2008 Nominations Non-Fiction MG/YA Books

Facts First! Don't fall under the misconception that facts are boring. Facts can break boundaries. Facts can open eyes. Facts can inspire. Facts can do anything fiction can do. Maybe more. Not that we don't love fiction, but nonfiction has been a special focus of many bloggers in the kidlitosphere since the inception of Nonfiction Monday for good reason. We want to highlight the best of 2008 in informational books for kids and teens.--The Editors

We're also drawing the line between this category and the younger non-fiction titles by, well, looking at the drawings.  If the book's more than 48 pages, has more text and seems geared for somewhat older kids, you're probably right. Put it here.

--Mindy Rhiger and the editors

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

Comments

[Kate]

I nominate Steel Drumming at the Apollo by Trish Marx with photos by Ellen Sinisi. This book came out from Lee & Low Books officially on Dec. 31, 2007 but I think it's eligible this year, right? It wasn't included last year.

It follows a group of Schenectady NY kids who follow a dream to compete at the Apollo Theater. I posted a more detailed review here:

http://kmessner.livejournal.com/45872.html

[Matt]

I nominate We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson.

[Sarah Miller]

SHE TOUCHED THE WORLD: LAURA BRIDGMAN, DEAF-BLIND PINOEER
by Sally Hobart Alexander and Robert Alexander

[Muriel L. Dubois]

Women of Granite: 25 New Hampshire Women You Should Know by Janet Buell and the Write Sisters

Order review copies from www.apprenticeshopbooks.com

[Jennifer]

King George: What was his problem? by Steve Sheinkin

[EM]

Sea Queens by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Christine Joy Pratt

[Jackie Parker]

Lincoln Shot: A President's Life Remembered by Barry Denenberg (Author), Christopher Bing (Illustrator)

[Heather]

Great Peacemakers: True Stories from Around the World, by Ken Beller and Heather Chase, www.GreatPeacemakers.com

[Becky]

The Trouble Begins at 8 by Sid Fleischman. (The biography of Mark Twain.) The publisher is HarperCollins.

[Alys]

I nominate Knucklehead by Jon Scieszka.

[Stephanie]

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart

[Darcy Pattison]

IN DEFIANCE OF HITLER: The Secret Mission of Varian Fry, by Carla McClafferty (FSG)

[Stephanie]

Whoops I wrote that in the wrong category... what I meant to nominate was Kiss My Math by Danica McKellar

[Michael J. Rosen]

Happy to nominate OUR FARM: Four Seasons with Five Kids on One Family's Farm (Darby Creek Publishing, 2000). See link for press kit, sample of photographs, spreads:

http://tinyurl.com/5fahwv

[Elizabeth]

"Mrs. Riley Bought Five Itchy Aardvarks" and Other Painless Tricks for Memorizing Science Facts by Brian P. Cleary

[Toreyy]

I am Scout: the biobraphy of Harper Lee by Charles J. Shields

[KT Horning]

"The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary" by Candace Fleming

[KT Horning]

Oops, sorry about the blank!

"The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West" by Sid Fleischman

[Liv]

Model by Cheryl Diamond

It's a memoir...does that count?

[Fuse #8]

Off to War: Voices of Soldiers Children by Deborah Ellis

[Jen Robinson]

The Year We Disappeared: A Father-Daughter Memoir, by Cylin Busby and John Busby (Bloomsbury, August 1st).

[Susan (Chicken Spaghetti)]

ridiculous/hilarious/terrible/cool: A Year in an American High School, by Elisha Cooper.

[Nan Hoekstra]

I nominate One Hundred Young Americans by Michael Franzini

[Danielle]

Body Drama by Nancy Amanda Redd

[Kris]

Ain't Nothing but a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry, by Scott Reynolds Nelson

[Philip Lee]

YES WE CAN: A BIOGRAPHY OF BARACK OBAMA by Garen Thomas, Feiwel and Friends

[Tricia]

Mysterious Universe: Supernovae, Dark Energy, and Black Holes
by Ellen Jackson

[Carol]

Model a Memoir by Cheryl Diamond

[Amanda]

I loved Generation Green by Linda and Tosh Sivertsen. Everyone should read this, teen or adult!

[Rebecca]

She Touched the World: Laura Bridgman, Deaf-Blind Pioneer.

by Sally Hobart Alexander and Robert Alexander

"At the age of twelve, Laura Bridgman was world famous. She performed on stage and met other celebrities of her time. Politicians, artists, and reformers flocked to see her, and she was loved and admired by children everywhere. Laura was also deaf and blind."

[helgor]

SCIENCE ON THE LOOSE by Helaine Becker (Mapletree)

[Philip Lee]

YES WE CAN: A BIOGRAPHY OF BARACK OBAMA by Garen Thomas, published by Feiwel and Friends

[Jeannine Atkins]

Our White House: Looking in, Looking Out by 108 authors and illustrators and the National Children's Book and Literary Alliance (Candlewick Press)

[Jennifer, Snapshot]

Taking Care of Your Girls: A Breast Health Guide for Teens, Tweens, and In-Betweens by Marisa Weiss and Isabel Friedman

[Dianne Helm]

I would like to nominate A Gift of Dreams, a classic American coming-of-age tale. The author shares his challenges of growing up in the 1950's, building model airplanes, and daring to be different. His love of model airplanes eventually brought him international recognition as a member of the National Model Aviation Hall of Fame.

[Patty]

No Choirboy by Susan Kuklin

[Luke Santore]

"Painting the Wild Frontier," by Susanna Reich (Clarion, 2008), about artist/adventurer George Catlin...a great read.

[Evelyn]

Gotcha Covered: Everything You Need To Know About Your Period By Lisa McGuinness, Chris Boral

I just bought this for my pre-teen daughter and love all of the information and friendly tone. Makes talking about this stuff a bit easier. :)

[Norman Cohen]

I nominate "You're Amazing! A No-Pressure Guide to Being Your Best Self" by Claire Mysko. It's a great book designed to help girls who are feeling the "pressure to be perfect," to lighten up, educate themselves and feel great about themselves.

[Doret]

The Way We Work by David Macaulay

[Becky]

"Physics: Why Matter Matters!", concept and illustrated by (Simon) Basher, text by Dan Green

[Becky]

"Physics: Why Matter Matters!", concept and illustrated by (Simon) Basher, text by Dan Green

[Becky]

"Physics: Why Matter Matters!", concept and illustrated by (Simon) Basher, text by Dan Green

[Karl]

I nominate The Pocket Guide to Mischief by Bart King. So funny, so informative... and so readable.

[Sarah]

I want to nominate "Independent Dames" by Laurie Halse Anderson

[Jennifer Poulter]

I would like to nominate Jenny Gibson's "The ABC of Art Skills" is published on the web -http://www.abcyoucandraw.com/ and is aimed at children and young people or just the young at heart!
I can personally vouch for Jenny's skills as an art teacher as I have been teaching myself to draw using her book (see my earliest attempts at perspective on my JacketFlap site - they were done after going through her lessons step by step). The book is based on her experiences teaching art to children for many years in Northside Christian College and later taking course in graphics through TAFE and other colleges.

[Lena]

I second the vote for No Choirboy by Susan Kuklin

[MamaB]

I nominate Sedimentary Rock by Rebekah Faulkner. This is one from the Geology Rocks series!

[PK]

"Seize the Story" by Victoria Hanley, Cottonwood Press. An awesome resource for budding writers!

[Karen C.]

I Am Scout: The Biography of Harper Lee