Students learning to read, struggling to read, or reading at a level lower than their peers may shy away from nonfiction books. They may expect high-level vocabulary and dense paragraphs in thick historical tomes. Hi-lo nonfiction aims to meet readers where they are and inspire them to keep reading with accessible and engaging content. Trending topics to grab readers include strange animals, shoe collecting, and real history. It is exciting to include hi-lo nonfiction for teens this season, as accessible titles can be as hard to find as vintage Air Jordans.

Elementary

Kuehl, Ashley. Artificial Intelligence. ISBN 9798892327602.
––––. Censorship. ISBN 9798892327619.
––––. Climate Migrants. ISBN 9798892327626.
––––. Deepfakes. ISBN 9798892327657.
––––. Electric Vehicles. ISBN 9798892327633.
––––. NATO. ISBN 9798892327640.
ea vol: 32p. (In the News: Need to Know Set Two). Bearport/SilverTip. Jan. 2025. Tr $32.95.
Gr 5-8–This series presents fresh coverage of a variety of current topics, with the common thread that newsworthy events are happening in these fields. As these topics are hotly debated in media, all of these titles won’t please everyone. However, these titles may be highly sought after, especially for persuasive essay writing. The voices in the news section, which provides quotes from experts, journalists, and even presidents, would be useful for student researchers. Written at a second or third grade level, these books are recommended by the publisher for students in grades five to seven. VERDICT A must have for hi-lo students in need of debate topics.

Upper Elementary to Middle School

Abdo, Kenny. Adidas. ISBN 9781098287436.
––––. Air Jordan. ISBN 9781098287443.
––––. Converse. ISBN 9781098287450.
––––. New Balance. ISBN 9781098287467.
––––. Nike. ISBN 9781098287474.
––––. Vans. ISBN 9781098287481.
ea vol: 32p. (Sneakerheads). ABDO/Fly! Jan. 2025. Tr $34.22.
Gr 2 Up–Sneaker collectors (or wannabes) will love these titles. The series covers six popular shoe brands. Starting with the founding of each shoe company, these books follow their rise, the development of their most popular or collectible shoes, and sometimes even their decline or sale. Historical product photography and illustrated advertisements for the older sneakers are at the forefront of this series. Although they may be simple, these books will still please a devoted sneaker fan, with dates, facts, and statistics. The restock section near the end of each book covers what shoes from each brand are collectors’ items today. Written at a secondgrade reading level, these books will be crowd-pleasers for a wide audience from elementary through eighth grade. VERDICT A must-have for sneaker fans.

Abdo, Kenny. Arcade Games. ISBN 9781098287368.
––––. Console Games. ISBN 9781098287375.
––––. Handheld Games. ISBN 9781098287382.
––––. Lawn Games. ISBN 9781098287399.
––––. Online Games. ISBN 9781098287405.
––––. Tabletop Games. ISBN 9781098287412.
ea vol: 32p. (History of Games). ABDO/Fly! Jan. 2025. Tr $34.22.
Gr 2 Up–Readers will have fun learning about how humans have fun. This covers the chronological history of a variety of games. The video game histories are likely to be the biggest draw for this series; luckily four types of video games are covered in their own volumes. Inventors, notable innovators, and companies are included in these histories, as well as a short discussion of where these types of games are now. Fans of each type of game may be left wanting more information. These histories are short and simple, since they are written at a second grade reading level for a wide audience from second to eighth grade. VERDICT Purchase where needed for hi-lo readers.

Becker, Trudy. Anglerfish. ISBN 9798892503181.
––––. Aye-Ayes. ISBN 9798892503204.
––––. Sea Lampreys. ISBN 9798892503211.
Doty, Abby. Axolotls. ISBN 9798892503198.
––––. Shoebills. ISBN 9798892503228.
––––. Star-Nosed Moles. ISBN 9798892503235.
ea vol: 32p. (Creepy Creatures). North Star/Apex. Jan. 2025. Tr $31.35.
Gr 3-7–Are these creatures creepy, or fascinating? This series covers animals, including the anglerfish, the aye-aye, and the lamprey, that may have a scary reputation or be less than photogenic. Information about the life cycle, the predators or prey, and the habitat of each animal is covered. A glossary and comprehension questions help hi-lo readers to understand related biology concepts. Written at a second or third grade reading level but meant for readers in grades three to seven, and with the high-interest topic of creepy animals, this series may be a way to capture emerging readers who may not otherwise be interested in science. VERDICT A solid purchase for your hi-lo science collection.

