2007 Nominations Nonfiction Picture Books

Pick a topic. It can be anything, as long as it's something kids want to know about: biography, history, biology, astronomy, gastronomy... whatever. Then write about it. Maybe in the form of a story, or a scrapbook, or just some really engaging prose. Just make sure it says something true, something surprising, in a way that hasn't been said before.

Now, here's the crucial step: add some images. Paintings, drawings, photos, pop-ups... nothing superfluous, mind you. The illustrations have to support the text, and give it life - not drown it. Oh, don't forget the cover appeal - something that screams "Me! Pick me! Read me next!" to young shelf-browsers.

There you have it - a recipe for a great non-fiction picture book. And that's what we're looking for: the very best of the best. Have you seen any this year that have it all? Informative? Attractive? Insightful? Awesome? Then nominate your favorite in the comments below.

--Eisha Prather, organizer

Please leave your nomination -- including author and title -- in the comments below.

Comments

[Eric Luper]

Tracking Trash: flotsam, Jetsam and the Science of Ocean Motion by Loree Griffin Burns

Great book!

[Elizabeth]

Taj Mahal by Caroline Arnold and Madeleine Comora, with illustrations by Rahul Bhushan

[Dave]

One Thousand Tracings written and illustrated by Lita Judge

[Susan Thomsen]

Lightship, by Brian Floca (Atheneum)

[Tasha]

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis

[Kelly Fineman]

In My Backyard by Valarie Giogas from Sylvan Dell

[Kirsten]

Kirk, Daniel, Library Mouse, Abrams Book for Young Readers, 2007

[Els Kushner]

May I Pet Your Dog? by Stephanie Calmenson

[eisha]

Hi everyone! Thanks for the lovely nominations! Our panelists are eagerly eyeing the selections already.

Two notes:

Tracking Trash seems to be intended for an older audience, and since it's already been nominated for the Middle Grade/YA Nonfiction category, we'll let them consider it.

Kirsten: Library Mouse is a Fiction Picture Book, so if you haven't already nominated a book for that category, that's where it should go.

[Deena]

Rough, Tough Charley (Hardcover)
by Verla Kay (Author), Adam Gustavson (Illustrator)

[kyra]

I nominate my own non-fiction picture book, "Martha Ann's Quilt for Queen Victoria" by Kyra E. Hicks T

[Anne-Marie - A Readable Feast]

Ocean Seasons by Ron Hirschi, though any of the Sylvan Dell books would fit this category.

[EM]

WIRED by Anastasia Suen, illustrated by Paul Carrick. (Shameless plug #2.)

[Lindsay]

Artful Reading by Bob Raczka

[Paula]

Million Men and Me, Kelly Starling Lyons

I think this is non-fic PB because it's about the million man march...however, it may be a fictional account. Please let me know if I should move it.

[Renee]

Nothing But Trouble; the Story of Althea Gibson by Sue Stauffacher

[Don Tate]

Wind Flyers by Angela Johnson, illustrated by Loren Long

[Don Tate]

Wind Flyers by Angela Johnson, illustrated by Loren Long

[Kelly]

I nominate Young Pele: Soccer's First Star by Lesa Kline-Ransome and illustrated by James Ransome

[Brock Martin]

Living color, by Steve Jenkins.

[Philip Lee]

BALLERINA DREAMS by Lauren Thompson, Photographs by James Estrin http://www.feiwelandfriends.com/ourbooks.html#ballerina

[Kirsten]

Sorry that I stupidly nominated Library Mouse in the wrong category. Instead, I nominate Deedy's Martina the Beautiful Cockroach in this category.

[Sarah Miller]

DIFFERENT LIKE COCO, by Elizabeth Matthews

[Emily Beeson]

A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston

[Lois V. Harris]

I nominate my just-released picture book, Mary Cassatt: Impressionist Painter, a biography for ages 5 to 8. I chose 23 colorful Impressionist images and 7 photographs to bring Cassatt's inspiring lifestory to life. For the cover image, I selected Degas' favorite Cassatt painting, "Girl Arranging Her Hair" because the model's pose reminded me of classical art.
(I'm happy to provide the ISBN no. if you need it.)

