Take a look at these exciting nonfiction titles published in October. Enjoy and learn!
PRIMARY NONFICTION
Around the World in 80 Tales by Saviour Pirotta (ill. by Richard Johnson). 9780753475089. 2018. Gr PK-3.
Readers will learn about countries on six continents through folktales from 80 different storytelling traditions.
Contrary Creatures : Unique Animal Opposites by James Weinberg. 9781624145803. 2018. Gr PK-2.
Weinberg introduces pairs of animal opposites. He goes beyond traditional opposites like color and size to include animal behaviors such as migration and sleep schedules. He also includes animals from stories.
Earthrise : Apollo 8 and the Photo That Changed the World by James Gladstone (ill. by Christy Lundy). 9781771473163. 2018. Gr PK-3.
This picture book tells the story of Apollo 8 and the iconic photograph the astronauts took as they orbited the moon. The photo, “Earthrise,” became a galvanizing image that helped bring people together in the tumultuous year of 1968.
Eye Spy : Wild Ways Animals See the World by Guillaume Duprat. 9781999802851. 2018. Gr 1-4.
Young readers will learn about the eyes and eyesight of different animals.
Flow, Spin, Grow : Looking for Patterns in Nature by Patchen Barss & Todd Stewart. 9781771472876. 2018. Gr PK-3.
This picture book highlights a variety of patterns found in the world around us in featured images from branches on trees to the swirl of a snail’s shell.
Fly With Me : A Celebration of Birds by Jane Yolen, Heidi Semple, Adam Semple, & Jason Stemple. 9781426331817. 2018. Gr PK-3.
This collection of articles, pictures, stories, and verse celebrates the science of birds. It uncludes facts about birds under topics such as migration, conservation, and prehistoric birds; stories of bird rescues; a list of bird-themed films; myths and fables; and bird records.
Hello Winter! By Shelley Rotner. 9780823439768. 2018. Gr PK-2.
Color photographs and simple text introduce young readers to the changes that take place during winter.
The Hen Who Sailed Around the World by Buirec Soudee. 9780316448840. 2018. Gr PK-3.
For 3 ½ years, Soudee traveled around the world on his yacht—and with his hen, Monique. His adventure is told with photographs including landscapes as well as selfies of the two travelers. Readers will enjoy seeing a hen in all sorts of situations and unlikely places.
Kids Cooking : Students Prepare and Eat Foods from Around the World by George Ancona. 9780763698768. 2018. Gr PK-1.
Four diverse groups of kids make meals from all over the world. While learning how to find their way around a kitchen and prepare food, they also learn about other cultures.
Stretch to the Sun : From a Tiny Sprout to the Tallest Tree on Earth by Carrie A. Pearson (ill. by Susan Swan). 9781580897716. 2018. Gr K-3.
Learn about the life of a coast redwood tree, the many plants and animals that live in the ecosystem it provides, and the dangers it has survived through its 1200 years of life.
We Build Our Homes by Laura Knowles & Chris Madden. 9781910277829. 2018. Gr PK-2.
Animals and birds build many different types of homes. Each animal has its own reasons for creating its home the way it does. They use different materials and have different methods to build, and their homes include dens, webs, mud nests, and many more.
We’ve Got the Whole World in Our Hands by Rafael Lopez. 9781338177367. 2018. Gr PK-1.
(Also check out the bilingual Spanish/English version.)
Lopez adapts the song “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” to a song about tolerance, friendship, and diversity throughout the world. The sheet music is included in the back.
Who Are You Calling Weird? : A Celebration of Strange and Wonderful Animals by Marilyn Singer & Paul Davis. 9780760363393. 2018. Gr PK-2.
Animals come in all shapes and sizes, but some of them are downright weird. Not only do they look strange, but their behavior, homes, and diet are also odd—but there is always a reason for the oddity. Young readers will find this colorful picture book fascinating and informative.
PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHIES
The Diamond and the Boy : The Creation of Diamonds & the Life of H. Tracy Hall by Hannah Holt (ill. by Jay Fleck). 9780062659033. 2018. Gr PK-3.
