It's a whole lot easier to say what these books aren't -- fiction -- than to say what they are, because there's so much that they can be. The universe is big and time is long, and every year writers and illustrators immerse themselves in the truth and sweat the details to put more of it within the grasp of young readers. We want your nominations for the non-fiction picture books that did the best job in 2006 of bringing fact to imagination and imagination to fact.
--Chris Barton, Bartography
Leave nomination for this category in the comments below. Nominations close Nov. 20.
I nominate "Selvakumar Knew Better" by Virginia Kroll. Illustrations by Xiaojun Li
Posted by: Kelly | October 19, 2006 at 07:36 AM
"I'm a Pill Bug" by Yukihisa Tokuda, illus. by Kiyoshi Takahashi
"Honey, a Gift from Nature" by Yumiko Fujiwara, illus. by Hideko Ise
"Sing, Nightingale, Sing" by Francoise de Guibert, illus. by Chiaki Miyamoto
Posted by: Sondra LaBrie | October 19, 2006 at 09:57 AM
I nominate CLUELESS IN ALASKA: KNOW MORE! by Jen Funk Weber. Photography by Mike Weber.
Posted by: Loretta Gaines | October 19, 2006 at 11:12 AM
Aliens are coming by Meghan Mccarthy
Posted by: grace | October 19, 2006 at 01:15 PM
I nominate LITTLE LOST BAT by Sandra Markle, illustrated by Alan Marks.
Posted by: Emily | October 19, 2006 at 01:54 PM
"Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon" by Catherine Thimmesh.
Posted by: Anne | October 19, 2006 at 02:04 PM
Since Meghan McCarthy's Aliens are Coming has already been nominated. . .
Owen & Mzee: The True Story Of A Remarkable Friendship by Craig Hatkoff
Posted by: Cynthia Lord | October 19, 2006 at 06:22 PM
Aliens are Coming by Meghan McCarthy. Because it's awesome and because aliens really are coming. They are!
Posted by: Paul Acampora | October 19, 2006 at 08:58 PM
"The World's Greatest Elephant" by Ralph Helfer, illustrated by Ted Lewin.
Posted by: Laura | October 19, 2006 at 10:31 PM
The Illustrator's Notebook, by Mohieddin Ellabbad (Groundwood).
Posted by: Liz | October 20, 2006 at 07:21 AM
Mama by Jeanette Winter
Posted by: Judy Freeman | October 20, 2006 at 08:33 AM
Aliens Are Coming by Meghan McCarthy
Posted by: Elizabeth Bird | October 20, 2006 at 09:37 AM
THE STORY OF SALT by Mark Kurlansky
Posted by: Jonathan Hunt | October 20, 2006 at 10:30 AM
ALIENS ARE COMING by Meghan McCarthy because it's the most imaginatively told history I've ever seen -- and just plain fun to look at and read. If all nonfiction were this lively, nonfiction would be more popular.
Posted by: George Knightley | October 20, 2006 at 10:33 AM
I asked my three kids and two out of three said "Oh, Rats!" by Albert Marrin.
Posted by: Becky | October 20, 2006 at 07:26 PM
ALMOST GONE - THE WORLD'S RAREST ANIMALS by Steve Jenkins
Posted by: Mary | October 20, 2006 at 07:43 PM
Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became an Inventor by Emily Arnold McCully
I stuck it in MG and YA since it's for ages 7 to 12, but was told it goes here.
Posted by: Kelly Fineman | October 20, 2006 at 08:27 PM
I would like to nominate KIDS MAKE HISTORY: A NEW LOOK AT AMERICA'S STORY by Susan Buckley & Elspeth Leacock
Posted by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius" | October 21, 2006 at 07:15 PM
Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin by Gene Barretta
Posted by: Carrie K. | October 22, 2006 at 07:58 PM
I nominated An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long (Chronicle, 2006) under PBs. Please forgive me if it's in the wrong place and place it wherever it best suits.
Posted by: Cynthia Leitich Smith of Cynsations | October 23, 2006 at 08:56 AM
The World's Greatest Elephant by Ralph Helfer, Illustrated by Ted Lewin
Posted by: Pooja | October 23, 2006 at 09:37 AM
Perfect Timing: How Isaac Murphy Became One of the World's Greatest Jockeys by Patsi B. Trollinger and with original paintings by Jerome Lagarrigue
Beautiful! Tells a wonderful story of a real-life jockey who lived during an extraordinary time in the racing world.
Posted by: Candie Moonshower | October 23, 2006 at 11:22 AM
Wildfire by Taylor Morrison
A beautifully illustrated and amazingly researched look at what causes wildfires and how they are contained.
Posted by: Jenny Williams | October 24, 2006 at 01:00 PM
M IS for Masterpiece by David Domeniconi
Posted by: Sherry Early | October 25, 2006 at 09:38 AM
"Moses; When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom" by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Beautiful, gripping, evocotive story of Harriet's calling to seek freedom and to lead others in the struggle.
