snow goggles to automatons, readers explore clues to uncover the uses of a range of brightly illustrated historical artifacts; by lifting a flap they can find the answer. However, not all curious contraptions can be decoded, and the book includes the as-yet mysterious dodecahedron, dating back almost 2,000 years, that have been found across Europe. Theories abound, and the chance that readers might actually unravel this historical mystery feels possible, not patronizing. Eclectic information makes the book useful to readers who are browsing and exploring but it may not be as useful as a reference tool for those in search of specific information. However, the book will certainly spark questions and could easily launch a range of inquiries for readers faced with their first research project. For those who enjoy random facts, bite-sized information, and occasionally gross history, this book will offer them even more fuel for their curiosity. VERDICT A must-purchase text for history sleuths as well as for general use in schools or in classroom library reference collection.–Jen McConnel

Jazynka, Kitson. TIME for Kids: Big Cats, Small Cats: 101 Cats You Need to Know! 96p. (TIME for Kids). Penguin. Aug. 2025. pap. $8.99. ISBN 9780593891407.
Gr 2-5–This alphabetic exploration of cats offers nearly 100 pages of colorful photographs and short descriptions, from Abyssinian to the York Chocolate cat, that will appeal to any cat lover. Although not a research guide, the facts supplied about each cat are catchy and diverse, including historical information, facts about global locations, and quirky details that will likely stick in readers’ minds. The tiny killer, the Black-Footed Cat, lives in Africa and can eat 3,000 rodents each year; Taylor Swift has a Ragdoll named Benjamin Button. With colorful close-up portraits, uncluttered layouts that balance text and image effectively for skimming as well as deeper reading, and a back matter of big cat sanctuaries around the United States, this title will have a high circulation among feline-friendly readers. VERDICT A worthwhile text to add to any collection of animal facts and photographs.–Jen McConnel

Krensky, Stephen. TIME for Kids: 300 Fantastic Facts! Dinosaurs. 160p. (TIME for Kids). Penguin. Nov. 2025. pap. $9.99. ISBN 9798217051120.
Gr 3-5–This book features 300 unique facts. Readers can learn all about dinosaurs during the time that they roamed the Earth, and what happened to them after they died out. Chapters are in chronological order, beginning with an introduction on the topic and some stats. The text is comprised of rapid-fire factoids across the pages, making it great for reluctant readers. Spreads are paired with stock imaginings (and sometimes photographs where appropriate) of dinosaurs and what they left behind. Where this book falls short is the back matter--there’s no mention of resources, nor is Krensky an expert on this subject matter. There are some museums listed for further learning, but no other books or web references noted. Beyond this, there is no pronunciation guide for myriad difficult words related to the topic of dinosaurs. VERDICT While full of facts to engage reluctant readers, this book will leave many readers wanting more.–Sarah Clarke

Lonely Planet Kids: A Kid’s Guide to New York City. ISBN 9781837585243.
––––. Lonely Planet Kids: A Kid’s Guide to Paris. ISBN 9781837585281.
––––. Lonely Planet Kids: A Kid’s Guide to Rome. ISBN 9781837585267.
ea vol: 144p. (Lonely Planet Kids Guides). Lonely Planet. May 2025. Tr $16.99.
Gr 2-5–Despite their reputation for producing quirky travel guides with hidden gems and travel itineraries, these “Lonely Planet Kids Guides” books will not help readers navigate their way around the respective cities. Instead, these guides serve more as an armchair vacation, filled with images and interesting facts in the DK-style of nonfiction text, but formatted more like a chapter book, from size to organization. With the exception of two chapters, the books are each split into the same sections, starting with a “how to use this book” that includes a few key phrases in the language of the location (New York just tells readers that “NYC is another way to say New York City”), as well as suggestions for interesting sections to check out, giving readers the permission to flip through the book as they wish rather than the expectation that the sections should be read in order. Each volume includes general reference maps of each city with some features and points of interest labeled, as well as a map of the city’s Metro (or subway, in the case of New York). Although the information is generic, it does offer a starting orientation for visualizing the location. Those looking for specific travel details will need to look elsewhere. The colorful images and vibrant design make these pop. The combination of image-heavy layouts with bite-sized text blocks on every page makes these books eye-catching and engaging, perfect for skimming and daydreaming, but also useful as a reference source to gather specific information about the cities. The “Going Green” section is worth noting, drawing attention through multiple pages to the green spaces and natural features of these urban centers, offering a nuanced overview of each city for young travel researchers. VERDICT Purchase as reference material and eye-candy to encourage daydreaming–Jen McConnel

