Nonfiction

Do you like to read books about true events, people, animals and things? This list is for you! Here is a sampling of recommended nonfiction. 

Books are arranged on the shelves in the J Nonfiction and JB Biography sections by call number.

Titles available in:
A= Audiobook
E= E-book

Primary Grades (Kindergarten–2nd Grade)

All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon  J 551.48 LYO
This introduction to the water cycle is told in lyrical verse with eye-catching illustrations.  Unpaged.

Coral Reefs by Jason Chin  J 577.789 CHI
During an ordinary visit to the library, a girl pulls a not-so ordinary book from the shelves. When she turns the pages of this book about coral reefs, the city scenery disappears and she finds herself surrounded by the coral cities of the sea.  34 pgs.

Can We Save the Tiger? by Martin Jenkins  J 591.68 JEN
This book highlights the way human behavior can either threaten or conserve the amazing animals with which we share our planet.  50 pgs.

Butterflies and Moths by Nic Bishop  J 595.789 BIS
The simple, engaging text presents both basic information and fun, quirky facts, including a double-page spread of a butterfly in flight.  48 pgs.

Thunder Birds: Nature’s Flying Predators by Jim Arnosky  J 598 ARN
Do you know why there are no feathers on a vulture’s head? You will find the answers to this and other predator questions in this book, which also features fold-out pages.  32 pgs.

Bring on the Birds by Susan Stockdale  J 598 STO
Both exotic and familiar birds are introduced in a fun, rhyming way with bold colors in the illustrations. Unpaged.

In the Wild by David Elliott  J 811.54 ELL
This book is a collection of poems about a variety of wild animals. There are beautiful woodcut pictures surrounding the poems. The panda bear is described as “a bear in silk pajamas.”  Unpaged.

Arroz Con Leche: Un Poema para Cocinar/ Rice Pudding: A Cooking Poem by Jorge Argueta  J SPANISH 861.64 ARG
This bilingual book, written in poem format, gives step-by-step instructions on how to make rice pudding. It also describes how rice pudding can delight all of the senses.  Unpaged.

Intermediate (3rd-5th Grade)

Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes & Monsters by Donna Jo Napoli  J 292.13 NAP
This volume features retellings of classic Greek myths combined with beautiful illustrations.  191 pgs.

The Manatee Scientist: Saving Vulnerable Species by Peter Lourie  J 599.55 LOU
Research scientists in Florida, Brazil and Africa are working to preserve the three species of manatee.  80 pgs. (Look for other titles in the Scientists in the Field series.)

Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca   J 629.454 FLO
This picture book describes the 1969 Apollo 11 mission and the first astronauts to walk on the moon.  Unpaged  (Also available in a kit.)

Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot by Sy Montgomery  J 639.97871 MON
The last kakapos live on a remote New Zealand island. Follow the efforts of scientists to preserve and increase the population of these flightless parrots.  74 pgs.  (Look for other titles in the Scientists in the Field series.)

Built to Last by David Macaulay  J 721 MAC     E
Filled with detailed, full-color illustrations, this book describes the techniques used in building a cathedral, a castle and a mosque.  272 pgs. 

Emma Dilemma: Big Sister Poems by Kristine O’Connell George  J 811.54 GEO
Fourth-grader Jessica shares the frustrations that she has with her baby sister, Emma, in poems.  47 pgs.

The Great Migration: Journey to the North by Eloise Greenfield  J 811.54 GRE
From 1915-1930, more than half a million African Americans migrated to the North in search of better opportunities. Stories from the migration are told through poems and illustrations.  Unpaged.

We Are America: A Tribute from the Heart by Walter Dean Myers  J 811.54 MYE
Short, free-verse poems paired with paintings celebrate the history and people of the United States.  Unpaged.

The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P.T. Barnum
by Candace Fleming  JB BARNUM       A
P.T. Barnum’s nineteenth-century life was as amazing as the circus that he created.  151 pgs.

Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming  JB EARHART
Chapters alternate between Amelia Earhart’s early life and her final flight, including the dramatic search that followed her disappearance. 118 pgs.

The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworthby Kathleen Krull  JB FARNSWORTH
While plowing a field, Philo Farnsworth came up with the idea for TV. He eventually developed the first electronic television. Unpaged

Middle School (6th-8th grade)

Marching for Freedom: Walk Together, Children, and Don’t You Grow Weary
by Elizabeth Partridge  J 323.1196073 PAR      A
The Selma to Montgomery March of 1965 is told using the voices of those who participated. This book shows the critical role that young people played in the Civil Rights movement. 72 pgs. 

Beyond: A Solar System Voyageby Michael Benson  J 523.2 BEN
The solar system is described through text and stunning color photos taken by unmanned satellites.  121 pgs.

Wild Cats: Past & Present by John E. Becker  J 599.75 BEC
This book profiles many types of wild cats around the world, including their ancient ancestors. Discussions of the endangered status of some species also are included.  80 pgs.

What the World Eats by Peter Menzel and Faith D’Aluisio  J 641.3 MEN
Twenty-five families in twenty-one countries are presented with what they eat in one week.  160 pgs.

Inside Out and Back Again by Thannha Lai  J 811.6 LAI
This story in verse tells of a young Vietnamese girl who flees her country and emigrates to America.  262 pgs.

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance by Jennifer Armstrong  J 919.8904 ARM
Ernest Shackleton wanted to be the first explorer to cross the Antarctic, but his ship became trapped in the ice. Shackleton and his men undertook a heroic, many-month trek across the frozen wasteland.  134 pgs.

Before Columbus: The Americas of 1491 by Charles Mann   J 970.01 MAN
Were Native American societies much more advanced than the European ones that invaded them?  This groundbreaking book changes our understanding of the first Americans.  116 pgs.

America Is Under Attack: September 11, 2001: The Day the Towers Fell by Don Brown  J 973.931 BRO
This work presents a chronological account of the events of this day and focuses on a few stories of heroism and courage. Unpaged.

Years of Dust: The Story of the Dust Bowl by Albert Marrin  J 978.032 MAR
In the 1930s, the worst ecological disaster in American history turned millions of acres of fertile land in the middle of the U.S. into dust.  128 pgs.

Sir Charlie Chaplin: The Funniest Man in the World by Sid Fleischman  JB CHAPLIN
Charlie Chaplin grew up poor in England then made his way to America where he became a legendary film star in early Hollywood.  268 pgs.

4/12 JB and MSP

This list was prepared by the Youth Services Department of the St. Charles Public Library.
(630) 584-9390

Ask Youth Services! at St. Charles Public Library
      630-584-9390 or contact us online.