For the past few weeks, Michele Knott and I have been talking about a Mock Sibert Challenge that teachers and librarians can do with children. Last week, we each posted a list of books we were considering for the Sibert Award. Click here for Michele's list and here for Alyson's list. Author, Melissa Stewart, also posted information about a Sibert Smackdown on her blog.

This week, Michele and I are featuring a few of our nonfiction books that would be called "longform" nonfiction. For those of you working with older students and would like something that would appeal to the upper range of the Sibert Award, we are suggesting a few additional titles to consider.

Though I do not read as many longform nonfiction, there were a number of books that I read that I really enjoyed. I will admit that several of the books may have been selected because of the mood I have been in over the past several weeks since the election.

Hillary Rodham Clinton: Do All the Good You Can by Cynthia Levinson (Balzer & Bray, January 2016) - Cynthia Levinson created a very accessible biography of Hillary Rodham Clinton, the first woman to receive the nomination for president by a major party. I truly appreciated seeing how Cinton's youth influenced her future work and advocacy for children, women, and those without a voice. Despite the outcome of the 2016 election, I know that HRC will continue to find ways to fight for the rights of children and women and she will continue to inspire me.

The Plot to Kill Hitler: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Unlikely Hero by Patricia McCormick (Balzer & Bray, September 2016) - Though I have read a number of books on World War II and also about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, I realized that I knew very little about Bonhoeffer's efforts to stop Hitler during WWII. I read this one with my ears and though I enjoyed the audiobook, I still had to go find the actual print book in order to see what was included that I could not "see" with my ears. This book will make you think about how far might you go to stop an evil leader.

Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story by Caren Stelson (Carolrhoda Books, October 2016) - When I was at ALA Annual Conference in June, I was immediately drawn to this book. Though I have read many books about World War II, I have read less about the atomic bomb the United States dropped on Nagasaki. Sachiko's story is really the story of the consequences of our decisions on the lives of real people. A very powerful read and a book not just for middle readers but adults as well.

Some Writer!: The Story of E.B. White by Melissa Sweet (HMH Books for Young Readers, October 2016) - This is simply Melissa Sweet at her finest. I wish I could give a copy of this to every elementary teacher that I work with. And out of all of my choices last week and this week, I see this as walking away with the Sibert gold. We will have to wait till January to see if I am right or not.

This Land is Our Land: A History of American Immigration by Linda Barrett Osborne (Abrams Books for Young Readers, April 2016) - Though this book may be geared for middle readers, I know a lot of adults who need a reminder of the history of immigration in our country. A very timely read in light of the issues facing us in regards to immigration and immigrants.

Look for all of these titles at your local indie bookstore or community library. And don't forget to check out Michele's picks this week.