Katherine Johnson by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Jemma Skidmore - ADVISABLE

Katherine Johnson by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Jemma Skidmore. NON-FICTION BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK. Frances Lincoln (Quarto), 2025. $16. 9781836001775

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Kathrine loves learning and has always had a talent for math. She graduated high school at 14 and was the first Black woman at her university. Katherine Johnson led a team of mathematicians at NASA and helped send people into space. Kathrine's story is one of following your dreams and never giving up.

I loved the illustrations and simple text of this biographical picture book. This would make a great addition to any school, classroom, or public library.

Rachel, elementary school librarian 

Planets (Time for Kids) by Sarah Jospitre - ESSENTIAL

Planets (Time for Kids) by Sarah Jospitre. 32 pages. EARLY READER NON FICTION. Penguin Young Readers, 2025. $17. 

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Did you know that there is a crater on Mars named after Dr. Seuss? Time for Kids: Planets is a short informational leveled text, level 3, that will engage young readers. The text walks you through the planets, in order, in our solar system. It explains how the planets got their names, fun facts, and even gives size comparisons and analogies to help the reader understand scale. The illustrations compliment the facts making for a short, interesting read. 

I liked this book because the facts for each planet are interesting and updated. The text is challenging for Level 3, transitional readers. The illustrations were beautiful and brought the text to life. It left you wanting to learn more about the solar system. Informational text about planets.

 Reviewer: A. Criswell, English Language Arts teacher 

A Doctor at Heart by Joan Schoettler and Steffi Walthall - ADVISABLE

A Doctor at Heart by Joan Schoettler and Steffi Walthall. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Beach Lane Books (Simon), 2026. $20. 9781481476669

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

The inspiring true story of Vivien Thomas, a scientist and teacher who overcame poverty and racial injustice to pursue his dream of working in medicine. From a young age, Vivien wanted to become a doctor, but financial hardship and discrimination created many obstacles. Even so, he persevered and devoted himself to learning and discovery. Through determination, skill, and innovation, Vivien made groundbreaking contributions to the field of heart surgery and helped save countless lives.

An interesting book, told in an approachable, age appropriate manner, about a person who showed resilience, intelligence, and the power of never giving up on what you love. Great illustrations. Vivien Thomas is Black.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

Justice Ketanji : The Story of US Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson by Denise Lewis Patrick and Kim Holt - ADVISABLE

Justice Ketanji : The Story of US Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson by Denise Lewis Patrick and Kim Holt. NON-FICTION BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK. Orchard Books (Scholastic), 2023. $19. 9781338885293

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Ketanji Brown Jackson grew up with the mantra, you can be anything; you can do anything. She carried that perseverance through her life as she applied for and attended Harvard, graduated from Harvard Law, became a US district judge, and eventually became the first Black woman to be a US Supreme Court Justice. 

I liked that the text was written on an elementary level and outlined her life and accomplishments without being overly complex. While it would probably not circulate a lot in a library, it would be a good addition to a picture book biography collection. Justice Ketanji, her family, and many of her friends are Black

Rachel, Elementary school librarian

Rock Star: How Ursula Marvin Mapped Moon Rocks and Meteorites by Sandra Neil Wallace and Nancy Carpenter. - OPTIONAL

Rock Star: How Ursula Marvin Mapped Moon Rocks and Meteorites by Sandra Neil Wallace and Nancy Carpenter. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025. $20. 9781534493339

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

From a young age, Ursula Marvin was an explorer at heart. She never planned to become a scientist, but everything changed when she examined rocks under a microscope in college. Fascinated by what she saw, she fell in love with geology. When a professor refused to allow her to major in geology because she was a woman, Ursula did not give up. Instead, she transferred to another school and continued pursuing her passion. Through determination, courage, and perseverance, she overcame barriers, became one of the first women to conduct groundbreaking geological research in Antarctica, and made important discoveries that advanced our understanding of meteorites and Earth's history. Her story is an inspiring example of following one's dreams despite obstacles.