Cooke, Tim. Amelia Earhart’s Last Flight. ISBN 9798765648162.
––––. The Haunted Stanley Hotel. ISBN 9798765648216.
––––. Secrets of the Sphinx. ISBN 9798765648209.
Jackson, Tom. The Ghost Ship Mary Celeste. ISBN 9798765648193.
––––. The Haunting of Bell Witch. ISBN 9798765648179.
––––. The Mystery of D.B. Cooper. ISBN 9798765648186.
ea vol: 32p. (That’s Strange!). Lerner/UpDog. Jan. 2025. Tr $30.65.
Gr 3-6–This series covers true stories of the weird and mysterious in very simple language. Written at a first-grade level but recommended by the publisher for readers in grades three to six, these books have one or two sentences per page and straightforward vocabulary. These real stories, like that of Amelia Earhart, are not covered in depth but left open ended for the reader to wonder about, or to try to learn more about. The Secrets of the Sphinx, for example, discusses little more than the fact that Ancient Egyptians built a sphinx, and no one knows why they built it. These strange stories may be more interesting and feel less infantile to those learning to read English for the first time or at an older age. VERDICT Fascinating mysteries for schools and classrooms that need materials for emerging readers.

Doty, Abby. Abyssinians. ISBN 9798892503051.
––––. American Shorthairs. ISBN 9798892503068.
––––. Bengals. ISBN 9798892503075.
––––. British Shorthairs. ISBN 9798892503082.
––––. Devon Rexes. ISBN 9798892503099.
––––. Exotic Shorthairs. ISBN 9798892503105.
––––. Maine Coons. ISBN 9798892503112.
––––. Persian Cats. ISBN 9798892503129.
––––. Ragdolls. ISBN 9798892503136.
––––. Scottish Folds. ISBN 9798892503143.
––––. Siamese Cats. ISBN 9798892503150.
––––. Sphynxes. ISBN 9798892503167.
ea vol: 32p. (Cat Breeds). North Star/Apex. Jan. 2025. Tr $31.35.
Gr 3-7–Simple reads for cat lovers, these titles cover very basic facts about different breeds. Each text begins with a slice-of-life scene of how each cat breed behaves in a domestic environment. Emerging readers who love cats will be enchanted by the pictures of cats at play and will be able to read the very simple text in these short books. For the real cat aficionados, these books may not have the detailed breed information they are looking for. Comprehension questions at the end of each book could be useful in an academic context. This series is written at a second grade reading level and meant for readers in grades three to seven. VERDICT Purchase where new readers are clamoring for cats.

Downs, Kieran. The Gulf War. ISBN 9798893042726.
––––. The Korean War. ISBN 9798893042733.
Neuenfeldt, Elizabeth. The War of 1812. ISBN 9798893042740.
––––. The War on Terror. ISBN 9798893042757.
ea vol: 24p. (War Histories). Bellwether/Torque. Jan. 2025. Tr $29.95.
Gr 3-7–This series covers past and more recent wars in American history. The expected names, dates, political figures, and weapons are included. They discuss the conflicts that led to the declaration of war and what happened after these wars ended. The Gulf War, Korean War, and War on Terror are sometimes missed or rushed through in classrooms, especially for younger grades, and these titles offer and introduction to these conflicts. Although there are glossaries at the end of the text, some terms would have benefited from in-text explanations. Readers are not given context for terms like “Communists” or “Islamists” unless they read the glossary. Anti-war protests are only lightly touched on in the section concerning the homefront of the wars. Written at a third grade reading level, the publisher recommends this series for grades three to seven. VERDICT An additional purchase where hi-lo historical information is needed.

Lake, Theia. Aerospace Engineer. ISBN 9781482469189.
––––. Detective. ISBN 9781482469219.
––––. ER Doctor. ISBN 9781482469240.
––––. Fighter Jet Pilot. ISBN 9781482469271.
––––. Pyrotechnician. ISBN 9781482469301.
––––. Volcanologist. ISBN 9781482469332.
ea vol: 32p. (High-Octane Careers). Gareth Stevens. Jan. 2025. Tr $28.27.
Gr 3-6–These titles encourage hi-lo readers to imagine a thrilling future by describing the duties, skills, and details of different exciting career paths. The hard and soft skills, education requirements, and ways to explore your interest now are discussed. Careers that require a high level of education, like emergency room doctors or aerospace engineers, are included in this series, encouraging readers who may be reading below grade level now to dream big. This series would be a great fit for classrooms doing career research projects. This series is written at a first or second grade reading level but recommended for students in grades three to six. VERDICT An excellent choice for upper elementary careers projects.

Luján, Jarred. Alone in the Wild. illus. by Mat Edwards. ISBN 9781669082125.
––––. Planes in Peril. illus. by Alex Oxton. ISBN 9781669082200.
Turner, Myra Faye. Deep Freeze Danger. illus. by Mark Simmons. ISBN 9781669082040.
––––. Trapped Underground. illus. by Daniele Dickmann. ISBN 9781669082286.
ea vol: 48p. (True Survival Graphics). Capstone. Jan. 2025. Tr $37.99.
Gr 4-8–The titles in this exciting series of graphic novels each cover three stories of survival that really happened. Some of the stories begin with a bad decision or mistake, while others begin with an accident like a fall or a cave-in. Each story ends with the survival of the main person the story is about, although not all of their friends are as lucky. The fascinating story of Ada Blackjack from Deep Freeze Danger will leave readers wanting to learn more immediately. An Alaskan native, Ada was the only woman on a far north expedition, and the only survivor. These graphic novels are written at a third grade level and recommended by the publisher for grades four through six, although as all the biographies are of adults, older readers may enjoy them, too. VERDICT A great choice where graphic novels are popular or used to support reading.

