Aldridge, David & John Hollinger. The Basketball 100. Morrow. ISBN 9780063329126.

Extensive entries that include player highlights, pivotal games, and engaging backstories take readers through the history of the National Basketball Association and its superstars, past and present. A bonus highlight is the section about GOAT points, created by Hollinger as a way to rank players.

The Bird Book: The Stories, Science, and History of Birds. DK. ISBN 9780593844069.

Stunning photographs seemingly make the birds featured in this excellent resource take flight. The delightful guide doesn’t stop with amazing images; there are plenty of accessible details about bird evolution and behaviors as well, in addition to their cultural associations worldwide.

Burnstein, Eli. Dictionary of Fine Distinctions: Nuances, Niceties, and Subtle Shades of Meaning. Union Square & Co. ISBN 9781454952350.

This work proves that reference titles can be humorous. Burnstein proves that words and their meanings matter and spotlights the nuances and beauty of language. Quirky notes and illustrations by New Yorker cartoonist Liana Finck enhance the reading and browsing experience.

Buxton, Will. Grand Prix: An Illustrated History of Formula 1. Ten Speed. ISBN 9781984863249.

Buxton, a Formula 1 racing expert with decades of experience reporting on the sport, pours out his passion on the page, in a book discussing drivers, cars, tracks, inclusion and sustainability efforts, and more. From start to finish, this grand work is a journey worth taking.

Demello, Margo. Bigfoot to Mothman: A Global Encyclopedia of Legendary Beasts and Monsters. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9781440877254.

This volume about legendary creatures stands out because it doesn’t attempt to prove or debunk their existence. Instead, it delves deeply into who believes in them and why and places the creatures into historical, social, and cultural contexts.

Garner, Bryan A. & Jack Lynch. Hardly Harmless Drudgery: A 500-Year Pictorial History of the Lexicographic Geniuses, Sciolists, Plagiarists, and Obsessives Who Defined the English Language. David R. Godine. ISBN 9781567928075.

A delectable book-length description of English-language dictionaries and their creators. Presented in vignettes, the book’s coverage spans from the earliest printing days to the present and addresses the obstacles that lexicographers faced. Beautifully presented with black-white-images and full-color photographs.

Key, Jon. Black, Queer & Untold: A New Archive of Designers, Artists, and Trailblazers. Levine Querido: Chronicle. ISBN 9781646143764.

Key, a Black queer artist and designer, has created a gorgeous, browse-worthy tribute to artists who were omitted or outright erased from previous art and design histories. The resource spans from the 19th century to the present and needfully expands the creative canon. Full-page black-and-white and color images showcase both the work and the artists.

Lancaster, Jason (text) & Kate Forrester (illus.). The Little Encyclopedia of Enchanted Woodland Creatures: An A-to-Z Guide to Mythical Beings of the Forest. Running Pr. ISBN 9780762486137.

This book is as magical as it sounds. Readers can thumb through more than 90 mythical creatures and trees of the woodlands, organized alphabetically, starting with the argopelter, believed to dwell in hollow trees, and ending with the Yggdrasil (an ash tree, symbolic of both life and death in Norse mythology, home to eagles and dragons). Enchanted indeed.

Mabberley, David J. Citrus: A World History. Thames & Hudson. ISBN 9780500026366.

Readers are treated to page after page of colorful images and engaging prose about the fascinating history and evolution of citrus fruits, from their discovery and cultivation in the ancient world to farmers’ efforts to protect their crops today. This work also covers the many uses of citrus, such as ingredients in healing and scented products.

Marchese, C. Marina. The World Atlas of Honey. Univ. of California. ISBN 9780520397705.

Marchese, the first U.S. citizen to be accepted as a member of the Italian National Register of Experts in the Analysis of Honey, takes readers to more than 80 countries to learn about beehives, the many varieties of honey, and how the environment, weather, and other factors can impact its production. Chock-full of photographs and illustrations.

Marx, Karl. Capital, Vol. 1: Critique of Political Economy. Princeton Univ. ed. by Paul North & Paul Reitter. tr. from German by Paul Reitter. ISBN 9780691190075.

Accessible to scholars, researchers, and novices, this is the classic Marx text’s first English translation of in 50 years. It includes a list of Marx’s sources and editors’ notes and details that engagingly explain the most complicated pages.

Pickett, Brent L. The Transgender Encyclopedia. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781538157251.

In this essential work, Pickett guides readers through a wide range of transgender-related topics. He defines preferred terms in a way that’s easy to understand and shines a light on obstacles and discriminatory policies. This resource’s 233 entries span people, places, organizations, laws, discussions, and beliefs.

Plants and Fungi: The Definitive Visual Guide. DK. ISBN 9780593844076.

Lush images show some of the world’s most amazing plants and fungi in this wondrous work. The text gives details about where and how they grow and adapt, their intriguing and unique relationships to each other and to animals, their uses for humans, and their significant roles in ecological, economic, and cultural realms.

Radico, Julie & others. You Will Get Through This: A Mental Health First-Aid Kit. The Experiment: Norton. ISBN 9781891011474.

A ready resource for readers who want to take care of their mental health. Radico, Charity O’Reilly, and Nicole Helverson address care options, what professional help entails, how to talk to loved ones, and more. This guide also details more than 20 common mental health conditions. A staple that provides hope for wellness-minded readers.

Ringer, Andrea. Circus World: Roustabouts, Animals, and the Work of Putting on the Big Show. Univ. of Illinois. ISBN 9780252087967.

Written from a labor history and gender studies perspective, this book thoroughly details the circus’s history, plus its relation to capitalism, its child labor issues, and the back-breaking seasonal work schedules. This exceptional workplace history is notable for both its approach and its topic.

Salem Health: Men’s Health, Vol. 1. Salem. ISBN 9781637007723.

The core of this fact-filled resource is 430 articles about diseases and treatments, arranged in 11 categories that range from anatomy to treatments, and including hundreds of diagrams and photos. It’s a reliable go-to for medical conditions that affect men.

Traore, Issa. African Trade Beads: Their 10,000 Year History. Firefly. ISBN 9780228105008.

Trade beads are the focus of this fascinating book, filled with countless images that showcase beads from the author’s own collection, made of materials as varied as cowrie shells, various semi-precious stones, and clay. It’s not just beautiful, however; the work also offers intriguing details about the start, evolution, traders, and uses of these beads.

Unger, Melvin. Historical Dictionary of Choral Music. 2nd ed. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781538124338.

Choral music takes center stage in this exceptional title. Updates and additions to this second edition bring the total number of entries up to 1,300. The listings cover choral music composers, their work, styles, conductors, terms, and much more. The book’s bibliography is top-notch too.

Webb, Jeffrey B. Conspiracy Theories: A Reference Handbook. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9781440877704.

Accessible and comprehensive, Webb’s book offers a history lesson about conspiracy theories from antiquity to today, showing how beliefs and theories have formed and evolved throughout time. Webb also warns of a dire future if distrust in science, media, and other institutions continues.

Zinn, Lennard. Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance: The World’s Best-Selling Bicycle Repair and Maintenance Guide. 6th ed. VeloPress. ISBN 9781646046874.

Zinn, a former member of the U.S. national cycling team, is considered one of the leading experts on bicycle maintenance and repair. This new edition of his classic work has been updated with the latest information about bikes, plus 50 new illustrations. Zinn’s ready reference will inspire cyclists to believe that, yes, they can fix that.