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.
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
Posted by: Kate | October 01, 2008 at 04:29 AM
I nominate We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson.
Posted by: Matt | October 01, 2008 at 04:45 AM
SHE TOUCHED THE WORLD: LAURA BRIDGMAN, DEAF-BLIND PINOEER
by Sally Hobart Alexander and Robert Alexander
Posted by: Sarah Miller | October 01, 2008 at 05:46 AM
Women of Granite: 25 New Hampshire Women You Should Know by Janet Buell and the Write Sisters
Order review copies from www.apprenticeshopbooks.com
Posted by: Muriel L. Dubois | October 01, 2008 at 06:40 AM
King George: What was his problem? by Steve Sheinkin
Posted by: Jennifer | October 01, 2008 at 06:54 AM
Sea Queens by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Christine Joy Pratt
Posted by: EM | October 01, 2008 at 06:56 AM
Lincoln Shot: A President's Life Remembered by Barry Denenberg (Author), Christopher Bing (Illustrator)
Posted by: Jackie Parker | October 01, 2008 at 09:06 AM
Great Peacemakers: True Stories from Around the World, by Ken Beller and Heather Chase, www.GreatPeacemakers.com
Posted by: Heather | October 01, 2008 at 10:26 AM
The Trouble Begins at 8 by Sid Fleischman. (The biography of Mark Twain.) The publisher is HarperCollins.
Posted by: Becky | October 01, 2008 at 11:38 AM
I nominate Knucklehead by Jon Scieszka.
Posted by: Alys | October 01, 2008 at 11:51 AM
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart
Posted by: Stephanie | October 01, 2008 at 12:37 PM
IN DEFIANCE OF HITLER: The Secret Mission of Varian Fry, by Carla McClafferty (FSG)
Posted by: Darcy Pattison | October 01, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Whoops I wrote that in the wrong category... what I meant to nominate was Kiss My Math by Danica McKellar
Posted by: Stephanie | October 01, 2008 at 12:53 PM
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
Posted by: Michael J. Rosen | October 01, 2008 at 01:47 PM
"Mrs. Riley Bought Five Itchy Aardvarks" and Other Painless Tricks for Memorizing Science Facts by Brian P. Cleary
Posted by: Elizabeth | October 01, 2008 at 02:16 PM
I am Scout: the biobraphy of Harper Lee by Charles J. Shields
Posted by: Toreyy | October 01, 2008 at 03:26 PM
"The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary" by Candace Fleming
Posted by: KT Horning | October 01, 2008 at 04:30 PM
Oops, sorry about the blank!
"The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West" by Sid Fleischman
Posted by: KT Horning | October 01, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Model by Cheryl Diamond
It's a memoir...does that count?
Posted by: Liv | October 01, 2008 at 05:10 PM
Off to War: Voices of Soldiers Children by Deborah Ellis
Posted by: Fuse #8 | October 01, 2008 at 06:57 PM
The Year We Disappeared: A Father-Daughter Memoir, by Cylin Busby and John Busby (Bloomsbury, August 1st).
Posted by: Jen Robinson | October 01, 2008 at 10:26 PM
ridiculous/hilarious/terrible/cool: A Year in an American High School, by Elisha Cooper.
Posted by: Susan (Chicken Spaghetti) | October 02, 2008 at 05:49 AM
I nominate One Hundred Young Americans by Michael Franzini
Posted by: Nan Hoekstra | October 02, 2008 at 09:49 AM
Body Drama by Nancy Amanda Redd
Posted by: Danielle | October 02, 2008 at 09:53 AM
Ain't Nothing but a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry, by Scott Reynolds Nelson
Posted by: Kris | October 02, 2008 at 01:12 PM
YES WE CAN: A BIOGRAPHY OF BARACK OBAMA by Garen Thomas, Feiwel and Friends
Posted by: Philip Lee | October 02, 2008 at 04:07 PM
Mysterious Universe: Supernovae, Dark Energy, and Black Holes
by Ellen Jackson
Posted by: Tricia | October 02, 2008 at 04:24 PM
Model a Memoir by Cheryl Diamond
Posted by: Carol | October 02, 2008 at 04:52 PM
I loved Generation Green by Linda and Tosh Sivertsen. Everyone should read this, teen or adult!
Posted by: Amanda | October 03, 2008 at 12:12 PM
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."
Posted by: Rebecca | October 03, 2008 at 03:07 PM
SCIENCE ON THE LOOSE by Helaine Becker (Mapletree)
Posted by: helgor | October 03, 2008 at 05:28 PM
YES WE CAN: A BIOGRAPHY OF BARACK OBAMA by Garen Thomas, published by Feiwel and Friends
Posted by: Philip Lee | October 04, 2008 at 09:54 PM
Our White House: Looking in, Looking Out by 108 authors and illustrators and the National Children's Book and Literary Alliance (Candlewick Press)
Posted by: Jeannine Atkins | October 05, 2008 at 08:28 AM
Taking Care of Your Girls: A Breast Health Guide for Teens, Tweens, and In-Betweens by Marisa Weiss and Isabel Friedman
Posted by: Jennifer, Snapshot | October 05, 2008 at 09:22 AM
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.
Posted by: Dianne Helm | October 05, 2008 at 03:34 PM
No Choirboy by Susan Kuklin
Posted by: Patty | October 05, 2008 at 04:14 PM
"Painting the Wild Frontier," by Susanna Reich (Clarion, 2008), about artist/adventurer George Catlin...a great read.
Posted by: Luke Santore | October 05, 2008 at 04:58 PM
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. :)
Posted by: Evelyn | October 05, 2008 at 05:10 PM
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.
Posted by: Norman Cohen | October 06, 2008 at 10:59 AM
The Way We Work by David Macaulay
Posted by: Doret | October 06, 2008 at 05:06 PM
"Physics: Why Matter Matters!", concept and illustrated by (Simon) Basher, text by Dan Green
Posted by: Becky | October 06, 2008 at 06:56 PM
"Physics: Why Matter Matters!", concept and illustrated by (Simon) Basher, text by Dan Green
Posted by: Becky | October 06, 2008 at 06:57 PM
"Physics: Why Matter Matters!", concept and illustrated by (Simon) Basher, text by Dan Green
Posted by: Becky | October 06, 2008 at 06:57 PM
I nominate The Pocket Guide to Mischief by Bart King. So funny, so informative... and so readable.
Posted by: Karl | October 06, 2008 at 07:01 PM
I want to nominate "Independent Dames" by Laurie Halse Anderson
Posted by: Sarah | October 06, 2008 at 07:26 PM
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.
Posted by: Jennifer Poulter | October 07, 2008 at 04:38 AM
I second the vote for No Choirboy by Susan Kuklin
Posted by: Lena | October 07, 2008 at 11:49 AM
I nominate Sedimentary Rock by Rebekah Faulkner. This is one from the Geology Rocks series!
Posted by: MamaB | October 07, 2008 at 06:25 PM
"Seize the Story" by Victoria Hanley, Cottonwood Press. An awesome resource for budding writers!
Posted by: PK | October 08, 2008 at 12:41 PM
I Am Scout: The Biography of Harper Lee
Posted by: Karen C. | October 08, 2008 at 01:39 PM