Whether you’re a school librarian looking to supplement your curriculum or a public librarian fulfilling student or parent requests for materials that address certain issues, there is something for everyone in this season’s offerings. Current events, personal health, web safety, digital literacy, and community service are just a few of the subjects highlighted in these sets, many of which also align with Common Core standards and actively promote critical thinking and independent learning. With the world constantly changing, nonfiction can help anchor students, provide them with critical information, lead them through difficult times, and serve as guides for students and educators alike.

Preschool to Grade 4

Gr 1-4 –Health and nutrition are hot topics today, and for good reason. Each volume discusses specific components of a healthy lifestyle and shows kids that it is possible to have fun while eating a well-balanced diet and incorporating exercise into their lives. The layout is easy to follow, with one page of text and one photograph per spread. Simple phrases and short sentences break down basic nutrition and exercise facts and introduce concepts such as food groups, serving sizes, nutrients, and more. Colorful, eye-catching photos of carefully arranged dishes make eating fruits, vegetables, and other nutrition-packed foods seem appealing while at the same time offering ideas for potentially new types of meals. At the end of each book, readers will find a comprehensible recipe for a healthful snack to help kids (with adult assistance) take ownership over their eating habits. VERDICT Solid additions.

K-Gr 3 –Diversity is a crucial issue, and this series effectively highlights the differences among various ethnic groups, religions, and types of households and shows readers that though different beliefs and customs exist, all are equally worthy of respect. The books are told from the first-person perspectives of young protagonists who interact with people in their communities, which will help kids relate directly to the subject matter. The cheerful, appealing illustrations complement the text, which is clear and straightforward yet also nuanced and culturally sensitive. Covering topics such as meals, languages, houses of worship, and a diverse and inclusive mix of families, the series emphasizes that it’s best not to ignore differences but to learn more about them. VERDICT All students can benefit from this series.

K-Gr 2 –In a straightforward manner, this series presents information about common childhood health situations. Addressing the readers directly (“Ouch! You fell off your bike”), the author walks children through the process of treatment and healing. She also discusses the reasons why these situations occur and how they affect overall health, presenting some very basic biology, complete with labeled diagrams of different parts of the body. The books clearly and effectively demystify various health issues and provide solid material, presented through an effective layout. Captioned photos of actual kids are used (warning: some images, such as those of bloody cuts, needles, and lost teeth, might be a bit graphic for the very squeamish), as are realistic portrayals of what to expect from these ailments and their treatment. The concept of prevention is also introduced, with useful tips about safety and hygiene. VERDICT Simple yet valuable options for most collections.

K-Gr 3 –The exclamation marks in the titles denote the enthusiastic tone that marks this series. Each volume follows a child encountering different health and hygiene-related situations, such as flossing, bathing, and eating healthy. Colorful, captioned photos are juxtaposed with pages of well-flowing, accessible text. “Ask Questions!” boxes on the bottom of some pages encourage readers to explore the topics on their own. As well as promoting personal responsibility, the set stresses the importance of a parents’ role in the health and well-being of their child (and also emphasizes that being healthy often means doing unpleasant but necessary things, like getting a shot). VERDICT A well-rounded series for general use that offers important information in an engaging, nondidactic way.

K-Gr 2 –Aimed the very youngest of readers, this series emphasizes the importance of healthy life habits and shows examples of a diverse group of kids performing tasks that relate to each habit. The layout and narration are for the most part extremely basic, listing activities and modeling behavior (though Eat Your Vegetables adds factual information about the food groups and suggests using MyPlate.gov as a resource for nutritional information). While the sparse text and short sentences are good for beginning readers, there’s a lot of wasted space here, with only one or two sentences per spread (and one large color photo spread out over the two pages). A “Health Quiz” at the end of each book tests the reader’s comprehension and memory (adhering to Common Core in the process). VERDICT Though the concept is solid, this set is strictly additional.

Grades 5 & Up

Gr 7 Up –Tackling sensitive and timely topics with a blend of the scientific and the anecdotal, this well-designed, accessible series emphasizes the idea that knowledge is power by giving young adults tools for assessing the risks of certain activities, avoiding peer pressure, and keeping open communication. Charts, data, and “real” teen experiences are used to present clear information on issues such as underage drinking, social media, and gender identity. There are some problems here, however. Sexual Orientation strives for inclusiveness and tolerance and offers beneficial resources for teens but frequently uses the term transgendered rather than the more commonly preferred transgender. In addition, alarmist phrasing is employed in parts, which may underscore the need for caution but veers on the melodramatic (“However, dangers lurk behind every text, every keystroke, and every tweet”). The eye-catching layout and comprehensible narrative are positives, but on certain points, these titles make some missteps. VERDICT Additional purchases.

Gr 7 Up –This series outlines in detail the various ways in which students can participate in service learning while simultaneously stressing the value of civic responsibility, caring for others, and being part of a community. The narrative is straightforward, though some pages are rather text heavy. Text boxes are used to supplement (but don’t always mesh well with) the surrounding narrative. The quality of writing varies from volume to volume, and readers will note some strange or awkward wording. VERDICT Because these books cover important topics, they may be useful for classes in which service learning is a specific component but should be considered additional.