Troup, Roxanne. Deer Hunting. ISBN 9798893042825.
––––. Duck Hunting. ISBN 9798893042832.
––––. Elk Hunting. ISBN 9798893042849.
––––. Pheasant Hunting. ISBN 9798893042856.
––––. Turkey Hunting. ISBN 9798893042863.
––––. Wild Hog Hunting. ISBN 9798893042870.
ea vol: 24p. (On the Hunt). Bellwether/Epic. Jan. 2025. Tr $29.95.
Gr 3-8–The books in this series discuss the basics of hunting organized by type of animal. Not a philosophical text on the morality of hunting, these books do discuss the benefits of hunting for population control and the reduction of invasive species. Vocabulary about hunting and the animals themselves, gear, preparation, and licensing are all covered in these short titles. Worldwide maps of the range of these animals and pictures of the animals in their habitats provide visual aids. They also discuss the importance of safety and strategies hunters use to keep themselves and others safe. Written at a fourth grade reading level, these books are recommended by the publisher for grades three to eight, so they would be appropriate for an elementary student reading at grade level or a middle school student reading below grade level. VERDICT A good purchase for communities with an interest in hunting.

Upper Middle School to High School

Bell, Samantha S. The Human Muscular System. ISBN 9781678209605.
Edwards, Sue Bradford. The Human Digestive System. ISBN 9781678209582.
Gagne, Tammy. The Human Respiratory System. ISBN 9781678209643.
––––. The Human Skeletal System. ISBN 9781678209629.
Xie, Chelsea. The Human Circulatory System. ISBN 9781678209681.
––––. The Human Nervous System. ISBN 9781678209667.
ea vol: 64p. (The Amazing Human Body). ReferencePoint/BrightPoint. Jan. 2025. Tr $33.95.
Gr 7-10–This series presents scientific medical information for teens reading below grade level, covering all of the major body systems in simple and understandable terms. Students could find these titles useful for research in their health and biology classes without the density and difficulty of a traditional textbook. Beginning with a real-life anecdote, each title starts with a story of how body systems can go wrong. The major portion of the text discusses the function of each body system including highlighted vocabulary, facts and statistics, and explanatory images. Common diseases and disorders related to each body system are included. Advanced vocabulary, like duodenum, is covered, but explained in simple terms. Although these are hi-lo books, they are not for new readers, with a reading level estimated at sixth or seventh grade, but with content appropriate for upper middle through high school. VERDICT A must purchase for high schools.

Hudak, Heather C. How to Evaluate Sources of Information. ISBN 9781678209742.
Streissguth, Tom. How to Identify False Information. ISBN 9781678209728.
Ventura, Marne. How to Identify Media Bias. ISBN 9781678209704.
––––. How to Identify Online Scams and Predators. ISBN 9781678209766.
Waldendorf, Kurt. How to Distinguish Fact from Opinion. ISBN 9781678209780.
ea vol: 64p. (Learn Media Literacy Skills). ReferencePoint/BrightPoint. Jan. 2025. Tr $33.95.
Gr 6 Up–Important skills for the digital age are simply explained in this series which covers a variety of media literacy skills, for a teen audience. Each book begins with a real-life example of the media literacy concept, ripped from the headlines. There is a historical overview on each topic, and a discussion on how the rise of the internet and especially social media has changed how information is shared. A librarian or English Language Arts teacher could easily integrate some of the content of these books into their media literacy instruction, although at 64 pages each, this collection is nearly textbook length. Described as hi-lo YA, this book is appropriate for upper middle to high school students and is written at approximately a sixth grade level. VERDICT A good supplement for hi-lo readers learning media literacy skills.

“High-Octane Careers” (Gareth Stevens) encourages hi-lo readers to explore exciting jobs, even jobs that require a high level of education, like volcanologists or emergency doctors. “Sneakerheads” (ABDO), a series full of glossy images of collectable shoes, has facts and statistics that budding collectors can share with friends. Readers will laugh out loud at some of the old shoe designs and admire the new ones. “True Survival Graphics” (Capstone) tells the stories of diverse groups of people surviving when nature or technology has turned against them. Finally, “Amazing Human Body” (ReferencePoint) successfully walks the line between understandable language and advanced medical information for a high school audience.

FALL 2025 SERIES MADE SIMPLE REVIEWS