Wednesday, June 01, 2016

Next Year's Readers: Sharing My New Nonfiction Passion


I'm starting to fall in love with nonfiction. It started years back with a book that looked at history through the lens of the oak tree.


Then there were books by Bill Bryson, a favorite author. One looks at history through the lens of our homes, and another focuses on a single amazing year in history.




Just recently, I finished listening to a history traced by what we've been drinking.



In my Audible wish list are now histories focused on salt and cod, seeds, potatoes, food, and innovations. Suddenly, I can't get enough of this way of thinking about history! One of most prolific writers of this kind of history, Mark Kurlansky, has adapted two of his most popular books for adults into picture books. Next year, I intend to read more nonfiction aloud to my fifth graders. I'll start with these two!



by Mark Kurlansky, illustrated by S.D. Schindler
G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 2006




by Mark Kurlansky, illustrated by S.D. Schindler
G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 2011





6 comments:

  1. Nonfiction picture books are probably my favorite genre! So much to learn! And so many interesting formats! All of these are new to me. My adult book club just finished BOYS IN THE BOAT, which I loved!

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  2. I've read Kurlansky's adult books about Salt and Cod, found them fascinating. I didn't know he'd created picture books, too. This is great for younger kids. I love n-f too, Mary Lee, and we're lucky that there are so many wonderful ones available.

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  3. Me too! I'm reading a lot more non-fiction also, especially memoirs.

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  4. I'm enjoying these "next year" suggestions! Keep them coming!

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  5. Anonymous10:17 PM

    I've been meaning to read The Story of Salt for years. Have you read Sugar Changed the World, by Marc Aronson? What an eye-opening book!

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    1. I LOVED Sugar Changed the World, and I agree -- eye-opening, as I'm finding all this sub-genre of books to be!

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