Our World in Numbers: Planet Earth. 192p. (DK Our World in Numbers). DK. May 2025. Tr $21.99. ISBN 9780593969052.
Gr 1-4–Earth is a fascinating place full of numbers, and this highly stylized encyclopedia has facts to fill the head of every grade schooler who ever uttered, “Did you know?” Each spread could easily find its home as a poster in a classroom, with a title, a small paragraph to set the scene, and at least 10 facts; there are also top 10 lists throughout. The focus is on the facts themselves, especially the numbers, which are often in a larger font than the words; the facts are in different colors and different sizes, but the type of font remains the same. Each fact is separated from the others by lines, making it easier to differentiate them from one another. Pictures and photographs are mostly used as background. Chapters showcase different aspects of Earth, such as facts about bodies of water, facts related to people, etc. The most interesting chapter focuses on how Earth has changed over billions of years and how severe weather and climate change hastens that. Back matter includes a glossary and index. VERDICT A great coffee table (or spread-out-on-the-floor) picture book for older elementary readers.–Jessica Durham

Middle/High

Arndt, Thomas. Media Bias: Examining the Facts. 200p. (Contemporary Debates). Bloomsbury. Apr. 2025. Tr $75. ISBN 9781440880353.
Gr 7 Up–Framed around 31 questions, this title addresses the topic of media bias in the United States. With broad categories like “the nature of bias,” “opinions and editorialization,” “liberal bias,” “conservative bias,” and others, the book is designed for easy navigation, allowing students to easily find the topic they are interested in. Each question is accompanied by narrative sections that answer and offer more facts. The further reading section at the end of each question offers a short bibliography, but without annotations or commentary to guide readers in their inquiry. While there is a lot to like about this text—the way the author emphasizes that bias is simply human preference, and that it is impossible for any human to be without bias—some of the information already feels dated and incomplete. For example, one question asks if sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Google Search are built on liberal-leaning algorithms, without any discussion of major contemporary changes in these sites, or the roles of the individuals behind them. Elon Musk is mentioned once, in answer to a different question: The vision behind Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter is essentially explained as “to eliminate the bias and make the forum a true public square where everyone can fairly have their points be shared (of course excluding—in theory—any kind of hateful or inciteful speech).” Although the series that includes this book exists to “clear the air surrounding some of the most contentious and misunderstood issues of our time—not just add another layer of obfuscation and uncertainty to the debate”—the academic narrative voice will likely add confusion for the intended high school audience. With guidance from expert research librarians, this text may prove useful as a starting point for inquiry, and sections from the text may aid in preparing students for large debates. VERDICT Consider purchasing as part of a larger collection on topics for debate and inquiry as a resource rich in topics to spark thinking.–Jen McConnel

Fullman, Joe. The Maps and Flags Book: Explore Amazing Facts, Maps, and Flags of the World. illus. by Andy Rowland. 96p. Buster Bks. Sept. 2025. Tr $22.99. ISBN 9781837250967.
Gr 4-6–Explanations and illustrations of maps and flags are explored in this colorful and informative volume. Through prose and pictures, readers learn about diverse types of maps, including political, physical, and thematic. An explanation of the components of flags is provided, and the chapters on the flags are organized by continents. However, the real draw of the book is an illustration of every national flag along with facts about respective symbols. The flag of Nepal is the only flag with more than four sides, Switzerland’s flag is square, many African countries’ flags contain Pan-African colors, and more. Animal narrators contribute, as when a parrot explains the chosen colors of Brazil’s flag. Data is presented in a digestible way, and students will find this a useful reference for reports, which often require flag drawings. Those curious about cartography and vexillology will enjoy browsing through this volume. VERDICT Easy to absorb information presented in readable prose and bright drawings make this volume a welcome addition to collections. Selectors should consider.–Margaret Nunes

Holte, James Craig. Pandemics in American Popular Culture: Depicting Disease and Confronting Contagion. 280p. Bloomsbury. Apr. 2025. Tr $100. ISBN 9781440880940.
Gr 9 Up–Nearly 100 entries arranged in alphabetical order treat popular literary and art works with themes from the wide range of pandemics that have directly inspired them. Each essay provides cultural and artistic context, as well as a description of the precipitating pandemic—some imagined, most actual—that authors, playwrights, filmmakers, and others have interpreted for popular audiences. Running two to three pages, with two to four references for additional follow-up, these are thorough; fluent, although necessarily dense; accurately detailed; and highly informative. While AIDS and COVID-19 may be the most familiar to readers, influenza, cholera, and bubonic plague are also well-represented, as are pandemics that have featured in some science fiction as arising from actual historical events, such as nuclear disaster. Author and Professor Emeritus (English and Film Studies) Holte proves even-handed in his presentations. Back matter includes an index. VERDICT A valuable reference tool for advanced placement students, undergraduates, and for large public libraries serving those interested in culture and disease, and the influences of the latter on the former.–Francisca Goldsmith

