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Book Suggestions
You can learn about science in some of these kids books! Read these books to learn about some scientific concept or learn about a new field of science.
Suggested Readings for Younger Children
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Ada Twist, Scientist:
By David Roberts
Ada is a curious girl who loves questions, problem solving, science, and experiments. (Even in time out!) Readers will be inspired by her enthusiastic love of learning and laugh along at her daring experiments.
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How Machines Work: Zoo Break:
By David Macaulay
Pop-ups, lift-the-flaps, and levers encourage kids to get involved in this STEM adventure story about two animals, Sloth and Sengi, who try to escape the zoo using simple machines. While reading the story, you’ll also discover information on each machine — machines such as a teeter-totter, a pulley, scissors, and a bike.
Math Curse:
By Job Sciska & Illustrated by Lane Smith
Published in 1995 through Viking Press, the book tells the story of a student who is cursed by the way mathematics works in everyday life.
A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon
Suzanne Slade Illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison
Katherine Johnson loved counting and math from her earliest years. As an adult, she broke through societal barriers against black women to become an integral part of NASA’s successful race to the moon.
Peg+Cat: The Pizza Problem
By: Billy Aronson and Jennifer Oxley
Peg and Cat are best friends who have just opened a pizza shop. But when the Teens come in to order, Peg and Cat have problems … to solve. First, they have to figure out what a half is. Then, they need to divide two and a half pizzas by four. All in a day’s work at Peg’s Pizza Palace.
The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons
Natascha Biebow Illustrated by Steven Salerno
Discover the true story of the creation of Crayola crayons by an inventor who persevered in order to bring vibrant colors to children’s fingertips.
See You in the Cosmos
By Jack Cheng
There aren’t many novels that are able to mix fiction and STEM as seamlessly as this one does. Additionally, it caters to the attention span of middle-grade readers, which isn’t always easy to do. Centering on a young space-obsessed boy, Alex, and his dog, Carl Sagan, See You in the Cosmos is heartwarming, optimistic, and great for a light STEM-learning read.
Girls Who Code Series:
By Stacia Deutsch and Reshma Saujani If: A Mind-Bending New Way of Looking at Big Ideas and Numbers by David J. Smith
This “fact-filled, knock-your-socks-off” book takes huge numbers and ideas and turns them into things that can be grouped and counted. It’s perfect for scale and measurement studies. It also includes suggestions for classroom projects.
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By John Green One of John
Green’s lesser-known masterpieces, An Abundance of Katherines is a book filled with heart and soul—but don’t be fooled! It’s also a great “undercover” STEM read, chock-full of anagrams and theorems. Though centered on a child prodigy, your students don’t need to be prodigies to read it. Even better, it’s a read that they will certainly get something out of.
How to Build a Museum: Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
By Tonya Bolden Explore the fascinating process behind the museum and experience its story—the story of all those educators, activists, politicians, curators, and so many more who fought for this moment for a long time. It’ll be one nonfiction book your class won’t be able to get enough of!
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Warcross
By Marie Lu
Talk about a YA novel you won’t be able to put down! Warcross is an award-winning book about a teenage hacker who accidentally immerses herself in the sinister world behind one of the world’s most popular video games. This one will keep your students interested and teach them a few things about STEM.
The Questioneers (and the Rest of the Rosie Revere Series)
If your kiddos are fans of Rosie Revere, Engineer, then this brand new chapter book series is for them!! The Questioneers series is a celebration of STEM, perseverance, and passion. Like its characters, Iggy Peck, Rosie Revere, and Ada Twist, every budding architect, engineer, scientist, mathematician, and leader, will become inspired to solve everyday mysteries and come to think more critically about their world. Be sure to check out our fun projects based on the books too!
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Book of Comparisons,
Publisher: Kane Miller
This absorbing and surprising book measures and compares a huge variety of different subjects: the strongest animals, the biggest poopers and eaters, the amount of water in the oceans, the deadliest creatures and disasters, extreme journeys, altitudes and depths, the power of natural forces, and much, much more!
Additional Reads
Nick and Tesla Series:
By Steve Hockensmith and Bob Pflugfelder
Nick and Tesla, 11-year old twins, are budding inventors and detectives who live with their inattentive scientist uncle Newt. Each story is an action-packed mystery to solve using science and technology. Directions for some of the projects are included so readers can try them at home.
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Super Cool Tech
By DK:
Just like the title says, this book, with a sleek laptop-looking cover and eye-catching design and layout, showcases the coolest inventions in technology. Not only do you learn about today’s tech such as a bionic suit, a floating hotel, or a 3D printed car, but you’ll also discover future tech possibilities such as teleportation and artificial intelligence.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Young Reader’s Edition)
By William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, illustrated by Anna Hymas
An inspiring true story of necessity and invention! Due to a drought, William’s African village has no water, no crops, and no income source. He researches solutions in the library and decides to build a windmill which successfully pumps water to the fields and generates electricity for his family.
Born Just Right
By Jordan Reeves and Jen Lee Reeves
The autobiography of a brave, innovative, and inspiring young lady who meets challenges with passion while spreading awareness about limb differences.
The Electric War: Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse and the Race to Light the World
By Mike Winchell
Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse, and a world in need of electricity. Go into the mind of three geniuses and the progressive thinking that changed the way we view the world.
Secret Engineer: How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge
Written and illustrated by Rachel Dougherty
An incredibly inspiring true story of the young woman who supervised the building of the Brooklyn Bridge after her husband, the chief engineer, became ill during the bridge’s construction.
How to Become an Accidental Genius
By Elizabeth MacLeod and Frieda Wishinsky Illustrated by Jenn Playford
This books highlights the thinking and problem solving strategies of ordinary people that have led to wellknown inventions such as popsicles, microwaves, and teflon.
Save the Crash-test Dummies
By Jennifer Swanson Illustrated by TeMika Grooms
From bumpers to brakes, and seat belts to airbags, this engaging book explores the science and history of automobile safety design through the eyes of crash-test dummies.