I loved the illustrations, and the subject matter was interesting. Ursula Marvin's story as a pioneering woman geologist who broke barriers and made important discoveries was both inspiring and engaging. However, the writing felt a little clunky at times, and there was often too much text on each page for a picture book. I also found it difficult to place the story in its historical context, as I did not know when it was taking place until I read the back matter. Despite these issues, I appreciated learning about an important scientist whose contributions are not widely known. Ursula Marvin is white.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

Our World by the Numbers by Steve Jenkins - ADVISABLE

Our World by the Numbers by Steve Jenkins. 162 pages. NON-FICTION HarperCollins, 2024 $25.00 9780063315716 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Steve Jenkins brings us another fascinating non-fiction picture book. The World is told in infographics, describing The Solar System, the Earth, Earth's History (including millions of years from now), what happens in just one day (including extinctions, birthrates, and energy use) Earth's creatures, Natural Disasters, and the Future of the Earth. 

There is so much information! Mostly captioned pictures, but they tell so much. This is the kind of book you'll have out on a display in your library for kids to open to any page. I was thoroughly intrigued. It flows in a natural way, so someone reading from cover to cover will not feel like they are skipping all over the place. Backmatter includes a glossary and a bibliography. 

Lisa Librarian

The World Entire: A True Story of an Extraordinary World War II Rescue by Elizabeth Brown and Melissa Castrillón - ADVISABLE

The World Entire: A True Story of an Extraordinary World War II Rescue by Elizabeth Brown and Melissa Castrillón.  NON-FICTION, PICTURE BOOK Chronicle, 2025. $20. 9781452170985 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Aristides de Sousa Mendes was a Portuguese diplomat who saved thousands of people fleeing France during WWII. In less than a month, Mendes issued thousands of visas against his government's wishes, saving refugees fleeing the Nazis in France, and allowing them to enter into Portugal. 

The back matter gives more details including that his visas saved Salvador Dali, H.A. and Margret Rey - who created Curious George, and countless others whose lives are just as important, and that it came with a great price to his family who lost everything because of his actions - he knew it was worth it. This is a magnificent story - I had no idea! The picture book itself is a standard length for a non-fiction and would work as a read aloud in the classroom. Back matter includes and authors note, timeline, bibliography and source notes. 

Lisa Librarian  

What Fish are Saying: Strange Sounds in the Ocean by Kirsten Pendreigh and Katie Melrose - ADVISABLE

What Fish are Saying: Strange Sounds in the Ocean by Kirsten Pendreigh and Katie Melrose. NON-FICTION, PICTURE BOOK Sourcebooks, 2025. $19. 9781464218965 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

With underwater microphones, scientists have discovered that fish make sounds! It's pretty noisy down there. Some fish click their bones together, some squeeze their swim bladder, others pop, chirp, bark or burp and we don't know how. Some fish even fart. Scientists have learned a lot of new things about fish because of these microphones. 

Written in verse - well, rhyming couplets, I thought it would be silly, but it wasn't. It's very well written, none of the rhymes seemed forced and the book is very informative. The illustrations are cute, the fish are illustrations without looking like photographs of actual fish, which makes this books very accessible. Back matter includes links to hear the fish for yourself - which I listened to and my life changed. Crab have teeth inside their bodies that make clicking sounds. What???? This is a great book. 

Lisa Librarian 

From Bam to Burp by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens - ESSENTIAL

From Bam to Burp by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens. NON-FICTION, PICTURE BOOK Charlesbridge/Imagine, 2025. $18. 9781623544461 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Carbon atoms have been around for millions of years, originally stored deep inside the earth and bursting through the crust during volcano activity. Carbon is part of gasses in the air, is used in photosynthesis, is part of the air we breathe and the sugars we eat, it's a cycle that plays many parts in our natural processes. 

Melissa Stewart tells a great story, and Marta Alvarez Miguens' illustrations are perfect. This could be a boring topic but presented this way, it's not. I love how the possibility of us having a carbon atom inside us that was also inside a dinosaur exists. Who wouldn't want that to be part of this cool process - and it happens just by eating something with carbon atoms. 

