Expository “Extras” with Katy S. Duffield

February 20, 2023 Stefanie Hohl

We are so excited to have Katy S. Duffield join us today to share information about Expository Nonfiction Picture Books!

I LOVE a good story. You know the feeling—falling headfirst into a good book with an enticing beginning, a flowing middle, and an oh-so-right ending—only to come out hours later asking: what time is it? Narrative storytelling (whether fiction or nonfiction) has a compelling “pull,” because it typically has conflict, a distinct story arc, and a satisfying ending.

But storytelling wasn’t a good fit for my topic when I was writing my nonfiction picture book, Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals (illustrated by the amazing Mike Orodán). If I’d wanted to write about one particular animal using a certain wildlife crossing, I could have written in a story-oriented narrative style. But what I most wanted was to feature a variety of fascinating crossings along with the wide range of animals that use them, so instead of narrative nonfiction, I knew expository fiction was the way to go.

(*for more about expository and narrative nonfiction, nonfiction structure types, and everything kidlit nonfiction, visit author Melissa Stewart’s website http://www.melissa-stewart.com).

But without “story,” I needed to come up with other ways to pull readers in. I asked myself: How can I write about wildlife crossings in an engaging way? So, I did what I often do—I dove headfirst into the books on my bookshelf. The expository nonfiction books I adore have all kinds of yummy—what I call “extras”—spare text, lyrical language, refrains, and a big dose of heart. These would be the elements that would make my manuscript sing!

Spare Text

The main text of the first manuscript that my editor saw was around 400 words (the book also includes layered text on each spread to expand on what is shown in the main text). Pretty spare, right? But my super-sharp editor had her super-sharp revision scissors at the ready. I’ll admit, I hesitated at first. I’d worked hard on my beginning “set-up” and on my evocative descriptions, but I pruned them even more. And…my editor was right. The final main text clocked in around 250 words and felt much “tighter” overall. Here’s a “before” and “after” example:

Original text:

The roar of the tide calls—a massive wave of red crabs floods the forest floor,

then scuttles up, up and OVER a specially-created crab bridge toward the ocean.

Final text as it appears in the book:

Refrain

Luckily (thankfully!), the refrain I used throughout the book: “Over. Under. Across. Through.” came to me quite early in the process. I wanted the piece to feel “active,” and since the text focuses on the animals’ movement throughout the crossings, using prepositions that denote movement seemed to be an interesting and appropriate choice. As a bonus, the refrain, (along with a focus on poetic word choice) added a lyrical element to the text.

Heart

I knew that the endangered animal topic would have a strong heartstring tug of its own, but I also wanted to highlight the people who care so much about these animals and how they go about helping them. My first attempt was okay, but I felt it needed more, so I kept working on it to find the just-right approach.

Original:

Animal-loving superheroes, don their capes, pick up their pencils, set their minds to Figure. It. Out.

And they come up with ideas, answers—

—Ideas and answers that will help save the world’s animals.

The following is a look at the revised text which has been reworded and tightened and, which now includes the “Over. Under” refrain. The addition of “opening their minds and their hearts” also allowed me to use a version of that phrasing on the final page which helped the text come full circle (bonus!):

For me, studying the elements of books I love can help me see my manuscript in news ways. So, if you’re working on a piece of expository nonfiction, don’t fret that you don’t have a built-in story. Instead, take a look at some of the expository nonfiction books that you love and see what “extras” you can find to enhance your work-in-progress.

Happy writing!

Thanks so much for joining us, Katy!

You can find Katy on her website at www.katyduffield.com or on instagram @katysduff.

Expository Nonfiction Picture Books with Susan Claus

February 1, 2023 Stefanie Hohl

We are so excited to have Susan Claus join us today to share information about Expository Nonfiction Picture Books!

Susan Claus is a children’s librarian, writer, and illustrator from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is happiest outside on slightly rainy days. Susan makes sure to let her inner child out every day to play.

Exposition:

An explanation of something
A piece of writing that explains
The first part of a piece of music in which the theme is presented
A public exhibition

Webster’s Kids’ Definitions merriumwebster.com accessed via Ecosia, January 11, 2023

Picture Book:

A magical container for words and pictures working together.

