Book Reviews

2 New Children’s Nonfiction Books about Scientists

| Tasha

Foote Was First!: How One Curious Woman Connected Carbon Dioxide and Climate Change by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Amy June Bates

  • Publisher: Quill Tree Books
  • Publication Date: January 13, 2026
  • Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley
  • ISBN: 9780062957061

Though an Englishman is credited with discovering that carbon dioxide traps heat, it was actually an American woman, Eunice Newton Foote, who did it first in 1856. Eunice grew up on her family farm and asked lots of questions. At age 17, she was sent to a girls school where she was taught science and able to use a laboratory. She grew up, married and had children and stayed curious. Never a professional scientist, she did science at home, learning about various gasses and their capabilities. When she wasn’t allowed to present her findings since she was a woman, a friend presented them on her behalf. She was the first to tie carbon dioxide to global warming, a foundational learning for our times. 

Offering just the right amount of information for young readers, this nonfiction picture book focuses on Foote’s curious mind and scientific studies. The illustrations are particularly striking with Foote in her wide hoopskirts engaged in long walks, scientific experiments and discoveries. They demonstrate how rarely we see women of this period engaged in scientific work. 

Inspiring and engaging. Appropriate for ages 7-10.

How to Have a Thought: A Walk with Charles Darwin by Nicholas Day, illustrated by Hadley Hooper

  • Publisher: Neal Porter Books
  • Publication Date: January 13, 2026
  • Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley
  • ISBN: 9780823458509

Take a walk like Charles Darwin in this nonfiction picture book that reveals both Darwin’s thinking process and also his scientific discoveries. First find a rock or two, then a walking stick and then find a loop to walk. It could be a loop around the block or a loop around the world, like the one Darwin made on his ship. That’s when he discovered the fossil of a giant sloth, the variety of beaks on finches that lived on the Galapagos Islands, and the bones and skin of a rhea, a bird he’s been seeking but had been served for a meal. Then came the thinking. The why of it all. The walking in loops. The stacking of rocks to count the loops. What will you think of when you take your own walk?

The combination of encouragement to get outside, walk and think with the historical and biographical information on Charles Darwin creates an unexpected treat of a book. The book ends with the author explaining that walks that are celebrated tend to be extraordinary, full of vistas and beauty. That is not the sort of walk we are talking about. These are thinking walks, going the same way every time. And just look at the result. The illustrations play with the dichotomy of the book, sharing historical elements with paintings and offering a light-hearted feel. 

A real thinker of a book. Appropriate for ages 5-9.

Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster
  • Publication Date: January 6, 2026
  • Reviewed from copy provided by publisher
  • ISBN: 9781665988698

When Beth is found dead near the March family home in Concord, Massachusetts, her family is devastated. Their father is gone, having left the country months earlier due to the negative reaction to his book about his daughters. In that same book, Beth dies at the end. As the sisters grieve and start to work out the mystery of her death, there are many suspects and suspicious situations that led up to the night of her death. Each of the sisters have times when they think that their own actions caused Beth’s death, but the truth is far more sinister.

This modern mystery takes the Little Women cast and manages with great skill to maintain their unique characters. Readers who love the original book will enjoy seeing Jo navigate social media fame, Amy struggle to find attention for her artistic talent, and Meg make choices about how to keep up with her more wealthy friends at Harvard. Bernet never loses sight of the original book while still creating something new and fresh, even allowing Beth’s voice to be heard through flashbacks. Readers who don’t know the original characters will find a great mystery here filled with sisters you never want to leave.

A grand mystery done with great skill and a real fondness for the original.

The Last Ember by Lily Berlin Dodd – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

The Last Ember by Lily Berlin Dodd

  • Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
  • Publication Date: November 18, 2025
  • Reviewed from library copy
  • ISBN: 9780374393120

This first book in a new series starts with a fiery, war-torn tale of a city filled with wealth and poverty. Eva is a 12-year-old chemist attending a prestigious scientific school for girls. When her father gifts her the choice of anything in the jewelry store for her birthday, she selects a silvery ball that she believes is a rare element, rubibium. Meanwhile, Dusty has grown up as a foundling at St. Ichabod’s where he is now the oldest boy and headed into the military when he turns 14 from which he knows he won’t return. Dusty has become part of the Thieves Union at night and is now asked to steal that silvery ball from Eva in her dorm room. Soon Dusty and Eva find themselves of interest to the Director of Kingdom Secrets, who will stop at nothing to get his hands on what Eva has found. Could it actually be an egg from an extinct dragon-like species of lore? Fire and time will tell.

Dodd’s writing is incredibly engaging, allowing readers to understand the society and world she has built fully. Her interludes of information serve more as a friend offering insight rather than information loading. In Eva and Dusty she has created two great hero figures who are complex and interesting to spend time with. Even her secondary characters, including Eva’s roommate and Dusty’s best friend, are fully drawn and fascinating. Add in a potential dragon and you have a rollicking book filled with scientist girls, thieving boys and a dangerous government.

A great series opener, this middle-school fantasy novel is an exuberant experience. Appropriate for ages 8-12.

The Dream Builder’s Blueprint by Alice Faye Duncan – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

The Dream Builder’s Blueprint: Dr. King’s Message to Young People by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrated by E. B. Lewis 

  • Publisher: Calkins Creek
  • Publication Date: January 6, 2026
  • Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley
  • ISBN: 9781662680311

Based on Dr. King’s rare presentation to a group of middle schoolers in South Philadelphia, this book uses erasure poetry to take his speech and turn it into verse. Using short but powerful sentences, the poem focuses on what your life’s blueprint should be. It’s about feeling your worth, knowing you are Black and beautiful. It’s about achieving things with your life and doing your jobs well. It’s about being the best you can be. And the poem shows the incredible people who came before and created the light to follow. Don’t stop in the hard parts and the darkness, keep going!

