Revisiting: Engaging Informational Picture Books

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.