Welcome to the February 13, 2012 Edition

of Nonfiction Monday!

Tomorrow, February 14, is a big day in the children’s book world. First of all, it is International Book Giving Day. Will you be participating?

It is also a special day because (drumroll please) the Cybils 2011 winners will be announced. Do you have a favorite nonfiction picture book or MG/YA that you are hoping will win?

We are celebrating and commemorating a number of events this week. Look for books for Black History Month, President’s Day, 200 Years of Charles Dickens and even National Children’s Dental Health Month. Thank you to everyone who participated.

(Note:  Title links go to the review posts, blog links go to the home page of the blog.)

	For Black History Month, Jeanne has Back of the Bus by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Floyd Cooper at True Tales & A Cherry On Top.
	Jeff at NC Teacher Stuff reviews an account of how human error led to disaster in The Great Molasses Flood: Boston, 1919 by Deborah Kops.
	At her blog, A Teaching Life, Tara shares four books, three of which are picture books that commemorate Black History Month.
	Jama says, “I’m sharing my love for Maira Kalman’s Looking at Lincoln,” today at Jama’s Alaphbet Soup in honor of President Lincoln’s birthday.
	Myra tells us, “In GatheringBooks, Fats did a review of Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant that Ever Lived by Ralph Helfer – said to be perfect for Valentine’s Week. “
	The team of Louise and Cathy have There Goes Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter That Ever Lived by Matt Tavareson on  The Nonfiction Detectives blog today. The book is being released tomorrow and they are offering a giveaway.
	Ms. Yingling says, “For Black History Month, I have a review of Cynthia Levinson’s We’ve Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March” at Ms. Yingling Reads.
	Andrea at RovingFiddlehead Kidlit reviews Baby Mammoth Mummy Frozen in Time! by Christopher Sloan, with Bernard Buigues.
	Doret is in with Words Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass by Lesa Cline-Ransome and illustrated by James E. Ransome, reviewed at The Happy Nappy Bookseller. (James Ransome taught himself to draw. It’s an incredible story).
	At Booktalking, Anastasia highlights Rosa’s Bus by Jo S. Kittinger and illustrated by Steven Walker, another perfect choice for Black History Month.
	Jennifer compares a selection of books on recycling at Jean Little Library. See what she found out.
	Maeve wrote a post to celebrate the bicentenary of Charles Dickens at Yellowbrickreads.
	Missing the real stuff, Even in Australia reviewed two nonfiction books about snow. (Turns out the blogger is actually from NYC, check her story).
	Deborah reviewed Arctic Wolf by Laura DeLalb at The Swimmer Writer. She says, “this picture book takes the reader on a visit to two biologists who study the arctic wolf in its native habitat.” I’ll bet they were not missing snow.
	At All About the Books with Janet Squires, Janet has selected If I Ran for President written by Catherine Stier and illustrated by Lynne Avril, right in time for President’s Day.
	Heidi has a review of Uri Shulevitz’s How I Learned Geography at Geolibrarian. It is based on Shulevitz’s childhood memories of World War II.
	Lisa is featuring Meltdown! The Nuclear Disaster in Japan and our Energy Future – released just in time for the one year anniversary – at Shelf-employed.
	Sherry reports, “We read Africa Is Not a Country by Margy Burns Knight and Mark Melnicove,” at Semicolon Blog.
	At Apples with Many Seeds, Tammy looking at a series of books that show how different cultures have contributed to different technological advancements.
	For National Children’s Dental Health Month, Allison has reviewed Melvin the Magnificent Molar, by Julia Cook and Laura Jana, MD at Better With A Book.
	Larry Dane Brimner booktalks Black & White: The Confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene “Bull” Connor at Nonfiction Book Blast.
	Let’s not forget Step by Step Experiments With Plants by Shirley Duke at Shirley’s Simply Science Blog.  Be sure to go see what great books Shirley has been writing.
	At Wrapped in Foil we have The Great Molasses Flood: Boston, 1919 by Deborah Kops with a related hands-on science activity at Growing With Science.

Hope you have a

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Nonfiction Monday is a blogging celebration of nonfiction books for kids. We invite you to join us. For more information and a schedule, stop by Booktalking to see who is hosting each week.

Welcome to a very special Nonfiction Monday. Not only are we going to find out about some sweet nonfiction books for young readers, but we are also going to celebrate the exceptional books that won the Cybils Awards today. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all the many people who made the awards possible.

