This list is comprised of Non-Fiction children’s picture books and Middle Grade level books.
History and Biography
Nicky and Vera: A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued by Peter Sis – Nicholas Winton, who saved nearly 700 Jewish Czech children during the Holocaust
Fighting for Yes! The Story of Disability Activist Judith Hueman by Maryann Leffler-Cocca and illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger – Judith Hueman and the fight for 504
A Rose Named Peace: How Francis Meilland a Flower of Hope for a World at War by Barbara Carroll Roberts and illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline – the creation of the Peace Rose
Park’s for the People: How Frederick Law Olmstead Designed America by Elizabeth Partridge and Becca Stadtlander – the story of the creation of Central Park, Yosemite, and others
Arthur Who Wrote Sherlock by Linda Bailey and illustrated by Isabelle Follath – biography of author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Ice Cream Man: How Augustus Jackson Made a Sweet Treat Better by Glenda Armand and Kim Freeman and illustrated by Keith Mallett – ice cream maker and modernizer Augustus Jackson
On the Corner of Chocolate Avenue: How Milton Hershey Brought Milk Chocolate to America by Tziporah Cohen and illustrated by Steven Salerno – Chocolate pioneer
I Dare! I Can! I Will!: the day the Icelandic women walked out and inspired the world by Linda Olafsdottir – the Icelandic Women’s Protest in the 1970s
The Flying Man: Otto Lillenthal , the World’s First Pilot by Mike Downs and illustrated by David Hohn – Pilot and aviation pioneer
Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport by Caren Stelson and illustrated by Selina Alko – Nicholas Winton
The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming – The Romanov family and the Russian Revoltion
The Arts
Stories Behind the Stories by Danielle Higley – how famous books came to be
Ferdinand Cheval: The Postman Who Delivered a Palace by Anne Renaud by illustrated by Ana Salopak – Amateur artist and architect Ferdinand Cheval, who designed a one of kind building in France
This is Tap! Savion Glover Find His Funk by Selene Castrovila and illustrated by Laura Freeman – tap dancer Savion Glover
Sciences
The Longest Journey: An Arctic Tern’s Migration by Amy Hevron – the migration route of an Arctic Tern
Mystery of the Monarchs: How Kids, Teachers, and Butterfly Fans Helped Fred and Norah Urquhart Track the Great Monarch Migration by Barb Rosenstock and illustrated by Erika Meza – the discovery of where Monarch Butterflies migrate to
Yoshi and the Ocean: A Sea Turtle’s Incredible Journey Home by Lindsay Moore – the story of Yoshi, a loggerhead turtle
A Life Electric: The Story of Nikola Tesla by Azadeh Westergaard and illustrated by Julia Sarda – Serbian electrical engineer, revolutionary inventor
Mario and the Hole in the Sky by How a Chemist Saved Saved Our Planet by Elizabeth Rusch and illustrated by Teresa Martinez – Mario Molina, the man who discovered the hole in the Ozone layer
Nature and Conservation
The Poem Forest: Poet W. S. Merwin and the Palm Tree Forest He Grew From Scratch by Carrie Fountain and illustrated by Chris Turnham – Poet and conservationist W. S. Merwin and how he transformed a desolate landscape
Oceanarium by Loveday Trinick and illustrated by Teagen White – a guide to Ocean life
Wolves of Yellowstone: A Rewilding by Catherine Barr and illustrated by Jenni Desmond – how wolves were brought back to Yellowstone National Park to restore the ecosystem
Wild Maps for Curious Minds: 100 New Ways to See the Natural World by Mike Higgins and illustrated by Manuel Bartoletti
A River’s Gifts: The Mighty Elwa River Reborn by Patricia Newman and illustrated by Natasha Donavon – the Elwa River Dam and it’s effects on the environment and the areas restoration after the dam’s removal
The Forest in the Sea: Seaweed Solutions to the Planet’s Problems by Anita Sanchez – everything you ever wanted to know about seaweed
Serengeti: Plains of Grass by Leslie Bulion and illustrated by Becca Stadtlander – the African Serengeti ecosystem
The Bird Book by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page – details various birds
What Goes on Inside a Beaver Pond? by Becky Cushing Gop and illustrated by Carrie Shryock – details of a beaver pond and life
Operation Pangolin: Saving the Worlds Only Scaled Mammal by Suzi Eszterhas – efforts to save this unique endangered species
They are Here! How Invasive Species are Spoiling our Ecosystems by Roland Smith – a profile of 30 invasive plants, insects, and animals that have invaded the US over the centuries
Operation Pangolin: Saving the World’s Only Scaled Mammal by Suzi Esterhaus – efforts to save the pangolin from poachers and other threats
What’s Inside books by Rachel Ignotofsky – a look inside a bird’s nest, a caterpillar cocoon, and a flower
Misc.
Amazing Landmarks: Discover the Hidden Stories Behind 10 Iconic Structures by Rehka S. Rajan and illustrated by Alex Asfour – the history behind 10 landmark buildings around the world and from throughout history
Dogs: A History of Our Best Friends by Lita Judge
Flip! How the Frisbee Took Flight by Margaret Muirhead and illustrated by Adam Gustavson – the creation of the Frisbee
Real Princesses Change the World by Carrie Pearson and illustrated by Dung Ho – known and unknown international princesses who work in law, conservation, and STEM to better the lives of their people and/or people everywhere
The Ramblings of a Jedi Librarian 