Information Books

Bishop, Nic. (2007). Nic Bishop spiders. New York: Scholastic Nonfiction.

Summary:
Nic Bishop gets readers up-close and personal with a variety of spiders. With stunning photographs and interesting facts, readers will learn about spiders while feeling like the creatures will crawl right off the page. Includes information about Nic Bishop and how he takes his unforgettable photographs.

Genre: Informational
Format: Picture Book - Photographs
Suggested Grade Level(s): K – 3rd
Awards:
2008 Robert F. Sibert Award Honor Book
2008 ALA Notable/Best Book

Jenkins, Steve. (2004). Actual size. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Summary:
Take a trip through a zoo in Actual Size. Steve Jenkins creates an informational book to introduce children to the sizes of many types of animals – giant squid, Goliath frog, and Siberian tiger are just a few. Children not only learn about these animals through the illustrations, but Steve Jenkins has included many facts about each animal at the end of the book. Through the use of paper, texture is introduced to the detailed illustrations to make them look more realistic.
Genre: Informational
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): K – 3rd
Awards:
2005 Orbis Pictus Award Honor Book

Munoz, Pam. (2002). When Mariam sang: the true recital of Marian Anderson the voice of a century. (B. Selznick, Illus.). New York: Scholastic Press.

Summary:
Pam Munoz introduces readers to Mariam Anderson, an extraordinary African American singer and civil rights activist. The life of Mariam Anderson is told through beautiful sepia colored illustrations, great words, and song lyrics. The story follows Mariam through the trials and tribulations she faces as she becomes a great singer during a time when African Americans were not allowed in most places – even if your voice was praised throughout the world.

Genre: Biography
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Grade Level(s): K – 3rd
Awards:
2003 Orbis Pictus Award Winner
2003-2004 Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee

Thimmesh, Catherine. (2006). Team moon: how 400,000 people landed Apollo 11 on the moon. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Summary:
Catherine Thimmesh brings to life the mission of Apollo 11 and man’s first steps on the moon. Instead of focusing on the astronaut’s point of view or the spectator’s point of view, she focuses on all of the people involved in this project – flight directors, rocket designers, electricians, seamstresses, and the 1,000 of other people that were involved. Telling the story of the Apollo 11 mission through actual photographs, quotes from a variety of people, and the facts Catherine Thimmesh has created an wonderful book that teaches readers about man’s first steps on the moon.

Genre: Informational
Format: Picture Book - Photographs
Suggested Grade Level(s): 5th – 8th
Awards:
2007 Robert F. Sibert Medal Winner
2008-2009 Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee
2007 ALA Notable/Best Book