Lots of people groan when they hear non-fiction, especially kids. The first thing that often comes to mind it BORING! But I’m here to tell you that you’re just not reading the right books. Here are some of my favorite children’s non-fiction reads that will knock your socks off.

1.  Sniffer Dogs: How Dogs (and Their Noses) Save the World by Nancy Castaldo

Anyone who has ever spent time with a dog knows that dogs love sniffing! They sniff out hidden food, dirty socks, and the visitor who comes to the door. But some dogs work with police officers, soldiers and even scientists to put their “sniffers” to work. Sniffer dogs make use of the amazing biology behind their noses to protect people from bombs, catch criminals smuggling drugs, or help researchers locate a hard to find snail in a forest.
A dog’s nose is so sensitive that if a human could see as well as a dog could smell, we would be able to see the small letters on an eye chart from four (four!) miles away. Is it any wonder then that dogs can be trained to find missing people in piles of rubble or a certain flower blooming amongst hundreds or thousands of other smells?

In Sniffer Dogs you will meet many dogs and their handlers and learn all about their jobs. Some of these dogs are raised from birth to detect blood sugar levels in their owners. Others are rescued from animal shelters and their boisterous personalities help make them excellent sniffer dogs. Featuring a balance between science and social science, Sniffer Dogs will appeal to dog lovers and science lovers alike.

My boys LOVED this book so much. It’s loaded with pictures, vignettes and so much interesting information. All I can say is that next time I see Nancy she’s in trouble because my kids are REALLY pushing for a puppy and we are considering. LOL! If you already have a dog, you’ll learn a TON about what makes your dog an amazing sniffer. And I’m always a sucker for a book that has inspirational heroes in it. This is an all around great read for kids and adults. My copy is being passed around the family as we speak.

2.  Bomb: The Race to Build–and Steal–the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin

In December of 1938, a chemist in a German laboratory made a shocking discovery: When placed next to radioactive material, a Uranium atom split in two. That simple discovery launched a scientific race that spanned 3 continents. In Great Britain and the United States, Soviet spies worked their way into the scientific community; in Norway, a commando force slipped behind enemy lines to attack German heavy-water manufacturing; and deep in the desert, one brilliant group of scientists was hidden away at a remote site at Los Alamos. This is the story of the plotting, the risk-taking, the deceit, and genius that created the world’s most formidable weapon. This is the story of the atomic bomb.

Bomb is a 2012 National Book Awards finalist for Young People’s Literature.

Bomb is a 2012 Washington Post Best Kids Books of the Year title.

Bomb is a 2013 Newbery Honor book.

I’ve had the pleasure of listening to Steve speak more than once and I loved hearing his transformation from “boring” text book writer to award winning author. He has learned the art of capturing the truly interesting tidbits of our history and is able to weave them together in a story like fashion that begs you to turn the page. Bomb was a captivating read and after finishing it, my boys have gone on to read more about Pearl Harbor and the Holocaust out of curiosity. We’ve also read some of Sheinken’s other books and they don’t disappoint either.

3.  Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Almost True Stories of Growing Up Scieszka by Jon Scieszka

How did Jon Scieszka get so funny, anyway? Growing up as one of six brothers was a good start, but that was just the beginning. Throw in Catholic school, lots of comic books, lazy summers at the lake with time to kill, babysitting misadventures, TV shows, jokes told at family dinner, and the result is Knucklehead. Part memoir, part scrapbook, this hilarious trip down memory lane provides a unique glimpse into the formation of a creative mind and a free spirit.

Funny man, Jon Scieszka has always been a favorite at in the Sabatini house and I’ve seen crowds roar with laughter when he gives a presentation, so it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that I had tears running down my face reading the chapter about the Scieszka boys on vacation in the backseat of the family station wagon. I swear it was the best laugh I had in 2014. My kids still talk about it and after we got done reading it together, I kept finding boys in bed pouring over the stories again and again.

4.  Ick! Yuck! Eew! Our Gross American History by Lois Miner Huey

In history class, you’ve studied people who lived long ago. But do you know just how gross daily life was in the United States around the time of the American Revolution? • People rarely bathed. • They didn’t wash most of their clothes regularly. • Their teeth were rotting. • Bedbugs feasted on people as they slept. • Lice crawled through their hair (and their wigs) day and night. Ready to step out for a breath of fresh air? Well, look out, because the streets were filled with poop. Don’t believe it? Hop in a time machine and travel back to June, 1770, in the pages of this book!

Just put Lois’ book in my shopping cart for my own boys! I’ve been long over due to read this one and I’m so excited. I was in the audience when Betsy Bird was singing it’s praises and that is all the confirmation that I needed! The boys are going to love this one. Merry Yucky Christmas to Me :o)

5.  Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones

Discover how Lauren Kate transformed the feeling of that one mean girl getting under her skin into her first novel, how Lauren Oliver learned to celebrate ambiguity in her classmates and in herself, and how R.L. Stine turned being the “funny guy” into the best defense against the bullies in his class.

