Science Reads: Recommended reads for children

Updated April 9, 2024
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Bath time physics
Esbaum, Jill
Paper Book
Splish, splash! Prepare to experience the forces of physics at work. It's time for Baby's bath . . . Ooh! We made a waterfall . . . Invite your tubby-time friends to join in. Even Einstein started somewhere, so who's to say your little...
My first 100 science words
Ferrie, Chris
Paper Book
Chris Ferrie fans will love this perfect educational baby and toddler science book featuring essential STEAM words from the bestselling author! Babies and toddlers are curious and ready to learn! Introduce them to science words that go beyond the basics with this first 100 words baby...
Where are the eggs?
Lin, Grace
Paper Book
Caldecott Honor winner Grace Lin celebrates math for every kid, everywhere! The chickens have laid their eggs all over the yard! Mei looks for the eggs, searching next to a watering can, behind a flower pot, inside a wheelbarrow . . . and under a...
Garden time
McDonald, Jill
Paper Book
Learn from home and explore the world with these fun and easy board books! This cheerful and informative Hello, World! board book teaches toddlers all about gardens-with easy-to-understand facts about how plants grow and how gardening puts food on our tables. Hello,...
Professor Goose debunks The three little pigs
Bourgeois, Paulette
Paper Book
The second in a fractured fairy tale series by the author of Franklin the Turtle! Join Professor Goose in this STEM-filled picture book as she fact-checks classic fairy tales and shares the science behind these flawed stories. Mother Goose's fairy tales are NOT based in science,...
Science, matter and the baseball park
Ciocchi, Catherine
Paper Book
A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year selection (2024) There is much to see at the ballpark, and it all matters because it's all matter. In this fast-paced rhyming story, baseball and science fans alike will be delighted to see all the...
Beauty and the beaker
Fliess, Sue
Paper Book
In the aftermath of a cyclone, scientist Beauty finds the key to restoring power in a nearby pond. Beauty is a scientist who is never without her beaker. When a beast of a storm hits her island home, Beauty discovers a type of green energy that will restore...
We are one : how the world adds up
Hood, Susan
Paper Book
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts--and unity and connection are most important of all--in a beautifully illustrated counting book with a timely message. One can be one thing all on its own--one star, one stream, one stick, one stone. But those on their toes, those...
Newton and Curie : the science squirrels
Kirk, Daniel
Paper Book
When an apple falls on his head, Newton the squirrel begins to wonder how the world works. After perching on a branch outside a classroom window and listening in on a lesson about the force of gravity, he decides to try his own experiments with the help of his sister, Curie. Learning to make simple...
Here we go digging for dinosaur bones : sung to the tune of "here we go round the mulberry bush"
Lendroth, Susan
Paper Book
"This is a perfect book for a dinosaur storytime." --School Library Journal This STEM-friendly musical fossil dig will have dinosaur lovers singing along as they learn the science behind paleontology. Set to the tune of "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush,...
Nous sommes les protecteurs de l'eau
Lindstrom, Carole
Paper Book

Avec l'aide des enseignements de sa grand-mere, une petite fille incite les siens a se tenir debout afin d'empecher la construction de pipelines desastreux pour l'environnement.

Auteure canadienne.

Georgia's terrific, colorific experiment
Persico, Zoe
Paper Book
Georgia is a creative girl from a family of artists who wants to be a scientist. She decides she has to create her own unique experiment to truly be a great scientist (the way her family are all great artists). She rebukes her family's advice, thinking science and art have to be mutually exclusive,...
Khadija and the elephant toothpaste experiment
Qaiser, Farah
Paper Book
Khadija is inspired by her visit to the science fair. There are so many different scientists all wearing safety goggles and lab coats! But how come none of them are wearing a hijab? After watching a scientist carry out the elephant toothpaste experiment, Khadija attempts to recreate it at...

Canadian author.

