nonfiction

Don Brown tells the story of Spanish Influenza in three acts in this graphic novel format nonfiction book for young teens. Fever Year: The Killer ...

China through Time offers a unique perspective of social life over centuries. China through Time: a 2,500 year journey along the World’s Greatest Canal illustrated ...

A fact-packed and tongue-in-cheek resource for dinosaur fans, with a distinct evolutionary slant. Everything Awesome about Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Beasts by Mike Lowery.  Orchard ...

Charles Albert Tindley rose from abject poverty to preach to thousands and write the anthem of the Civil Rights movement. *By and By: Charles Albert ...

All in a Drop communicates the wonder and excitement of the Scientific Revolution in this engaging biography of the inventor of the microscope.  All in ...

POTUS POTUS: President of the United States: one of the most powerful people in the world. Presidents' Day honors George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in ...

Girl under a Red Moon depicts life under the worst totalitarian government in modern history. Girl under a Red Moon: Growing up During China’s Cultural ...

The recollections of a 13-year-old Holocaust survivor find poetic expression in It Rained Warm Bread. It rained Warm Bread: Moishe Moskowitz’s Story of Hope by ...

Black history month picture books are for big kids, too! Picture books aren't just for young children. Middle grades and teens benefit, too. Sometimes, a ...

The true story of John Wesley Powell, "Major Impossible" who mapped the Grand Canyon, told in graphic novel format. Major Impossible (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales ...

Newbery season is upon us, culminating in the American Library Association Youth Media Awards on January 27. We've been keeping an eye on books that ...

Torpedoed is a gripping saga of disaster, heartbreak, and heroism on the open sea. Torpedoed: the True Story of the World War II Sinking of ...

Young consumers will find Follow Your Stuff a fascinating trek through the global production market. Follow Your Stuff: Who Makes It, Where Does It Come ...

Finding Narnia takes us into the lives of two brothers whose childhood inspired one of the world’s greatest fantasy series. *Finding Narnia: the Story of ...

Migration: Incredible Animal Journeys features well-known migration patterns as well as surprising facts, in a readable picture-book format. Migration: Incredible Animal Journeys by Mike Unwin, ...

This oversize, intricately-illustrated picture book relates the story of Manhattan in a series of maps. Manhattan: Mapping the Story of an Island by Jennifer Thermes. ...

Her Own Two Feet is the true story of a severely disabled Rwandan girl who finds hope and healing through a Christian aid organization. *Her ...

Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U. S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler's Germany by Andrew Maraniss. Philomel, ...

A great middle grades-level look at both Martin Luther in particular and the Protestant Reformation in general. Martin Luther and the Reformation by Lou Hunley. ...

Three acclaimed picture books offer young readers a fun introduction to The Magic Flute, the Giacometti Brothers, and an introduction to art styles through dinosaurs ...

Two picture books by much-awarded authors and illustrators celebrate the joys of books and reading—sometimes extravagantly. This Book of Mine by Sarah Stewart, Illustrated by ...

The Boys in the Boat is a gripping nonfiction story for middle grades about teamwork, perseverance, and triumph at the Olympics. The Boys in the ...

The true story of the daring rescue of the Thai Soccer team will bring its tension and drama home to young readers. Titan and the ...

Before we look at some practical considerations for choosing biographies, have you already answered the most important question before choosing biographies? That might seem like ...

Three unlikely people team up to perform a dangerous new surgery in Depression-era times in this gripping nonfiction story. Breakthrough!: How Three People Saved "Blue ...

STEM is big in schools and publishing today, and many educators add an A to make STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Engineering ties ...

Book lovers love books about other book lovers. After all, we share the reading life in common: its challenges, its delights, its unique common language. ...

Have you ever wanted to go beyond cookie baking and decorating with your kids? Did you know there are some great cookbooks for kids and ...

The ordeal of Jeremiah Denton in the “Hanoi Hilton” is not for the squeamish, but stands as a witness to courage and faith. Captured: an ...

This biography of Virginia Hall for young people tells the little-known story of a daring World War II spy. The Lady is a Spy: Virginia ...

A new nonfiction series features puzzling and deadly cases cracked by the FBI. FBI Files: the Unabomber by Bryan Denson. Roaring Brook, 2019, 140 pages ...

By their wacky misunderstandings, the "Invention Hunters" help kids understand basic principles of applied science. The Invention Hunters Discover How Machines Work by Korwin Briggs. ...

Sally Lloyd Jones shares the basics of book-writing with simple advice that works for any age. Look! I Wrote a Book (and You Can Too) ...

I remember the first book that taught me to love poetry as a child. "Antonio, Antonio," by Laura E. Richards, was in the second volume ...

Superlative Birds is a “Guiness Book of World Records” for our feathered friends, with a fun poetry angle. Superlative Birds by Leslie Bulion, illustrated by ...

A list of books that might help with the difficult transition from teen to adult in today's confusing culture. Let’s get one thing straight: A ...

Rebecca McLaughlin confronts some of the hardest questions faced by Christians today with thoughtful, engaging responses rooted in Scripture. *Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for ...

Compact and practical, Growing in Godliness offers wise advice to girls entering high school or college. Growing in Godliness: A Teen Girl’s Guide to Maturing ...

Transformed by Truth offers a lifelong approach to Bible study with practical helps for teens and adults. *Transformed by Truth: Why and How to Study ...

Graphic artist Don Brown give us a comprehensive visual account of the Apollo space program. Rocket to the Moon! (Big Ideas that Changed the World ...

Sparky & Spike is about a boy and his dog and the genesis of the world's best-loved comic strip. *Sparky & Spike: Charles Schulz and ...

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first lunar landing. And there are lots of new books commemorating that event and the moon itself! ...

O Captain, My Captain encapsulates the Civil War through the eyes of its most famous poet. *O Captain, My Captain: Walt Whitman, Abraham Lincoln, and ...

Find out why that poor coyote never actually catches the speedy roadrunner in these clever science books for young physicists. Wile E. Coyote, physical science ...

Practical worksheets and relevant concerns make this “Survival Guide” a useful money primer for middle graders. The Survival Guide to Money Smarts by Eric Braun ...

"Money smarts" begin at home in this family-oriented guide to teaching wise management. The Money Smart Family System by Steve and Annette Economides.  Thomas Nelson, ...

Moms need book recommendations, too! Those of you who enjoyed the Faith, Fiction, and Fellowship Read-Along in the spring read through Christina Fox's Closer Than ...

This brand-new Children's Edition of the New American Standard Bible is a must-have for NASB users. NASB Holy Bible, Children’s Edition, Three Sixteen Publishing, 2019, ...

Nine Months shows the development of human life, from embryo to newborn, in gentle rhymes and beautiful paintings. Nine Months: before a Baby Is Born ...

Black cowboy George Fletcher, the "People's Champion," is the subject of this story from the old west. Let 'er Buck! George Fletcher, the People's Champion ...

David Macaulay again turns his drafting ability and clear prose on a massive engineering project, and this time it's personal. Crossing in Time: Steam Engines, ...

Adulting 101: #Wisdom4Life by Josh Burnette and Pete Hardesty. Broadstreet Publishing Group, 2018. 192 pages. Reading Level: Ages 16 and up Recommended For: Ages 14 ...

Do you have a young bird lover in your house? A bird nerd who, at age 10, can tell you all the migratory species that ...

The Defend Your Faith Bible equips middle graders for apologetics with arguments for the reasonableness and accuracy of the scriptures. CSB Defend Your Faith Bible: ...

Sweeter Than Honey offers readers a clear, step-by-step approach to studying the Bible. Sweeter Than Honey: Cultivating an Appetite for the Word of God by ...

Krosoczka, author of the Lunch Lady graphic novels, tells his own story in Hey Kiddo, a graphic novel memoir that is by turns harsh and tender. ...

In The Enchanted Hour, Meghan Cox Gurdon makes the intellectual, social, and emotional case for reading aloud, at any age, to any age. The Enchanted ...

You Who: Why You Matter and How to Deal with It is a refreshing take on the "find yourself" messages blaring from our culture for ...

Did you know that March is Women's History Month? Or that the theme for Women's History Month 2019 is "Visionary Women: Champions of Peace & ...

*The Promise of Change: One Girl's Story in the Fight for School Equality by JoAnn Allen Boyce and Debbie Levy. Bloomsbury, 2019, 309 pages including ...

Me: "That school must be named after Lise Meitner. Didn't she do something with uranium?" {the school in question was on a TV show and ...

*Broken Pieces and the God Who Mends Them: Schizophrenia Through a Mother's Eyes by Simonetta Carr.  Presbyterian & Reformed, 2019, 359 pages. Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: ...

This unusual biography of Abraham Lincoln frames his life as a series of ten decisions, in which the reader is invited to participate. It’s Up ...

The Young Man's Guide to Awesomeness is a well-organized, humorous, straight-talking guide for young men as they mature into godly adults. *The Young Man's Guide to Awesomeness: How to Guard Your Heart, Get the Girl, and Save the World by Barrett Johnson. INFO For Families, 2017. 158 pages. Reading Level: Teen, ages 12 and up Recommended For: Upper middle grades and up (ages 10+) Growing up is never easy. There are physical changes, ...

At the Well is a short book urging singles (teens and up) to wait on the Lord for marriage and for his timing. At the Well: Discovering God's Plan for Finding True Love by Kristen Tiber. Kristen Summers LLC, 2018. 146 pages. Reading Level: ...

In The Biggest Win, players from the 2018 Super Bowl championship team coach young athlete in winning the kingdom of God. The Biggest Win: Pro ...

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies is a truly beautiful work of art, isn’t it, Megan? For readers who haven’t seen this gem yet, the book chronicles ...

Nobody said “No” to Cyrus Field once he got his brain around a big idea that transformed the history of communication—and history itself. Cyrus Field’s ...

“The Disappearing Spoon” is one mystery solved by the periodic table, in this entertaining grab-bag of historical oddities from chemistry. The Disappearing Spoon (Young Readers ...

Vera König must decide if she can trust the enemy in this moving, true Holocaust story of a Christian in Hitler's camps. Courage in the ...

Janie and Megan talk over one of the most impressive books we read this year: The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoffer and the Plot to Kill ...

Heaven: A Family Reunion? I don't know what heaven will be like, but I imagine it as one big family reunion at a feast table. ...

This picture book gives a neglected holiday its due, celebrating “New Year” around the world with brilliant collage illustrations. Every Month is a New Year: ...

Special God sets out to explain biblical theological concepts to young children and those with special needs. Special God by Julie Mililli, design by Matt ...

Picturing America is an appealing picture-book biography of one of the originators of distinctive American Art. *Picturing America: Thomas Cole and the Birth of American ...

The juvenile version of the Atlas Obscura travel guide may spark a taste for travel in middle graders. The Atlas Obscura Explorers Guide for the ...

Enjoy both Handel's Messiah and the season of Advent with this succinct-yet rich-guide to both. A good Advent family devotional option for busy families! *Hallelujah: A ...

This fascinating true account of a prison escape during World War I will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The Grand Escape: the ...

It's National Picture Book Month, so we're celebrating picture books--both fiction and nonfiction! Nonfiction picture books are a truly exceptional--and often overlooked--way to introduce a ...

Election Day is just around the corner, and our national media outlets love nothing more than a juicy political story. Gossip and slander aside, though, ...

As a national election approaches, three new books urge children toward political involvement and "resistance."  Is this a good idea? What Can a Citizen Do? ...

World War II is perennially interesting and not just to history buffs! We've focused on church history the past couple of years during October, first ...

*The Faithful Spy is an outstanding biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer—and one of the best biographies for kids ever. The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the ...

Nine-year-old Louie volunteers to save Winslow, a newborn mini-donkey, in this gentle story about loss and change. Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech.  HarperCollins, 2018, 165 ...

A coloring book for elementary through middle grades offers a sweeping view of church history, from the first century to the twentieth. A Colorful Past: ...

John Newton’s colorful life is a welcome addition to the Reformation Heritage series of Christian biographies. *John Newton by Simonetta Carr.  Reformation Heritage, 2018, 63 ...

John McCain had more guts and more patriotism than most of his American contemporaries--read all about him in this detailed young adult biography. John McCain: ...

The Mercury Theater broadcast of "War of the Worlds," a fascinating footnote from American history, has interesting implications for today.  Ages 10-15 *Spooked! How a ...

A new series about advances in technology begins with the indomitable spirit of the Wright Brothers. The Wright Brothers: Nose-Diving into History (Epic Fails #1) ...

In spite of some outdated ideas about science and faith, these 30-second explanations form an interesting tour of science history.  Ages 8-15 Science Ideas in ...

With school back in session, let's talk history books for kids! No matter who or what your kids or students are studying this year in ...

The Juvenile nonfiction designation has exploded, especially since the push for Common Core standards was supposed to increase factual reading.  Common Core seems to be ...

This popular middle grades story poignantly recounts the stories of a young boy and a young girl in Africa as one flees civil war and ...

Graphic novelist Don Brown offers a fascinating picture book about early hydrogen ballooning.  Ages 5-10 Up & Down: The Adventures of John Jeffries, First American ...

Pass Go and Collect $200 is fun, relatable social history for Monopoly fans and anyone who ever had a great idea.  Ages 6-up Pass Go ...

Near the end of his prolific career, Newbery medalist Sid Fleischman published remarkable biographies of three remarkable men. Samuel Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain, 1835-1910), Ehrich ...

The Tragic Tale of Narcissa Whitman eloquently captures the hardships the early pioneers faced, the missionary ardor that inspired the Whitmans, and the unfortunate events ...

Christian biographer Simonetta Carr explores the life of Cleopatra, one of the most fascinating and mysterious women in history.  Ages 10-16 Cleopatra and Ancient Egypt ...

Was there a worldwide flood?  The various legends of such a phenomenon are explored and compared in this interactive history book.  All ages The Flood ...

The Book of the Ancient World is just what it sounds like: an interesting book about the ancient world, including Ancient Egypt, Israel, Persia, and ...