This picture book presents a narrative describing how diamonds are naturally created alongside a biography of H. Tracy Hall, an inventor who developed a machine that creates diamonds. It examines what makes diamonds so special and the obstacles Hall had to overcome in order to invent his revolutionary machine.
Dr. Jo : How Sara Josephine Baker Saved the Lives of America’s Children by Monica Kulling (ill. by Julianna Swaney). 9781101917893. 2018. Gr K-3.
Sara was a strong girl who grew up in the 1800s, when that was not a common or welcome trait in girls. When her brother and father died from typhoid fever, she was determined to become a doctor, even though medical schools did not admit women. She got her medical degree and faced prejudice against female doctors, but she persisted and is a great example for girls then and now
Eliza : The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton by Margaret McNamara (ill. by Esme Shapiro). 9781524765880. 2018. Gr PK-3.
Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton was the wife of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. This biography describes her early years as the child of a wealthy, influential family in New York, her unexpected relationship with Alexander, and after his death, the work she did in preserving his memory and legacy.
No Small Potatoes : Junius G. Groves and His Kingdom in Kansas by Tonya Bolden (ill. by Don Tate). 9780385752763. 2018. Gr PK-3.
Former slave Junius G. Groves migrated to Kansas after being set free, taught himself math and how to read and write, and worked for next to nothing on a small potato farm. He used his hard-earned money to rent the land, and through hard work and perseverance he slowly built a potato empire with 500 acres that outproduced every other farm in the world.
Reach Higher : An Inspiring Photo Celebration of First Lady Michelle Obama by Amanda Lucidon. 9780525644002. 2018. Gr K-3.
Here Amanda Lucidon has adapted her adult book Chasing Light for children, describing what made the Obamas so historic. She also explains the role of the White House photographer and takes readers on a tour of some of the famous rooms there, where Michelle Obama did some of her work. Lucidon also points out what qualities the First Lady had that made her just as incredible as the President.
Regina Persisted : An Untold Story by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso (ill. by Margeaux Lucas). 9781681155401. 2018. Gr 1-4.
In 1935 Germany, Regina Jonas became the first woman to be ordained as a rabbi. An afterword places Jonas’ story in historical context with Nazi Germany and discusses female ordinations in Jewish movements.
Starstruck : The Cosmic Journey of Neil DeGrasse Tyson by Kathleen Krull & Paul Brewer (ill. by Frank Morrison). 9780399550249. 2018. Gr PK-3.
Krull and Brewer introduce Neil DeGrasse Tyson, an entertaining and interesting scientist who became interested in astronomy as a child when he visited the Hayden Planetarium. Young sky watchers will be inspired by the efforts Tyson put in to buy his first telescope, by his curiosity, and by his passion and enthusiasm for the night sky.
INTERMEDIATE NONFICTION
America Border Culture Dreamer : The Young Immigrant Experience from A to Z by Wendy Ewald. 9780316484954. 2018. Gr 3-6.
This picture book for intermediate students use the alphabet as a framework to discuss the experiences of first- and second-generation immigrants from all over the world.
Apollo 8 : The Mission That Changed Everything by Martin W. Sandler. 9780763694890. 2018. Gr 4-6.
People in the United States were discouraged by Cold War relations with Russia, our lagging in the space race, and the violence of the civil rights movement. The mission of Apollo 8 was originally to orbit the Earth, but when rumors were heard that the Soviets planned to orbit the moon, NASA changed its agenda: Apollo 8 would orbit the moon and be the first to see its dark side.
Avalanche Dog Heroes : Piper and Friends Learn to Search the Snow by Elizabeth Rusch. 9781632171733. 2018. Gr 2-5.
A border collie named Piper shows young readers how she’s trained to save people who are caught in avalanches. The book includes diagrams and resources for further information.
Awesome Minds : Video Game Creators by Alejandro Arbona. 9781947458222. 2018. Gr 4-6.
