Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday: Best of Nonfiction for Kids 2014 Part II

Two weeks ago, I kicked off the Best Of posts when I shared with everyone the Best Of... Lists for Children's Books and how they fared with nonfiction. Last week, I shared Part I of the Best Nonfiction for Kids 2014.  Since then, I have been frantically squeezing in some additional books from my list including listening to a few audiobooks in order to finish this post. Since I had so many books to feature, I knew I would have to do this is two parts and after seeing this list I almost wondered if I needed three posts. Here is Part II of Best Nonfiction for Kids 2014 in no particular order.

Best Nonfiction Audiobook:

Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell; Illustrated by Christian Robinson; Narrated by Lizan Mitchell (Recorded Books 2014)

Runners-Up: Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (Penguin Audio, August 2014); The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of the Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming (Listening Library Audio, July 2014); Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights by Steve Sheinkin (Listening Library, January 2014);

Best Illustrations:

Tooth & Claw: The Wild World of Big Predators by Jim Arnosky (Sterling, April 2014)

Best Text for Mentor Texts:

Feathers: Not Just for Flying by Melissa Stewart; Illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen (Charlesbridge, February 2014)

Runner Up: Creature Features: Twenty-five Animals Explain Why They Look The Way They Do by Steve Jenkins, Robin Page (HMH Books for Young Readers, October 2014)

Best Historical Fiction that can almost pass for Nonfiction:

Ben Franklin's Big Splash: The Mostly True Story of His First Invention by Barb Rosenstock (Calkins Creek, September 2014)

Runner Up: Shooting at the Stars by John Hendrix (Abrams, October 2014)

Best Book Around a Global Issue:

Every Last Drop: Bringing Clean Water Home by Michelle Mulder (Orca Books, April 2014)

Runner Up: Every Day is Malala Day by Rosemary McCarney (Second Story Press, March 2014)

Best Artistically Created Book:

Migrant: The Journey of a Mexican Worker by Jose Manual Mateo; Illustrated by Javier Martinez Pedro  (Abrams, April 2014)

Best Biography:

The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant; Illustrated by Melissa Sweet (Eerdman's Publishers, September 2014)

Best Picture Book Memoir:

The Scraps Book by Lois Ehlert (Simon & Schuster, March 2014)

Best Biography About A Visual or Performing Artist:

The Cosmobiography of Sun Ra: The Sound of Joy is Enlightening by Chris Raschka (Candlewick Press, May 2014)

Runner-Ups: Hello, I'm Johnny Cash by G. Neri; Illustrated by A.G. Ford (Candlewick Press, September 2014); The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky's Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock (Alfred A. Knopf, February 2014);

Best Biography About an Animal:

Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla by Katherine Applegate; Illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Clarion Books, October 2014)

Runner-Ups: Abayomi, The Brazilian Puma: The True Story of an Orphaned Cub by Darcy Pattison; Illustrated by Kitty Harvill (Mims House, April 2014); Rags: A Hero Dog of WWI: A True Story by Margot Theis Raven; Illustrated by Petra Brown (Sleeping Bear Press, August 2014); Strongheart: The World's First Movie Star Dog by Emily Arnold McCully (Henry Holt & Co., November 2014)

Best Long-Form Nonfiction:

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming (Schwartz & Wade, July 2014)

Runners Ups: Bugged: How Insects Changed History by Sarah Albee (Walker Childrens, April 2014); How They Choked: Failures, Flops, and Flaw of the Awfully Famous  by Georgia Bragg (Walker Childrens, May 2014); Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights by Steve Sheinkin (Roaring Brook Press, January 2014); Red Madness: How a Medical Mystery Changed What We Eat by Gail Jarrow (Calkins Creek, April 2014)

And three more that I am adding just because this is my list and I liked them...

Handle With Care: An Unusual Butterfly Journey by Loree Griffin Burns; Photographs by Ellen Harasimowicz (Millbrook Press, March 2014)

Mr. Ferris and His Wheel by Kathryn Gibbs Davis; Illustrated by Gilbert Ford (HMH Books for Young Readers, September 2014)

The Case of the Vanishing Little Brown Bats: A Scientific Mystery by Sandra Markle (September 2014)

So, what books would be on your list?

For the past three years, I have had the pleasure of hosting the Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday Challenge. From checking out everyone's posts, I can say with confidence that everyone has read more nonfiction this year than in past years. As you think about your 2015 goals, I hope that you'll be ready to join the challenge for another year.  This year, I pushed myself to read even more nonfiction and to fill in some of my gaps. Next year, I am looking at how I can further grow in my understanding and appreciation of children's nonfiction books.

Stop by next week to sign-up for the 2015 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge.

 

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews or best of lists:

Gift Ideas for Book Lovers, Part 3: Gifts that Share a Message

For the past couple weeks, I've shared lists of gift ideas for book lovers. The series continues (and comes to an end) with more recommendations.

The holiday season is upon us, and that means not only gift-giving but also gift-purchasing; here are some great gift ideas gifts for the book lover in your life (in no particular order):

Mugs (and other crockery):

For Jane Austen fans: I'd Rather Be At Pemberley Mug from Etsy and  To Sip in the Shade Mug (covered with quotes from the beloved author) from Modcloth. 

This simple black mug would be a great gift for Edgar Allan Poe fans. Nevermore mug from Etsy.

 

Mugs can be an important form of communication for some (we all know someone that absolutely needs their coffee before anyone can approach), so these mugs are perfect for those of us who really just want to be left alone (but don't want to have to interact enough to tell others to go away). Go Away I'm Reading mug and Introverting Today mug (both from Etsy).

 Another mug with a great message - Stack of Books mug from Etsy. 

