by Tracy Briseño

When I get an urge to learn about a specific topic, my first inclination is to check out a bunch of books on the topic and dive in. On some topics this works okay for me. But most of the time I realize that the books are starting from a level of understanding that I don’t have yet. In those cases, my next step is to head to the juvenile nonfiction section. Some may be too basic for me , but I can generally find something that meets my needs and prepares me to delve deeper.

Recently I did this with gardening books. Despite my mom’s best efforts while I was growing up, I’ve tended to kill plants. When we moved, we inherited a lot of garden area which overwhelms me. When I started looking at the Library’s collection of gardening books for adults, I found a plethora of books about every style of gardening and so many gardening techniques, but I needed something more for beginners. I’ll admit that even some of the juvenile nonfiction books are more than I’m ready for! But I checked out some beginning gardening books for kids, which have been right at my skill level.

I’ve also had luck in the juvenile nonfiction for books about cooking. While I can cook basic meals, it is not something that I find intuitive, and trying new recipes can feel daunting. When my daughter wanted to eat primarily vegetarian and fish, she and I started looking through the youth cookbooks. Not only was I more likely to feel comfortable trying out new things, but she also was empowered to try new recipes for herself.

Another great find has been biographies. I have been listening to Eleanor Roosevelt’s autobiography, and in an effort to learn more about her—without starting 400-page books—I have checked out juvenile nonfiction titles which help give context to some of the things she’s sharing in just a short read.

When learning more about mental health, I found myself going back and forth between adult titles for me and youth titles to share and explain information with my kids. There are a number of books that are very accessible and give a great introduction to different topics.

If you’re just starting on a subject or need a quick overview, don’t be afraid to search the juvenile nonfiction section!