Staff Picks Youth Nonfiction
August 2023
Underground Fire: Hope, Sacrifice, and Courage in the Cherry Mine Disaster
by Sally M. Walker
The town of Cherry, Illinois still exists and is the setting for the latest non-fiction book written by Sally M. Walker. On Saturday November 13, 1909 a fire began in part of the mine that eventually killed hundreds of men. The rescue efforts continued for eight days until the mine was sealed. Walker’s account relates the tragedy from the miners’ efforts to survive as well as the rescuers’ efforts to save them. The Cherry Mine Disaster remains one of the worst coal mining disasters in United States. The disaster led to changes in mining and labor regulations.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian 1
Posted in: Youth Nonfiction
July 2023
Who’s the Bendiest?
by Emilie Dufresne
This Animal vs Animal nonfiction book series by Emilie Dufresne is sure to capture the attention of readers who love Jerry Pallotta’s Who Would Win? series or Kieran Downs’ Animal Battles series. Who’s the Bendiest? explores six “contenders,” the rat, cat, ferret, octopus, hagfish, and California Sea Lion. They are paired off in rounds where facts and pictures are shared with readers to determine who is the bendiest and why. At the end of the book, there is a “Hall of Fame” of honorable mentions, a quiz, an activity suggestion, and a glossary. Each book in the series is structured this way to make for a super fun reading experience! Grab a copy of Who’s the Bendiest? today to find out which animals can twist, squeeze, and squish the most to win the title!
Recommended by: Erin Cady, Youth Services References Librarian
Posted in: Youth Nonfiction
May 2023
Peace is a Chain Reaction: How World War II Japanese Balloon Bombs Brought People of Two Nations Together
by Tanya Lee Stone
A not well-known fact from World War II is the basis of this book. During this war the Japanese were looking for ways to attack Americans on their own soil. They came up with the idea of balloon bombs that would travel across the Pacific and detonate in the United States. Not many of them were successful in their mission but, tragically, one was. A minister and his wife were on a picnic with some school-age children in Oregon. When the children went exploring, they came across a downed balloon. Somehow the attached bomb was triggered and 6 people were killed, one adult and 5 children. Years later a Japanese American man, Yuzuru Takeshita, spoke with a woman who worked in the factory in Japan where these balloons were made. He began a peace connection between her and others involved in the balloon manufacturing with the families of those killed.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Youth Nonfiction
March 2023
The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their own Soccer Field
by Scott Riley
Young Prasit Hemmin and his friends loved soccer but because their small island home of Koh Panyee, off the coast in Thailand had so little land there was no room for even a small field. The boys played on sandbars at low tide, but as soon as the tide came in, the game was over. Set in 1986, this inspiring true story of determination and teamwork tells of Prasit and his friends’ wild plan to use scrap lumber to build a floating soccer field.
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian
Posted in: Youth Nonfiction
The Elephants Come Home: A True Story of Seven Elephants, Two People, and One Extraordinary Friendship
by Kim Tomsic
This touching true story portrays conservationist Lawrence Anthony’s relationship with a frightened, hunted elephant herd that found a home at his reserve in South Africa, Thula Thula. Anthony and his wife, Françoise, had a no-hunting rule at Thula Thula, but still the uneasy rescued elephants broke out of their enclosure. When they came back, a gentle Anthony carefully reassured the animals that they were safe, and they came to love their new home and him.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian
Posted in: Youth Nonfiction
October 2022
The Spirit of Springer: The Real-Life Rescue of an Orphaned Orca
by Amanda Abler
This is a true story about Springer, an orphaned orca, who was found alone in Puget Sound in 2002. She was in poor health due to skin sores, starvation, and loneliness- since her call was not what other orcas in the area responded to. Scientists found where orcas like her were living. After being healed, she was released near them with the hope that they would accept her into the pod.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian
Posted in: Youth Nonfiction
June 2022
The Woman in the Woods and Other North American Stories
by Kate Ashwin
Several indigenous authors and illustrators, who identify as trans, binary or other, have created a collection of stories based on folklore from Indigenous North American Nations, such as Navajo or Odawa. These short stories are in a graphic novel format with panels of black and white illustrations. This is the fifth book in the Cautionary Fables and Fairy Tales series.
Posted in: Youth Nonfiction
Alphabreaths: The ABCs of Mindful Breathing
by Christopher Willard
Do you and your little one need a short break to recharge or calm down? Practice your ABCs while doing super simple and adorable breathing exercises. Each page presents a letter and a beautiful illustration with an exercise evoking playful visual imagery. Have your child pick their favorite letters or do them all if they are enjoying the mindfulness connection. A great resource to take a moment to be present and enjoy a book together.
Recommended by: Fanny Camargo, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Nonfiction
December 2021
Unconventional Vehicles: forty-five of the strangest cars, trains, planes, submersibles, dirigibles, and rockets ever
by Michael Hearst
This is not the average transportation book. These vehicles are unconventional indeed. A detailed, yet eye-catching and far from overwhelming read that presents some unimaginable works of engineering and ingenuity, as well as some silly and kind of ridiculous inventions. From the rudimentary such as the handcar or ostrich carriage, to the straight-out-of-Sci-Fi walking truck. Author Michael Hearst uses a very approachable attention-grabbing and humorous writing style. Jensen’s illustrations are intricate and crisp. Each vehicle is introduced in a two-page aesthetically pleasing spread with information divided by clean lines. One side provides manufacturer, date of production, and overview data, while the other side includes fun and interesting facts for all curious minds. A good pick for transportation enthusiasts, as well as non-fiction reluctant readers.
Recommended by: Fanny Camargo, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Nonfiction
September 2021
The Wild World Handbook Habitats
by Andrea Debbink
A great book for budding environmentalists and nature lovers. This book visits multiple types of habitats and gives facts and mini stories about them. There are also stories about famous activists, photographers, environmentalists and more. In between the stories you’ll find different activities to try out that relate to what you’ve just read. We only have one Earth and it’s our job to help protect it. This book might help middle graders take a step in the right direction.
Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian
Posted in: Youth Nonfiction