Lisa Librarian

William Shakespeare by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Andrea Stegmaier - ADVISABLE

William Shakespeare by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Andrea Stegmaier. NON-FICTION BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK. Frances Lincoln Children's Books (Quarto), 2026. $16. 9781805701675

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

William Shakespeare from the Little People, Big Dreams series tells the journey of the famous playwright and poet.  It covers Shakespeare's life, from his childhood to his rise as a celebrated writer.  

William Shakespeare is a perfect simple overview for young children with interesting illustrations to help them visualize the time period.  I liked the extra facts, and biographical timeline in the back-matter.

PGPowers

Oprah Winfrey by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Sera Latterell - ADVISABLE

 

Oprah Winfrey by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Sera Latterell. NON-FICTION, BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK. Frances Lincoln Children's Books (Quarto), 2026. $16. 9781836007500

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Oprah Winfrey, Little People, Big Dreams, chronicles her journey from poverty to becoming a global icon.  It highlights Oprah's early life in Mississippi and Tennessee, her determination in landing a television news job at nineteen, and her groundbreaking television show.

Oprah Winfrey is inspiring for young readers, and focuses on empathy, ambition, and the power of dreaming big.  I liked the extra facts and timeline in the back matter. 

PGPowers

South with the Seabirds: Follow Four Scientists to the Edge of the World by Jess McGeachin - ADVISABLE

South with the Seabirds: Follow Four Scientists to the Edge of the World by Jess McGeachin. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Orca Book Publishers, 2026. $22. 9781459834859

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

In 1954, Hope Black, Mary Gilham, Susan Ingham, and Isobel Bennet were the first female scientists to join an Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition. These scientists each observed different species such as penguins, Southern elephant seals, and seabirds. Their research is still in use today.  

McGeachin celebrates four pioneering women scientists, and encourages others to make observations around them.  I liked their field-note-style watercolor illustrations. 

PGPowers

Heroes of 1776: The Story of the Declaration of Independence by Neil Gorsuch, Janie Nitze and Chris Ellison - ADVISABLE

Heroes of 1776: The Story of the Declaration of Independence by Neil Gorsuch, Janie Nitze and Chris Ellison. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Harper, 2026. $22. 9780063473973

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Gorsuch (the Supreme Court Justice) gives us a new look at the events leading up to, during, and after the creation of the Declaration of Independence. The book is quite text heavy - I can’t see a teacher reading all of it aloud in one sitting. My personal favorite part is looking into what happened to some of the signers during the revolution and a bit afterwards - stories I don’t remember hearing before. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Goal! Awesome Soccer Stories and Fun Facts for Kids by Carlos Mojica - ADVISABLE

Goal! Awesome Soccer Stories and Fun Facts for Kids written by Carlos Mojica, 160 pages. NON-FICTION. becker&mayer!kids (The Quarto Group), 2026. $20.

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: MANY

With over 100 player profiles, Goal! is a nonfiction young readers guide to soccer that has all you ever wanted to know about the global obsession with the “beautiful game.”

This is obviously going to be a popular book in your library, just because of the nature of the topic material. I liked the general overview of the game, the different positions, player profiles and the sports trivia. However, I could have been just as happy with a book that was half as long. As someone who isn’t a sports fan, I got bored reading about player stats, especially when not every profile had a photograph. For being one of the most popular sports in the world, you would think there would be at least one photo of each player featured! Regardless, I would recommend this for your school’s library, especially with the World Cup this year, this book will see some traction.

Kiera Beddes, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes

 

Writing Toward Justice by Peggy Thomas and Tonya Engel - ADVISABLE

Writing Toward Justice:  The Life and Reporting of Alice A. Dunnigan by Peggy Thomas, illustrated by Tonya Engel. NON-FICTION, BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK. Calkins Creek (Astra Books for Young Readers), 2026. $20. 9781662680892

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Alice Dunnigan knew all about injustice, but she wanted to tell stories of spirit.  When she was 13 years old, she wrote to a Black newspaper asking for a job -- and got it.  It was only the beginning.  She worked hard as a teacher, a cleaner, a typist, and a journalist.  She became the first Black woman in the Capitol Press Corp.  But what she really wanted was the ear of President Truman.  What did Alice do to meet the President?

