Why not use the summer to catch up on some Award-Winning Nonfiction? The American Library Association  (ALA) has two awards for their picks for best informational and nonfiction texts for children and teens: the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal and the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction. Though the awards were announced in chilly February, these titles are still hot tickets!

The books range from personal memoirs to the fight for civil rights to the compelling tale of the last imperial family of Russia. And sharks! Award-winning sharks!

The 2015 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal Winner and Honors

• The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus, written by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet (Winner)
   

• Brown Girl Dreaming, written by Jacqueline Woodson

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• The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion & the Fall of Imperial Russia, written by Candace Fleming
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• Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker, written by Patricia Hruby Powell, illustrated by Christian Robinson
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• Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of California’s Farallon Islands, written and illustrated by Katherine Roy
   
• Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation, written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh
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The YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction

• Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek written by Maya Van Wagenen (Winner)
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• Laughing at My Nightmare written by Shane Burcaw
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• The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion & the Fall of Imperial Russia written by Candace Fleming
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• Ida M. Tarbell: The Woman Who Challenged Big Business—and Won! written by Emily Arnold McCully
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• The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights written by Steve Sheinkin
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Looking for more nonfiction and informational books? Check out last year's winners in Reality Rules! 2014 Nonfiction Award Winners - Youth Media Awards. 

Looking for more summer reading? Our Kid's Book List and Teen Book List have plenty of Nonfiction titles to choose from!

Have a favorite nonfiction title? Looking forward to reading one of the titles above? Share your comments below!