Today’s top authors for teens come together to share their stories about bullying—as silent observers on the sidelines of high school, as victims, and as perpetrators—in a collection at turns moving and self-effacing, but always deeply personal.

Sadly, bullying can happen at any time in your life, but for kids who look upon their favorite authors as rockstars–this is a powerful book. But it always helps to know you’re not alone. Dear Bully is a heartfelt reminder of how deeply the kid lit community is invested in it’s readers. So proud to be a YA author. <3

If I haven’t convinced you to buy non-fiction with these fabulous suggestions, remember that non-fiction is becoming a very big component of the common core curriculum. And while lots of the things about core curriculum give me hives–I LOVE anything that gets kids to read diverse material. Reading non-fiction with your kids is strengthening an important intellectual muscle that will serve them well in school and in the future. Go out and buy and read these amazing books!!!!!

Are there any great non-fiction children’s books that I need to put on my TBR list? Please share!

I’ll be back next week with more holiday book buying suggestions. Please feel free to share these with all your reader friends. I know all of these authors will be mighty appreciative. You can find more of my Best Books Holiday Shopping Blogs here…

*Best Books Holiday Shopping Guide-Some of Kim’s 2014 Favorites

Tags: Bomb, Books, Carrie Jones, Dear Bully, Holiday gift giving, Ick! Yuck! Eew!: Our Gross American History, Jon Scieszka, Kim Sabatini, Kimberly Sabatini, Knucklehead, Lois Miner-Huey, Megan Kelley Hall, Nancy Castaldo, non-fiction, Shopping, Sniffer Dogs, Steve Sheinkin

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If you’re like me, you’re spending more than your fair share of hours devoted to staying on top of the holiday madness. Aren’t we all trying to get that shopping done so we can finish the wrapping, sit back and watch holiday shows while eat cookies? Gosh, I wish I had a holiday house elf to help me get it all done.

But I don’t. So, instead of pouting,  it occurred to me that at least I can help you with your shopping. I’ll be your bookish Holiday House Elf. *grin* If you’re looking for some awesome books for your favorite readers, then I have some amazing reads I’d love to share with you…

1. Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future by A.S. King

Would you try to change the world if you thought it had no future?

Graduating from high school is a time of limitless possibilities — but not for Glory, who has no plan for what’s next. Her mother committed suicide when Glory was only four years old, and she’s never stopped wondering if she will eventually go the same way… until a transformative night when she begins to experience an astonishing new power to see a person’s infinite past and future. From ancient ancestors to many generations forward, Glory is bombarded with visions—and what she sees ahead of her is terrifying.

A tyrannical new leader raises an army. Women’s rights disappear. A violent second civil war breaks out. And young girls vanish daily, sold off or interned in camps. Glory makes it her mission to record everything she sees, hoping her notes will somehow make a difference. She may not see a future for herself, but she’ll do everything in her power to make sure this one doesn’t come to pass.

In this masterpiece about freedom, feminism, and destiny, Printz Honor author A.S. King tells the epic story of a girl coping with devastating loss at long last—a girl who has no idea that the future needs her, and that the present needs her even more.

I need to preface this by saying I ADORE all of A.S. King’s books, but this may be my favorite book of 2014. It’s dark, it’s hopeful, it’s human, it’s edgy and it’s outside the box while being universal. I can’t stop thinking about it. This book may be the closest book to replicate that feeling I had in 10th grade when I read The Giver by Lois Lowry for the first time.

2.  The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life – and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey’s boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie’s own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they’re the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can’t collide without the whole wide world exploding.

This remarkable debut is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Francesca Lia Block. Just as much a celebration of love as it is a portrait of loss, Lennie’s struggle to sort her own melody out of the noise around her is always honest, often hilarious, and ultimately unforgettable.

The beautiful thing about this book is it’s raw, honest pain intermingled with soulful, optimistic love and humor. When you’re done with this book you’re going to want to hug it. Nelson does gorgeous things with words.

3.  Schooled by Gordon Kormon

Homeschooled by his hippie grandmother, Capricorn (Cap) Anderson has never watched television, tasted a pizza, or even heard of a wedgie. But when his grandmother lands in the hospital, Cap is forced to move in with a school counselor and attend the local middle school. While Cap knows a lot about tie-dyeing and Zen Buddhism, no education could prepare him for the politics of public school.

My absolute favorite Gordon Kormon book to date and I’ve been reading a bunch–my boys adore his writing. Schooled is sweet and hilarious and I’m bound to read it again because I loved it that much. Cap is a character who wiggles his way and by the end you never want him to leave.