The Literary Audiences Only mug (from Modcloth) would make a great gift for those who appreciate a wide variety of literary fiction. 

For the copy editor(s) in your life - Gourmet Grammarian Plate set from Modcloth. 

A teapot...that's a bunch of books. Just as amazing as it sounds. The 'Poetry Books' Teapot, from Etsy (more similar here).

Pillows:

This gorgeous watercolor pillow can be customized with text from the poem or book of your choice. Abstract Watercolor Poem Pillow, from Etsy. 

Super adorable book pillows, available from Think Geek. Holiday book pillows also available. 

It may not be a billboard, but this Book Club Cozy pillow in Jay is one way to have the eyes of Dr. TJ Eckleburg on you. 

Posters & Wall Decor:

These Library Card posters are available for lots of children's novels and classics. Peter Pan poster and Anne of Green Gables poster, both available from Etsy (more library card posters available here). 

Fotor Created full text posters.jpg

Full text posters of classics - yep, that is the entirety of the text of Walden in one poster. Walden poster, Pride and Prejudice Poster, and Wuthering Heights poster, all available from Etsy (more available here). 

Note - I personally think these would be awesome to have in an English classroom. Kid doesn't bring a book for silent reading? Make them stand up by the wall and read. 

For the Jane Austen fan in your life, this Jane Austen Quote poster (from Etsy) contains numerous words of wisdom from the venerated author. 

This whimsical Mad Hatter poster (from Etsy) is available as a download - no shipping required. 

A lovely print from Le Petit Prince (the Little Prince), one of my favorite children's books. Available form Etsy.  

Wood 'Read' Sign from Etsy - perfect for a desk or up on a wall. 

Bonus:

...and a super-awesome t-shirt that I didn't see until now (which is why it's only in this article, not the first). Come check it out tee for women and for men (from Modcloth). 

I hope that these recommendations have been helpful, and happy holiday shopping! May your days be filled with friends, family, and books. - Carolyn 

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday: Best of Nonfiction for Kids 2014 Part I

For the past three years, I have hosted the Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday Challenge. This year, I pushed myself to read even more nonfiction and to fill in some of my gaps. At this point in the year, I have read 140 nonfiction books released in 2014, and another 112 from previous years. And I am still squeezing in a few more titles before next week's favorites are selected.

Last week, I shared with everyone the Best Of... Lists for Children's Books and how they fared with fiction and nonfiction. Overall, there was not enough nonfiction or a variety of nonfiction on these lists. So, I am doing my own best of list for nonfiction books for children. However, as I started looking over the books I have read this year, I realized that I would have a tough time limiting it to 10 or 20 books. Hence, I am doing the post in two parts and also sneaking in some runners up. 

This week I share with everyone, Part I of my Nonfiction for Children Best Of 2014 list. Please note that the list is not in any specific order.

Best Poetry:

Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold by Joyce Sidman; Illustrated by Rick Allen (HMH Books for Young Children, November 4, 2014)

Runners Up: On the Wing by David Elliot (Candlewick, September 2014); Harlem Hellfighters by J. Patrick Lewis (Creative Editions, August 2014); Dear Wandering Wildebeest: And Other Poems from the Water Hole by Irene Latham (Millbrook Press, September 2014); Water Can Be by Laura Purdie Salas (Millbrook Press, April 2014).

Best Series:

Scientist in the Field by various authors (HMH Books for Young Children, 2014) - Since I couldn't pick which one was my absolute favorite, I selected them all.

Best Book With an Ick Factor:

When Lunch Fights Back: Wickedly Clever Animal Defenses by Rebecca L. Johnson (Millbrook Press, September 1, 2014)

Best Baby Animals Book:

Born in the Wild: Baby Mammals and Their Parents by Lita Judge (Roaring Brook Press, October 21, 2014)

Runners Up: A Baby Elephant in the Wild by Caitlin O'Connell, Photographs by Timothy Rodwell (HMH Books for Young Readers, March 2014); A Mom for Umande by Maria Faulconer, Illustrated by Susan Kathleen Hartung (Dial, April 2014)

Best Early Readiness Concept Books:

Jane Brocket's Clever Concept Books by Jane Brocket (Millbrook Press, 2014)

Best Math/Numbers/Time Concept Book:

If...A Mind-bending New Way of Looking at Big Ideas and Numbers by David J. Smith; Illustrated by Steve Adams (Kids Can Press, August 1, 2014)

Runners-Up:  Mysterious Patterns: Finding Fractals in Nature by Sarah C. Campbell, Photographs Richard C. Campbell (Boyds Mills Press, April 1, 2014); At the Same Time, Around the World by Clotilde Perrin (Chronicle Books, March 2014)

Best Book for Making a Beetle Likeable:

Behold the Beautiful Dung Beetle by Cheryl Bardoe, Illustrated by Alan Marks (Charlesbridge, March 2014)

Runner Up: Beetle Busters by Loree Griffin Burns (HMH Books for Young Readers, October 2014)

Best Book that Explains the Science Behind the Super Hero:

Batman Science: The Real-World Science Behind Batman's Gear by Tammy Enz, Agnieszka Biskup (Capstone Press, February 2014)

Best Book About Services Dogs:

Sniffer Dogs; How Dogs (and Their Noses) Save the World by Nancy F. Castaldo (HMH Books for Young Children, July 2014)

Runner Up: Tuesday Tucks Me In: The Loyal Bond Between a Soldier and His Service Dog by Luis Carlos Montalván, Brett Witter, Photographs by Dan Dion (Roaring Brook Press, May 2014)

Best ABC Book:

Attack! Boss! Cheat Code!: A Gamer's Alphabet by Chris Barton, Illustrated by Joey Spiotto (POW!, October 2014)

Stop by next week for Part 2 and more wonderful nonfiction books.

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews: