I’ve been very interested of late in the attention being paid to the Common Core State Standards recommendation for more nonfiction in classrooms. There are many ways to do this, one of them being a greater emphasis on nonfiction picture books. Here are a few older books I’ve much admired for their spare and elegant texts, compelling voices, original design, fresh ways of presenting information, superb research, and engaging illustrations. They are ideal for classroom teachers looking for great nonfiction to add to their libraries and teaching. Please add your own suggestions in the comments!
- Moonshot by Brian Floca.
- Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by John Hendrix.
- Bad News for Outlaws by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie.
- Ballet for Martha by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan.
- I Lost My Tooth in Africa by Penda Diakite, illustrated by Baba Wague Diakite.
- Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet by David McLimans.
- The Illustrator’s Notebook by Mohieddin Ellabbad.
- Pharaoh’s Boat by David L. Weitzman.
- River of Dreams by Hudson Talbott.
- A River of Words by Jen Bryan, illustrated by Melissa Sweet.
- What to Do About Alice? by Barbara Kerley, illustrated by Edwin Forthingham.
Great list, Monica. I’m going to pass it on to my teachers.
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Great list, Monica! You got quite a few of my favorites. In the “oldies but goodies” category, I’d have to add WILMA UNLIMITED by Kathleen Krull and SNOWFLAKE BENTLEY by Jacqueline Briggs Martin as not to be missed.
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Thanks for suggesting these. I hope others weigh in too!
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Yes, great list, Monica. I also recommend
SQUANTO’S JOURNEY: THE STORY OF THE FIRST THANKSGIVING by Joseph Bruchac
LIBRARIAN OF BASRA by Jeanette Winterson
MUMMIES MADE IN EGYPT by Aliki
STARRY MESSENGER: GALILEO GALILEI by Peter Sis
The many wonderful picture book biographies by David Adler
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One of my favorite’s since it shows a bit about a different part of the US:
Recess at 20 Below by Cindy Ailaud
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