Please leave the links to your posts in the comments below. I will add them as the day goes by. Be sure to let us know if you are Celebrating Cybils today.

We start out with Doret from the The HappyNappyBookseller. She was a Round I judge for Cybils in the Nonfiction Picture Book category and reviewed many of the nominated books at her blog. Today Doret reviews Odetta:The Queen of Folk by Stephen Alcorn.

Kara has the winner of the Cybils Nonfiction Picture Book category, The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) by Barbara Kerley, with illustrations by Edwin Fotheringham, at Not Just For Kids. Kara was a Round II judge.

Over at Playing by the Book, Zoe teaches a new word – puffling- with the book Nights of the Pufflings by Bruce McMillan. She also has an adorable activity to accompany the book.

Carol is celebrating CYBILS Nonfiction Picture Books today at Rasco from RIF . She pays tribute to the winner, plus has blurbs about all the wonderful books on the shortlist. She writes, “What an honor to be a panel member round two for this selection!”

In another post about a book for bird-lovers, Jeff  at NC Teacher Stuff takes a look at Hummingbirds: Facts and Folklore from the Americas, written by Jeanette Larson and Adrienne Yorinks, illustrated by Adrienne Yorinks. As usual, he has some neat ideas how to use the book, too.  Jeff was a Round I judge for Cybils.

Today I went back to my science roots at Growing With Science, with one of the books on the Cybils shortlist, Pop!: The Invention of Bubble Gum by Meghan McCarthy.  It was a privilege to be a Round II Cybils judge and work with Jone and the other panelists. What a fabulous experience.

Lisa of Shelf-employed has a review of the sweet tale of  Astro: The Steller Sea Lion. This book was nominated for the Nonfiction Picture Book category, although as Lisa points out, for some reason in the back matter the publisher describes the work as fiction.

“I totally acknowledge that I’m being a total downer on Valentine’s/Cybils day,” writes Angela at Bookish Blather.  She reviewed the serious book Five Thousand Years of Slavery by Marjorie Gann and Janet Willen.

Abby over at Abby the Librarian also has a bittersweet book, with Amelia Lost by Candance Fleming. She admits a few tears reading this one. Abby was a Round I Cybils judge.

At A Patchwork of Books, Amanda gushes about  Animal Colors by Beth Fielding.

Sounds like the 3D illustrations make Here Comes the Garbage Barge! by Jonah Winter unique. Kim brings it to our attention at Wild About Nature blog.

“Congratulations to the Cybils winners!” writes Shirley from Simply Science. Shirley was a Round I Cybils judge. Today she has a review of Carrots Grow Underground by Mari Schuh, and many excellent suggestions for related educational activities.

Do you know what a ragdoll is? Jennifer explains that Ragdolls are the Best by Elaine Landau is a book in a series about cat breeds. Jennifer writes at Jean Little Library blog. Ragdolls rule!

Cindy says Bookends is swinging into the week with a post about pendulums…and another Cybils Nonfiction Picture Book nominee, Come See the Earth Turn by Lori Mortensen.

At The Children’s War blog, Alex brings us the middle grade book Music for the End of Time by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Beth Peck.  The book is about the French composer, Olivier Messiaenis, who wrote a musical composition while he was a prisoner of war during World War II.

Brenda wishes Charles Darwin a happy belated 202 birthday (his birthday was Saturday), by reviewing Charles Darwin and the Mystery of Mysteries by Niles Eldredge and Susan Pearson at proseandkahn.

True Tales & A Cherry On Top is racing into Valentines Day with  Tillie The Terrible Swede – How One Woman, A Sewing Needle, and a Bicycle Changed History by Sue Stauffacher and illustrated by Sarah McMenemy. Jeanne has a clever acrostic to celebrate this intriguing title. (She is also the author of the Cybils nominee Astro: The Steller Sea Lion -see above)

Jennie is in today with a biography Duke Ellington: His Life in Jazz with 21 Activities by Stephanie Stein Crease at Biblio File, another book with plenty of hands-on activities from Chicago Review Press.

Mary Ann of Great Kids Books shares Calico Dorsey: Mail Dog of the Mining Camps by Susan Lendroth and illustrations by Adam Gustavson. It is a fun picture book based on a true story about a dog who helped delivery mail during the 1880s to the Bismark silver mine camp in southern California.