Me Just now.

Once upon a time… a few author-illustrators began to write books, not to tell stories, but to satisfy children’s curiosity about the world. For a while these fact-but-not-dusty-dry-fact books had the bookshelves in bookstores and public libraries all to themselves.

Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book Ever by Richard Scarry

Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs by Byron Barton 978-0690047684

Boats by Anne Rockwell 978-0140549881

Manners by Aliki 978-0688045791

Tornados! by Gail Gibbons 978-0823441877

Sometimes they sat on the shelves with the storybooks, sometimes they sat with the field guides and how-to books on the shelves for bigger kids. But the curious children who needed them always found them.

A brief detour into the world of publishing is needed to appreciate how unique the Expository Picture Book really is. Non-fiction books for children have mostly been produced for the school and public library market. “Just-the-facts” books on one subject or concept, usually about science, technology, engineering, geography, social studies, or math, with big chunks of text and sidebars, with a table of contents, index, and glossary. The books are meant for students to use for research, not read for enjoyment. (Though plenty of kids do.) The author’s voice is formal, as is the language.

The books are published in sets, at different reading levels, and per-book, are expensive enough to give school librarians and public library librarians angina.

Publishers like ABDO, Enslow, Capstone, Cavendish Square, Child’s World, Gareth-Stevens, and Lerner use in-house staff or authors-for-hire to write their series.

Celebrating Holidays: Celebrating Chinese New Year 978-1503853829

Earth’s Four Spheres: The Atmosphere 978-1502664341

Community Helpers: Pilots 978-1503858336

Two non-fiction publishers; Dorling Kindersley and Scholastic, have one foot in the school and public library market, and one foot in the retail market.

Children Just Like Me by Barnabas and Anabel Kindersley 9780789402011

The DK Eyewitness series, with colorful photographs and spare text, made an impact on traditional publishing when they debuted in 1988. The success of the Eyewitness series incentivized non-fiction publishers to put as much thought into exciting design as in the quality of information.

The DK Eyewitness series became a retail staple, and interest in non-fiction books for children began to boom. Children and parents wanted more, and the publishing world was happy to comply.

In contrast to the made-for-research books, Expository Picture Books are delightfully idiosyncratic. The author’s voice is playful, and facts are presented in informal ways, as if the author is in conversation with the reader. Humor is often served up in both the text and the illustrations, without losing the authenticity of the subject matter.

Here are some examples of recent books that entertain while educating.

The Case of the Hanging Food Catcher by Eric Hogan and Tara Hungerford 978-0228103387 [This has as much story as it does information, but these nature mysteries are too darn cute not to include in this list.]

Tiny Dino by Deborah Freedman 978-0593352649

Digestion! The Musical by Adam Rex and Laura Park 978-1452183862

Blue by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond 978-1984894366

Action! How Movies Began by Meghan McCarthy 978-1534452305

Check out the Kirkus Review’s “Best Nonfiction Picture Books of 2022” at www.kirkusrevies.com/Book-lists/best/nonfiction-picture-books-of-2022 for more great expository picture book picks!

Thanks so much for joining us, Susan!

You can find Susan on Instagram @fernpondart, on Facebook @fernpondstories, or on her website https://susanclauswriter.wixsite.com/writer.

Nonfiction Science Picture Books with Jane Kurtz

September 12, 2022 Stefanie Hohl

We are so excited to have Jane Kurtz join us today to share information about Nonfiction Science Picture Books!

Jane Kurtz is the author of more than 40 books for young readers—and has collaborated to create many more through her volunteer efforts to invent Ready Set Go bilingual books in Ethiopian languages. Because of those efforts, she is a winner of the IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award. She is sometimes lucky enough to teach the Picture Book Intensive at the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Children’s and YA Literature.

Where is that just-right picture book idea lurking?

One day, I was on a writing retreat. Picture books were then in a phase of irony and sly winks that baffled or infuriated a number of grandparents (try reading buyer reviews) and some writers. This photo from retreat shows my sense of humor. As Betsy Bird wrote, “It'll be the wry child that takes to I Want My Hat Back but the world is full of wry youth.”

