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There is a bit of a renaissance going on in children’s literature, and that’s particularly true of non-fiction picture books. The trend is engagingly written, beautifully illustrated non-fiction picture books designed to entice your child into learning about people, places, and events they never knew they were interested in. I’m all in!

Normally, I review books I’ve already read. But I’m breaking with tradition because I keep seeing previews of new books that look amazing! And I thought you might want to keep your eyes out for them too. (If anyone wants to send an early review copy my way, I’d be happy to do a review).


Some Writer!: the Story of E.B. White by Melissa Sweet–I am incredibly excited about this book. Not only was E.B. White one of my favorite authors as a child (The Trumpet of the Swan was my favorite), but I also loved Melissa Sweet’s picture book biography, Balloons Over Broadway. (Available October 4, 2016)


A Poem for Peter: The Story of Ezra Jack Keats and the Creation of the Snowy Day by Andrea Davis Pinkney–While picture book readers may not have heard of E.B. White, they will most likely have read Ezra Jack Keats’s masterpiece, The Snowy Day. Pinkney is an accomplished author, so I look forward to seeing where she takes this story. (Available November 1, 2016)


Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille by Jen Bryant–I got a sneak peak of this book with the “Look Inside” feature on Amazon. Louis Braille wasn’t born blind. He lost his sight after a childhood accident. The illustrations do a brilliant job of mirroring his loss of sight (without being blank pages). I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this one. (Available September 6, 2016)


Sweet Dreams, Sarah: from Slavery to Inventory by Vivian Kirkfield–This book looks like a great example of American ingenuity. Plus, everyone loves an underdog story. I’m looking forward to reading this debut author. (Available March 14, 2017)


Journey: Based on the True Story of OR7, the Most Famous Wolf in the West by Emma Bland Smith–I’m not sure my kids would be happy without at least one animal book on this list. Wolves tend to get a bad rap, but they are a necessary part of the ecosystem in many areas. This book had piqued my curiosity about the first wild wolf in California in nearly a century. (Available October 11, 2016)


Ada Lovelace, Poet of Science: the First Computer Programmer by Diane Stanley–First of all, this title is brilliant. There is poetry to science (and Ada Lovelace’s father was the poet Lord Byron). My daughter and I have been interested in Ada Lovelace ever since we read the first The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency book, so I’m looking forward to sharing this one with her. (Available October 4, 2016)

If you could only pre-order one of these amazing new non-fiction picture books, which one would you pick?

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