Children's nonfiction has come a long way from the days of stodgily written books created to provide basic facts for school reports. These days, the best nonfiction books for kids offer riveting narratives that read as well as any novel, as well as eye-catching designs, as these outstanding new books prove:

• As a child, Wangari Maathai reveled in the green fields and trees in her native land of Kenya. After returning there after spending her college years in America, however, Maathai was shocked to see how development had scarred the Kenyan landscape, leaving it bare and unable to sustain villagers who had traditionally relied on the land for sustenance.

In "Planting the Trees of Kenya" (FSG, $16.95), author-illustrator Claire Nivola demonstrates the difference that one person can make toward major change as she shows how Maathai began a campaign to convince Kenyans to plant trees. This simple act helped to begin the transformation of the Kenyan landscape back to one that could support life and nourish the soul.

Nivola's text is spare but inspiring and well matched by watercolor illustrations that evoke the beauty of the Kenyan landscape. (Ages 5-10.)

• President Theodore Roosevelt had herded thousands of cattle across the Dakota Badlands, led the Rough Riders up Kettle Hill in the Spanish-American War and bagged a grizzly bear.

Not even Roosevelt, however, could control his rambunctious daughter Alice, whose antics made her famous. The very public battle of wills between the two Roosevelts is the subject of a delightful picture-book biography, "What to Do About Alice?" (Scholastic, $16.99).

Author Barbara Kerley obviously had fun researching her subject, and she uses a light, whimsical touch in relating how the strong-willed Alice, the child of Teddy Roosevelt's first marriage, ruled her father's heart.

Edwin Fotheringham's sprightly illustrations, done in digital media, capture Alice's spunk and add an extra dose of humor. The book concludes with further biographical information on Alice and her father. (Ages 5-10.)

• In "Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City" (Knopf, $16.99), author Janet Stevens combines forces with illustrator Meilo So to tell the story of the bird that took New York City by storm.

Birdwatchers in Manhattan were thrilled when a red-tailed hawk decided to make his home in New York. They named the bird "Pale Male" and kept daily notes on him. When Pale Male and his mate crafted a nest at the top of one of New York's ritziest apartment buildings, however, trouble began. Many building residents, upset by the bird droppings, feathers and remains of dead animals eaten by Pale Male, his mate and their chicks, wanted the nest removed.

As Stevens details in her well-paced narrative, the removal of the nest sparked noisy protests from birdwatchers, as well as national news coverage. The building residents eventually allowed Pale Male to construct another nest after adding a special "apron" to the building to catch the birds' garbage. So's lively watercolor illustrations bring out the drama of Pale Male's story, as well as his physical majesty. (Ages 7-12.)

• Anne Edson Taylor went over Niagara Falls in a barrel. A woman named Zazel was a human cannonball in a circus. And Mabel Cody danced on the wings of a plane as it flew high above the ground.

These are just a few of the 14 fascinating females featured in Julie Cummins' entertaining book, "Women Daredevils: Thrills, Chills and Frills" (Dutton, $17.99). In her introduction, Cummins notes that, back at the turn of the 20th century, these women refused to let their gender stop their desire to do wild and crazy things.

Some women, like Taylor, did stunts for money. Other women, like Sonora Webster Carver, lived for the thrill. Carver continued to dive off a 60-foot platform on her horse into a tank of water even after she was blinded.

Cheryl Harness underlines the derring-do of these women daredevils in her colorful, energetic illustrations. The book ends with a chronology that adds perspective by including milestones of women's history as well as the stunts performed by the women daredevils.

Other great nonfiction books include:

• "Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition, 2008" (Guinness, $19.95) -- A guaranteed hit with young computer- and video-game players. (Ages 8 up.)

• "Elephants and Golden Thrones" (Abrams, $18.95), in which author Trish Marx and photographer Ellen Senisi provide readers an inside look at China's Forbidden City. (Ages 8-12.)

• Authors Connie and Peter Roop, joined by illustrator Charlie Powell, present portraits of 18 inspiring people, ranging from Benjamin Franklin to Mia Hamm, in "Tales of Famous Americans" (Scholastic, $17.99, ages 8-12).