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By providing a wide selection of high-quality materials that will grab the attention of individual readers, school libraries can play an integral part in initiating and supporting student agency and a student-centered approach to learning. Such materials should not only address and expand upon what kids are learning in the classroom, but also allow them to explore an array of personal interests, tastes, and passions. Every student has his or her own way of acquiring and processing factual content, and books presented in different formats nurture a variety of learning styles and specific preferences. This article highlights books with a focus on science and can be used to supplement classroom materials and traditional narrative nonfiction. Ranging from profusely illustrated graphic novels to captivating fiction series, these titles will appeal to a spectrum of tastes, learning styles, and interests. The titles featured here are a small sampling of the wide range of offerings that can be used to explore and expand upon science curriculums, and a similar spectrum of selections for other subject areas should also be made available. These materials can be identified by consulting professional review sources, library catalogs, and readers' advisory resources such as CLCD (Children's Literature Comprehensive Database) or EBSCO's NoveList.

When Vaunda Micheaux Nelson donned a black Stetson to become the biographer of Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves, she had no idea that her square-shooting book about an unsung African-American hero of the Old West would win over a posse of fans and earn her the prestigious 2010 Coretta Scott King (CSK) Author Award. "Bad News for Outlaws" (Lerner, 2009), a riveting and revealing picture-book biography dramatically illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, has turned out to be good news for Nelson, generating excitement among young readers and bringing to light an individual well worth knowing. Throughout her career, Nelson has worn a variety of professional hats, including teacher, newspaper reporter, and bookseller. She has spent the last 16 years as a youth services librarian and is also the author of several critically acclaimed books. "Bad News for Outlaws" crosses boldly into the realm of nonfiction, telling a meticulously researched and jaw-droppingly amazing true-life tale with the flavor, suspense, and drama of an Old West yarn. This article features a short conversation with Nelson about her award, career as a writer, and her childhood experience.