William Higginbotham, Shigeru Miyamoto, Donna Bailey are just three of the amazing pioneers in who made a hobby into the video game industry it is today.
Christmas : From Solstice to Santa (Orca Origins) by Nikki Tate & Dani Tate-Stratton. 9781459813557. 2018. Gr 4-6.
Christmas is the sixth title in the Orca Origins series, which presents colorful titles and interesting facts about where holidays started and how they are celebrated.
Continental Drift : The Evolution of Our World from the Origins of Life to the Far Future by Martin Ince. 9781499806342. 2018. Gr 2-5.
The world’s continents have not always been where they are today. Readers will learn where the continents used to be and how they moved to where they are today, as well as their ecosystems, climate, and animals at various times in history.
Endurance, Young Readers Edition : My Year in Space and How I Got There by Scott Kelly. 9781524764241. 2018. Gr 4-6.
In this young readers edition of U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly’s memoir, Kelly describes his New Jersey childhood, his early years with his twin brother Mark, his career at NASA, and his record-breaking time in space.
Everest by Sangma Francis & Lisk Feng. 9781911171997. 2018. Gr 4-6.
Readers will love this collection of illustrated facts and trivia about the science, history, and legends of Mount Everest.
How Do Bridges Not Fall Down? : A Book about Architecture and Engineering by Jennifer Shand (ill. by Srimalie Bassani). 9781486714858. 2018. Gr 2-5.
Readers are presented with questions about architecture and encouraged to guess before being presented with the answer. The science behind bridges, arches, locks, skyscrapers, and more is explained with interesting descriptions, diagrams, and photos.
Hubots : Real-World Robots Inspired by Humans by Helaine Becker (ill. by Alex Ries). 9781771387859. 2018. Gr 4-6.
Many human-made devices and products are created from looking at nature, but this book describes how studying humans has helped to design robots and expand their capabilities.
If da Vinci Painted a Dinosaur by Amy Newbold (ill. by Greg Newbold). 9780884486671. 2018. Gr 2-5.
In this sequel to If Picasso Painted a Snowman, the Newbolds offer their ideas on what some iconic paintings would look like if their painters had used dinosaurs as subjects. Along with eliciting lots of giggles, this book should spark creativity as well.
Kid Scientists : True Tales of Children from Science Superstars by David Stabler (ill. by Anoosha Syed). 9781683690740. 2018. Gr 4-7.
These true accounts describe the problems that famous scientists faced as children. It features scientists ranging from Jane Goodall who got in trouble as a child for keeping worms under her pillow to Stephen Hawking who was so disinterested in school that he did not learn to read until he was eight years old.
Stowing Away with the Vikings (Time Travel Guides) by Linda Bailey & Bill Slavin. 9781771389877. 2018. Gr 3-5.
Three children are carried off on an adventure back in time to the Age of the Vikings and learn about the history of the era.
Wild Buildings and Bridges : Architecture Inspired by Nature by Etta Kaner & Carl Wiens. 9781771387811. 2018. Gr 4-6.
Check out this range of human-made architecture inspired by nature, like a flood-proof house that floats on water like a lily-pad, or a building that uses a trick from the cactus to beat the heat.
MIDDLE SCHOOL NONFICTION
Backyard Bears : Conservation, Habitat Changes, and the Rise of Urban Wildlife (Scientists in the Field) by Amy Cherrix. 9781328858689. 2018. Gr 5-8.
Scientists examine North Carolina’s black bear population. Once a threatened species, it is now rising in number and their territory is now encroaching on human communities. They study this issue and ask questions about whether humans and bears can live side-by-side, and what are possible consequences to conservation efforts.
Code Girls : Young Readers Edition : The True Story of the American Women Who Secretly Broke Codes in World War II by Liza Mundy. 9780316353731. 2018. Gr 4-7.
Recently unclassified documents have uncovered the true story of American women who served the U.S. Army and Navy as code breakers during World War II. Mundy describes how tens of thousands of women were recruited by the U.S. military to work as cryptanalysts, and how their contributions helped save lives and end the war.
