2008 Nominations Non-Fiction Picture Books

Kids are curious about absolutely anything, so that's what the books in the non-fiction picture book category will be about--absolutely anything!  As long as it's true and factual, of course. (it's gotta be "not fiction", after all!). Science, art, history, sports, current events--and more--are all fair game, from slice-of-life biographies and other true stories kids will read beginning-to-end, to list books and other compendiums of information that will delight the browsers in the crowd.

We're looking for fresh subjects or old favorites approached in a new way; writing that sizzles and sings; illustrations that make you say, "Wow."; and all of this between covers young readers (and those read to!) will want to open again and again.

Non-fiction picture books will be 48 pages or less and aimed at younger readers. Non-fiction books 48 pages or more, with longer, denser text divided into chapters, belong in the Middle Grade/Young Adult Nonfiction category.

--Fiona Bayrock, organizer

Please leave a nomination -- including author and title -- in the comments below. One nomination per person, per category, please.

Comments

[Susan Thomsen]

United Tweets of America, by Hudson Talbott. A hilarious book about America's state birds. 64 pages long; age range given (at Amazon) is 4 to 8.

[Megan Germano]

Night Running: How James Escaped with the Help of His Faithful Dog by Elisa Carbone

[Melissa]

Independent Dames by Laurie Hal Anderson

[JoAnn Early Macken]

Trout Are Made of Trees by April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Kate Endle
Charlesbridge

[EM]

Finding Home by Sandra Markle, illustrated by Alan Marks

[Charlotte]

Seven Miles to Freedom: The Robert Smalls Story, by Janet Halfmann

[Kelly Fineman]

Piano Starts Here: The Young Art Tatum by Robert Andrew Parker

[Jennifer]

Fabulous Fishes by Susan Stockdale

One of my best summer reading experiences - 20 4&5 year olds spontaneously echoing the lines after me!

[Cynthia Leitich Smith]

The Raucous Royals: Test Your Royal Wits: Crack Codes, Solve Mysteries, and Deduce which Royal Rumors are True. (Houghton Mifflin, 2008)

[Alison]

Lady Liberty, by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Matt Tavares

[Alison]

Lady Liberty, by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Matt Tavares

[Jackie Parker]

What to Do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy! by Barbara Kerley (author) and Edwin Fotheringham (illustrator)

[Carolyn]

Flip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move, by JoAnn Early Macken, illustrated by Pam Paparone, Holiday House.

[Carolyn]

Flip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move, by JoAnn Early Macken, illustrated by Pam Paparone, Holiday House.

[Sonja]

Nic Bishop Frogs by Nic Bishop published by Scholastic

[Sonja]

Nic Bishop Frogs by Nic Bishop published by Scholastic

[Sonja]

Nic Bishop Frogs by Nic Bishop published by Scholastic

[Tricia]

I'm so glad Susan nominated United Tweets! It is a fun book. I know it is over the "page limit" threshold, but that's only because we have 50 states. I suppose we could lop off a few of the problematic ones ...

No nomination here, just one excited panelist ...

[kbookwoman]

A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant Illustrated by Melissa Sweet Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

[Boni Ashburn]

Abe Lincoln Crosses A Creek: A Tall Thin Tale (Introducing His Forgotten Frontier Friend) by Deborah Hopkinson and John Hendrix, Schwartz & Wade Books

[Joan Paquette]

Lightship, by Brian Floca

[BeckyB]

Lightship was nominated last year AND it was in the finalists - just didn't know if it could be nominated again. I loved reading it last year and this was my first exposure to it!!

[sarah aronson]

sandy's circus, by tanya lee stone,
illustrations by boris kulikov
published by viking

[Lindsay]

The Art of Freedom: How Artists See America by Bob Raczka.
This book is a great way to introduce kids to art! It shows the United States through the eyes of eighteen different paintings, sculptures, and photographs.

[Stephanie]

Big Words for Little People by Jamie Lee Curtis

[Louise]

A Boy Named Beckoning: The True Story of Dr. Carlos Montezuma, Native American Hero by Gina Capaldi

[Kyle Kimmal]

Boys of Steel The Creators of Superman by Marc Tyler Nobleman. Illustrated by Ross MacDonald.

[KT Horning]

"A Boy Named Beckoning: The True Story of Dr. Carlos Montezuma, Native American Hero" by Gina Capaldi

[Becky]

What's Inside Your Tummy, Mommy by Abby Cocovini

[Fiona]

A couple of reminders...

---books must be Copyright 2008

---tall tales and historical fiction belong in the fiction picture book category

Thanks, y'all

From your friendly neighbourhood category organizer

[Jill]

Manfish: The Story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne (ill. Eric Puybaret)

[Jill]

Manfish: The Story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne (ill. Eric Puybaret)

[Fuse #8]

Keep Your Eye on the Kid: The Early Years of Buster Keaton by Catherine Brighton

[Kim Baccellia]

I'd like to nominate Rembrandt and the Boy Who Drew Dogs A Story about Rembrandt van Rijn by Molly Blaisdell for the non-fiction picture books category.

[Tarie]

Lady Liberty: A Biography, written by Doreen Rappaport and illustrated by Matt Tavares

[Jen Robinson]

Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery, and Jean Cassels (ill.) (Walker, August 5)

[Shirley]

This Is the Feast by Diane Z. Shore

[Barbara]

TWO BOBBIES by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery -- a great story about friendship and healing after Hurricane Katrina.

[Susan (Chicken Spaghetti)]

I'm so glad that Jackie nominated "What To Do About Alice?" which is a fine book! History is fun, and full of interesting people like Alice Roosevelt.

Tricia, let's start the United Tweets fan club! I found out about it from your blog--and ordered two copies. One for home and one I gave to my son's teacher.

[jone]

For NFPB: Ballots for Belva by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

[Laurie Thompson]

Since Two Bobbies has already been nominated, I'd like to add Molly the Pony, by Pam Kaster, Louisiana State University Press (April 29, 2008).

[Ed]

PLANTING THE TREES OF KENYA: THE STORY OF WANGARI MAATHAI
by Claire Nivola

[Tricia]

Just checking in to say how much I'm loving these nominations! What fun we're going to have wading through them all!

[Kate]

I'd like to nominate Elizabeth Leads the Way by Tanya Lee Stone, published by Henry Holt. It's a terrific PB biography of Elizabeth Cady Stanton (and for teachers...a perfect companion to Laurie Halse Anderson's Independent Dames, too!)

[Pat Cruzan]

Wolfsnail: A Backyard Predator by Sarah C. Campbell

[P.J.]

Give a Goat by Jan West Schrock

[Andrea of JustOneMoreBook! KidLit Podcast]

Little Lions, Bull Baiters & Hunting Hounds: A History of Dog Breeds by Jeff Crosby & Shelley Ann Jackson

[margie trembley]

The new children's book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog, by Firefighter Dayna Hilton, is not only fun, but educational, and based on the latest fire safety research for children.

978-0-9814977-0-9
Firehouse Dog Publishing, LLC
www.firehousedogpublishing.com

[Jeanette]

One Hen by Katie Smith Milway. Published by Kids Can Press, 2008. Through a simple storyline readers learn about micro-economics and global teamwork. It also shows the impact of a small change in a person's life.

[Fiona]

A NOTE FROM THE CATEGORY ORGANIZER....................... ...................................................................... JOAN PAQUETTE (Lightship) and KT HORNING (A Boy Named Beckoning) - the books you nominated have already been nominated (and in the case of Lightship, won last year's category!). You may each nominate another title if you'd like.