We are water protectors
Lindstrom, Carole
Paper Book
From author Carole Lindstrom and illustrator Michaela Goade comes a New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Medal winning picture book that honors Indigenous-led movements across the world. Powerfully written and gorgeously illustrated, We Are Water Protectors,...

Also available in eBook format.

Canadian author.

Fairy science : solid, liquid, gassy
Spires, Ashley
Paper Book
Esther the fairy is back, to investigate the water cycle! From the award-winning author of The Most Magnificent Thing, for fans of Ada Twist, Scientist and Hidden Figures. Esther the fairy doesn't believe in magic. But fairies are all about magic,...

Canadian author.

La Fée Scientifique : Solide, Liquide, Gazeux
Spires, Ashley
Paper Book
See below for English description. Esther la fee ne croit pas a la magie. Elle croit a la science. En tant que fee preferant le microscope a la baguette magique, elle ne peut contenir son enthousiasme lorsqu'elle parvient a former une hypothese sur les solides et les liquides. Mais...
Auteur canadien.
Baby loves scientists : you can be anything!
Spiro, Ruth
Paper Book
Babies who love science can be anything! Move over Wonder Woman and Superman--here come Aerospace Engineer and Particle Physicist! Baby loves to explore the world of science! What's next for Baby after learning about physics, engineering, computers, and the natural world?...
Ada Twist and the disappearing dogs
Beaty, Andrea
Paper Book
Blue River Creek has a problem: There's a pet thief on the loose! Or at least, Sofia and Iggy are convinced that there is, once their pets go missing. But as a scientist, Ada knows it's important not to jump to conclusions and to follow the facts. How will they find out what really happened to the...
Also available in eBook format.
The girl who built a spider
Brewington, George
Paper Book
In this fun-filled, action-packed middle grade novel, three young inventors are offered the chance to work at the renowned Dr. Flax's laboratory--where dazzling science, new friendships, and killer robots await. When Theresa Brown wins the Charleston County Middle School...
Libby loves science : states of matter
Derting, Kimberly
Paper Book
Libby loves science! In this STEM-themed Level 3 I Can Read! title, Libby and her friends learn about solids, liquids, and gases. A great choice for aspiring scientists, new readers, and fans of Andrea Beaty's Ada Twist, Scientist. Includes activities, a glossary, and a fun science...
I want to be a scientist
Driscoll, Laura
Paper Book
For the child who says, "I want to be a SCIENTIST when I grow up!" And for any child who wants a gentle behind-the-scenes look at being a scientist. This Level One Community Helper story takes readers on a research boat to the North Pole, where they learn all about the different...
Maya and the robot
Ewing, Eve L.
Paper Book
From award-winning author Eve L. Ewing comes an illustrated middle grade novel about a forgotten homemade robot who comes to life just when aspiring fifth-grade scientist Maya needs a friend -- and a science fair project. Maya's nervous about fifth grade. She tries to keep calm...
Cosmos Camp
Giles, Lamar
Paper Book
An Edgar Allan Poe Award Nominee! From Edgar Award nominee and WNDB cofounder Lamar Giles, this middle grade adventure stars the Epic Ellison twins as they race to solve the mystery of Cosmos Camp for young geniuses in a stand-alone companion to the Legendary Alston Boys series. ...
Imani and the great hair experiment
Lewis, Cicely
Paper Book
Shimmer, sparkle, twirl . . . I am a creative girl! It's Science Fair time! Imani wants to win, but she needs to find an idea that can beat the crowd-favorite volcano. Can Imani think outside of the box to take home the blue ribbon? Read Woke...
IsThisAnOlogy?
Bulman, Amanda Dorothy Jean
Paper Book
IsThisAnOlogy? is a journey of discovery! Andie interviews different "ologists" and learns all about different types of science. IsThisAnOlogy? explores big jobs, big science, and the biggest questions. Learn about fossils, bird migration, beekeeping, the science behind making food...
The boreal forest : a year in the world's largest land biome
Carmichael, L. E.
Paper Book
The vast boreal forest spans a dozen countries in the northern regions like 'a scarf around the neck of the world,' making it the planet's largest land biome. Besides providing homes for a diversity of species, this spectacular forest is also vitally important to the planet's ecosystem. This...
Canadian author.
The periodic table of elements : understanding the building blocks of everything
Chad, Jon
Paper Book
Step out of your element with Science Comics: The Periodic Table of Elements, the latest volume of First Second's nonfiction graphic novel series! A book of fun chemistry experiments has fallen into the wrong hands. Only Mel can use her knowledge of the periodic table to...
The outdoor scientist : the wonder of observing the natural world
Grandin, Temple
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling author and world-renowned scientist and autism spokesperson Temple Grandin comes a book about exploring the world around us, asking questions, and making sense of what we see--with 40 fun outdoor activities that promote independent thinking, which kids...
Super hero science
Hackett, Jennifer
Paper Book
Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, The Flash, Batgirl, Bumblebee and other beloved DC super heroes make science fun and engaging for kids 6 and up. What can Superman tell us about force, gravity, and motion? What makes flight possible (other than a cape)? Can science explain...
Indigenous ingenuity : a celebration of traditional North American knowledge
Havrelock, Deidre
Paper Book
Celebrate Indigenous thinkers and inventions with this beautifully designed, award-winning interactive nonfiction book--perfect for fans of Braiding Sweetgrass.  Corn. Chocolate. Fishing hooks. Boats that float. Insulated double-walled construction. Recorded...
The raven mother
Huson, Brett D.
Paper Book
★ Starred selection for CCBC's Best Books for Kids & Teens 2023! Hoarders. Scavengers. Clever foragers. Bringers of new life. Ravens have many roles, both for the land and in Gitxsan story and song. The sixth book in Hetxw'ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson)'s Mothers of Xsan...
Canadian author.
What's inside a bird's nest? : and other questions about nature & life cycles
Ignotofsky, Rachel
Paper Book
Discover the next nonfiction picture book about eggs, nests, and birds from the creator of the New York Times bestseller Women in Science, Rachel Ignotofsky! Want to learn more about the bird that chirps outside your window? Ignotofsky crafts a perfect read out loud...
What will I discover?
Kyi, Tanya Lloyd
Paper Book
Kids 3 to 6 will be inspired to ask their own big questions after reading about the mysteries that scientists have yet to discover. This celebration of curiosity is an excellent resource for fostering an interest in STEM. Sometimes, it seems as if...