Conspiracy of Ravens by Leah Moore, John Reppion, & Sally Jane Thompson. 9781506708836. 2018. Gr 6-12.
This graphic novel presents the story of a teenage girl who inherits an old locket and a decrepit mansion, where she finds out that she has also inherited fantastic abilities. Other families are also involved in this magical legacy, but not all of them want to use their powers for good.
Dive In! : Exploring Our Connection with the Ocean (Footprints) by Ann Eriksson. 9781459815865. 2018. Gr 4-7.
The author, who became an advocate for oceans after she learned to scuba-dive as a teen, shares her passion. She explains how important the ocean is for life on earth, and how overfishing and pollution are endangering the marine ecosystem. She provides some examples of what kids can do to help, whether or not they live near a beach.
Fakers : An Insider’s Guide to Cons, Hoaxes, and Scams by H.P. Wood (ill. by David Clark). 9781580897433. 2018. Gr 5-8.
Stories of hoaxes, scams, and tricksters are found throughout history. Wood breaks down how such fakers operate and offers tips on spotting and avoiding them.
A History of Pictures for Children : From Cave Paintings to Computer Drawings by David Hockney & Martin Gayford (ill. by Rose Blake). 9781419732119. 2018. Gr 6-8.
Young readers will learn about art history from cave painting to video games. The authors explain the importance of art to the human experience, explore how each medium is created, and describe artistic inventions that pushed the evolution of art from primitive tools to computer code.
Lafayette! : A Revolutionary War Tale (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales) by Nathan Hale. 9781419731488. 2018. Gr 4-7.
Nathan Hale’s latest humorous graphic novel from history is about Gilbert du Motier, who became the Marquis de Lafayette at an early age. He decided he wasn’t satisfied with just his position, so he boarded a ship at eighteen, became a major general at age nineteen, and journeyed to America to help fight for their independence against the British.
Martin and Bobby : A Journey Toward Justice by Claire Rudolf Murphy. 9781641600101. 2018. Gr 6-9.
Murphy chronicles the lives and final days of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy. The two men’s work often intersected, but they were wary of each other until their mutual challenging and testing helped them become allies in the fight against poverty and racism.
The School’s on Fire! : A True Story of Braver, Tragedy, and Determination by Rebecca C. Jones. 9780912777627. 2018. Gr 5-8.
In December 1958, a fire killed 92 students and three teachers at Chicago’s Our Lady of the Angels School. This tragedy led to changes in fire safety regulations for schools. The author includes a section about staying safe during a fire.
Science Comics :The Brain : The Ultimate Thinking Machine by Tory Woollcott & Alex Graudins. 9781626728004. 2018. Gr 4-8.
When Fahama is kidnapped by a mad scientist and his zombie assistant who plan on stealing her brain, and she’ll need to learn all she can about the brain in order to come up with a plan of escape. The graphic novel format is an entertaining way to teach young learners about the brain.
Smithsonian : Timelines of Everything by Smithsonian. 9781465474933. 2018. Gr 4-8.
The history of the world is told through illustrations and timelines for young readers. With topics ranging from dinosaurs to bloodthirsty pirates to espionage and beyond, this is a great selection for the kid who wants to know everything.
Something Rotten : A Fresh Look at Roadkill by Heather L. Montgomery (ill. by Kevin O’Malley). 9781681199009. 2018. Gr 4-8.
Scientists have made important discoveries from the study of roadkill, including that of several brand-new species. The author uses a humorous, conversational tone to describe what scientists do with roadkill and the many things they have learned—as well as her own efforts at necropsy and taxidermy, and talking with people who eat what they find.
Teen Trailblazers : 30 Fearless Girls Who Changed the World Before They Were 20 by Jennifer Calvert (ill. by Vesna Asanovic). 9781250200204. 2018. Gr 6-10.
What makes this collective biography stand out is that it features women who have accomplished remarkable things when they were still young—and often despite the shameful way women were often treated.
