Category Archives: Nonfiction

Artist to Artist

Posted on March 21, 2012 by

“Dear young artist,” this book begins. Twenty-three illustrators complete the salutation with self-portraits and letters about their life, work and art. The process of picture book art and children’s literature illustration is discussed in each artist’s own way, and sometimes … Continue reading →

Posted in Love that art, Love that prose, Nonfiction | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Mama Miti

Posted on March 13, 2012 by

A biography that reads like a legend, Mama Miti is a superb literature choice to study Kenya, wisdom and environmental renewal. Wangari Muta Maathai, a.k.a. Mama Miti, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, a first for an African woman. One … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Books with social studies links, Love that art, Love that prose, Nonfiction, Picture books | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad

Posted on February 23, 2012 by

All of the angst of a child born into slavery and yearning for freedom is poured into Kadir Nelson‘s artwork of Henry, a real person who mailed himself to freedom in a wooden crate. Ellen Levine‘s story weaves fact and … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Love that art, Picture books | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome

Posted on February 6, 2012 by

Kathy Hoopman has created a touching book with adorable photographs of cats and text that relates to Asperger Syndrome. This book illuminates similarities between the two: “He likes to be near those he loves, but doesn’t want them to hold him, preferring … Continue reading →

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A Book About Color: A Clear and Simple Guide for Young Artists

Posted on January 17, 2012 by

Fun and simple, Mark Gonyea‘s book covers primary, complementary and analogous colours, as well as saturation, value and the colour wheel. There are six short chapters with only a few sentences per page and all pages are brightly illustrated. Chapter … Continue reading →

Posted in Chapter Books, Nonfiction, Picture books | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A Million Dots

Posted on January 9, 2012 by

If today is your birthday, then it’s only 525,600 minutes until your next birthday.  Your heart beats about 700,000 times a week. And if you took one second to look at each dot in Andrew Clements’ book, A Million Dots, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Nonfiction, Picture books | Tagged , | 2 Comments

An Edible Alphabet: 26 Reasons to Love the Farm

Posted on January 4, 2012 by

Let’s start the new year with an ABC book for more than just the very young.  It’s a hybrid  nonfiction book with a bit of poetry and a few narrative anecdotes rounding out the lush information.  For the very young, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books with science links, Canadian author/illustrator, Love that art, Nonfiction, Picture books, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Trapped

Posted on December 20, 2011 by

Trapped:  How the World Rescued 33 Miners From 2,000 Feet Below the Chilean Desert by Marc Aronson is a fascinating read about the San José Mine in northern Chile and the teamwork that enabled the thirty-three miners to survive seventeen days … Continue reading →

Posted in Books with science links, Nonfiction | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Fun with Roman Numerals

Posted on December 15, 2011 by

Some kids don’t learn Roman numerals in school, and that’s a shame.  Here’s the book to rectify that:  Fun with Roman Numerals by David A. Adler and illustrated by Edward Miller III, who conveniently has Roman numerals after his name. … Continue reading →

Posted in Nonfiction | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal

Posted on December 6, 2011 by

A true hero of the Wild West, Bass Reeves captured many outlaws from 1875 to 1907.  Filled with integrity, Bass Reeves’s bravery and ingenuity made for great true stories written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Books with social studies links, Love that art, Nonfiction, Picture books | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments