Great non fiction for young people (James Madison awards)
Discover the best non-fiction books for young readers with the James Madison Awards. Explore award-winning titles that educate and inspire young minds.
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Maritcha
by Tonya Bolden
Based on an actual memoir written by Maritcha Rimond Lyons, who was born in New York City, this poignant story tells what it was like to be a black child born free during the days of slavery. Includes photographs of Maritcha, her family, and friends, as well as archival and contemporary maps, photographs, and illustrations.
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The Forbidden Schoolhouse
by Suzanne Jurmain
Describes Prudence Crandall's violently-resisted attempts to educate African-American girls in Connecticut in the 1830's.
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George Washington, Spymaster
by Thomas B. Allen
A biography of Revolutionary War general and first President of the United States, George Washington, focusing on his use of spies to gather intelligence that helped the colonies win the war.
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Hatchet
by Gary Paulsen
This award-winning contemporary classic is the survival story with which all others are compared—and a page-turning, heart-stopping adventure, recipient of the Newbery Honor. Hatchet has also been nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read. Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson, haunted by his secret knowledge of his mother’s infidelity, is traveling by single-engine plane to visit his father for the first time since the divorce. When the plane crashes, killing the pilot, the sole survivor is Brian. He is alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but his clothing, a tattered windbreaker, and the hatchet his mother had given him as a present. At first consumed by despair and self-pity, Brian slowly learns survival skills—how to make a shelter for himself, how to hunt and fish and forage for food, how to make a fire—and even finds the courage to start over from scratch when a tornado ravages his campsite. When Brian is finally rescued after fifty-four days in the wild, he emerges from his ordeal with new patience and maturity, and a greater understanding of himself and his parents.
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An American Plague
by Jim Murphy
Recreates the devastation rendered to the city of Philadelphia in 1793 by an incurable disease known as yellow fever, detailing the major social and political events as well as the time's medical beliefs and practices.
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First to Fly
by Peter Busby
A look at the lives of the Wright brothers, from their childhood interest in flight, through their study of successful gliders and other flying machines, to their triumphs at Kitty Hawk and beyond.
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When Marian Sang
by Pam Muñoz Ryan
The inspiring story of Marian Anderson, best known for her historic concert at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939.
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Old Hickory
by Albert Marrin
An exploration of America's complex and enigmatic seventh president examines not only his accomplishments for the good of the people, but his "progressive" controversy that created broken Indian treaties and the Trail of Tears.
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Shutting Out the Sky
by Deborah Hopkinson
In her nonfiction debut, the award-winning author recounts the lives of five young immigrants to New York's Lower East Side through oral histories and engaging narrative.
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Mack Made Movies
by Don Brown
A simple biography of the director whose silent films immortalized such slapstick clowns as the Keystone Kops, Charlie Chaplin, Fatty Arbuckle, Mabel Normand, and Ben Turpin.
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A Dangerous Engine
by Joan Dash
At the time of his famous kite experiment, Benjamin Franklin was unaware that his theories about electricity had already made him a celebrity all over Europe, especially in France, where fashionable circles loved to discuss scientific discovery. Admired by the French court and beloved by French citizens, Franklin effectively became America’s first foreign diplomat, later helping to enlist France’s military and financial support for the American Revolution. A father of the revolution and a signer of the Constitution, Franklin was a lightning rod in political circles – “a dangerous Engine,” according to a critic. And although he devoted the last twenty-five years of his life to affairs of state, his first love was always science. Handsome pen-and-ink drawings highlight moments in this revolutionary thinker’s life. From the author and illustrator of The Longitude Prize, a Robert F. Sibert Honor Book and winner of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, comes another story of adventure and invention, of one man’s curiosity and the extraordinary rewards of his discoveries, just in time to celebrate the 300th anniversary of his birth (January 17, 1706).
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Built to Last
by George Sullivan
Profiles seventeen architectural and engineering achievements spanning over two centuries, including the Brooklyn Bridge, Transcontinental Railroad, and U.S. Interstate Highway System.
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Photo by Brady
by Jennifer Armstrong
Retells the Civil War through the eyes of photographer Mathew Brady and other field photographers as they record a brutal and deadly time.
