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If your children loves to learn about the real world and real historical figures, these non-fiction books would be perfect for your kids, ages 8-12! 
The Leadership Journey

How Four Kids Became President

From #1 New York Times bestselling author, Pulitzer Prize winner, and leading historian Doris Kearns Goodwin comes a definitive middle grade guide to Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson and how they became leaders.

Speaking of America

United States Presidents and the Words That Changed History

Illustrated by Vivian Shih

From New York Times bestselling author Jared Cohen comes an encouraging and engaging debut children’s book that brings United States history to life through forty-five compelling presidential quotes, demonstrating the power of words and inspiring hope for the future of America.

Hope's Path to Glory

The Story of a Family's Journey on the Overland Trail

From the author of Eliza’s Freedom Road and Calico Girl comes a historical middle grade adventure about an enslaved girl’s journey on the Overland Trail to California during the Gold Rush, and how she took the chance to fight for freedom.

We Are Your Children Too

Black Students, White Supremacists, and the Battle for America's Schools in Prince Edward County, Virginia

This revelatory and gripping nonfiction middle grade book explores a deeply troubling chapter in American history that is still playing out today: the strange case of Prince Edward County, Virginia, the only place in the United States to ever formally deny its citizens a public education, and the students who pushed back.

smART

Use Your Eyes to Boost Your Brain (Adapted from the New York Times bestseller Visual Intelligence)

I Spy and Where’s Waldo? get a revolutionary twist in this self-directed, interactive book that teaches young readers how to fully engage their brains to think critically and creatively.

Our Dogs, Ourselves -- Young Readers Edition

How We Live with Dogs

This middle grade adaptation of Our Dogs, Ourselves is an eye-opening, entertaining, and beautifully illustrated look about humans’ complicated and sometimes contradictory relationship with man’s best friend by New York Times bestselling author of Inside of a Dog—Young Readers Edition.

Never Caught, the Story of Ona Judge

George and Martha Washington's Courageous Slave Who Dared to Run Away; Young Readers Edition

A National Book Award Finalist for Nonfiction, Never Caught is the eye-opening narrative of Ona Judge, George and Martha Washington’s runaway slave, who risked everything for a better life—now available as a young reader’s edition!

Herstory

50 Women and Girls Who Shook Up the World

Illustrated by Sarah Walsh

Move aside history—it’s time for herstory.

Celebrate fifty inspiring and powerful women who changed the world and left their mark in this lavishly illustrated biography compilation that’s perfect for fans of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls and She Persisted.

Life in Motion

An Unlikely Ballerina Young Readers Edition

A bestselling and prize-winning memoir by African-American ballerina Misty Copeland, Life in Motion is the vividly told story of her journey to the world-class American Ballet Theatre—and delves into the harrowing family conflicts that nearly drove her away from ballet as a thirteen-year-old prodigy.

Born Just Right

From tween advocate for limb difference and founder of Project Unicorn Jordan Reeves and her mom, Jen, comes an inspiring memoir about how every kid is perfect just the way they are.

On the Origin of Species

Young Readers Edition

Adapted by Rebecca Stefoff / From an idea by Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin’s groundbreaking On the Origin of Species is now available in an accessible, illustrated edition for young readers that includes an introduction, glossary, modern insight and information, and more!

Our Story Begins

Your Favorite Authors and Illustrators Share Fun, Inspiring, and Occasionally Ridiculous Things They Wrote and Drew as Kids

From award-winning author Elissa Brent Weissman comes a collection of quirky, smart, and vulnerable childhood works by some of today’s foremost children’s authors and illustrators—revealing young talent, the storytellers they would one day become, and the creativity they inspire today.

The Boy on the Wooden Box

How the Impossible Became Possible . . . on Schindler's List

“Much like The Boy In the Striped Pajamas or The Book Thief,” this remarkable memoir from Leon Leyson, one of the youngest children to survive the Holocaust on Oskar Schindler’s list, “brings to readers a story of bravery and the fight for a chance to live” (VOYA).

Fly Girls

The Daring American Women Pilots Who Helped Win WWII

In the tradition of Hidden Figures, debut author Patricia Pearson offers a beautifully written account of the remarkable but often forgotten group of female fighter pilots who answered their country’s call in its time of need during World War II.

More Girls Who Rocked the World

Heroines from Ada Lovelace to Misty Copeland

Illustrated by David Hahn

From the inspiring author of Girls Who Rocked the World comes another comprehensive collection of true, inspiring profiles of successful young women throughout history who made their mark on the world before turning twenty.

Bonnie and Clyde

Get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what it takes to be considered two of the worst figures in history, with the third book in this nonfiction series that focuses on the most despicable historical figures.

Hillary Clinton

American Woman of the World

A biography of 2016 Presidential candidate, US Senator, US Secretary of State, and former first lady Hillary Clinton.

The Loch Ness Monster
Illustrated by Victor Rivas

Learn all about creatures and monsters throughout history and discover if they're real or not in this new nonfiction series!

An Invisible Thread

A Young Readers' Edition

From #1 New York Times bestselling authors Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski comes the young readers edition of an unbelievable memoir about an unlikely friendship that forever changed the lives of a busy sales executive and a hungry eleven-year-old boy.

A Place to Belong
Illustrated by Julia Kuo

A Japanese American family, reeling from their ill treatment in the Japanese imprisonment camps, gives up their American citizenship to move back to Hiroshima, unaware of the devastation wreaked by the atomic bomb in this piercing and all too relevant look at the aftermath of World War II by Newbery Medalist Cynthia Kadohata.

Moonshot

The Flight of Apollo 11

Illustrated by Brian Floca

An extraordinary delight for a reader of any age.”The New York Times Book Review

Brian Floca explores Apollo 11’s famed moon landing with this newly expanded edition of Moonshot!

Lizzie Borden

Get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what it takes to be considered one of the worst figures in history, with this fourth book in a nonfiction series that focuses on the most nefarious historical figures.

Your Amazing Skin from Outside In
Illustrated by Bonnie Timmons

A Bank Street Best Book of 2019

It’s itchy, it’s sweaty, it’s embarrassing...but most of all, it’s fascinating! Dr. Joanne Settel has all the answers to our most burning questions in this wacky and informative book of poems about our skin.

Greek Mythology
Illustrated by Mike Lowery

Unleash your inner genius and become a master of mythology with this interactive trivia book from Jeopardy! champ and New York Times bestselling author Ken Jennings.

Boys Who Rocked the World

Heroes from King Tut to Bruce Lee

Illustrated by David Hahn

Meet young men with grand goals in these profiles of forty-six movers and shakers who made their mark before they turned twenty.