Posted by: cloudscome | October 26, 2006 at 11:40 AM
I meant to nominate Su Dongpo: Chinese Genius by Demi for this category.
Posted by: Jennifer Christie | October 26, 2006 at 01:55 PM
Our Seasons by Grace Lin and Ranida T. McKneally.
Posted by: eisha | October 27, 2006 at 08:17 PM
Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhardt's Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Sharks! And Other Sea Monsters (Candlewick Press)
Posted by: brettdl | October 29, 2006 at 07:07 AM
Stoo Hample's Book of Bad Manners by Stoo Hample.
Posted by: Jennifer | November 01, 2006 at 11:40 AM
Nominating NOBODY GONNA TURN ME ROUND by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Shane W. Evans
Posted by: Laura | November 01, 2006 at 12:04 PM
The Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook by Georganne Brennan is fun!
Posted by: Kaitlin | November 01, 2006 at 12:51 PM
I nominate A Place for Butterflies by Melissa Stewart, illus. by Higgins Bond. It is a beautifully illustrated book that delivers and important environmental message in clear, gentle language.
Posted by: Gerard | November 04, 2006 at 07:02 AM
Be Water, My Friend: The Early Years of Bruce Lee by Ken Mochizuki, illustrated by Dom Lee
Quiet Hero: The Ira Hayes Story written and illustrated by S. D. nelson
John Lewis in the Lead: A Story of the Civil Rights Movement by Jim Haskins and Kathleen Benson, illustrated by Benny Andrews
Drumbeat in Our Feet by Patricia Keeler and Julio Leitao, illustrated by Patricia Keeler
Celebrate! Connections Among Cultures by Jan Reynolds
How We Are Smart by W. Nikola-Lisa, illustrated by Sean Qualls
Posted by: Jennifer Christie | November 06, 2006 at 07:36 AM
Whoops, Jennifer, you're only allowed one book in each category. Can you narrow the list down, pretty please?
Posted by: Anne (Web mistress) | November 06, 2006 at 02:29 PM
Well, since Team Moon was kicked over to MG non-fic, do I get another stab at this? I'd like to nominate "It's not the stork" by Robie Harris and Michael Emberley, which states right on the cover it's for age 4 and up.
Thanks.
Posted by: Anne (Web mistress) | November 06, 2006 at 05:16 PM
Little Sap and Monsieur Rodin by Michelle Lord
Posted by: Camille | November 07, 2006 at 09:49 PM
3-D ABC by Bob Raczka
Posted by: Elizabeth | November 08, 2006 at 12:27 PM
Sail Away, Little Boat by Janet Buell with illustrations by Jui Ishida
Posted by: Kristianne | November 08, 2006 at 02:01 PM
This Jazz Man, by Karen Ehrhardt. Great art, great rhymes, and great minibios in the back!
Posted by: Stacy Dillon | November 09, 2006 at 07:27 AM
This Jazz Man, by Karen Ehrhardt. Great art, great rhymes, and great minibios in the back!
Posted by: Stacy Dillon | November 09, 2006 at 07:29 AM
HONKY-TONK HEROES & HILLBILLY ANGELS: THE PIONEERS OF COUNTRY & WESTERN MUSIC.
Pictures by Laura Levine; text by Holly George-Warren.
Posted by: bookfan | November 09, 2006 at 12:57 PM
The Buffalo Soldier by Sherry Garland
The same author-illustrator team from Voices of the Alamo; it's a beautiful book
Posted by: Happy Reader | November 09, 2006 at 01:32 PM
The Buffalo and the Indians by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
Posted by: Emilie | November 09, 2006 at 02:03 PM
Nominate: The Magic School Bus and the Science Fair Expedition
Posted by: joanna | November 09, 2006 at 03:21 PM
wish to nominate GEORGE DID IT by Suzanne Tripp illustrated by Larry Day
DUTTON/PenguinGRP
Posted by: christina Tugeau | November 10, 2006 at 11:11 AM
I nominate GEORGE DID IT (Dutton)by Suzanne Tripp Jurmain, illustrated by Larry Day. Hilarious and thoughtful story of how George Washington was afraid to become president.
Posted by: Steve | November 10, 2006 at 11:15 AM
Extreme Animals: The Toughest Creatures on Earth by Nicola Davies
Posted by: Alison | November 10, 2006 at 11:27 AM
What the Sea Saw by Stephanie St. Pierre, illustrated by Beverly Doyle
Posted by: Lesley | November 10, 2006 at 01:08 PM
I want to nominate When You Were Small by Sara O'Leary, illustrated by Julie Morstad (Simply Read Books) because my mom wrote it.
Posted by: Liam | November 10, 2006 at 05:13 PM
I'm thrilled to see that my book LITTLE LOST BAT has been nominated for a CYBIL award. It's a special story that's close to my heart. I value this opportunity to help readers discover my book. :-)
Posted by: Sandra Markle | November 10, 2006 at 06:17 PM