Duncan removed a large percentage of Dr. King’s original speech to create her poem. Yet the power of his words carries on the page, a clarion call for change and action. Though she erased much, somehow his voice still booms on the page, thanks to her skill with words. The illustrations are wonderfully abstract, supporting the poem and allowing the words to soar. 

A tribute to Dr. King and his legacy. Appropriate for ages 8-12.

More Than a Million by Grace Farris – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

More Than a Million by Grace Farris

  • Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books
  • Publication Date: January 6, 2026
  • Reviewed from ARC provided by publisher
  • ISBN: 9781547617913

This picture book is sure to capture every family’s good and bad moments and how much we continue to love one another through it all. From very early mornings with bad dreams to spilled food to extra hugs when leaving and notes in lunch boxes. From beloved hobbies and collections to broken bones and picky eaters, this merry and funny picture book captures all the small moments that test us while displaying the beauty of family love. 

A debut picture book from a well-known Instagram account, this picture book has simple illustrations with a modern vibe. In fact, the entire picture book feels current thanks to its great examples of loving moments and its brisk pacing that matches that of a busy family. 

Funny and relatable. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen 

Publisher: Random House 

Publication Date: October 7, 2025

Reviewed from library copy

ISBN: 9780593125472

Angelica is burned out after trying to do too much. So when she gets an internship at the Log House Theater in town, she decides to focus all her attention on that. Oh, and perhaps also on texting with an account that seems to be related to the theater’s famous Per the Bear. As Angelica gets closer to Per, she is losing connections with her mother and her best friend. Meanwhile, Gable has returned to town and is living with his grandmother after his grandfather died. All of them are involved in the theater too. Gable had been best friends with Angelica before moving away, and now he happens to be the person behind Per the Bear in the costume and on the account. 

What could have been just a frothy fun romance based on the fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon becomes something much deeper in the hands of Nguyen. He deftly incorporates queerness into the tale as well as offering a story of loss, grief and community that resonates throughout the book. Beautifully designed and filled with lovely moments of connection and humor, this is a graphic novel worth sharing with your own Per.

Fun, deep and delightful. Appropriate for ages 12+.

The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur: A Graphic Novel Based on a True Story by Allan Wolf – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur: A Graphic Novel Based on a True Story by Allan Wolf, illustrated by Jose Pimienta

Publisher: Candlewick

Publication Date: Oct 7, 2025

Reviewed from library copy

ISBN: 9781536217438

This graphic work of nonfiction for middle schoolers is superb. It tells the story of Lake Peigneur in Louisiana from the lake’s point of view. The lake tells of the misfortune that happened there when an oil rig accidentally punctured the local salt mine’s tunnels. The result was incredibly dangerous for everyone in the area since the water from the lake drained into the salt mine, forming a water vortex that could swallow barges. Boats on the surface had to fight to get to shore and then contend with the lowering water levels. The shore eroded and trees were sucked down until suddenly a geyser erupted as air escaped the mine shafts. As the disaster unfolded, people stayed calm and followed their training, resulting in no one losing their life. 

A remarkable tale that creates a book that is fast moving and incredibly gripping. Few people know of the disaster outside of Louisiana since no one lost their life. It’s a look at nature’s response to a man-made issue and the power of water itself. Brilliantly told, the book sticks with the various people in danger, from the miners to the tug boat to the gardeners on shore. The use of the lake as the narrator is clever since there were so many human perspectives. 

A thrilling look at nature and disaster. Appropriate for ages 8-12.

A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez by María Dolores Águila – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez by María Dolores Águila

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Publication Date: September 16, 2025

Reviewed from library copy

ISBN: 9781250342614

Based on a true story, this verse novel set in the 1930s tells the story of a community that refuses to be silent in the face of racism. In San Diego, Roberto is the youngest of the children in his family. When the local school board decides that the Mexican-American children must attend a different school than the white children, they build a school in a barn for them. But the majority of the families refuse to send their children there. The families form a group and stand up for themselves in court, raising money by selling goods and food items. Roberto, at age 12, is selected to be the face of the children impacted by the decision. Despite losing friends to deportation and being expelled himself, he must find the courage to give voice to his community.

Incredibly timely and impactful, this book uses poetry as a vehicle for readers to understand Roberto and his point of view. From the beauty of his community to the hatred spewed at them to the threats they endured, his emotions are bared on the page. Written with immense restraint and simplicity, Águila shares the full story of the history while humanizing it with Roberto’s voice.

Powerful and heart-wrenching. Appropriate for ages 8-12.

On Starlit Shores by Bex Glendining – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

On Starlit Shores by Bex Glendining 

Publisher: Abrams Fanfare

Publication Date: September 30, 2025

Reviewed from library copy

ISBN: 9781419765049

Alex hasn’t been back to Indigo Harbour where her grandmother lived in years. Now her grandmother has died and Alex offers to help pack up her house. Her best friend Grim comes with her and the two explore Indigo Harbour, meeting the people who were close to Alex’s grandmother. When Alex discovers that her grandmother had a beloved girlfriend that she never knew about, she sets out to meet her. But Indigo Harbour has a certain magic about it. It’s a magic that makes people who leave forget it, that protects those who live there and that offers sanctuary to resident witches. Alex must remember her own memories and build new ones to discover who her grandmother was. 

This YA graphic novel uses magical realism to grapple with loss. It takes a magical place, offering solace to those who may not have visited relatives as much as they would have liked in retrospect and giving space for grief. The beautiful town is a mix of warm acceptance for the queer characters as well as being a space for magical beings. The use of metaphor throughout is thoughtfully done, supporting the Alex through her journey. 

A beautiful graphic novel about loss and love. Appropriate for ages 13+.