We were making each other laugh by coming up with outrageous ideas for picture books, when the words “zoo poo” came out of the mouth of Jackie Briggs Martin whose lyrical Snowflake Bentley won a Caldecott medal. “Hold on,” I said.

Jackie and I are both interested in compost and gardens and citizen science. We both love the sounds of words. And nonfiction picture books were starting to enter a glorious age. I tried to convince her to take that idea seriously. She gave it to me instead.

Then I was stuck.

Picture book biographies often flow from a childhood incident to some kind of amazing accomplishment. A person’s life gives a place to start and end.

A creative nonfiction science book? What’s a pleasing and effective shape that pulls the reader in…and builds…and has some kind of turn or change…and delivers a payoff?

I’d visited the Portland zoo with my grandkids. Their zoo doo was enticing for my backyard habitat.

I also watched a delightful video about the Woodland Park Zoo, which composts approximately 500 tons of Zoo Doo each year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjfNVEvRI3w

So focus on one of those zoos? Or write about different sustainability efforts with zoo poo all around the world?

Much later, some smart nonfiction-writing fifth graders helped me see that I ended up with a “problem-solution” structure. At the time, I just kept thinking about how to hook the reader.

One day, I was looking at the worms in my compost bin. It occurred to me that my audience might not even know to connect poo-ing with chewing. Although I had no plans for a rhyming text, this popped out:

Welcome to the zoo and the peaceful sound of chewing.

Everybody eats, all around the zoo.

Different mouths. Different teeth. Welcome to the view.

Munch munch the herbivores eat fruit and leaves and trees.

Crunch crunch the carnivores devour meat with glee.

Oh, oh the omnivores nibble spiders and seeds.

And then…

Splat

Splosh

Plop

Dink

Welcome to the zoo with the funny sounds of poo-ing.

(All those words ultimately boiled down to this.)

My research process was fairly simple. I started with what I knew about animals in Ethiopia where I grew up seeing lots of scat. Hyenas, giraffes, monkeys, and elephants all auditioned and got in.

Then I poked around, looking for whatever fascinated me: pandas with their pleasant bamboo-scented poo. Wombats with their puzzling cube-shaped poo that scientists were trying to understand.

My initial question (what do zoos do with all that poo?) became the turn, leading in to various answers to that question. I had to fight for the worms from my compost bin to make their way in (worm poop plus zoo poop grows perfect zoo-chini).

In the end, my book does make readers laugh. Here are my grandkids celebrating with me on the book birthday.

But I’m proud that it was also a finalist that year for the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books. What a reward for a ton of hard work: science that engages readers and makes them laugh and think!

Thanks so much for joining us, Jane!

You can find Jane on her website at www.janekurtz.com, on Instagram @writerjanie, or on twitter @janekurtz.

Top Ten Nonfiction Science Picture Books

September 5, 2022 Stefanie Hohl

What Do They Do With All That Poo? by Jane Kurtz, illustrated by Allison Black

For all you parents in the midst of potty talk battles, this book is for you! Featuring an animal and its feces on each page, readers will learn all about that poo: size and shape, smell factor, digestion and diet, and more! Colorful illustrations are paired with the text, which comes in two formats: readers can choose to read simplified bolded text or additional text below the illustrations for even more content! Sure, it’s all poop, but this book is full of interesting, science-related information!

The Street Beneath My Feet by Charlotte Guillain and Yuval Zommer

The Street Beneath My Feet is a wonderful interactive story chock-full of detail and elements to “find.” Each flip of the page reveals another layer of ground, as the narrator takes readers deeper and deeper into the earth’s crust. From subways to skeletons, pipes, tunnels, and so much more, it’s brimming with interesting information and questions to make readers think more deeply. There’s even a section at the end with a diagram of the Earth’s layers. This is a wonderful book, sure to spark a child’s interest in the many things beneath their feet!

Pluto Gets the Call by Adam Rex, illustrated by Laurie Keller

Pluto Gets the Call is a fantastic science book that personifies the planets, bridging the gap between nonfiction and storytelling. It takes place on the dreadful day when Pluto learned he wasn’t a “real” planet after all. Full of fun illustrations and a clever story, the book still manages to include gobs of space-related content and information. It’s especially great for reluctant non-fiction readers, as this book is full of all sorts of hilarious antics and entertainment mixed with learning!

