Here are some of my favorites among the many nonfiction books I’ve researched and written for young readers, with a few of the reviews they’ve received:

ANIMAL BEHAVIOR REVEALED, 4-book series, Cavendish Square, 2014: HOW ANIMALS THINK,HOW ANIMALS COMMUNICATE, HOW ANIMALS FEEL, HOW ANIMALS PLAY

—–Lively, informative scientific writing explores animal behavior in this excellent series. Engaging sentences smoothly define terms within the texts and develop concepts with logic and clarity. By describing a behavior, then examining human efforts to analyze and understand it, the author brings readers right into the world of science and inquiry, making this set a great vehicle for Common Core concepts. Numerous examples reveal commonalities and differences between species, as well as multiple research approaches used by scientists. The quality of the photographs is average, but many images effectively depict described behaviors (e.g., a baboon opening a car door and the courtship dance of two blue-footed boobies). The indexes are limited; animals such as kangaroos and elephants are not included, but specific creatures such as Koko the Gorilla and broader categories like birds and primates are. Despite this minor flaw, the set is a strong example of high-quality nonfiction. . . . For older readers, Cavendish Square’s “Animal Behavior Revealed” meets high nonfiction standards with lucid prose and well-organized presentation of information.–School Library Journal

IS IT SCIENCE?, 6-book series, 2014, Cavendish Square: FLAT EARTH AND ROUND EARTH, ASTROLOGY AND ASTRONOMY, ALCHEMY AND CHEMISTRY, MAGIC AND MEDICINE, THE SUN AND THE EARTH, THE FOUR ELEMENTS AND THE PERIODIC TABLE

THE PATRIOT ACT, 2011, Marshall Cavendish Benchmark

HUMANS: AN EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY, 4-book series, Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2010: ORIGINS, FIRST HUMANS, ICE AGE NEANDERTHALS, MODERN HUMANS

—–The origin of the human species is always a topic of educational inquiry as well as fierce debate. Providing students with information that is credible, detailed, and appealing can be challenging: these books exceed the challenge. Stefoff provides an enlightening and entertaining history of the evolution of Homo sapiens, their ancestors, and cousins, from primitive origins to today. The clear, insightful texts are accented by intriguing sidebars and colorful photos, maps, and graphs. The author provides compelling details from the lives of innovators such as Darwin and Leaky, intelligently discusses the tools of the trade, and deftly explores many monumental discoveries, such as those of Australopithecus in 1924 (First Humans) and the Old Man of La Chapelle in 1908 (Ice Age Neanderthals), and of a “family tree” for mitochondrial DNA (Modern Humans). Readers will be drawn into these discussions and the mysteries that surround our evolutionary story.–School Library Journal

THE RIGHT TO DIE, 2009, Marshall Cavendish Benchmark

SECURITY VS. PRIVACY, 2008, Marshall Cavendish Benchmark

FURMAN v. GEORGIA: DEBATING THE DEATH PENALTY, 2008, Marshall Cavendish Benchmark

GREAT ZIMBABWE, 2006, Oxford University Press (with Martin Hall)

THE PALACE OF MINOS AT KNOSSOS, 2003, Oxford University Press (with Chris Scarre)

THE OREGON TRAIL IN AMERICAN HISTORY, 1997, Enslow

FINDING THE LOST CITIES, 1997, Oxford University Press, co-published by British Museum Press

—–Stefoff . . . blows the dust off 13 of archaeology’s greatest triumphs, and the careers of the scientists and adventurers who forged them during the field’s ‘heroic age’ . . . . To the often-told tales of Schliemann at Troy, Evans at Knossos, and Layard at Nineveh, Stefoff adds plenty of lesser-known discoveries . . . . [T]he currency of her information, the expertise with which she picks out intriguing details, plus the trenchant contrast she draws between the destructive methods of early treasure hunters and today’s careful scientists, make this must reading for students of the past. – Kirkus, starred

—–This lively survey of . . . buried and rediscovered cities is spellbinding. The aspiring archaeologists on your list will cherish such a book. – Smithsonian

—–A title that’s sure to spark interest in vanished civilizations and in archaeology, with its mix of dramatic discoveries and careful deductions. – School Library Journal, starred

—–Finding the Lost Cities details 13 buried and rediscovered cities around the world, from Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East to Southeast Asia and the Americas. Rebecca Stefoff uncovers the passion of the archaeologists who searched for these cities and the drama of the find, offering a fascinating glimpse into the nature of the civilizations that populated each of the lost cities. – London Free Press

CHILDREN OF THE WESTWARD TRAIL, 1996, Millbrook

YOUNG OXFORD GUIDE TO MAPS AND MAPMAKING, 1995, Oxford University Press

—–Whether you’re looking for a clearly written definition of ‘latitude’ or an informative introduction to Native American mapmakers, this comprehensive and intriguing encyclopedia of cartography holds the answer. . . . Featuring attractive reproductions of antique maps, portraits, pertinent photographs, and easily comprehensible diagrams, the illustrations are plentiful, informative, and fascinating. Fun to browse and filled with useful information, this exhaustive encyclopedia will make an invaluable reference tool.—School Library Journal

—–The Young Oxford Companion to Maps and Mapmaking, a splendid resource for any subject related to geography, is as appealing for browsing as it is for research.—VOYA

WOMEN PIONEERS, 1995, Facts On File

INDEPENDENCE AND REVOLUTION IN MEXICO, 1810-1940, 1993, Facts On File

—–Authoritative, balanced, concise, insightful, witty—even readers who are usually bored by history will be drawn into this lively account of the formation of modern Mexico. The events themselves are dramatic: wild swings between liberal democrats and authoritarian military rulers; waves of revolutionary fervor sweeping the countryside, then degenerating into banditry; the rise and fall of such colorful figures as Santa Anna. Stefoff’s explanatory power is based on her insight into the social and economic class divisions that have always riven Mexico; she explains why certain leaders appealed to certain classes and how they set patterns of renewal and corruption that began with the first attempts to declare independence from Spain. In addition to essential background information on the origins of Mexico’s social classes in colonial New Spain and a final chapter on social progress since 1940, she provides cultural information—on artists, writers, and architecture—effectively illustrating the social trends she describes. Chronology; glossary; annotated bibliography. Index not seen. A fine contribution on an important topic. —Kirkus, starred

EXTRAORDINARY EXPLORERS, 3-book series, 1992, Oxford University Press: ACCIDENTAL EXPLORERS, WOMEN EXPLORERS, SCIENTIFIC EXPLORERS

—–This series of books carries a vigorous sense of adventure and curiosity. Up mountains, across deserts, through rain forest and even into space the prose strides forward with clarity and enthusiasm. It is a celebration of human endeavour and achievement which should convey to young people a feeling of responsible optimism about striking out for something new. It promotes the kind of individualism that has a good reason for being different.—London Times Education Supplement