Writing Toward Justice is an inspiring story about how one woman's truth, power, and grit earned the respect of President Harry S. Truman.  I liked learning about another black hero in the civil rights movement. 

PGPowers

The Cedar Mother by Hetxw'ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Husun) and Natasha Donovan - OPTIONAL

The Cedar Mother by Hetxw'ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Husun), illustrated by Natasha Donovan. (The Mothers of Xsan) NON-FICTION, PICTURE BOOK Highwater Press. 2026. $20 9781774921586 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

The cedar tree life cycle, told from the perspective of a storyteller from the Gitxan Nation in the Northwest Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Interwoven into the pertinent facts, are the culture and respect for nature of the Gitxan people. 

I liked how the deep connection between all living things is represented through science and culture, where the sockeye salmon also nourishes the cedar. The culture is represented through words and the art, which complement each other nicely. A good resource for learning to respect nature and indigenous culture. 

Michelle in the Middle 

The Story of Gold by John Haywood and Meel Tamphanon

The Story of Gold: A Glittering History of the World edited by John Haywood, illustrated by Meel Tamphanon. PICTURE BOOK. Thames & Hudson, 2025. $22. 9780500653852

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Discover the origins of gold, one of the most coveted and rare of Earth’s precious minerals from the heart of star collisions to the earth’s crust where it has been mined, minted, and fought over for thousands of years. Check out dozens of historical and archeological examples from around the world of how humans have used gold through the ages.

I picked up this picture book because the golden cover caught my eye. I'm like a raven, any shiny object has my immediate attention. The actual text was fine. It’s a highly detailed exploration of gold and its historical significance over time. It just goes to show that there really is a picture book for everything! My main issue is the disorganized structure, which causes the information to jump between different times and places, with gold being the only unifying topic. The book would be much easier to follow if the publisher reorganized the content—perhaps historically, by how gold was used, or by location. Currently, each chapter feels like a standalone "mini-lesson," making the entire book feel disconnected despite its continuous focus on gold.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes

Mary Morland in the Time of Dinosaur Discovery by Jane Kurtz and Giselle Potter - ADVISABLE

Mary Morland in the Time of Dinosaur Discovery by Jane Kurtz and Giselle Potter. BIOGRAPHY, PICTURE BOOK Beach Lane (Simon), 2026. $20 9781665955546 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

When Mary was young, instead of being a proper little girl, she liked to play outside and explore, and she drew pictures of what she found in a journal. As a teen, she corresponded with a French scientist sending him specimens. She loved fossils and minerals. Mary was very good at drawing, and drew fossils for book illustrations, helping her husband who wrote the books. Although not credited at the time, she is part of the dinosaur discovery story. 

The story addresses the reader with questions like "wouldn't you?" and "did she" - not sure I like that, but it moves the story along and builds anticipation, I guess. Includes an author's note, sources, and resources. I enjoyed learning about Mary Moreland and finding another Victorian female scientist. The illustrations are colorful and reflect the time period. Mary is English 

Lisa Librarian No https://www.kingsenglish.com/item/uhkEB3h562sL-W0GagWBlw

Black Hands: Builders of Our Nation by Carole Boston Weatherford and R. Gregory Christie - ADVISABLE

Black Hands: Builders of Our Nation by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Crown Books (Random), 2026. $20. 9798217031856

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Black Hands commemorates the innumerable ways the African American community has shaped the foundation of the United States.  Learn how African Americans have contributed to the nation's culture, politics, economy and landscape.  Learn about their contributions to building the White House, birthing jazz, and landing a man on the moon,  pushing for social justice and more.

Black Hands is a wonderful reminder of how African Americans have helped shape our great nation, and their remarkable progress even in the face of adversity.

PGPowers

Our Islands by Yuval Zommer - ADVISABLE

Our Islands by Yuval Zommer. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK.  Thames & Hudson, 2025. $20. 9780500653685

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Our Islands takes young readers on a journey to unique islands around the world.  Readers will explore each island's location, formation, special plants, animals, extreme environment, and highlights any natural marvel.

Our Islands fuels the reader's natural curiosity with colorful, creative illustrations, and fun fact vignettes.  I liked the illustrated world map showing the location of these fascinating islands.

PGPowers