Sun! One in a Billion by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Stevie Lewis

This story is told by none other than Sun himself, whose narrative voice fills the book with a great mix of humor and information. Paired with bright and colorful illustrations, the book makes use of relatable comparisons that readers will understand, helping them to gain a better understanding of the sun’s size, temperature, and much more. It ends with a letter from the author, a Q&A from the Sun, and even more facts. This is a wonderful science book!

Seashells: More Than a Home by Melissa Stewar, illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen

Seashells: More Than a Home highlights a variety of these beautiful natural objects, as well as the creatures that live within them. It’s full of informative text, beautiful illustrations, and simple diagrams. Comparisons to such things as submarines, crowbars, armadillos, and butterflies are especially helpful in aiding reader comprehension. The end includes more seashell information and the five most common types of mollusks. Overall, there is so much to learn from this book!

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

This wonderful nonfiction story follows a boy and his dad in the snowy woods as they discover creatures both over and under the snow. The language is beautiful, allowing for an engaging read-aloud. The illustrations are simple yet detailed and interesting, guiding readers to focus on the most important details of each illustration. The author also included an Author’s Note, along with more information about each animal featured in the book.

A Rock is Lively by Diana Hutts Aston, illustrated by Sylvia Long

A Rock is Lively is part of a delightful science series, including other such books as An Egg Is Quiet, A Seed Is Sleepy, A Butterfly Is Patient, and A Nest Is Noisy. Upon opening this book, readers are greeted with a large variety of illustrated rocks, each one beautiful and unique. The book includes two types of text on each two-page spread: simple lyrical text that reads like poetry and more detailed prose with added scientific information about rocks. This book will inspire anyone with a love for geology and the study of rocks!

Hey, Water! by Antoinette Portis

Beginning with all of the many ways we experience water—from faucets, sprinklers, and hoses to rivers, oceans, and more, this book introduces children to a variety of water-related vocabulary throughout its pages. The ending also includes bonus features, including various types of water forms and a diagram of the water cycle. This is a great nonfiction choice for children—simple, educational, and engaging.

Watersong by Tim McCanna, illustrated by Richard Smythe

Watersong is composed of wonderful illustrations and rhymes that highlight the animals and natural features of the wetlands. Its simple rhythm makes for an engaging read-aloud. And with each page packed with scientific details, there is much for readers to see and find. The story also includes an Afterword that gives more information on “aquatic ecosystems, the progression of the water cycle, and the habitat of the omnivorous fox.” Overall, this is a wonderful nonfiction book to add to your collection.

I hope you enjoyed these Top 10 Nonfiction Science Picture Books!

For more great ideas, feel free to check out Top 10 Concept Picture Books or my Top 10 Picture Books about Animals!

And don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss more great ideas and future blog posts!

These Ain’t Your Memory’s Nonfiction Science Picture Books with Meghan Voss

September 1, 2022 Stefanie Hohl

Meghan Voss is a lifelong lover of stories. A writer and a teacher with degrees in English and Secondary Education, she loves to both share her favorite stories and tell her own. She taught middle and high school English for close to a decade, completed the National Writing Project, and has written literature modules and web copy for award-winning academic companies & websites. Her own creative work has been published in literary and local magazines. She attends writing conferences regularly and enjoys exercising her writing (and photography) chops on her social media accounts. When she’s not writing, you can usually find her baking pies or adventuring with her husband and kids in the Montana mountains she calls home.

If you’re anything like me, the words “nonfiction science book” conjure thoughts of thick biology and chemistry textbooks with an encyclopedia thrown in for good measure. They bring up memories of tiny text marching in endless rows, with perhaps a chart or occasional diagram to break the monotony. They remind me of late-night study sessions and highlighters and way, way, way too many yawns.

Well, folks—these are definitely not my memory’s nonfiction science books.

In the past ten years, the picture book market for nonfiction science books has exploded, resulting in all sorts of informative– and FUN! and CREATIVE!–picture books about a plethora of STEM-related topics. There are great nonfiction science books available that are perfect for the classroom, storytime, bedtime, and even playtime.

But of all these fantastic books, my personal favorites are those that play with two of my favorite storytelling devices: Voice & Structure.

