children’s nonfiction

Non Fiction Book Review: Wolverine

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Wolverine by Allen Niptanatiak

Wolverine (Animals Illustrated)
by Allen Niptanatiak, Patricia Ann Lewis-MacDougall (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

This book contains interesting information about wolverines, their habitat, their hunting areas, and their young. There are two to three paragraphs of information in each section, giving tidbits of information like how the wolverines survive by scavenging behind other predators or sometimes hunting for themselves. There is even a section about how Inuit tribes will use wolverine fur to line their clothing and make warm mittens.

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Cookbook Review: Bake, Make, and Learn to Cook

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Bake, Make, and Learn to Cook by David Atherton

Bake, Make, and Learn to Cook: Fun and Healthy Recipes for Young Cooks
by David Atherton, Rachel Stubbs (Illustrations)
5 out of 5 stars

This children’s cookbook is perfect for any young bakers who want to learn the basics of cooking and get inspired in the kitchen. It’s so cool that this is written by one of the winners of the Great British Baking Show! This book includes recipes for breakfast, lunch and supper, cakes, and desserts.

These recipes are kid-friendly and give instructions to the young readers about when to ask an adult for help. There are recipes for pancakes, tacos, pizza, scones, potpie, lasagna, and a lot of yummy cakes. I really want to try the recipe for Victoria sandwich buns, which is a little cake with jelly in the middle.

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Book Review: Made by Hand Guitars

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Guitars by Patricia Lakin

Guitars
by Patricia Lakin
5 out of 5 stars

This book gives an overview of the history of the guitar and how it was developed over time to include different styles in different cultures, finally including the modern guitar and electric guitar. With paintings and photographs showcased in a colorful design, this book is sure to capture the attention of anyone interested in the guitar!

I like that the design has small paragraphs of text so that it is easy to read and absorb the snippets of information. As a musician, I really appreciated all the music history, the explanations about types of guitars, the nature of sounds for each instrument, and how different styles developed.

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Non Fiction Book Review: Everything You Need to Ace English Language Arts

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Everything You Need to Ace English Language Arts in One Big F... by Jen Haberling

Everything You Need to Ace English Language Arts in One Big Fat Notebook: The Complete Middle School Study Guide
by Jen Haberling (Editor), Elizabeth Irwin (Contributor)
5 out of 5 stars

This book really does have everything you need to know about reading, writing, and understanding the English language. There are chapters about Grammar, Language, Reading Fiction and Non Fiction, and Writing. It covers the basics of sentence structure, clauses, and figurative language, and also explores plot structure, character development, textual analysis, and how to write a convincing argument and present the facts correctly.

Don’t be fooled by the “middle school” label. This is information that most college students and adults have probably forgotten and would need to review (or learn for the first time because they missed it in grade school.) This would be a very helpful resource to anyone who wants to write, or who just wants to get better at understanding what they read.

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Non Fiction Book Review: Brain Quest Pre-K

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Brain Quest Workbook by Liane Onish

Brain Quest Workbook: Pre-K
by Liane Onish
5 out of 5 stars

This book has colorful activity pages for young children to review their knowledge of the alphabet, colors, shapes, numbers, and basic words. Once the book is complete, you get an award certificate. There is a cute alphabet poster included that you can put up on the wall to review throughout the school year. And there is a whole sheet of alphabet stickers too!

The sections are mostly the alphabet and numbers, colors and shapes. But some sections also have more reading comprehension, phonics, numbers, and science. There are answers in the back of the book to check your work. There is also a set of flashcards that you can cut out of the book for testing your knowledge.

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Book Review: Atlas of Amazing Architecture

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Atlas of Amazing Architecture by Peter Allen

Atlas of Amazing Architecture: The Most Incredible Buildings You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of
by Peter Allen
4 out of 5 stars

This book explores beautiful architecture around the world. These are some lesser well-known buildings and structures that aren’t as popular as the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben, but have been influential nonetheless.

I loved this cool book! It was so interesting to learn about these buildings, the architects who designed them, and the places where they were built. I like that the book doesn’t just tell you about the building, but also about the history behind it and the culture of the country that influenced it.

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Non Fiction Reviews: What Adults Don’t Know About Art and Architecture

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What Adults Don’t Know About Art by The School of Life

What Adults Don’t Know About Art: Inspiring young minds to love and enjoy art
by The School of Life, Alain de Botton (Goodreads Author) (Editor)
5 out of 5 stars

This book is geared towards children, introducing them to the world of art, and teaching them why art is so important. I love the approach here, and the simple way that the book leads the reader into a better understanding of beautiful art. It begins with a simple question, “What is art, and why is it important to each person?”

I love the philosophy in this book about how art can shape our experiences and our culture, connecting us to our past and reflecting our personal emotions. Art teaches us to focus on the things that are truly important in life; a baby’s smile, that particular shade of blue in the sky, the powerful weight of a mountain, or a delicious fruit. The little things in life are the most important and enduring.

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Non Fiction Review: Kid Innovators

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Kid Innovators by Robin Stevenson

Kid Innovators: True Tales of Childhood from Inventors and Trailblazers
by Robin Stevenson (Goodreads Author), Allison Steinfeld (Illustrator)
4 out of 5 stars

All inventors start out as curious kids who love to learn and explore. This book gives short biographies of some famous innovators and how their childhood shaped their dreams. The bios include the stories of Steve Jobs, Jacques Cousteau, Florence Nightingale, Walt Disney, the Wright brothers, and many others.

There are sections about technology, exploring, codes, medicine, and trailblazers. It’s not just about inventing something new. It’s about revolutionizing how something is used, how art is created, or how people think. The history of computer codes, airplanes, wind turbines, rockets, nursing, hair products, entertainment, and a dozen other fields are explored.

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Picture Book Review: Hello, Neighbor!

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Hello, Neighbor! by Matthew Cordell

Hello, Neighbor!: The Kind and Caring World of Mister Rogers
by Matthew Cordell
5 out of 5 stars

This book tells the true story of how Fred Rogers first began to be interested in television production, and how he began broadcasting the show, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. The story is told in a simple way for children to understand, but it captures the heart of the show through Mr. Rogers personality. He exhibited such a strong kindness and compassion that it reached people personally even through the airwaves of television. I love that this book expresses the true heart of Mr. Rogers and demonstrates just how special and original his TV show really was.

One of the things that is mentioned in this book is that Fred Rogers was a minister, and his faith played a huge role in the type of person he was and how he formed his famous TV show for children. The sincerity and love in every episode are beautifully represented in this book.

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Nonfiction Book Review: Space Maps

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Space Maps by Lara Albanese

Space Maps
by Lara Albanese
3 out of 5 stars

This book has amazing maps of star constellations, our solar system, planets, galaxies, and comets. There is a wealth of information about gravity, dwarf planets, black holes, the moon, and spacecraft. I especially liked reading the history about how ancient cultures viewed the stars and the folklore and mythology that grew up around certain constellations.

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