Format: Picture Book Nonfiction

10 Small Things I Can Do to Help My Planet

10 Small Things I Can Do to Help My Planet10 Small Things I Can Do to Help My Planet by Melanie Walsh
Published by Candlewick Press on 2025
ISBN: 1536245003
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

This book lists ten actions for young children to help protect our earth. Some are practical, such as give my old toys away, but others are more esoteric, such as grow watercress in empty egg shells. It does cause one to think about all the plastic we throw away and remember to take your trash away from the public beach.

The book has a very simple format with one page stating, “I help …” or “I pick out…” followed by actions, such as “my mom pack leftovers for my lunch.” or “vegetables at the local market.” Sturdy die cut pages create interest and the illustrations are bold and eye-catching. A thoughtful presentation for preschoolers.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

Elephant Bowling and Other Animal Play

Elephant Bowling and Other Animal PlayElephant Bowling and Other Animal Play (Animals Do What!?) by Richard Haynes, Stephanie Laberis
on August 26, 2025
ISBN: 1536230901
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Using a playful, conversational tone Haynes compares the way animals play in the wild to the games humans play (hide-and-seek, keep-away, etc.)  in this picture book full of  interesting, lesser- known facts about creatures we may think we know fairly well.

Haynes arranges the text by the purpose of the “games” (Part I focuses on activities that hone survival skills), then breaks those activities into games readers will easily recognize, such as King of the Hill and Tug-of-War. For each game, Hayne shares descriptive narratives for different animal species that play versions of that game. Who knew that so many kinds of animals (polar bears, ravens, and river otters) enjoy sledding?  The descriptions also include lots of quantitative data (i.e.  patas monkeys  can reach speeds of 33 mph in three seconds) that will appeal to fact collectors. The conveyance of information feels casual but is supported by research.

The cute, cartoonish (all animals appear to be smiling)  illustrations carry that same sense of fun. The anthropomorphic illustrations may cause a bit of a disconnect for readers expecting. more realistic illustrations (or photos) in their nonfiction texts. For others, the smiling animals will make it that much more engaging.

This may appeal to middle grade students looking for interesting nonfiction books about animals. Teachers looking to compare different kinds of nonfiction may find it useful for the many nonfiction features it contains: illustrated world map; table of contents; glossary;  bibliography; index, headings and subheadings). A small quibble: there are many interesting words in the glossary readers will want to learn but those words are not bolded in the text, making it difficult to see the words in context.

Recommended for purchase for public libraries and elementary school libraries.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

four-stars

The Five Sides of Marjorie Rice: How to Discover a Shape

The Five Sides of Marjorie Rice: How to Discover a ShapeThe Five Sides of Marjorie Rice: How to Discover a Shape by Amy Alznauer, Anna Bron
Published by Candlewick Press on March 4, 2025
ISBN: 1536229474
Genres: Arts, Biography/Autobiography, Non-Fiction, STEM
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

This is the remarkable story of Marjorie Rice, an amateur mathematician who solved a complex pentagon math problem from the desk of her ordinary life. Rice was endlessly interested in shapes and patterns in nature as a little girl and wanted to study them further–but was discouraged and instead became a secretary and a mother to five children. After reading an article in a magazine, she realized that mathematicians were trying to find the other five-sided shapes that fit together perfectly. She spent her days scribbling on notes in her kitchen, or drawing while stirring dinner, and discovered THE undiscovered shape. She sent her papers to the geometry scientists and they confirmed, yes!, she had found a tessellating shape no one had ever seen before. Rice spent the rest of her life writing letters back and forth to professors as she discovered more complex pentagon shape patterns. Now she is widely recognized as being the person to have solved the ancient mystery of pentagon puzzles.

This book is a feast for the eyes. The graphics of Anna Bron and Amy Alznauer’s words work together so harmoniously that this particularly long picture book goes by in a flash. The back matter includes a rich author’s note and more information about geometry and drawing and discovering shapes that is really inspiring. For ages 7+.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

Black Diamond Kings

Black Diamond KingsBlack Diamond Kings: Heroes of Negro League Baseball (Sports Royalty) by Adrian Brandon, Charles R. Smith
ISBN: 1536225355
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Poetry, Sports
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Black Diamond Kings is a necessary ode to twelve of the greatest players in the Negro Leagues in American baseball history. For each of the players, Charles R. Smith Jr. has created an array of differently formatted poems for each. These are poems rich with vocabulary and imagery that make you feel in the game. Adrian Brandon’s illustrations are striking with interesting, exaggerated style.

Back pages include small biography paragraphs of each player; and further back matter explains the history of the Negro American League and how they are now finally being recognized in the Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 2024–long overdue since the players are some the of the best to ever play the game.  Recommended for ages 8-12.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Cosmic Collisions: Supergiant vs. Neutron Star

Cosmic Collisions: Supergiant vs. Neutron StarCosmic Collisions: Supergiant vs. Neutron Star by Marc J. Kuchner, Matt Schu
Series: Cosmic Collisions; #2
Published by MIT Kids Press on April 15, 2025
ISBN: 153624225X
Pages: 45
Genres: Non-Fiction, STEM
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

I struggled whether to list this as fiction or nonfiction. Written in a current popular “Who Will Win” style, two red supergiants are facing off with each other. As with the first Cosmic Collisions book, Asteroid vs. Comet (2024), this matchup is reported by a host as a smackdown for the ages. Unlike the first book, the topics are more obtuse and may be difficult for the average student to understand (For instance, me!) However an avid astrology fan, which I am certain that is the ilk of the very knowledgeable author, is going to eat this up. This is a fast-paced, fact-packed competition crammed with science, cool illustrations, and the energy of a live sporting event. Back matter provides even more information. Ages 8-12.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Other Stories

Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Other StoriesGoldilocks and the Three Bears and Other Stories: (For Kids Ages 2-5) (Lucy Cousins Nursery Stories) by Lucy Cousins
Series: Lucy Cousins Nursery Stories
Published by Candlewick on September 3, 2025
ISBN: 153623477X
Genres: Fairy Tale, Folklore
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Three familiar stories get repackaged in this new edition: “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” as well as “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” and “The Little Red Hen.” Originally published in 2009 titled Yummy: Eight Favorite Fairy Tales. The first shorter book in the 2-book series is Little Red Riding Hood and Other Stories: “Little Red Riding Hood,” “The Three Little Pigs,” and “The Enormous Turnip.” The stories are largely true to the retelling of the familiar tales with slight changes, e.g. the porridge is “too salty,” and the dog, cat and goose tell the Little Red Hen, “I’m busy.” instead of “Not I.” These changes do not distract and possibly add to the stories.

The illustrations are simple and in the typical style of other Cousin’s book illustrations. They will be visually interesting to preschool children with eye-catching patterns and details. I loved the troll! Add this book to library collections where simple introductions to fairytale retellings are needed and to where there are devotees of the author.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

The Brilliant Brain: How It Works and How to Look After It

The Brilliant Brain: How It Works and How to Look After ItThe Brilliant Brain: How It Works and How to Look After It (Dr. Roopa's Body Books) by Dr. Roopa Farooki, Viola Wang
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536237809
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

This appealing picture book will engage young readers between 5-7, who are curious about how the brain works. The Brilliant Brain is one in a series (Dr. Roopa’s Body Books) by Farooki and Wang .Farooki, a medical doctor, explains a complex topic in  descriptive, kid-friendly language. She uses the analogy of the body as a machine and the brain as the control room with the nerve network carrying messages back and forth between the two.

Wang’s illustrations of a diverse group of kids with their thoughts, experiences and ideas hovering around their heads, emphasize the premise that your brain is what “makes you you”.  How the brain works is explained in the body of the text, along with colorful and attractive diagrams, labelling the different parts and their functions. The care of the brain is a list of suggestions in the author’s note in the back matter. It could be more useful as a nonfiction picture book if it also contained a glossary.

Pair it with Lizzy Rockwell’s, The Busy Body Book, for a fun, narrative nonfiction read-aloud or read it on its own during Helmet Awareness Month (April) or Brain Health Month (June).  Recommended where other picture books about how the human body works are popular.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

four-stars

Across the Ice: How We Saved the Ojibwe Horse

Across the Ice: How We Saved the Ojibwe HorseAcross the Ice: How We Saved the Ojibwe Horse by Darcy Whitecrow, Heather M. O'Connor, Natasha Donovan
Published by Candlewick on September 16, 2025
ISBN: 1536229458
Genres: Cultural / First Nations
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Across the Ice: How We Saved The Ojibwe Horse
By Darcy Whitecrow and Heather M. O’Connor; illustrated by Natasha Donovan

This story joins an Ojibwe family on a very special night. This is the night the Ojibwe horses are coming home to First Nations land. The children are so excited they cannot sleep so Nookomis retells the story to them to help them relax and sleep. The story is one of how the four remaining Objibwe horses had been driven across the ice to safety in Minnesota from Lac Le Croix to help begin a breeding program to save the native breed from extinction
This historical picture book is set with a tone of hope, joy, and excitement. Backmatter is provided.

Ages 4-8
Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

four-stars

Cassini’s Mission: a spacecraft, a tiny moon, and the search for life beyond Earth

Cassini’s Mission: a spacecraft, a tiny moon, and the search for life beyond EarthCassini's Mission: A Spacecraft, a Tiny Moon, and the Search for Life Beyond Earth by Julia Blattman, Katie Venit
on August 12, 2025
ISBN: 1536232327
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Cassini’s Mission is a narrative non-fiction book from MIT Kids Press that highlights the creation and management of the spacecraft Cassini, Saturn’s moon Enceladus, the three elements needed for life, and the possibility of aliens.

As enticing as the book initially seemed…space, technology, true story…it ultimately lacked focus . Even its intended audience is difficult to pinpoint; its subject and detailed digital art would attract any 5- to 10-year-old, but some of the text would be condescending: And when she was all grown up, she left home (referring to its launch). The author’s choice of she/her pronouns for Cassini was obviously deliberate, then exhaustive. Venit also confuses scientists searching for life with searching for aliens, which is like putting icing on a sundae—the story is sweet enough. None of this is detrimental, just disappointing. Young patrons will still love this book (as mentioned before: space, technology, true story) and considering the lack of children’s books about specific spacecraft, libraries will benefit adding this to their collection.

Reviewed by Becky Cooper, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

three-stars

Ready, Steady, Sloth!

Ready, Steady, Sloth!Ready, Steady, Sloth! by Justin Anderson, Manu Montoya
Published by Candlewick Press on May 27, 2025
ISBN: 1536239623
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Ready, Steady, Sloth! is a narrative non-fiction picture book about a brown-throated sloth and her baby climbing down their tree for their weekly poop.  The story and dust jacket call it a “special mission.”

The pages have full color illustrations, and the colors are bright and flat. Each spread has the storyline in one font and side facts in another. The font of the side facts was a poor choice—it would be hard for early readers to decipher—but its content was excellent. The author compares sloth stats to other animals, including humans, and avoids those quantitative facts that make other non-fiction picture books dense. The final spread gleans over the six other species of sloth and has an unnecessary index for a book of 24 pages. This book is designed to introduce sloths to a young audience, less as a reference for an older kid’s school report.

Reviewed by Becky Cooper, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

three-stars