Voice

Fun, quirky storytelling voice is no stranger to the picture book world (Check out Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and Oh, Ox– a couple of my favorites in the voice department). Yet traditional science-writing doesn’t focus on voice, it focuses on sharing information. So when a nonfiction picture book marries both voice and information– that’s a match made in publishing heaven. Check out these examples:

I’m Trying to Love Spiders by Bethany Barton: This hilarious book’s narrative voice is a kid who is really, really trying to love spiders… but is having a rough go at it. It blends tons of information about spiders with a fun (and very relatable) narrator, who even manages to– well– squish a few of the spiders he’s attempting to love.

Mars! Earthlings Welcome by Stacy McAnulty & Stevie Lewis: Mars is itching to party it up with Earthlings, so he sends out invites and proceeds to describe why he is the best party planet in the solar system. A ton of information is wedged among the puns, slang, and delightful personality of our new buddy Mars.

Structure

Playing with story structure is old hat when it comes to concept picture books and even some narrative titles. But other authors are breaking all the rules– and succeeding– within the realm of non-fiction science picture books. Check out two of my favorites:

The Street Beneath My Feet by Charlotte Guillain & Yuval Zommer: This book takes the reader on a journey deep, deep into the many layers that separate our feet from the Earth’s core– and then back out the other side! But rather than flip pages right to left, each page folds into the next, until every page connects in a huge ribbon that beautifully illustrates the many layers of Earth, one after the other!

The Diamond & the Boy by Hannah Holt & Jay Fleck: A beautiful blend of poetry, story, and information, this book tells the story of the making of a diamond juxtaposed with the story of a boy who grows into the inventor of a revolutionary diamond-cutting machine. Sparse narration allows even the word choice of each story to mirror the other. Both the story and the structure are fascinating in this wonderfully creative nonfiction book.

So whether you’re a science-lover or science-avoider (as I may have been–*cough*), head to your local library and check out an armful of nonfiction science books! There is so much to love– heck, even spiders!

Thanks for joining us, Meghan!

You can follow Meghan on Instagram @meghanvosstudio or Facebook at Meghan Voss Studio.

Top Ten Nonfiction Picture Books about Animals

June 18, 2020 Stefanie Hohl

Pink Is For Blobfish: Discovering the World’s Perfectly Pink Animals by Jess Keating and illustrated by David DeGrand

Whether you love or hate the color pink, this book is sure to make you rethink all that you know about pink! Starting with the blobfish, an animal made of gelatinous goo, the book includes nearly 20 animals in some shade of pink! From tarantulas to armadillos and naked mole rats, readers will learn a lot about these amazing creatures! Each page includes a full-page photograph of the featured animal, while the opposing page includes a brief description, interesting facts, and a breakdown of name, species name, size, diet, habitat, and predators/threats. The final pages include a world map showcasing where the animals live, a glossary of useful words, resources for learning more, and a list of various kinds of scientists and what they study.

Giant Squid by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Eric Rohmann

Giant Squid combines amazing squid facts with beautifully written verse to detail both the mysteries of giant squids and the facts scientists have learned about this creature. Each page reveals another illustrated piece of this magnificent underwater beast - tentacles on one page, then a beak, an eye, a body, until finally a four-page spread reveals the giant squid! This book also includes two pages labeling the squid's body parts, an article on “The Mysterious Giant Squid,” as well as many resources to continue squid research online or via books. This is a great book to both showcase the squid facts we know and to gain a greater appreciation for the work it’s taken to gain our knowledge of squids thus far!

Inky’s Amazing Escape: How a Very Smart Octopus Found His Way Home by Sy Montgomery and illustrated by Amy Schimler-Safford

Inky’s Amazing Escape is based on a real octopus named Inky, who was captured by a lobsterman and taken to an aquarium, only to later escape back into the ocean through a drain! Even though it’s told in story form, the book is full of interesting facts that will teach its readers all about octopi. The colorful illustrations are also beautiful and detailed. This is such a fun story to read, and readers will come to love Inky in all his curious wonder!

