Staff reviews: Nonfiction for childrenLike this list

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• Legendary Vikings of Early Scandinavia

  Harper, Benjamin

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  A great book for a young elementary age reader who has already devoured all the easy picture books on Vikings. Less ideal for an older kid who needs something for their school book report but still a beautifully illustrated snapshot account of these…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Ella Cara Deloria

  Dakota Language Protector

  Wilson, Diane, 1954-

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  For Ella Cara Deloria language and stories were at the heart of culture. When she found her people's language fading away, she made it her mission to study the Dakota language, record the stories so that they would not be lost, and try to help…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Your Fantastic Elastic Brain

  Stretch It, Shape It

  Deak, JoAnn M.

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  This informational book is a great introduction for kids to the brain, its components and functions, as well as neuroplasticity. Great for reading and exploring together. “If you aren’t willing to risk being wrong, you won’t take the chances that…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Becoming Beatrix

  the Life of Beatrix Potter and the World of Peter Rabbit

  O'Quinn, Amy M.

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  You may know Beatrix Potter as the author/illustrator of the Tales of Peter Rabbit and other books for children, but you may not know that she was also a scientist, farmer, and conservationist. This fascinating and detailed biography shares the full…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Next President

  the Unexpected Beginnings and Unwritten Future of America's Presidents

  Messner, Kate

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  Election years always welcome in a plethora of books on voting, civic engagement, and biographies of politicians. The Next President takes this popular subject and gives it an interesting twist: it looks at what future presidents were doing and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Tasty

  a History of Yummy Experiments

  Elliott, Victoria Grace

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  Did you know that humans have been making pickles since before recorded history? Find out other mind-blowing facts about food that will fundamentally change your understanding of the world in this lighthearted gem! - Baileigh

• Death Is Stupid

  Higginbotham, Anastasia

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  A thoughtful, beautiful, and straightforward book about dealing with death. Higginbotham invites children to explore ideas like: everyone dies & everyone will eventually experience the loss of a loved one; death is not a punishment, but it doesn't…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Paper Son

  the Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist

  Leung, Julie

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  This stunningly illustrated picture book follows the life of Tyrus Wong, the man behind the groundbreaking background art of the Disney classic movie, Bambi. When Tyrus was a child, the Chinese Exclusion Act stipulated that Chinese immigrants could…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Hello, Crochet Friends!

  Making Art, Being Mindful, Giving Back : Do What Makes You Happy

  Larson, Jonah

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  Hello, Crochet Friends! tells the story of Jonah in his own words. He was born in Ethiopia and adopted into an American family from Wisconsin. He had a lot of trouble in his early years in school, acting out and not being able to follow the rules,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Youngest Marcher

  the Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist

  Levinson, Cynthia

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  This is a picture book about Audrey Faye Hendricks who, at nine years old, was the youngest known child arrested during children's marches for civil rights in Birmingham, AL in 1963. This book does a wonderful job of telling her story in a way for…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• I'm Just No Good at Rhyming and Other Nonsense for Mischievous Kids and Immature Grown-ups

  Harris, Chris, 1970-

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  In the tradition of Shel Silverstein, Chris Harris’ collection of poems and ‘other nonsense’ gives elementary and middle grade readers plenty to think and laugh about. It’s really an impressive book – I found myself marveling at how many comical and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Can I Touch Your Hair?

  Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship

  Latham, Irene

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  When their teacher tells the class to pick a partner for a poetry project, Irene and Charles are stuck together by default. Charles is a gregarious black boy, and Irene is an extremely quiet white girl, and both wonder "How in the world is this…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• New Hands, New Life

  Robots, Prostheses and Innovation

  Mihailidis, Alex,

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  As an amputee myself, I was really excited to see this book. There aren't terribly many books for kids that explain how my prosthetic arm works—and even fewer books that do so simple language with such great photographs. I loved that there is a…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Dear Miss Breed

  True Stories of the Japanese American Incarceration During World War II and a Librarian Who Made a Difference

  Oppenheim, Joanne

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  Interested in WWII but want to know what was going on right here in the United States? Check out this account of Japanese-American children who were forced out of their homes and sent to live in horrible internment camps. This book records letters…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Are You An Echo?

  the Lost Poetry of Misuzu Kaneko

  Kaneko, Misuzu,

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  I love to read novels in verse, but I hate to admit, shorter poems often don't keep my attention unless they're really funny. However, Setsuo Yazaki has brought together the poems of Misuzu Kaneko in such a brilliant way, that I cannot stop thinking…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Women in Science

  50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World

  Ignotofsky, Rachel, 1989-

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  Captivating and whimsical illustrations will draw you into this book but the fascinating facts about women scientists throughout the ages will keep you turning pages. Open this book to any page and learn about an amazing person who has helped shape…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Symphony for the City of the Dead

  Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad

  Anderson, M. T.

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  A nonfiction book about the Siege of Leningrad and the composer Dimitri Shostakovich?! It may be an unusual topic for this age group, but author M.T. Anderson is up to the challenge! He has written a riveting, unforgettable account about the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Rad Women Worldwide

  Artists and Athletes, Pirates and Punks, and Other Revolutionaries Who Shaped History

  Schatz, Kate

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  Kate Schatz builds on her wonderful "Rad American Women A-Z" and takes her biographical storytelling worldwide. This is a great resource for kids to learn more about women in parts of the world that might not get enough attention in the classroom. I…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Amelia Lost

  the Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart

  Fleming, Candace

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  I thought I knew about Amelia Earhart before I read this book. She was a famous female pilot who just disappeared one day while trying to fly around the world, right? But did you know that she was not alone on that last flight? She had her…Read moreRead more of this annotation