[eisha]

Thanks, Lois - I found it, no worries.

There are plenty of lovely nominations coming in - thanks, everyone! But, a couple of things:

A Million Men and Me, and Wind Flyers, are indeed both historical fiction, so would belong in the picture book category. I'm happy to move them over there, and Paula and Don can nominate another choice for NFPB if you like.

Kirsten, you're going to think I've got something personal against you, but I swear! This is just a tricky category. In libraries, you do usually find folktales shelved in nonfiction, but for the purposes of the Cybils, we're treating folktales, song collections, historical fiction, and any other picture books that aren't FACTUAL as Fiction Picture Books. I'm so sorry that wasn't clear. Please, please, feel free to nominate another choice. And if you'd rather have Martina be your Fiction Picture Book nomination than Library Mouse, no problem, we can switch it.

[Heidi (seaheidi)]

MAMMOTHS ON THE MOVE, by Lisa Wheeler and Kurt Cyrus

[Fuse #8]

Strong Man by Meghan McCarthy

[Kristen McLean]

Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali by Charles Smith

[eisha]

Hair Dance by Dinah Johnson, outstanding photographs by Kelly Johnson. (Nominated by Kirsten on the NFPB Panel page.)

[eisha]

Heidi, I'm afraid Mammoths on the Move has a 2006 copyright date, and therefore isn't eligible for this year's awards. Please feel free to choose another!

[Jennifer]

A LITTLE PEACE, by Barbara Kerley

[Lyn Larson]

Guess What Is Growing Inside This Egg, by Mia Posada

Interactive with the reader, plus the illustrations are amazing--mixing watercolor and collage

[Christy]

ABC Safari by Karen Lee

[Anne]

The Book of Time Outs: A Mostly True History of the World's Biggest Troublemakers

by Deb Lucke

[jdb]

I nominate Monica Brown's _My Name Is Gabito: the Life of Gabriel Garcia Marquez/Me llamo Gabito: la vida de Gabriel Garcia Marquez_ published by Luna Rising.

This bilingual book, lavishly illustrated by Raul Colon, with inspiring, magical prose, brings the Nobel-Prize winning author to children for the first time.

Brown brings the world of Marquez's life and his complex novels to life for young readers.

Brown has written other beautiful books about Celia Cruz and Gabriela Mistral--this one is even better, if that's possible.

[cloudscome]

How We are Smart by W. Nikola-Lisa, illustrated by Sean Qualls.

[Jo Knowles]

Hi,
I thought I posted this last night but I don't see it here. Hope I didn't vote in the wrong category by mistake!

I'd like to nominate Anne Hutchinson's Way, by Jeannine Atkins, illustrated by Michael Dooling

Thanks!

Jo

[Andrea (of JustOneMoreBook!)]

A Horse in the House (and Other Strange but True Animal Stories)
by Gail Ablow and Kathy Osborne

[AJ]

I'd like to nominate Let's Go by Lizann Flatt.

[Lois]

D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet by Nancy I Sanders, illustrated by E.B Lewis

[Carolyn Marsden]

Vulture View by April Pulley Sayre!

[Megan Germano]

I FORGOT TO DO MY NONFICTION... YIKES!
Campy: The Story of Roy Campanella
by David A. Adler (Author), Gordon James (Illustrator)

[Carolyn Marsden]

Jeanette Rankin by Grethcen Woelfle

[Ben D.]

Just picked up Sawdust and Spangles: the Amazing Life of W.C. Coup by Ralph Covert and G. Riley Mills (Authors) and Giselle Potter (Illustrator) a wild and inspiring true story. I nominate it and highly recommend it!!

[Doret Canton]

Artist to Artist by Patricia Lee Gauch

[Rebecca]

City Hawk: The Story of Pale Male by Meghan McCarthy

[Loree Burns]

SNEEZE! by Alexandra Siy and Dennis Kunkel

[david e]

Footwork: The Story of Fred and Adele Astaire by Roxane Orgill and Stephane Jorisch

[Miriam]

I'd like to nominated
SURFER OF THE CENTURY: THE LIFE OF DUKE KAHANAMOKU
by Ellie Crowe