Blood! Not Just a Vampire Drink by Stacy McAnulty, 2022

Reading Level: 3.1

LEX AD580L

his funny and fact-filled picture book is all about blood: where it's found, what it does, how it travels, and why vampires shouldn't drink it. From the four chambers of the heart to the platelets that clot your blood when you scrape your knee, everything you want to know about the cardiovascular system is right inside these pages. Just watch out for thirsty vampires.

Author website
Illustrator website
Coloring Page
Teaching Books

Blue: a History of the Color as Deep as the Sean and as Wide as the Sky by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, 2022

Reading Level: 4.8

AR 5.6 LG .5 520790EN; LEX AD1060L

This picture book follows one color's journey throughout history--from ancient Afghan painters to 1905, when a chemical blue dye was created--and around the world, as it becomes the blue we know today.

Author website
Under "School Visits" - Information about various ways for children to interact with this book
Illustrator website
Teaching Books
History of the Color Blue (YouTube)
Discussion Questions from NEA
Teacher Pay Teachers ($)
A few lesson ideas and discussion questions

Building an Orchestra of Hope: How Favio Chavez Taught Children to Make Music from Trash by Carmen Oliver, 2022

Reading Level: 1.9

AR 4 LG .5 522085EN; LEX AD710L

When a children's orchestra in Cateura, Paraguay, grows to have more students than instruments, music teacher Favio Chavez works with a brilliant local carpenter to create instruments out of garbage from the local landfill.

Author's Website
Interview with Illustrator
Teaching Books
Favio Chavez Ted Talk
Activity Kit
Literature Guide from Fair Story

Dressing Up the Stars: The Story of Movie Costume Designer Edith Head by Jeanne Walker Harvey, 2022

Reading Level: 3.8

LEX AD770L

The story of how Edith Head, who started out as a shy, miner's daughter, became one of the most legendary costume designers in Hollywood.

Author website
Activity Kit from author
Illustrator website
Teaching Books
Lesson Plan Ideas
Drawing Tutorial (YouTube)

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The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field by Scott Riley, 2021

Reading Level: 4.8

AR 4 LG .5 513393EN; LEX 680L; F&P P

On a tiny Thai island without room for a soccer field, a group of resourceful teen boys gathers scraps and works together to build a floating field so they can play the game they love.

Author website
Illustrator website
Teaching Books
Teaching Ideas from SLJ
Teachers Pay Teachers ($)
Lesson Plan from Washington Library Association
The Floating Field (YouTube)

2025 Winner for Nonfiction

A History of Underwear with Professor Chicken! by Hannah Holt

Reading Level: 4.3

AR 4.8 LG .5 519481EN; LEX 750L

From Paleolithic loincloths to Henry VII's wives wearing underwear on their heads and beyond, this hilarious--and accurate--history of underwear (as comically modeled by chickens), tells the fascinating story of our most private clothing.

Teaching Books

Chickens and Underwear Paper Dolls from Author

The Sweetest Scoop: Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Revolution by Lisa Robinson, 2022

Audience: Lower Elementary

From the publisher: Grades Pre-K/K-3; Ages 4-8

Chunky Monkey. Cherry Garcia. Phish Food. Truffle Kerfuffle. Chubby Hubby. Legendary ice cream makers Ben & Jerry are behind some of the wackiest, tastiest flavors we all know and love. It all began in 1965 when two groovy guys, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, met when they were twelve years old. Ben liked art, Jerry liked science, and they both loved food . . . especially ice cream! They eventually started a business together, and with no idea how to actually make ice cream, they kicked it off with teamwork, determination, and an appetite for fun and experimentation.

Interview with Illustrator
Teaching Books
Teachers Pay Teachers
Video of Ben and Jerry's factory

History of Ben and Jerry's
Ben and Jerry Treasure Hunt (uses Ben and Jerry's website, for computer skills).
Teachers Pay Teachers, create a new Ben and Jerry flavor ($)