Children love to read nonfiction outside of mandatory school work. But, just like fiction, there are certain criteria of which a nonfiction book must align in order to be a meaningful work of literature. I use five main areas of inspection: writer authenticity (do they have a personal interest in the field?); accurate information; applicability to audience; style and organization; and illustrations. So where does a librarian start looking for new children's nonfiction? Try checking out these awards or using a database such as the Children's Literature Comprehensive Database.