Moth: An Evolution Story by Isabel Thomas and illustrated by Daniel Egneus

The story begins with the lines: “This is a story of light and dark. Of change and adaptation of survival and hope. It starts with a little moth.” Then follows the amazing and easy-to-read story of how these tiny creatures have adapted and evolved over time. The illustrations use mixed media, with a dazzling cover that draws in readers. The text also encourages readers to be silent and still as they study these small but mighty creatures. Moth: An Evolution Story will not only teach readers about evolution and adaptation, but gives a greater appreciation for these resilient creatures!

Give Bees a Chance by Bethany Barton

Looking for a hilarious book that will still leave you stuffed with information? You found it! In Give Bees a Chance, Edgar, the narrator’s best friend, loves all the same things as the narrator (except bees!). Throughout the story, Edgar shares fascinating bee facts in an attempt to lure Edgar into sharing his passion for bees. With illustrations including various types of bees, the anatomy of a bee, and how honey is made, combined with a hive of awesome facts, this book is great for bee-lovers and bee-haters alike (thanks to Edgar’s hilarious anti-bee comments throughout!). Yet after reading this book, even the most avid bee-hater might be willing to Give Bees a Chance.

How to Be an Elephant by Katherine Roy

How to Be an Elephant begins with the birth of a baby African elephant and proceeds to share with readers everything she needs to know to become a proper elephant. From the dynamics of elephant families to their extraordinary noses, hearing, instincts, and growth, readers will come away with tons of content-related information and knowledge about these amazing creatures. Not only that, but the book is full of beautiful watercolor illustrations and diagrams! A must-read.

How to Survive as a Firefly by Kristen Foote and illustrated by Erica Salcendo

This is the fun story of an experienced firefly who teaches the new larvae how to survive as a firefly. From metamorphosis, including the 4 life cycles of a firefly, to bioluminescence, finding a mate, and the formula for their light, readers will be both entertained and informed! With only a series of funny illustrations, the book still manages to sneak in lots of learning, including diagrams, expert tips, frequently asked questions, a list of more resources, and a glossary. Overall, this is a cleverly written book, and we highly recommend you check it out!

Crazy About Cats by Owen Davey

This is a wonderful illustrated guide with all about cats! Readers will be amazed, not only at the knowledge they will learn, but at the many, many varieties of wild cats. Topics include cat mythology, camouflage, body features, and so many more! In addition, the illustrative palette of oranges and greens “evoke a chic, retro vibe.” This book also includes a table of contents and an index. And for those that love this book, there are more in the series!

The Home Builders by Varsha Bajaj and illustrated by Simona Mulazzani

The Home Builders is a beautiful book that features a variety of woodland creatures. The text is simple and poetic, inviting readers to look closer through a series of simple questions. These questions invite readers to take a closer look at the home builders' work, homes, babies, and families. The text is simple but descriptive, making it an easy read-aloud for even the youngest readers to enjoy. The illustrations are very detailed, inviting readers to stop and better examine these woodland creatures. Overall, this is a wonderful tribute to amazing creatures.

Gecko by Raymond Huber and illustrated by Brian Lovelock

Gecko is a perfect fiction/nonfiction mix—each page includes both a textual “story” element and added text in another typeface showcasing gecko facts. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful as well, featuring a mix of watercolor, acrylic ink, and colored pencil. Readers will come away from this book learning much about geckos—their eating habits, habitat, predators, and much more. In addition to the great information and content-related vocabulary, Gecko also includes an index, making it easy to find specific information.

I hope you enjoyed these top 10 nonfiction picture books about animals!

And if you are looking for more great top 10 book lists, don’t forget to check out other lists, like top 10 classic picture books, top 10 cumulative picture books, and top 10 beginning reader books!

Top Ten General Nonfiction Picture Books

May 7, 2020 Stefanie Hohl

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick and illustrated by Sophie Blackall

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear is the true story of Winnie-the-Pooh. In this book, we learn about Harry Colebourn, who was compelled to purchase a $20 black bear cub while on his way to war in 1914. He named the bear Winnie, in honor of his hometown, Winnipeg. The story follows Winnie’s adventures in both military training camps and the London Zoo. Though lesser-known than his fictional counterpart, the real story of Winnie-the-Pooh is sure to delight readers big and small.