Gr 7 Up –This well-organized, informative textbooklike set presents information about five common types of addiction and asks readers to examine sources, analyze data, and come to conclusions about the seriousness of the addictions discussed and how they impact peoples’ lives and relationships. Well-chosen quotes from primary sources are presented, as well as cited research, graphs, tables, and data charts. This particular series will be valuable to students doing research, though the tone is on the dry side. VERDICT Purchase as needed.

Gr 7 Up –This series sets out to educate students about the ups and downs of using the web. The narratives are text-heavy but flow well, relying on boxes, color photos, and other asides. Some jarringly informal phrasing is employed, perhaps in an attempt to make these titles relatable to teens (“The other cool thing about social networks is…”), but it isn’t too distracting. Some content may be redundant to those who are already tech-savvy. Overall, however, these books would be helpful for teens researching related projects, as they tackle many different facets of the Internet and offer valuable tips. VERDICT A suitable purchase to fill collections gaps.

Gr 4-6 –In an attempt to get students to think critically and draw well-formed conclusions, this set takes a balanced look at complicated current events, breaking each issue down into 12 manageable facts or aspects. Each book employs a clear narrative style, as well as a clean, dynamic design, with text boxes containing supplemental information and color captioned photos with eye-catching text bubbles. The subjects, which include everything from terrorism to fracking to the stock market, are discussed from modern-day and historical perspectives, providing different contexts to consider. “Think About It” boxes interspersed throughout ask questions, encouraging readers to provide textual evidence for their answers, which aligns with Common Core standards. VERDICT The engaging format will enlighten readers and keep them turning pages. Solid general purchase options.

Gr 8 Up –As the world becomes increasingly more tech-based, students and consumers must learn how to operate efficiently and effectively within that framework. In order to help readers become well informed, this series discusses the benefits and drawbacks of several technological advances that are permeating education and industry today, as well as ones that teens may or may not already be using in their daily lives. The books are well structured and clearly written, but the text can be extremely detailed and dense. A background in technology isn’t an absolute requirement, but these books are not for total Luddites: teens need to have some awareness of context and terms. (A glossary does help with this.) VERDICT Considering the rapid evolution of tech, educators may wonder how relevant this set will be in a few years, but readers will most likely take an interest in certain topics and can certainly benefit from learning more.

Gr 6 Up –This series discusses topical and complicated issues that teens will find relevant. However, it’s the intriguing “flipbook” aspect of this series that sets it apart, allowing readers to experience both sides of an argument. Half of each volume explores one side of an issue, while the other explores its counterpart. There’s tons of text here, but it’s clear and engaging, featuring charts, real-life examples, color photos, and text boxes that supplement the narrative. Other noteworthy features are “What Do You Think?” sections, which ask readers to think critically and form arguments using textual evidence; “Pros and Cons” sections, which present a quick snapshot of the two sides of arguments; and a section at the end, which assists readers (and educators) in applying Common Core strategies to the text. VERDICT A pertinent series for personal or academic use.

Gr 4-8 –This series strives to act as a resource for advice about common issues and problems faced during those difficult preteen years. The books, which employ an eye-catching and engaging layout, are not presented in a straight narrative. Rather, four diverse female tween characters provide responses to queries in a Q&A format. A wide variety of topics are covered: everything from fighting with siblings to navigating the cafeteria. Subjects are loosely grouped into chapters, so the books are more for browsing than searching (although a subject index is included if readers want to get more specific). Cartoon drawings and photographs of real girls supplement the text. “Tip Clips” sprinkled throughout offer additional tidbits of advice from the different protagonists. The suggestions to coping with these tricky situations are solid, never veering on the saccharine or didactic. VERDICT Recommended for general collections.

There were a few standouts among these sets. With its unique format and wide range of viewpoints, Compass Point’s “Perspectives Flipbooks” will help students with researching projects for which they have to think critically and form arguments supporting their side of the issue.

For those looking for books that take on healthy habits and hygiene, there are multiple options. Creative Education’s “Healthy Plates” focuses on nutrition—an important subject to introduce at an early age— while Children’s Press’s “Rookie Read-About Health” takes a broader approach to basic health. Meanwhile, Cherry Lake’s “Your Healthy Body” will appeal to slightly older readers who need information about how to take care of themselves physically.

With its engaging format and relevant topics, Capstone’s “Girl Talk” is a unique way to address problems that tweens may be reluctant to discuss with adults. For tech knowledge, “Web Wisdom” (Cavendish Square) and “Digital Information Literacy” (Rosen Central) are valuable—and timely—additions.

“Today’s News” (Amicus/12-Story) effectively tackles more general current events issues and offers fodder for projects and papers. Finally, Lerner’s “Alike and Different” nicely underscores the importance of diversity and promotes tolerance and understanding in an even-handed, engaging way for younger readers.