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Inventing the Future
by Marfe Ferguson Delano
Presents a biography of the tireless Thomas Edison, illustrated with many photos of his life and inventions.
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Owen & Mzee
by Isabella Hatkoff
The true story of best friends Owen, a hippopotamus, and Mzee, a tortoise.
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Elephants Can Paint Too!
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A story of how a teacher from Brooklyn tought her art students and a class of elephants to paint.
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Animals Nobody Loves
by Seymour Simon
From the black widow spider to the great white shark, a description of many animals who have fearsome reputations.
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Hero Dogs
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Presents a variety of stories about working and rescue dogs who help humans in many ways, such as those involved in the work at the World Trade Center site after the disaster of September 11, 2001.
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Actual Size
by Steve Jenkins
Discusses and gives examples of the size and weight of various animals and parts of animals.
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You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer
by Shana Corey
Amelia Bloomer, who does not behave the way 19th-century society says a proper lady should, introduces pantaloons to American women. Full-color illustrations.
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Martin's Big Words
by Doreen Rappaport
This picture-book biography is an excellent and accessible introduction for young readers to learn about one of the world’s most influential leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Doreen Rappaport weaves the immortal words of Dr. King into a captivating narrative to tell the story of his life. With stunning art by acclaimed illustrator Bryan Collier, Martin’s Big Words is an unforgettable portrait of a man whose dream changed America—and the world—forever.
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Knucklehead
by Jon Scieszka
How did Jon Scieszka get so funny, anyway? Growing up as one of six brothers was a good start, but that was just the beginning. Throw in Catholic school, lots of comic books, lazy summers at the lake with time to kill, babysitting misadventures, TV shows, jokes told at family dinner, and the result is Knucklehead. Part memoir, part scrapbook, this hilarious trip down memory lane provides a unique glimpse into the formation of a creative mind and a free spirit. Watch a QuickTime trailer for this book.
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Marshfield Dreams
by Ralph Fletcher
Ralph is content in his simple life in Marshfield, Massachusetts, but when his father tells him that the family must move to Chicago for his new job, Ralph worries about what it will feel like to leave so many of his favorite people, places, and things behind. The colorful boyhood of a popular author comes to life in this personal account.
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The Chimpanzees I Love
by Jane Goodall
As a child, Jane Goodall dreamed of living with the wild animals of Africa. As a young woman, she amazed the world with her groundbreaking discoveries about chimpanzees, which she documented in her acclaimed National Geographic television specials. Ever since, Dr. Goodall has campaigned unceasingly for the protection of the chimpanzee  now an endangered species. This moving, personal account will inspire readers of all ages to join in her vital work.
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We Are the Ship
by Kadir Nelson
“We are the ship; all else the sea.”—Rube Foster, founder of the Negro National League The story of Negro League baseball is the story of gifted athletes and determined owners; of racial discrimination and international sportsmanship; of fortunes won and lost; of triumphs and defeats on and off the field. It is a perfect mirror for the social and political history of black America in the first half of the twentieth century. But most of all, the story of the Negro Leagues is about hundreds of unsung heroes who overcame segregation, hatred, terrible conditions, and low pay to do the one thing they loved more than anything else in the world: play ball. Using an “Everyman” player as his narrator, Kadir Nelson tells the story of Negro League baseball from its beginnings in the 1920s through its decline after Jackie Robinson crossed over to the majors in 1947. The voice is so authentic, you will feel as if you are sitting on dusty bleachers listening intently to the memories of a man who has known the great ballplayers of that time and shared their experiences. But what makes this book so outstanding are the dozens of full-page and double-page oil paintings—breathtaking in their perspectives, rich in emotion, and created with understanding and affection for these lost heroes of our national game. We Are the Ship is a tour de force for baseball lovers of all ages.
