Staff Picks Youth Nonfiction

Peace is a Chain Reaction: How World War II Japanese Balloon Bombs Brought People of Two Nations Together

by Tanya Lee Stone

A not well-known fact from World War II is the basis of this book. During this war the Japanese were looking for ways to attack Americans on their own soil. They came up with the idea of balloon bombs that would travel across the Pacific and detonate in the United States. Not many of them were successful in their mission but, tragically, one was. A minister and his wife were on a picnic with some school-age children in Oregon. When the children went exploring, they came across a downed balloon. Somehow the attached bomb was triggered and 6 people were killed, one adult and 5 children. Years later a Japanese American man, Yuzuru Takeshita, spoke with a woman who worked in the factory in Japan where these balloons were made. He began a peace connection between her and others involved in the balloon manufacturing with the families of those killed. 

Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager

Posted in: Youth Nonfiction

The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their own Soccer Field

by Scott Riley

Young Prasit Hemmin and his friends loved soccer but because their small island home of Koh Panyee, off the coast in Thailand had so little land there was no room for even a small field. The boys played on sandbars at low tide, but as soon as the tide came in, the game was over. Set in 1986, this inspiring true story of determination and teamwork tells of Prasit and his friends’ wild plan to use scrap lumber to build a floating soccer field.

This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian

Posted in: Youth Nonfiction

The Elephants Come Home: A True Story of Seven Elephants, Two People, and One Extraordinary Friendship

by Kim Tomsic

This touching true story portrays conservationist Lawrence Anthony’s relationship with a frightened, hunted elephant herd that found a home at his reserve in South Africa, Thula Thula. Anthony and his wife, Françoise, had a no-hunting rule at Thula Thula, but still the uneasy rescued elephants broke out of their enclosure. When they came back, a gentle Anthony carefully reassured the animals that they were safe, and they came to love their new home and him.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian

Posted in: Youth Nonfiction

The Spirit of Springer: The Real-Life Rescue of an Orphaned Orca

by Amanda Abler

This is a true story about Springer, an orphaned orca, who was found alone in Puget Sound in 2002. She was in poor health due to skin sores, starvation, and loneliness- since her call was not what other orcas in the area responded to. Scientists found where orcas like her were living. After being healed, she was released near them with the hope that they would accept her into the pod.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian

Posted in: Youth Nonfiction

The Woman in the Woods and Other North American Stories

by Kate Ashwin

Several indigenous authors and illustrators, who identify as trans, binary or other, have created a collection of stories based on folklore from Indigenous North American Nations, such as Navajo or Odawa. These short stories are in a graphic novel format with panels of black and white illustrations. This is the fifth book in the Cautionary Fables and Fairy Tales series.

Posted in: Youth Nonfiction

Alphabreaths: The ABCs of Mindful Breathing

by Christopher Willard

Do you and your little one need a short break to recharge or calm down? Practice your ABCs while doing super simple and adorable breathing exercises. Each page presents a letter and a beautiful illustration with an exercise evoking playful visual imagery. Have your child pick their favorite letters or do them all if they are enjoying the mindfulness connection. A great resource to take a moment to be present and enjoy a book together.

Recommended by: Fanny Camargo, Youth Services Reference Librarian I

Posted in: Youth Nonfiction

Unconventional Vehicles: forty-five of the strangest cars, trains, planes, submersibles, dirigibles, and rockets ever

by Michael Hearst

This is not the average transportation book. These vehicles are unconventional indeed. A detailed, yet eye-catching and far from overwhelming read that presents some unimaginable works of engineering and ingenuity, as well as some silly and kind of ridiculous inventions. From the rudimentary such as the handcar or ostrich carriage, to the straight-out-of-Sci-Fi walking truck. Author Michael Hearst uses a very approachable attention-grabbing and humorous writing style. Jensen’s illustrations are intricate and crisp. Each vehicle is introduced in a two-page aesthetically pleasing spread with information divided by clean lines. One side provides manufacturer, date of production, and overview data, while the other side includes fun and interesting facts for all curious minds. A good pick for transportation enthusiasts, as well as non-fiction reluctant readers.

Recommended by: Fanny Camargo, Youth Services Reference Librarian I

Posted in: Youth Nonfiction

The Wild World Handbook Habitats

by Andrea Debbink

A great book for budding environmentalists and nature lovers. This book visits multiple types of habitats and gives facts and mini stories about them. There are also stories about famous activists, photographers, environmentalists and more. In between the stories you’ll find different activities to try out that relate to what you’ve just read. We only have one Earth and it’s our job to help protect it. This book might help middle graders take a step in the right direction.

Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian

Posted in: Youth Nonfiction

Blood and Germs: The Civil War Battle Against Wounds and Disease

by Gail Jarrow

Jarrow takes the reader back to the Civil War and explains the effects of disease and unsanitary conditions on the soldiers. Unbeknownst to doctors, microbes and parasites took the lives of more soldiers than battle wounds. Fortunately, this led to innovations that enhanced medical care going forward. 

Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Director

Posted in: Youth Nonfiction

If the World Were 100 People: a Visual Guide to Our Global Village

by Jackie McCann

An eye-opening written and visual account using 2021 statistics as if the 8 billion people populating the Earth were only 100 people. Numbers that we can wrap our heads around as to who speaks what language, who is hungry, who has clean water, etc.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I

Posted in: Youth Nonfiction