I love picture books. As a fourth-grade teacher, I read picture books to my class nearly every day. As a mom of two elementary-aged boys, I read picture books to them every day. And as an author of picture books, I read picture books every day!

So many picture books, in fact, that when I check out books at my library, they give me a cart to wheel them to my car!

Most of the picture books I read are STEM-themed nonfiction. In fact, most of the books I read in any age category are nonfiction. I’m in awe of our natural world, and I enjoy learning fascinating facts. Every week, I read books that make me gasp or laugh or pick up my phone to search and learn more.

That’s why I’m going to start a weekly blog post: Five Friday Favorites. (Don’t you just love a fun alliteration?!) Every Friday, I’m going to share my five favorite nonfiction picture books I read during the week, so you can enjoy them too!

Here are this week’s favorites:

I am made of Mountains by Alexandra S.. Hinrichs – This is one of my favorite books of the year! Beautifully crafted short rhyming poems honor the complexities of human nature while expository descriptions celebrate sixteen National Parks.

Nature is a Sculptor: Weathering and Erosion by Heather Ferranti Kinser – The descriptive poetry and breathtaking photo illustrations from across the US are captivating.

How Does Chocolate Taste on Everest? by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe – This longer, browsable book is a stunning exploration of Earth’s most extreme places though sight, sound, small, touch and taste.

The Next Scientist by Kate Messner – This longer picture book features the unexpected beginnings of the world’s greatest scientists paired with their important discoveries as adults.

And last but not least, while this is a fiction picture book, I had to include it in this week’s favorites because I’ve read it over and over with my kids – so many times that they have been reciting favorite lines from memory (Perhaps the giggles have to do with the funny “tiny animal” voice I use for the read aloud. Maybe someday I’ll share that in a video. Maybe.)

Read the Book Lemmings by Ame Dyckman – I honestly don’t know how to describe this one. Just read it!