nonfiction picture books

Tag: nonfiction picture books

January 17, 2023 by Betsy Bird

Review of the Day: An American Story by Kwame Alexander, ill. Dare Coulter

In his latest book Kwame Alexander tackles the subject of slavery head on, providing a template not just for teachers, but for any adult wishing to give the kids of today a better grasp on material that so many have worked so hard to avoid for all these years.

December 27, 2022 by Betsy Bird

31 Days, 31 Lists: 2022 Nonfiction Picture Books

Here are the 2022 nonfiction picture books that REALLY made my little heart go pitta pat. My favorites of the year, if you will. I hope you enjoy them as much I have.

November 7, 2022 by Betsy Bird

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley, ill. Brian Selznick

We know that the standards to which we hold nonfiction picture books has changed in the intervening 21 years. So how does this Caldecott Honoree stand up today? Spoiler Alert: Surprisingly well!

Review of the Day: Choosing Brave by Angela Joy, ill. Janelle Washington

October 14, 2022 by Betsy Bird

Choosing Brave is the book for kids we will turn to on the topic of Emmett Till for decades and decades and decades to come.

Review of the Day: Listen to the Language of the Trees by Tera Kelley, ill. Marie Hermansson

July 1, 2022 by Betsy Bird

With exquisitely clever art, this isn’t the first book I’ve seen on the subject of tree communication, but what I can say is that it’s the best written with the most useful illustrations to date.

Review of the Day: Blue by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, ill. Daniel Minter

March 11, 2022 by Betsy Bird

“Maybe because blue has such a complicated history of pain, wealth, invention, and recovery, it’s become a symbol of possibility, as vast and deep as the bluest sea, and as wide open and high as the bluest sky.” I consider a truly gorgeous bit of picture book history in the magnificently written and illustrated BLUE.

Review of the Day: Out of the Shadows by Fiona Robinson

January 14, 2022 by Betsy Bird

It is the easiest thing in the world to write a mediocre picture book biography. Writing one that’s as good as Out of the Shadows, that knows precisely where to cut the story, how to present the art, and then allows you to fall in love with the subject? Such books are uncommon little gems.