Non-Fiction Picture Books - Great Reading

Come Visit the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge hosted by Alyson Beecher at Kidlit Frenzy. It's great to find terrific nonfiction books available! Thanks for hosting, Alyson!

Twenty-two Cents: Muhammad Yunus and the Village Bank –

written by Paula Yoo and illustrated by Jamel Akib

            A biography of the “Banker To The Poor” for younger students is welcome, to help explain the serious problems of those who are both poor families in the world, and who are preyed upon by moneylenders. This story shares the path of Muhammad Yunus from childhood to the position of economics professor back in his homeland, Bangladesh. When he began to be more and more interested in the extreme poverty of a nearby town, and the mothers whose families were starving, but still making crafts to try to earn a little money, he began the dream of small loans, which became a worldwide enterprise, the Grameen Banks. It’s an inspiring story, and the pages illustrated by Jamel Akib add to the interest of the story.

Insect Detective – written by Steve Voake and illustrated by Charlotte Voake

           Need a sweet and pretty book that introduces insects to your younger students or children? This is a good choice, and younger readers should be able to read it for themselves. It begins: "Right now, all around you, though sands of insects are doing strange and wonderful things. But you can't always see them right away. Sometimes you have to know where to look."  The story shows some of the places and how to find both small, hiding, and camouflaged insects, how they live and what they are like. Beautiful watercolors grace the pages along with the story and some side facts. There is back matter that offers additional great ideas for discovery, for being an 'insect detective'!

The Camel in the Sun - written by Griffin Ondaatje and illustrated by Linda Wolfsgruber

               Someone recently reviewed this book and I am lucky enough to have quickly found it at my library. Because one of my students is studying Islam, I know she will love the story and the way it came about to the author too. This is an outcome of the author hearing a part of a hadith, according to the author's notes, an accounting of the Prophet's words passed from generation to generation. This is a story of a camel and its cruel owner, the Prophet noticing and caring for the camel, and in that caring, showing the owner what compassion is. I know that the story will bring about interest to children, perhaps especially those who love animals or who don't know much about desert travelers and the toil of camels. The illustrations are beautiful.

Have a good week reading!