The process of non-fiction reading is different than most other genres. It permits stop and go reading; you can begin, leave off, and begin again without losing a book's thread. Children who reject stories are often labeled as reluctant, or reticent readers, but closer observation reveals that they thumb through magazines, peruse cereal boxes, or flip through the Guinness Book of World Records. They may be non-fiction readers who have not yet discovered their preferred venue. Even if children are not drawn to non-fiction, publishing's motivation to draw readership produces books with amazing photographs, involving hands-on adventures, incredible variety, and intriguing writing.
Biographies please both kinds of readers and a child-centered book always holds appeal. Rebecca Hazell's The Barefoot Book of Heroic Children (Barefoot Books, $19.95; ages 8-12) skips through time, distance, and fields of endeavor, offering portraits of twelve young world citizens who made a difference . Some names are familiar, like Anne Frank, while others are less well known, like the 11th century Tibetan saint, Milarepa. Each depiction contains a centerpiece written from the child's point of view, framed by more traditional biography bits.
When fun is the focus, all children want to play at science. Kids Can Press begins a new hands-on introduction in their Starting With Science series. Solids, Liquids, and Gases ($6.95, ages 5-9), demonstrates thirteen science experiments with bright enticing photos, clear definition about "what you'll need", "what to do" and "what's happening" during experiments. Why not learn how liquids turn to solids by studying ice cream? Living Things, Plants and Simple Machines, the other books in the series, are also written by informed, enthused authors who suggest further activities to ignite parents and teachers.
Books on sought after subjects make for wanna read non-fictions. Dinosaurs is a beloved topics and Tim Hanes, the series producer of the Discovery Channel's Walking with Dinosaurs (DK Publishing, $25.00; ages 5 and up)has produced a book with the same title. He recreates the ages of dinosaurs with simulated nature photography that shows dinosaurs eating, attacking, raising young. His writing is as immediate and sensory as the illustrations and make this long book a quick read.
Two popular subjects are the focus of new Informania series books. Christopher Maynard's Sharks and Jacqueline Mitton's Aliens are filled with up-to-date info, spicy writing, interesting lay out, and loads of pictures (both from Candlewick Press, $7.99; ages 7-10) Mary Cerullo zeros in on The Truth about Great White Sharks (Chronicle Books, $14.95; ages 7-10), dispelling myths with impressive photos, and her clear and concise style.
For the horse-addict in your house, there's Stephen Budiansky's The World According to Horses: How They Run, See, and Think (Holt, $16.95; ages 9 and up). Budiansky came to riding late in life and was both fascinated by horse behavior and surprised that no one had written about it. Using his scientific observation and passion for research, Budiansky links what we know about horses with how we know it, making this novel-length book appeal to all ages, even people without equine enthusiasm.
Enticing titles will draw readership if the book fulfills the promise. New in paperback is Ellen Weiss' Odd Jobs: The wackiest jobs you've never heard of! (Aladdin, $8.99; ages 7 and up). The twelve profiles include a professional scary guy and a roller-coaster designer. Each biography has at least one color photo, my favorite being the arm pit sniffing trainer. Weiss' delivery is lively, enlightening, and provides a whole new set of role models.
Testing has given writing a bad rap. The remedy? Non-fictions that promote the fun of writing. Younger writers can begin with what they know best, their families, in My Mother and Me: A Memory Scrapbook for Kids and My Father and Me: A Memory Scrapbook for Kids (both from Kids Can Press, $4.95; ages 5 with help-9). The books are composed with an accommodating check-boxes and fill-in-blanks organization, and there's lots of room for illustration and storytelling.
Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg's Write Where You Are:How to Use Writing to Make Sense of Your Life (Free Spirit Press, $14.95; ages 11 and up) is defined as a "guide for teens", but it's really a resource for all ages. The author offers twelve marvelous reasons for writing, tells readers how to "think like a writer", then, opens a treasure trove of ideas with writing suggestions, tools, motivating subjects, and ways to find a writing community. All ideas are expressed with a genuine love of language, unique imagery and terminology, and the precision she counsels.
A more utilitarian resource is Marvin Terban's concise, easy-to-use Punctuation Power (Scholastic, $12.95; all ages). The book's simple organization and wealth of examples make a sometimes unwieldy subject easy to understand.
Values are presented with hands-on learning in Barbara Lewis' Being Your Best:Character Building for Kids 7-10 (Free Spirit Publishing, $14.95). The book begins with quizzes to help children see their strengths and determine the "character muscles" that need more of a workout. The book defines qualities and then gives strategies, stories, situations and personal examples of ten traits like forgiveness, honesty, and responsibility.
Most non-fictions seem made for solo reading, but one I'd recommend sharing is my secret camera: Life in the Lodz Ghetto with text by Frank Smith and photos by Mendel Grossman (Harcourt,$16.00; ages 9 and up). Polish Mendel Grossman died in the Nazi camps only days before the German surrender, after risking his life capturing life within the Lodz Ghetto with thousand of black and white stills. Rabbi-writer-photographer Smith honors Grossman and other courageous Jews by wedding his tender words to Grossman's heart rendering photographs. Though this book has a simple appearance, it demands and will inspire thoughtful adult-child discussion.
Let's not forget the most practical non-fiction genre, cookbooks. Two great guides are out in paperback. Joan Scobey's The Fannie Farmer Junior Cookbook (Little Brown, $15.95; all ages)delivers old recipes for kid-gourmets with a contemporary flair and lovely Patience Brewster illustrations border every page. Judy Gillies and Jennifer Glossop's Kids Can Press Jumbo Cookbook (Kids Can Press, $14.95; all ages),is just as thorough and well-organized, but is for the more novice cook. Both are great for moms who have run out of ideas for meals children will eat.
Children have an innate love of learning; the want to explore and understand. Non-fiction has become so exciting and varied that no matter what a child's reading preference, there are books which will please them, feed their interests, and teach them about the world and themselves.