Lloyd, Christopher, ed. Britannica All New Kids’ Encyclopedia: Updated Edition - What We Know & What We Don’t. illus. by Mark Ruffle & Jack Tite. 424p. What On Earth Bks. Sept. 2025. Tr $35. ISBN 9781804661505.
Gr 4-8–Visually rich and comprehensive, this updated encyclopedia is a standout resource for curious middle grade readers. Organized thematically across eight chapters, from the cosmos to world history, it presents a wide range of topics with clarity and energy. Young readers will find answers to big questions across science, history, culture, and beyond, while also encountering the many things we don’t yet know, inviting wonder and further inquiry. The book’s layouts are colorful and well-structured, combining vivid images and illustrations with text features that are ideal for building nonfiction literacy. Captions, timelines, maps, labeled diagrams, glossaries, quizzes, and an index provide strong support for teaching how to navigate and comprehend informational texts. Teachers will find this a useful tool for reading instruction focused on nonfiction structures and features. Content is both broad and inclusive. Women scientists are well-represented, and world cultures appear throughout. Every spread makes excellent use of visuals like graphs, charts, and infographics to deepen understanding, especially useful in building scientific and mathematical literacy. The engaging format also makes it suitable for independent exploration, ideal for kids who are always asking “why” and “how.” Whether used for research, classroom support, or pleasure reading, this is a high-quality, multipurpose reference. VERDICT Highly recommended for both school and public libraries seeking to support STEM learning, global awareness, and reading skills.–Christina Salazar

Catherine, Niki. TIME for Kids: Spectacular Sea Creatures: 101 Animals You Need to Know! 96p. pap. $8.99. ISBN 9780593888421.
Locher, Wes. TIME for Kids: 300 Fantastic Facts: Space! 160p. pap. $9.99. ISBN 9780593888025.
ea vol: (TIME for Kids). Penguin. Apr. 2025.
Gr 3-7–These vibrant nonfiction companions from “TIME for Kids” deliver fast-paced, engaging science content in a format that’s as fun as it is informative. Spectacular Sea Creatures reads like a compact ocean encyclopedia, with each page bursting with color and fascinating facts. Organized alphabetically, the book introduces readers to familiar marine animals and lesser-known species (leaf sheep, anyone?). Each entry includes a full common name, Latin name, and a punchy paragraph of facts, with fun callouts sprinkled throughout. 300 Fantastic Facts!: Space blasts off with a broad look at space exploration before diving into planetary facts, asteroids, and more. A bold, colorful layout and digestible blurbs of information make this an ideal launch point for budding astronomers. Both titles strike a strong balance between educational value and kid appeal, making them excellent additions to elementary and middle school nonfiction collections, especially where high-interest science books are in demand. VERDICT Highly recommended for libraries serving readers who devour fact books or have an interest in animals or outer space.–Jenna LaBollita

Pérez, Jackie. Sally Ride: Breaking Barriers and Defying Gravity. 240p. (Women Making History). ABC-CLIO. Apr. 2025. Tr $68. ISBN 9781440874895.
Gr 8 Up–Sally Ride was already many things before her historic flight as the first American woman in space in 1982—a Doctor of Physics from Stanford, a nearly professional tennis player, and a product of her time in so many ways, all of which is evidenced by this addition in the “Women Making History” series. Covering her many achievements at NASA and as a public figure for women in STEM, the focus remains on Ride being the most qualified for her various positions throughout her life, regardless of gender. The struggles of the fiercely private Ride as she was thrust into public life are given large swaths of the book, as well as how Ride’s experience gave credibility and weight to the Challenger explosion investigation. The revelation after her death of Ride’s partnership of 27 years with Tam O’Shaughnessy adds a new lens to this biography, giving possible insight into why Ride chose to never disclose her sexuality during her lifetime. Longer notes explain historical context, scientific processes, and various other tidbits to make the general flow of the book smoother. Back matter includes two appendices (one about women in aviation history and the other chronicling the NASA missions prior to Ride’s first flight), a transcript of the full interview Ride gave to the NASA Oral History Project, and an index. VERDICT An excellent introduction to an American pioneer and a good segue into classroom discussions of the upcoming Artemis expeditions.–Jessica Durham