Canadian author.

A vaccine is like a memory
LaRocca, Rajani
Paper Book
This timely book details the importance of vaccines and how they were developed throughout history, as well as how they work to protect your body and keep it healthy. "A lively, informative introduction to vaccines." --Booklist, STARRED REVIEW ...
Breaking the mold : changing the face of climate science
Levy, Dana Alison
Paper Book
Sixteen scientists. Protecting our planet. Making science more equitable. An Orbis Pictus Recommended Book A Green Earth Book Award Honor A Blueberry Award Honor Scientists who collect microbes from surfers' skin, who use radar sensors to gather data...
La Grande Course
Litton, Jonathan
Paper Book
See below for English description. Suzie et Max participent a une course de karts! En chemin, ils decouvrent ce que sont la force, l'energie et les matieres. Lorsque leur kart tombera en panne, sauront-ils utiliser leurs connaissances scientifiques pour les aider a terminer la...
Kitchen Science: 30 Awesome Stem Experiments To Try At Home
Minter, Laura.
Paper Book
Kitchen Science is a collection of 30 STEM-themed activities for children, making use of everyday materials found in the kitchen.Forget about sterile laboratories and stuffy classrooms, there are oodles of awesome science experiments waiting to be done, right under your nose -...
Open science : knowledge for everyone
Polak, Monique
Paper Book
Science is for everyone, right? Unfortunately, that's not always true. Discovery, research and innovation are often top secret, and big businesses charge high prices for that information. The field of open science is trying to change that. It's all about sharing knowledge. Teams of...

Canadian author.

