Five Faves: Informational Books About Eclipses

One of my newer bucket list goals is to see a total solar eclipse. When I realized that this year's eclipse would be the week after my kids' spring break, I went into chaotic research mode to see if we could find a way to get to a part of the country where we could see the eclipse in totality. Alas, we can't make it work this time, and I'm still not over it. Maybe 2026 in Iceland--how cool would that be?! Whether you can experience the eclipse in person or just wish you could, you can still have the joy of learning more about eclipses with the following informational reads!

Casting Shadows: Solar and Lunar Eclipses With the Planetary Society
By Bruce Betts
Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Pub Group, 2024, Informational. 32 pages.

Learn about the different types of eclipses, where and how you can safely see them, why they happen, and cool things that can happen during the different types of eclipses. Beautiful, full-color photographs go along with the wealth of information.

Eclipse
By Andy Rash
New York: Scholastic Press, 2023. Informational.

A father and son share in the excitement and beauty of a solar eclipse. Told in countdown style, a little boys learns about an eclipse to happen in a month's time and then follows him and his father in different moments leading up to the eclipse, how time seems to stand still during the eclipse, and ends describing the moments after and the memories the pair will cherish in the far distant future.

Eclipse Chaser: Science in the Moon's Shadow
By Ilima Loomis
Boston; New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019. Informational. 79 pages.

Readers follow a solar scientist and her team as they attempt, with varying degrees of success, to study the sun's coronal atmosphere during solar eclipses. Descriptions of what the scientists found in the past and what they were looking for in the future, and why, are explained clearly.

Exploring Eclipses
By Jill Sherman
North Mankato, MN: Capstone Press, 2018. Informational. 32 pages.

Exploring Eclipses explains how people in the past viewed and tried to make sense of eclipses, the different types and parts of eclipses, and how eclipses are studied today.

A Few Beautiful Minutes: Experiencing a Solar Eclipse
Written by Kate Allen Fox
Illustrated by Khoa Le
New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2023. Informational.

An ode to the awe-inspiring nature of a solar eclipse and how it reminds humanity of their tininess in the universe and brings people together over a few beautiful shared moments.

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Painting for Peace in Ferguson

Painting for Peace in Ferguson By Carol Swartout Klein Treehouse Publishing Group, 2015. Nonfiction. When the city of Ferguson was overrun with so much hate and despair that homes and businesses had to be boarded up to protect property, citizens of the community decided to bring a message of hope by painting the boarded windows. Klein’s rhyming text supports the photographs of the hundreds of artists and volunteers and their artwork as they bring the messages of peace, hope, love, and that by being united they can make a difference. A great book to show children how a community rallied to make a positive change and that even a small gesture can make a huge difference. A great discussion opener on how we should treat each other.

Dragon Run

Dragon Run by Patrick Matthews Scholastic, 2013. 336 pgs. Fantasy Al Pilgrommor is excited for Testing Day, when he will receive his rank, a tattooed number on the back of his neck, and a path forward to his future occupation and life. He feels confident because his parents were fours on a scale of seven, but he is worried for his friend Wisp who doesn't have much of a chance of scoring above a two at best. But when Al is scored a zero, he not only has no prospects, he may lose his life as the dreaded Cullers are unleashed to kill him and his family to purify the land's bloodlines. Al's world is ruled by dragons--the lords and supposed creators of humankind--so he thinks that even if he survives, he will have to make his living as a beggar or thief. But when Al sticks up for his Earther friend in front of Magister Ludi, he is drawn into the struggle of a secret organization hoping to destroy the Cullers, and perhaps the dragons them...

Books to Read... Inspired by Our Summer Reading Theme

I am very excited about the summer reading theme here at the library: Color Our World. From the first moment I heard what the theme was going to be, it has been on my mind, and I noticed I was seeing bright and vibrant colors in so many picture books. Here are a few colorful books that inspired me! I hope you enjoy reading all summer long. How Do You Eat Color? Written by Mabi David Illustrated by Yas Doctor Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2025. Picture Book. If you want a book full of vibrant colors, this one will definitely meet your expectations. Bold and eye-catching, the illustrations are a reminder that color is all around us, including in delicious foods that we eat. Even the endpapers are a deep and stunning shade that made me think of summer! I appreciated the tips the author included for why eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables is important for all of us. Inventions to Count On Written by Dana Marie Miroballi Illustrated by Sawyer Cloud New Y...

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