Facts Meet Fun: PVB's Nonfiction Collection

Thanks for returning to Colleen’s Cozy Book Corner—I’m always happy to have you join me! Grab a chair and gather around! We are in the tumultuous month of March, slogging toward spring, feeling like better weather cannot get here fast enough. Well, readers, the good news is we are almost to April. But let me ask you this: Have you ever had a similar yearning while reading a book? Like you couldn’t get to the last page fast enough? Like reading the book was becoming a slogfest?

Alas, this has happened to me! In fact, in elementary school, I remember it happening a lot. The books that bored me the most were almost always nonfiction. Whenever I saw those titles in my basal reader or on the classroom library bookshelf, my eyes would glaze over. For this reason, we are casting a critical eye on the PVB nonfiction titles this month, because the last thing any educator wants to see is a child’s eyes glaze over during the literacy block!

There is no rule that says fiction books should have all the fun. The nonfiction titles that Pioneer Valley Books offers are so dazzling, it would be hard for a student to nap through any of them. Never has a set of informational texts been so heroic. These books teach students what is happening around us, what is out there, and what is possible, all while including rich vocabulary, varied language structures, eye-catching photographs, and opportunities for robust discussions. Their interactive features and interesting topics will appeal to kids of all ages and interests. There’s something for everyone!

For example, Vinnie Rotondaro gets our attention easily with his book, Meet the Bloodsuckers, which can be found in the Discover Our World bundle. Beware: the backyard mosquito is not the only bloodsucker out there. Many others may be lurking in your yard!

Ever wonder what it takes to create a fake body part? Debbie Vilardi can fill you in (maybe literally!); her book, Artificial Body Parts, is found in the Explore the World collection.

Finally, if you aren’t hungry when you start reading Making Maple Syrup, a tasty treat found in our Classic Nonfiction library, you will be by the time you finish, and you’ll be astonished by all the work it takes to make every sweet and delicious drop.

From pirates and guinea pigs to Albert Einstein and Simone Biles, PVB offers a wealth of informational texts. The old nonfiction slogfest can officially be declared on the brink of extinction. (Hey, we have a nonfiction book about that too!)

I hope you check out our vast list of nonfiction books here at PVB. You are invited to reach out to me, Colleen, with any questions you have about them or to hear more about my favorites and suggestions!