Celebrate Curiosity Nonfiction Professional Development Books and Resources

This week I had the chance to share my passion for nonfiction with the Prince George County chapter of the State of Maryland Literacy Association. The group was so enthusiastic and fun! I loved how some of them were already familiar with some of the books I mentioned.

In the past, I've provided a downloadable document for the books and resources. However, I thought I would share the books and resources here so it can be found time and time again.

We began with something Nicola Davies said which struck me when I first read it (I think on Twitter/X). And it still stands true today.

"There is a great deal of talk about giving children access to a diversity of texts that reflect their lives and experiences. But there is less talk about access to texts that reflect and explain the diversity of the world and what it contains." - Nicola Davies

Throughout the evening I shared information related to nonfiction in classrooms and beyond, including quotes from some authors.

My favorite part of the evening was the discussion! The slide below for Keila V. Dawson's Opening the Road led to my favorite discussion. An attendee shared her personal experience with the Green Book (which helped Black people find places to eat and rest safely while traveling).

Books Mentioned in PD (For past and current workshops depending on time available.)

We Are Still Here by Traci Sorell and Frane Lessac

Rescuing Titanic by Flora Delargy

The Ocean Calls by Tina M. Cho and Jess X. Snow

Summertime Sleepers by Melissa Stewart and Sarah Brannen

The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming

Undefeated by Steve Sheinkin

Rice from Heaven by Tina M. Cho and Keum Jin Song

A True Wonder by Kirsten W. Larson and Katy Wu

Freaky, Funky Fish by Debra Kempf Shumaker and Claire Powell

What’s in Your Pocket? by Heather L. Montgomery and Maribel Lechuga

All Thirteen by Christina Soontornat

Bugged: How Insects Changed History by Sarah Albee

Spi-Ku by Leslie Bulion and Robert Meganck

Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome and James Ransome

Poison by Sarah Albee

Dolley Madison, the White House, and the Big Tornado by Alice Boynton, Wiley Blevins, and Massimiliano di Lauro

Snowman-Cold=Puddle by Laura Puride Salas and Micho Acher

Race to the Bottom of the Earth by Rebecca E. F. Barone

Tad Lincon’s Restless Wriggle by Beth Anderson and S. D. Schindler

The Hole Story of the Doughnut by Pat Miller and Vincent X. Kirsch

One Plastic Bag by Miranda Paul and Elizabeth Zunon

Footprints Across the Planet by Jennifer Swanson

Dear Mr. Dickens by Nancy Churnin and Bethany Stancliffe

Opening the Road by Keila V. Dawson and Alleana Harris

Monster Maker by Debbi Michiko Florence and Inko Ai Takita

Who Is Tibet's Exiled Leader: The 14th Dalai Lama

Pigskins to Paintbrushes: The Story of Football-Playing Artist Ernie Barnes by Don Tate

One Land Many Nations: Cherokee Nation by Traci Sorell and Laguna Pueblo Nation by Lee Francis IV

Saving Granddaddy’s Stories by Shannon Hitchcock and Sophie Page

A Vote for Susana by Karen M. Greenwald and Sian James

Mummies Exposed! by Kerrie Logan Hollihan

Mountain of Fire by Rebbeca E. F. Barone

Morris and Buddy by Becky Hall

Code Breaker, Spy Hunter by Laura Wallmark

Wood, Wire, Wings by Kirsten W. Larson and Tracy Subisak

Making Their Voices Heard by Vivian Kirkfield and Alleanna Harris

Look Up! by Annette LeBlanc Cate

Forensics for Kids by Melissa Ross

Swish! by Suzanne Slade and Don Tate

The Lego Ideas Book by DK Publishing

Terrific Tongues by Maria Gianferrari

Titanic by Deborah Hopkinson

Nine Months by Miranda Paul

Moon Tree by Carolyn Bennett Fraiser

(I also mentioned a handful of my books.)

Nonfiction Resources

NCTE Position Statement on Nonfiction: https://ncte.org/statement/role-of-nonfiction-literature-k-12/

Narrative and Expository Text Preference: https://eric.ed.gov/?q=narrative&pg=105&id=EJ1155246 and https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ668270 and https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1207/s15548430jlr3801_4

Publishers Weekly Article 1: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/85257-soapbox-hey-grownups-kids-really-do-like-nonfiction.html

Publishers Weekly Article 2: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/89848-soapbox-children-s-nonfiction-has-an-image-problem.html

5 Kinds of Nonfiction by Melissa Stewart and Marlene Correia (discount and free shipping here): https://stenhouse.com/products/9781625314178_5-kinds-of-nonfiction

“5 Kinds of Nonfiction” Article: https://scicomm.plos.org/2018/04/10/five-kinds-of-stem-themed-nonfiction-books-for-kids/

Melissa Stewart sites: https://www.melissa-stewart.com/ and http://celebratescience.blogspot.com/

Sibert Smackdown: http://celebratescience.blogspot.com/2022/11/its-time-for-sibert-smackdown.html

Students Become Experts: https://www.annettewhipple.com/2022/02/a-teachers-take-2nd-graders-use-whooo.html

The Truth About Series as Mentor Texts: https://www.annettewhipple.com/2023/02/sharing-nonfiction-with-kids.html

Picture Books for Middle Grade and High School: https://www.annettewhipple.com/2020/09/teaching-middle-school-with-picture.html

Picture Books for College Students: https://www.annettewhipple.com/2023/12/picture-books-in-college-classrooms.html

Annette’s Educator Guides: https://www.annettewhipple.com/search/label/teacher%20guide

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