Grand Canyon by Jason Chin

Grand Canyon is full of breathtaking illustrations showcasing the glorious splendor of the Grand Canyon. With an almost story-like beginning, the text not only entralls and teaches its readers, but the book also includes many interesting nonfiction features, including maps, a diagram of Grand Canyon rock layers, ecology, types of rocks, and so much more! This book is packed full of knowledge and beauty! One can’t help but gain a greater appreciation for this natural geologic wonder!

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell and illustrated by Frane Lessac

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga is a beautifully book featuring the Cherokee people. Otsaliheliga (oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah) is a word the Cherokee people use to express gratitude. The story begins in the fall and ends the following summer, showcasing many unique Cherokee celebrations and experiences. As a nonfiction text, it is complete with a glossary and the complete Cherokee syllabary of the words used in the book. We Are Grateful is a wonderful look into Cherokee culture and will help readers remember to be grateful and express gratitude for all the amazing things we are given in this world!

A Green Place To Be: The Creation of Central Park by Ashley Benham Yazdani

Many people know Central Park in Manhattan to be a beautiful, vibrant, green park, but this wasn't always the case! This book tells the story of architect Calvert Vaux and superintendent Fredrick Law Olmsted, who submitted plans for the space in an 1850s contest for Central Park design. They won the contest, then were tasked to create and build Central Park as their “green gift to everyone.” In an illustrated version of their process, the book includes many lesser-known facts about the park and its structures (did you know there are over 30 bridges in Central Park?). The final question of the text, “Who are these parks made for?” is answered with the reminder “They were made for you.” Worth a read!

The Boo-Boos That Changed the World: A True Story About an Accidental Invention (Really!) by Barry Wittenstein and illustrated by Chris Hsu

As the title implies, this is the true story of the accidental invention of Earle and Josephine. A caring husband concerned for his new bride’s frequent cuts worried about the risk of infection, so together they created a solution— Bandaids®️! And the best part? They didn’t keep their solution a secret— they shared it with the world! So next time you are putting a Bandaid®️ on your little one, remind them of this powerful story and accidental invention!

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

Fry Bread is a story written in beautiful, simple verse, following a Native American family and showcasing the importance of fry bread to their culture and community. “Fry bread is food...Fry bread is time...Fry bread is nation...Fry bread is us.” The illustrations are powerful, and readers will learn to better appreciate both the food and the Native American culture it represents.

Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet

This is the true story of Tony Sarg, the puppeteer behind the iconic balloons of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. From his childhood dreams of becoming a marionette man to the many clever inventions of his adult life, this book showcases both the ingenuity of creating something new as well as the importance of pursuing dreams. The illustrations are intriguing, and this tale won’t soon be forgotten!

Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum by Meghan McCarthy

Did you know that chewing gum has been around for centuries? Neither did we! In this book, you’ll learn that even Ancient Greeks chewed sap as their own version of “gum.” But a gum that could blow bubbles? That took an accountant in a 1920s Philadelphia candy and gum factory months of work! Not only is it fascinating to learn about the invention of bubble gum, but this story is also a reminder of the value of perseverance. Bonuses at the end include more information about ‘The Man Behind Bubble Gum” and lots of extra facts about gum!

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Kadir Nelson

This is a wonderful tribute to Black lives and American history, written in beautiful prose and the kind of lyrical language that stays with readers for a long, long time. The book also includes an Afterword written by the author, a list of over 35 historical figures and events, and a short biography and/or information for each of the events mentioned in the book. Kadir Nelson’s illustrations are masterful, beautiful, and realistic, and when paired with the words, create an incredibly powerful message and tone. The Undefeated is a book that is sure to leave a lasting impression on its readers.

The Hole Story of the Doughnut by Pat Miller and illustrated by Vincent Kirsch

The Hole Story of the Doughnut is the story of Hanson Crockett Gregory, master mariner from Maine, and the invention of the doughnut over 160 years ago. The creation of these “holey cakes'' as a solution to fried dough with uncooked middles quickly gained popularity among sailors and others during the time period. And since “sailors like their stories bold,” this book includes a few exciting tales and legends of the origin of doughnuts—retelling their invention story with escapes from monsters and other exciting details! This a fun book—check it out!