What's the weather?
Ralston, Fraser
Paper Book
Discover the science behind wild and wonderful weather in this fact-packed book! From heatwaves and big freezes to tornadoes and fog, this science book gives your budding meteorologist a glimpse into all the action that happens in the sky. Learn about all kinds of weather and...
The iguanodon's horn : how artists and scientists put a dinosaur back together again and again ... and again
Rubin, Sean
Paper Book
Highlighting the role of artists in the scientific process, this crowd-pleasing look at dinosaurs explores how new discoveries deepen our understanding of the world. Ever since mysterious bones were found in 1822, scientists and artists have tried to figure out what the creature they came...
Lift, mix, fling! : machines can do anything
Schaefer, Lola M.
Paper Book
How do you make work easier With machines, of course! Acclaimed author Lola M. Schaefer and award-winning illustrator James Yang explore various types of machines and their numerous, complex functions. A fun and interactive STEM-themed picture book for fans of David Macaulay and...
Good food, bad waste : let's eat for the planet
Silver, Erin
Paper Book
A deep dive into why humans waste so much food and the consequences for people and the planet Around the world, a billion tons of food gets thrown away every year, even when hundreds of millions of people suffer from hunger. A lot of what we don't eat ends up rotting in landfills which...

Canadian author.

Energy
Somara, Shini/ Valentine, Luna (ILT)
Paper Book
Discover how energy is part of our daily lives with Everyday STEM Science-Energy. Energy is all around us! But where does it come from and how is it used? Explore the different types of energy, from the electromagnetic energy that keeps us connected, to the geothermal...
Why does my shadow follow me? : more science questions from real kids
Vermond, Kira
Paper Book
Science starts with a question in this fascinating compendium for curious kids. The team behind the acclaimed Why Don't Cars Run on Apple Juice? is back to tackle more kid questions like "Are birds really dinosaurs?" and "Why do we have butts?" With help from science center experts,...

Also available in e-book format.

The most exciting book of science, inventions & space ever
Watts, Claire
Paper Book
Travel with mischievous cartoon guides, the Brainwaves, in this book of science through a range of mindblowing STEM topics Meet the Brainwaves, hilarious little mischief-makers who will be your guides to a marvellous range of mindblowing science topics! These pint-sized pals will...
Professor Astro Cat's atomic adventure : a journey through physics
Walliman, Dominic, Dr.
Paper Book
Class is in session, and the subject is physics. Your teacher? Why, he's the smartest cat in the galaxy! In this brilliant follow up to Professor Astro Cat's Frontiers of Space, our trusty feline returns to take you on a journey through the incredible world of physics. Learn about...

Canadian author

Professor Astro Cat's atomic adventure : a journey through physics
Walliman, Dominic, Dr.
Paper Book
Class is in session, and the subject is physics. Your teacher? Why, he's the smartest cat in the galaxy! In this brilliant follow up to Professor Astro Cat's Frontiers of Space, our trusty feline returns to take you on a journey through the incredible world of physics. Learn about...

Pourquoi le ciel est bleu ? D'ou vient l'electricite ? Comment les avions volent-ils ? Le Professeur Astrocat, le chat le plus intelligent de la galaxie, nous fait decouvrir les secrets de la matiere, de l'energie et des forces qui regissent notre planete et l'Univers. Avec le Professeur Astrocat, la physique est un jeu d'enfant !

Auteur canadien.

Space on Earth : how thinking like an astronaut can help save the planet
Williams, Dave
Paper Book
Really "high" tech to inspire us for sustainable solutions on Earth. Who could imagine an idea born on a space station would help sustain our planet? Astronauts, living on the International Space Station, have to protect their resources because their lives depend on it. They learn to...

Also available in e-book format.

Canadian author.

The story of science : how science and technology changed the world
Winston, Robert
Paper Book
Let Professor Robert Winston take you on a scientific journey through human history in this fact-packed science book. Delve into the stories of history's most influential scientific experiments, inventions and life-changing discoveries that have impacted our understanding and...

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