There is a lot to look at in Before & After: A Book of Nature Timescapes by Jan Thornhill according to Tammy at Apples With Many Seeds. An interesting idea for a science book.

“Our 2nd grade is gonna LOVE this book!” writes Paula of Pink Me blog about Astro: the Steller Sea Lion by Jeanne Walker Harvey. Paula was a Cybils judge in the Graphic Novels category.

Three Turtles and Their Pet Librarian review the fun Is That a Fact? series by Alison Behnke from Lerner.

Janet’s selection this week was Heroes of the Environment: true stories of people who are helping to protect our planet written by Harriet Rohmer and illustrated by Julie McLaughlin at All About the Books with Janet Squires.

And finally, the Book Woogie crew reviewed Kadir Nelson’s “We Are the Ship.”

I was hoping someone from the Cybils MG/YA Nonfiction group would stop by with a review of the winner, The Secret of the Yellow Death: A True Story of Medical Sleuthing by Suzanne Jurmain. In lieu, Jennie at Biblio File has a review.

Nonfiction Monday is a blogging celebration of nonfiction books for kids. We invite you to join us. For more information and a schedule, stop by the new Nonfiction Monday blog to see who is hosting each week.

Please leave your posts in the comments below and I’ll include them here throughout the day.

	Math Vs Words At Simply Science Shirley takes a look at two math books:  Help Your Kids With Math, and Math:  A Book You Can Count On! (Basher Series)
	Inside Hurricanes by Mary Kay Carson at Wrapped In Foil is a middle grade book with ten fold-out pages.
	Kids Care! 75 Ways to Make a Difference for People, Animals & the Environment at TheBookNosher is a book of projects to help others, for 7-12 year olds.
	Ideas that Changed the World Charlotte at Charlotte’s Library found this DK book fascinating.
	Saving the Ghost of the Mountain Jennie at Biblio File loves this book that is part of the popular Scientists in the Field series.
	Anne Frank: The Graphic Biography At Bookish Blather, Angela writes the graphic format works well as an introduction to Anne Frank’s life.
	Is That a Fact? Amanda reviews five new books in the series at A Patchwork of Books.
	Looking Closely in the Rain Forest Jennifer at Jean Little Library says this book will work for a range of ages.
	The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Suzy) Margo has a review of a new picture-book biography by Barbara Kerley at The Fourth Musketeer.
	What Does Peace Feel Like? Tammy at Apples with Many Seeds shares a book for International Peace Day.
	Sonia Sotomayor; Supreme Court Justice Jone interviewed the author, Carme T. Bernier-Grand, last week at Check It Out.
	Blockhead: The Life Fibonacci Carol at Rasco From RIF wanted to find out more about fabulous Fibonacci and she discovered the right book.
	The Grand Mosque of Paris: A Story of How Muslims Rescued Jews during the Holocaust Have you been to Alex’s blog The Children’s War? He has books about World War II for children and young adults, including this little-known story.
	Four Word Self Help Andromeda at a wrung sponge notes one of her illustrations is published in this adult book of essays.
	Hip-Pocket Papa by Sandra Markle Who is Hip-Pocket Papa? Cindy and Lynn tell us all about it at Booklist Online.
	100 Ways to Celebrate 100 Days by Bruce Goldstone Pink Me has found a perfect book for all those 100 day celebrations at school.
	Sir Charlie Chaplin: The Funniest Man in the World Becky admires this biography by Sid Fleischman at Becky’s Book Reviews.
	Lincoln Tells a Joke: How Laughter Saved the President (and the Country) At Young Readers, Becky takes a look at this picture book biography.
	Tropical Rainforests Anastasia has found a picture book full of beautiful photographs at Picture Book of the Day.
	Susan at Chicken Spaghetti notes that the Cybils judging panels for Middle Grade/Young Adults have been announced.
	Johnny Appleseed What better way to celebrate a crisp fall day than a book by Jane Yolen and an apple? Recommended by Janet at Books with Janet Squires.
	Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum Natalie at This Purple Crayon can enjoy nonfiction when it is done like this.
	I’m a Truck Driver At NC Teacher Stuff, Jeff discusses how this book can be used with kindergartners.
	Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing Abby writes that this book is for grades 8+ at Abby the Librarian

Thank you to everyone who submitted such wonderful posts!

Nonfiction Monday is a blogging celebration of nonfiction books for kids. For more information, stop by Anastasia Suen’s Nonfiction Monday page.