Category: Nonfiction

Space is a popular area in a library and this book hits the mark between space and STEM. A beautifully, colorful story featuring Mae Jamison the first female African-American astronaut. The colors create a wonderful, almost fantastical element to the story. While the story itself is not an in-depth, complex look at Mae Jamison’s life, it provides an easily digestible story for young children that tells them to believe in themselves even when others might not.

Bibliographic Information

2018

ISBN: 978-0-06-265173-0

HarperCollins

New York, NY

Ages 5-7

Shackleton’s Journey is an amazing visual story surrounding Shackleton’s journey through Antarctica. The illustrations are drawn with colored pencils and serves as the best part of the story. While the book contains a variety of factual information surrounding Shackleton, it is bogged down by small print and perhaps a lack of flow. What it does is present a wonderful opportunity for discussion surrounding the illustrations and the value of how illustrations sometimes can tell a far better story.

Bibliographic Information

2014

ISBN: 978-1-909263-10-9

Flying Eye Books

New York, NY

Ages 6-10

Kids often question what is happening beneath their feet. This book allows for kids to interact with the world under them to see what exists in each layer. The book rolls outward, allowing each layer to be part of the story until the pages stretch across the floor. At the end you can turn it over and start working back up to the street beneath your feet. A wonderfully illustrated and interactive title to raise questions, answer ideas, and make science a little bit more fun.

Bibliographic Information

2017

ISBN: 978-1-68297-136-9

The Quarto Group

Lake Forest, CA

Ages 5+

Matt Lamothe’s new book showcases the idea while we all have many differences, there is something universal in how kids move through their day. Exposing children to new ideas and a global perspective is valuable as children grow and interact with the world. With a simple concept, highlighting various activities; kids can compare what they eat, how they play, and and how they write to find commonalities. The illustrations are detailed, colorful, and make the reader experience a realistic look at the world around them.

Bibliographic Information

2017

ISBN: 978-1-4521-5018-5

Chronicle Books

San Francisco, CA

Ages 5+

History is a complex subject that often is simplified to the detriment of young minds. While this title presents a complex issue surrounding the founding of our country and the political battles that continue to be waged. While this story does present the totality of history it does present an easily digestible story about how sometimes even when fighting people have to learn to work together. The illustrations are colorful and show off the story in an amazing way. If the story could highlight more complexity it would be a far better bit of nonfiction but unfortunately this story reads a little too much like fiction instead of the nonfiction it is.

Bibliographic Information

2011

ISBN: 978-0-525-47903-1

Penguin Group

New York, NY

Ages 6-8