4.  Journey by Aaron Becker

Follow a girl on an elaborate flight of fancy in a wondrously illustrated, wordless picture book about self-determination — and unexpected friendship.

A lonely girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall and through it escapes into a world where wonder, adventure, and danger abound. Red marker in hand, she creates a boat, a balloon, and a flying carpet that carry her on a spectacular journey toward an uncertain destiny. When she is captured by a sinister emperor, only an act of tremendous courage and kindness can set her free. Can it also lead her home and to her heart’s desire? With supple line, luminous color, and nimble flights of fancy, author-illustrator Aaron Becker launches an ordinary child on an extraordinary journey toward her greatest and most exciting adventure of all.

Journey is a wordless picture book that harnesses your imagination and then sets it free. Every time I flip the pages of this book I want to illustrate all the magic of my world. A gorgeous journey of heart and soul.

5.  The Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy by Laini Taylor

The perfect gift for readers who want to be swept away.
The Daughter of Smoke & Bone Trilogy Gift Set includes three hardcovers: Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Days of Blood & Starlight, and Dreams of Gods & Monsters.

From master storyteller and National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor comes a sweeping and gorgeously written modern fantasy series about a forbidden love, an ancient and epic battle, and hope for a world remade.

Book #1

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious “errands”, she speaks many languages – not all of them human – and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Trilogies are tough to write. The first book is always hard to follow. Not for Laini Taylor. In my opinion, each book was better than the one before. This may be my favorite trilogy ever. The world building and character development are exquisite. And there is so much thought provoking depth without preaching. I can only believe that Taylor was able to write such an intricate story because Karou and her world are completely and utterly real to her.

 Now go forth and give the gift of books. I’ll have some more gift giving book suggestions for you as the holiday shopping season continues. Don’t forget to support your favorite authors by spreading the word about their beloved books. In fact, feel free to give suggestions in the comments or link this post to your own Best Books Holiday Shopping Guide. I don’t know an author who wouldn’t be appreciative. <3

Have you read any of my recommendations? Did you love them too? Which one is your favorite?

Tags: A. S. King, Aaron Becker, Glory O'Brien's History of the Future, Gordon Kormon, Holiday gift giving, House Elf, Jandy Nelson, Journey, Kim Sabatini, Kimberly Sabatini, Laini Taylor, Schooled, The Daughter of Smoke and Bone, The Sky is Everywhere

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I don’t know how the holiday spirit works for you, but I have what I like to call my inner holiday elf. He fights with my inner procrastinator, my inner bah-humbugger and my mother (just kidding) to get everything that needs to be done, done for the holiday season. He’s like Doby the house elf, but he’s only around from Thanksgiving until the New Year and he poops glitter. It just so happens that I have a picture of him right here (sans glitter–that would be rude)…

His name is George and it’s his goal is to make the holiday merry and bright for me and my family and friends. This year, because George is an overachiever, part of his merry-making involves a deep desire to get a copy of TOUCHING THE SURFACE under every Christmas Tree, Menorah or Kinara. The problem is, that’s a lot of work for such a little guy. He can’t do it alone. I’ve looked into other options and unfortunately, getting a supplementary inner holiday elf isn’t possible.  You should see the paper work involved. *head thunk* But wait–there is still hope. In the spirit of the holiday season, Oblong Books & Music has volunteered to deliver signed copies of TOUCHING THE SURFACE to your doorstep in time for your holiday gift giving extravaganza or for your post-holiday collapse in front of the fireplace, where only a cozy read will do. Yay!!!

Here’s how you can get a signed copy of TOUCHING THE  SURFACE and save the life of an overworked inner holiday elf at the same time…

Between now and THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 14th you can order a signed copy of TOUCHING THE SURFACE right HERE!!!!!!

I’ll be at Oblong Books & Music by mid-day on 12/14 to personalize any copies that you would like and then they’ll be shipped to you in time for the holidays!!!!!  In addition to getting a signed copy of my book, you’ll have helped to support a wonderful indie bookstore and you’ll be revered by all inner holiday elves EVERYWHERE. Completely cool. Additional glitter will be consumed in your honor. *smooches*

Of course, George and I would also love it if you’d help to spread the word. Thank you so much.

Now that we’ve encouraged books sales, the support of indie bookstores and spread kindness to inner holiday elves everywhere, we can move on to the fun portion of this blog. Love glitter? Hate glitter? Where is the most unique spot you’ve managed to find glitter residue? Any tricks for removing hard-to-remove glitter?

Tags: Books, Holiday gift giving, Inner Holiday Elf, Kim Sabatini, Kimberly Sabatini, Oblong Books, Signed Books, Touching the Surface

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