HIGH SCHOOL & ADULT CROSSOVER NONFICTION
Attucks! : Oscar Robertson and the Basketball Team That Awakened a City by Phillip Hoose. 9780374306120. 2018. Gr 7-12.
Hoose presents the true story of the first all-black high school basketball team, the Crispus Attucks Tigers. In 1955 as they became the first state champions and the first all-black team in U.S. history to win an open tournament.
Blacklisted! : Hollywood, the Cold War, and the First Amendment by Larry Dane Brimner. 9781620916032. 2018. Gr 7-12.
Brimner explores the history of blacklisting in Hollywood during the Cold War. The House of Representatives’ Committee on Un-American Activities, determined to find evidence of communist infiltration, grilled nineteen men from the film industry. When the artists insisted that these trials violated their First Amendment rights, ten were held in contempt of Congress and jailed; this was the beginning of blacklisting. Brimner’s narration will make a good starting point for discussing issues of civil rights today.
Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. 9780545902472. 2018. Gr 8-12.
In this graphic novel memoir, author and illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka describes growing up with an addict mother, a missing father, and two opinionated grandparents who raised him. He explains how he relied on his art to express himself and to survive the ups and downs of life.
History vs Women : The Defiant Lives That They Don’t Want You to Know by Anita Sarkeesian & Ebony Adams. 9781250146731. 2018. Gr 7-12.
Some of the go-to examples for teen girls (and adults!) looking for inspiration on women who changed the world are Maya Angelou, Frida Kahlo, and, more recently, Malala Yousafzia. But the 25 incredible women showcased in this book are not well known at all, providing readers with more icons to look up to.
In the Hurricane’s Eye : The Genius of George Washington and the Victory at Yorktown by Nathaniel Philbrick. 9780525426769. 2018. Gr 11-Adult.
Philbrick, known for his exciting narrative histories, turns his eye toward the last year of the American Revolution as it led up to the battle at Yorktown. Philbrick’s books are excellent for history lovers and for AP history classes.
Last Pick by Jason Walz. 9781626728905. 2018. Gr 7-12.
Aliens overrun Earth and begin collecting people from ages sixteen to sixty-five, leaving behind anyone they think is useless. Sixteen-year-old twins Sam and Wyatt hide from the aliens while trying to build alien tech to fight back. Along with a mismatched team of senior citizens, the twins navigate their way through a dystopic landscape as they search for their parents.
Lost Soul, Be at Peace by Maggie Thrash. 9780763694197. 2018. Gr 8-12.
Maggie Thrash presents a graphic memoir of her teenage years, specifically eleventh grade where she feels trapped by depression, ignored by her parents, and struggles with her lesbian identity. To top it off, her one source of comfort, Tommi the cat, goes missing in her huge house.
Modern Herstory : Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History by Blair Imani. 9780399582233. 2018. Gr 9-12.
The author celebrates a collection of seventy women and nonbinary individuals who have impacted societal change over the last century, including brief biographies of each and resources for further information.
Never Quit : How I Became a Special Ops Pararescue Jumper by Jimmy Settle & Don Rearden. 9781250139610. 2018. Gr 7-12.
The author describes his experiences as an Alaskan Pararescue Jumper, and as an elite Special Operations Rescue Jumper in Afghanistan where he was wounded battling the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
One Dirty Tree by Noah Van Sciver. 9781941250273. 2018. Gr 10—12.
The house number of one of Van Sciver’s boyhood homes was 133, which the kids nicknamed One Dirty Tree. In his memoir, he alternates between his adult life struggling to make a career as an artist and his childhood as part of a large, poor Mormon family, showing how events from his youth have influenced his current relationships.
We Say #NeverAgain : Reporting by the Parkland Student Journalists edited by Melissa Falkowski & Eric Garner. 9781984849960. 2018. Gr 8-12.
Student reporters from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School reflect on the events of Parkland shooting, chronicling the effects of the massacre, the villainization from right-wing extremists, and the student activism that followed. The book includes profiles of heroes from that day, interviews with politicians, along with color photographs and black-and-white images.
