Spring 2021 Kids Nonfiction Recommendations

This is not an easy subject, but it is vital. A century ago, something unspeakable occured. Tulsa was prosperous for its Black citizens. The white population stewed in resentments that finally boiled over when a white lady screamed. Carole Boston Weatherford and Floyd Cooper are the perfect pair to take on this important, suppressed piece of history. Handled with delicacy and love, I urge everyone to pick this book and learn from the past. 

—Ivy

Gary Paulsen, the author of Hatchet, recounts his childhood memories in this powerful and moving memoir. Paulsen traverses his troubled childhood, from finding joy and safety living in the Wisconsin woods with his aunt and uncle, to navigating a bombed-out Manila with his drunken parents, to meeting a kind librarian who shows him the magic of books and encourages him to write. This book deserves a place on the shelves of those who fondly remember Paulsen’s novels, as well anyone who loves great storytelling. —Kathy

Naomi Klein and Rebecca Stefoff’s new book is absolutely engrossing and informative. Inspired by stories of activists around the globe (especially from the Southern hemisphere and Indigenous communities), and galvanized by tales of corporate greed and historical analysis, I closed How to Change Everything and started immediately brainstorming what to do next. For any human (young or otherwise) who cares about climate change, the environment, and social justice, and wants to know more, this is a great place to start. —Jocelyn