A to Z Blog Challenge Reflection 2025
30 days. 26 posts. 37 nonfiction picture books! This year involved a lot of research in finding new nonfiction picture books as worked my way from A to Z. I hope you take a minute to click on a few posts to learn about more books to add to your own library or…
Z is for Zaha
And just like that...the 2025 A to Z Blog Challenge has come to an end. Thank you for reading and I hope you found a couple new nonfiction picture books to share with the little (and big) readers in your life. The World Is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha HadidWritten &…
Y is for Yosemite
The Sequoia Lives OnWritten by: Joanna CookeIllustrated by: Fiona Hsieh A whimsical book filled with facts and beautiful illustrations that showcase the majestic sequoia trees which can be found at Yosemite National Park. This would be a great book for children to see the life…
X is for AXidental
Ok...so aXidental isn't spelled like that, but I really wanted to share this book and couldn't find another X themed nonfiction picture book that I wanted to share. The Boo-Boos That Changed the World: A True Story About an Accidental Invention (Really!)Written by: Barry…
W is for Wild, World Champ & With…great power
Wild Places: The Life of Naturalist David Attenborough Written by: Hayley RoccoIllustrated by: John Rocco A beautifully illustrated picture book that is a celebration of our beautiful planet. David loved learning about the wild world around him as a…
V is for Violin
Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of ParaguayWritten by: Susan HoodIllustrated by: Sally Wern Comport This is a beautiful book filled with hope through music. Ada grew up in a town built on a landfill. A music teacher wanted to teach children how to play instruments…
U is for Unfair
How Do You Spell Unfair? MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling BeeWritten by: Carole Boston WeatherfordIllustrated by: Frank Morrison MacNolia loved words and actually read the dictionary! In 8th grade she won her school spelling bee and advanced to a state competition. She then…
T is for Trip
Are We There Yet?: The First Road Trip Across the USA Written by: Stacy McAnulty Illustrated by:Elizabeth Baddeley It's 2025 and I am uninterested in driving across the country...just to say I did it. Imagine a drive from California to New York in 1903! It took 63 days! This book is…
S is for Sharks & Starlings
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist Written by: Jess KeatingIllustrated by: Marta Alvarez Miguens From a young age, Eugenie loved the sharks at the aquarium. Her mother gave her, her own small aquarium and she read…
R is for Rogers…Mister Rogers
Mister Rogers' Gift of Music Written by: Donna CangelosiIllustrated by: Amanda Calatzis Fred Rogers spent time alone in his room watching kids play outside his window due to severe asthma. His mother played the piano to cheer him up. "Music was sunshine." He used…
Q is for Queen…of physics
Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom Written by: Teresa RobesonIllustrated by: Rebecca Huang Wu Chien Shiung was born in 1912 in China. Her parents wanted to give her the best education and actually opened a school for her and girls…
P is for Planting, Popsicles & Pop!
Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura BelpreWritten by: Anika Aldamuy DeniseIllustrated by: Paola Escobar A stunning story of the importance of representation in books and libraries. Pura is a storyteller from Puerto Rico who moves to…
O is for One Wish
One Wish: Fatima al-Fihri and the World's Oldest University Written by: M.O. YukselIllustrated by: Mariam Quraishi Fatima loved learning and dreamed of building a school for all. She faced hardships in her country due to war and loss. She persevered and built a school for all…
N is for Not Yet
Not Yet: The Story of an Unstoppable SkaterWritten by: Zahra Lari & Hadley DavisIllustrated by: Sara Alfageeh Whimsical illustrations show young Zahra wanting to learn to skate. The repeated phrase of "not yet" is filled with determination and the power of yet! The authors note is…
M is for Malala & Magic
Malala's Magic Pencil Written by: Malala YousafzaiIllustrated by: Kerascoet Malala's story about her passion for learning and school. Her fear of girls being unable to attend school due to dangerous people. The power of her words to share her story. "I knew then that if I…
L is for Lakes & Lines
The Great Lakes: Our Freshwater Treasure Written by: Barb RosenstockIllustrated by: Jamey Christoph A perfect book for anyone who has ever visited The Great Lakes or anyone wanting to learn more. The book walks us through how The Great Lakes were formed, fresh vs. salt water…
K is for Knut
Knut: How One Littler Polar Bear Captivated the World Written by: Juliana, Isabella, and Craig Hatkoff and Dr. Gerald R. Uhlich The story of a polar bear cub born in a zoo and taken care of by a man named Thomas, his foster father. Children will appreciate the photographs of the cub.…
J is for Joan
Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles Written by: Patricia ValdezIllustrated by: Felicita Sala In the early 1900's, from a young age, Joan loved reptiles. As a young woman, she worked in a Natural History Museum where she students reptiles and published her…
I is for Interpreter
The InterpreterWritten by: Olivia AbtahiIllustrated by: Monica Arnaldo This stunning story, while not true nonfiction, was inspired by the author's life growing up and can be true for many children. Young Cecilia was a kid...but also an interpreter for her parents. This book…
H is for Hula
Ho'onani Hula Warrior Written by: Heather GaleIllustrated by: Mika Song Inspired by a true story, Ho'onani is a ukulele loving girl in Hawaii who identifies more with simply her name than kane (boy) or wahine (girl). She auditions for a typical male role as a hula warrior and is…
G is for the Girls
The Girl Who Heard the Music: How One Pianist and 85,000 Bottles and Cans Brought New Hope to an Island Written by: Marni Fogelson with Mahani TeaveIllustrated by: Marta Alvarez Miguens On the island of Rapa Nui, Mahani learned to love music and play piano. She traveled far away…
F is for Fighting…with love
Fighting with Love: The Legacy of John LewisWritten by: Lesa Cline-Ransome Illustrated by: James E. Ransome Written and illustrated by a wife and husband team, this book shines a light on the power of fighting with love to do what is right. "Hold only love, only peace…
E is for Extraordinary
Extraordinary Magic: The Storytelling Life of Virginia Hamilton Written & Illustrated by: Nina Crews A story told through poetry about Virginia's life as a child, loving writing, growing up through adversity and realizing her words held power. "Virginia traveled across the…
D is for Digging
Digging for Words: Jose Alberto Gutierrez and the Library He BuiltWritten by: Angela Burke KunkelIllustrated by: Paola Escobar One Jose is a young boy who looks forward to Saturday each week. Another Jose is a garbage collector who rescues books and opens his special library on…
C is for Cactus & Cicada
Cactus Queen: Minerva Hoyt Establishes Joshua Tree National Park Written by: Lori Alexander Illustrated by: Jenn Ely A powerful story about perseverance and determination. Minerva saw the beauty in the Joshua trees that people were removing from the desert in the 1920s.…
B is for Balloons & Book Itch
Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's ParadeWritten & Illustrated by: Melissa Sweet Many people watch The Macy's Day Parade, but most do not know how it started. Tony Sarg loved marionettes and figuring out how to make other things move…
A is for Amazing Abe & Activist
Today begins the A to Z Blog Challenge 2025! This year I will work through the alphabet featuring nonfiction picture books. Know a parent or teacher who would find this interesting? Please share! If you are participating in the challenge, please let me know so I can…
The Kindness Machine Turns 3!
Three years ago, "The Kindness Machine" was released into the world! Thank you to all who have read the story, purchased/gifted copies, added copies to Little Free Libraries, donated copies to classrooms, etc. I continue to be surprised when I see the book in…
A to Z Blog Challenge 2025
I am thrilled to participate in the A to Z blog challenge for the 4th year! This year the theme will focus on gratitude and I encourage anyone to join who is interested in writing one blog post for each day, except Sundays, for the month of April. In 2022, I wrote about…
