It’s time for round two of Nonfiction November, and this week’s prompt is brought to us by Rennie over at What’s Nonfiction. This year she has a fun addition to a classic topic, so prepare to grow your to-be-read pile, and let’s dive into some nonfiction.
Book Pairing (November 7-11): This week, pair up a nonfiction book with a fiction title (or another nonfiction!). It can be a “If you loved this book, read this!” or just two titles that you think would go well together. Maybe it’s a historical novel and you’d like to get the real history by reading a nonfiction version of the story. Or pair a book with a podcast, film or documentary, TV show, etc. on the same topic or stories that pair together.
In the past, I’ve struggled with this topic. I love the idea of book pairings. So often when I finish a great book, I wish I could find something that expands on what I’ve just read—either a sequel, companion, or tangentially connected piece that expands on what I’ve just read. But that’s often hard to find! So I love the potential addition of podcasts, TV shows, etc. this year.
However, for once, I actually had a bookish idea before November!
For as much as I love nonfiction, I also love children’s books. So children’s nonfiction? Perfect. I’m amazed by picture books authors and illustrators who are able to explore difficult concepts in the traditional thirty-two page model with minimal words and a lot of art. And honestly, even as an adult, they can serve as great primers on a wide array of topics—just ask a certain Jeopardy! champion.
So for this week, I’m showcasing some nonfiction picture book biographies and pairing them with their subjects’ works. How do you contain a life in a few short pages? It’s not easy, but these artists manage it beautifully.
- Amphigorey by Edward Gorey | Goodreads
- Nonsense: The Curious Story of Edward Gorey by Lori Mortensen and Chloe Bristol | Goodreads
- Babies by Gyo Fujikawa | Goodreads
- It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way by Kyo Maclear and Julie Morstad | Goodreads
- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley | Goodreads
- She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein by Lynn Fulton and Felicita Sala | Goodreads
- Maud Martha by Gwendolyn Brooks | Goodreads
- Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Slade and Cozbi A. Cabrera | Goodreads
- Selected Poems by William Carlos Williams | Goodreads
- 16 Words: William Carlos Williams & “The Red Wheelbarrow” by Lisa Rogers and Chuck Groenink | Goodreads
What nonfiction pairings are you making this week?
If you’re interested in participating in Nonfiction November, be sure to head over to What’s Nonfiction and link-up to this week’s prompt. And if you’re on Instagram, Jaymi @theocbookgirl is planning a ton of fun stuff starting November 1. She’s also the one who made all of the amazing Nonfiction November graphics, which you can find and share from here.
As always, happy reading!
Plucked from the Stacks 
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