Michelle's Real Reads: Children's Nonfiction Book Recommendations

New Children's Nonfiction

Brains! Not Just a Zombie Snack by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Matthew Rivera 

Brains. 78% water, 100% delicious. A zombie chef who has sworn off eating brains salivates over this super powerful organ in this funny and fact-filled picture book. From learning about how the brain processes messages from our five senses, to learning why wrinkly human brains are so much more powerful than smooth mouse brains, this is a hilarious introduction to the organ that does it all. 

Building a Home by Polly Faber, illustrated by Klas Fahlén 

This beautifully illustrated picture book shows how an old factory can become a brand-new apartment, step-by-step. Find out all about the people, machines, processes, and tools involved in breathing new life into an old building. With builders, cranes, diggers, cement mixers, and a host of other machinery detailed in bright and contemporary artwork, readers can watch a crumbling old factory on the edge of town as it goes from being an empty shell to something entirely new . . . a home. 

Diggers by Amy Johnson, illustrated by Kirsten Collier 

Your young readers will dig down into the world of digging machines with this exciting look at a popular kind of big, powerful machine. Through achievable text, they'll learn about machines that dig, dump, load, and lift things on construction sites. They'll discover the various parts of each machine and how they're used to get the job done easily and safely. Colorful illustrations peppered throughout this book keep readers interested and entertained as they learn. This charming reading experience is designed to encourage early learners to dig deeper into this fun topic. 

How to Find a Fox written by Kate Gardner, photographed by Ossi Saarinen 

Taking kids on an imaginary trek through different landscapes and seasons, How to Find a Fox celebrates one of our planet's most graceful and enchanting creatures: the red fox. Ossi Saarinen's stunning wildlife photos and Kate Gardner's lively and informative words capture the magical and profound connection between animals and humans. 

Little People, Big Dreams: Kamala Harris written by María Isabel Sánchez Vegara, illustrated by Lauren Semmer 

As a child, little Kamala marched for civil rights with her parents. She was encouraged to fight for justice and to make a difference in the world. From her career as a lawyer to her time spent as a US senator, to her historic election to the White House as Vice President, Kamala has lived a life of firsts. But, she is determined that she won't be the last. This inspiring story of the groundbreaking politician features a fact and photo section at the back. 

My Heart Flies Open by Omileye Achikeobi-Lewis 

Beautifully and brightly illustrated, My Heart Flies Open takes readers on a yoga journey of mindful reflection, self-discovery, and self-love. Starting with Easy Pose ("I AM LOVE") and moving through Mountain Pose ("I AM STILLNESS"), Triangle Pose ("I AM ME"), and more, My Heart Flies Open guides young readers through a grounding sequence of 15 yoga poses and affirmations. 

Opening the Road: Victor Hugo Green and His Green Book by Keila V. Dawson, illustrated by Alleanna Harris  

In the late 1930s when segregation was legal and Black Americans couldn't visit every establishment or travel everywhere they wanted to safely, a New Yorker named Victor Hugo Green decided to do something about it. Green wrote and published a guide that listed places where his fellow Black Americans could be safe in New York City. The guide sold like hot cakes! Soon customers started asking Green to make a guide to help them travel and vacation safely across the nation too. With the help of his mail carrier co-workers and the African American business community, Green's guide allowed millions of African Americans to travel safely and enjoy traveling across the nation. 

Over and Under the Canyon by Kate Messner with art by Christopher Silas Neal 

Over the canyon, the sun scalds the air, and bakes the desert mud to stone. But under the shade of the canyon hides another world, where bighorn sheep bound from rock to rock on the hillside, roadrunners make their nests in sturdy cacti, and banded geckos tuck themselves into the shelter of the sand. This book takes readers on a journey through the wonders concealed in the curves of the canyon, and all the secret life hidden in its arms. 

Pooper Snooper by Jennifer Keats Curtis and Julianne Ubigau 

Dog detectives? Thanks to superior sniffers, some pups learn to help scientists investigate and track endangered animals. The snoopers' clue? Poop. Dogs that are part of wildlife detective teams are trained to catch the scent of wild animal poop (scat) so that scientists can learn about these animals without luring or trapping them. 

With Great Power: The Marvelous Stan Lee: An Unauthorized Biography by Annie Hunter Eriksen, illustrated by Lee Gatlin 

As a kid, Stan escaped his family's tiny New York apartment through tales of adventure, monsters, and magic. It wasn't long until he was crafting his own stories, writing comics professionally when he was still just a teenager! But then Stan started to notice that the heroes were always the same: strong, perfect, and boring. His new mission was to find the secret ingredient for a new kind of superhero.