Non-fiction | Page 5 of 6

Ready-To-Read Super Gross, baits the STEM hook for 2^nd and 3^rd graders

Teach a child a foreign language and the first things that they’ll remember is the profanity, slang or pickup lines. In other news: kids who only study one year of Spanish make the world’s worst interpreters. As a testament to that, it’s been more than 25 years and I can still say “you’re very cute” in Norwegian. The gross facts from reference books, those strange blurbs about animals that they’ll never see are always the first ones to get read. How-To-Read Super Gross is a book series that leans into that tendency and gives it a big, yucky hug. What’s In Your Body? is the big font combination of photographs and illustrations and witty dialogue that emerging readers crave.

TAstey STEm for ages 5 and up

Inner Workings, a cut-through, STEM, curiosity book for a couple of pages

I taught a fifth-grade student who drew detailed illustrations of automobiles in his spare time. They were surprisingly intricate, exterior drawings of cars with some having overview representations of their engines. While many kids who are that age like cars, this student’s passion and talent certainly went to the next level. Inner Workings is an engineer’s look at how just over two dozen things that kids see on a daily basis work. The illustrations in the book mainly consist of cross-section pictures that are done in a classic-retro style. It’ll initially draw in those mechanical engineer kids, as well as those who are just curious about how the soft-serve ice cream machine works.

Inner Workings is a how-it’s-made book that’ll preach to the STEM, engineering crowd, but could’ve yelled at everyone with more narrative.

The STEM Choir rejoices, but it could’ve reached wider and higher

Koala, an engaging narrative look at this cute, smelly animal

Koalas are the cutest things on Earth that people outside of Australia will never see in real life. They also smell like the worst parts of a wet pug. Koala, A Natural History and an Uncertain Future is a narrative look at these marsupials that are only able to eat one thing. And even then, that Eucalypti tree might not be the correct species, which means that our cuddly little friend won’t eat it. Throughout history the koala has almost been an afterthought; when Europeans first landed in Australia they didn’t notice them for a decade and it took another 20 years for them to actually be studied.

Koala is a look at this cute, potentially smelly, poison-leaf eating marsupial that hugs its way into our hearts, via its history, research and conservation.

Naturalist history via a storytelling lens

Aliens, an illustrated/reference book fun for space-curious kids seven up

Illustrated books can also be reference books. Aliens is one that fits in that category, although given its subject title and alluded subject matter you’re right to be suspicious. The key to where upper-elementary students will get the most from the book is in the book’s full title. Aliens, Join The Scientists Searching For Extraterrestrial Life is more about the science-based aspects around aliens, rather than the green basketball-playing men in our imagination.

Aliens is an illustrated, reference book that’s concentrated on the science of space, it’s harsh worlds and our journey to get there-instead of the little green men.

Space, a place that kids in 4th grade and up want to read about

Seen and Unseen, art, story & photos combine for a strong non-fiction book

Ansel Adams only photographed mountains, didn’t he? Yeah, I thought that, and you might’ve also. That’s how Seen And Unseen, What Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adams’s Photographs Reveal About the Japanese American Incarceration caught my attention. Seen And Unseen is by Elizabeth Partridge with illustrations by Lauren Tamaki and provides an impressive overview of Japanese Americans who were imprisoned in Manzanar in the aftermath of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Seen And Unseen combines photographs from three perspectives with illustrations and text in a thought-provoking look at Manzanar and Japanese American incarceration in the 1940s.

Non-fiction that grabs your attention and never lets go

Great Battles for Boys, fabulous non-fiction for ages 8 and up

But what about girls?, I can hear that being asked now. I’m casting a wide net that’ll describe a majority of boys, but not all boys. I’ll cast the same wide net and say that a series of emerging reader books on unicorns or kittens will be a big hit with girl readers in second grade. Whenever I teach ELA and I have to attribute one trait to a group there are always a couple who will say, “But, I….”, and yes, you might be the exception to that. Great Battles for Boys is a series of books that hits the reluctant reader boy on the head in an enjoyable and historical way.

Great Battles For Boys is a series of non-fiction books that are concisely written in a way that elementary school readers will immediately be attracted to.

Boys, girls, non-fiction or kidlit fans unite

Do You Know Rocket Science?, go-to, fun STEM for pre-k

From its title, Do You Know Rocket Science? could be confused with something from the What Is or Who Was from the Who HQ authored series of books. While that series is awesome, they’re for older readers, which is somewhat ironic given the subject matter of rocket science. Instead, Do You Know Rocket Science? is actually a book about rocket science, that’s presented on a level that pre-k through first, as well as, their parents, will understand and enjoy. It’s from Chris Ferrie, an author who we’ve written about on a couple of occasions that has a knack for turning science and STEM into something that kids want to know about.

Do You Know Rocket Science? is a Level 1 book for beginning readers that sets up a potentially complex idea in a manner that ages four through six will enjoy.

It’s OK if you and the young reader learn this together

Moving Forward, non-fiction illustrated that’s uncomfortable and inspiring

Illustrated books have the capacity to move us emotionally, in addition to making us think. Non-fiction illustrated books are capable of doing that but have the added burden of being a true story. Personally, I think that’s because some students heard that illustrated books were meant exclusively for silly stories about growing up or softly teaching morals. Moving Forward is an illustrated book that does all of those things, except for the silly stories part. Instead of that, it uses action, speed, and adventure that’ll help bring in elementary-aged readers.

Moving Forward is a non-fiction illustrated book that blends, adventure, family, rage, justice and the passage of time into something that fifth-grade students can learn from.

History happened, have kids read about it