NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People

About this book list

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People is an annual project of the National Council for the Social Studies and the Children's Book Council. It has run since 1972 and presents annotated books published in the previous calendar year for use in K through 12 social studies classrooms. The NCSS-appointed review committee consists of social studies educators. Its criteria include human relations, representation of diverse groups, sensitivity to cultural experiences, originality, readability, literary quality, format, and illustrations when they add to the text. The result is a teaching resource rather than a numerical ranking. An edition may cover history, civics, geography, economics, culture, and other social studies subjects. Parents can use those sections to follow a question raised at school or introduce a subject through a story, biography, or illustrated nonfiction book. The source annotation explains why a title fits the list. Reading measures can add context, but subject matter and the child's background knowledge matter too.