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Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow
by James Sturm
Baseball Hall of Famer Leroy "Satchel" Paige (1905? – 1982) changed the face of the game in a career that spanned five decades. Much has been written about this larger-than-life pitcher, but when it comes to Paige, fact does not easily separate from fiction. He made a point of writing his own history…and then re-writing it. A tall, lanky fireballer, he was arguably the Negro League’s hardest thrower, most entertaining storyteller and greatest gate attraction. Now the Center for Cartoon Studies turns a graphic novelist’s eye to Paige’s story. Told from the point of view of a sharecropper, this compelling narrative follows Paige from game to game as he travels throughout the segregated South. In stark prose and powerful graphics, author and artist share the story of a sports hero, role model, consummate showman, and era-defining American.
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An Egg Is Quiet
by Dianna Hutts Aston
Award-winning artist Sylvia Long has teamed with up-and-coming author Dianna Aston to create this gorgeous and informative introduction to eggs. From tiny hummingbird eggs to giant ostrich eggs, oval ladybug eggs to tubular dogfish eggs, gooey frog eggs to fossilized dinosaur eggs, it magnificently captures the incredible variety of eggs and celebrates their beauty and wonder. The evocative text is sure to inspire lively questions and observations. Yet while poetic in voice and elegant in design, the book introduces children to more than 60 types of eggs and an interesting array of egg facts. Even the endpapers brim with information. A tender and fascinating guide that is equally at home being read to a child on a parent's lap as in a classroom reading circle.
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Bat Loves the Night
by Nicola Davies
"A charming and informative story about a pipistrelle bat. . . . Offers vivid descriptions of the animal's flight, its navigational skills, and the hunt for food." — School Library Journal Night has fallen, and Bat awakens to find her evening meal. Follow her as she swoops into the shadows, shouting and flying, the echoes of her voice creating a sound picture of the world around her. When morning light creeps into the sky, Bat returns to the roost to feed her baby . . . and to rest until nighttime comes again. Bat loves the night! Back matter includes an index. A Common Core Text Exemplar
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Why Why Why Does the Earth Spin Round
by Belinda Gallagher
The fun questions in this book are clearly answered and fantastic illustrations help explain things further. Specially designed parent panels give tips on further learning, and a fun quiz at the back tests children on what they have read.
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All by Herself
by Ann Whitford Paul
Poems recount the stories of fourteen girls, some of whom later became famous, who performed acts of daring, determination, and heroic courage at a young age.
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My America
by Lee Bennett Hopkins
In My America, Lee Bennett Hopkins weaves together fifty poems -- grouped by geographic region -- to create a remarkable portrait of the United States. Here is America in all its stunning variety, from the dramatic seacoast of the Northeast and the rippling cornfields of the Plains States to the shimmering deserts of the Southwest and the majestic redwood forests of the Pacific Coast. But here, too, are the ties that bind this nation together -- the hopes and dreams of those who live in our cities and towns and on farms. The voices of beloved poets like Langston Hughes, Carl Sandburg, Nikki Giovanni, and Lilian Moore blend with new voices to sing not just of landmarks like the Mississippi River, the Grand Canyon, and the Everglades, but of daily life across the land. Complementing these personal, moving visions of America are maps of the regions and fascinating facts for each state. Stephen Alcorn's brilliant, textured artwork makes this book a feast for the eyes as well as for the imagination. Impressive for its breadth, depth, and beauty, My America is a volume readers will savor as they read it time and time again. It is fitting homage to our wideranging, ever-changing land.
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10 Things I Can Do to Help My World
by Melanie Walsh
Examines easy ways to reuse items and why it's important to do so.
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Looking Closely Along the Shore
by Frank Serafini
This book in the Looking Closely series will take children on a journey of discovery along the shore while inspiring them to ask questions and use their imaginations.
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The Many Rides of Paul Revere
by James Cross Giblin
Paul Revere is commonly remembered as the legendary hero of Longfellow's poem about his midnight ride. In this bright, informative biography, Giblin follows Paul Revere from his humble beginnings as a French immigrant's son, to his work as a silversmith and a rider for America's mounting insurgency against England. With precise, accessible prose, and stirring images of the period, Giblin chronicles Revere's many daring rides and his far-flung professional accomplishments. Along the way, he portrays a brave, compassionate, and multitalented American patriot. Illustrated with black-and-white archival photos and lithographs.