STEM Books for Children and Young Adults

This list aims to provide books recommended by the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) for children and young adults which are available through the Sussex County Library System.

Updated January 5, 2026
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
American wings : Chicago's pioneering Black aviators and the race for equality in the sky
Smith, Sherri L.
Paper Book
From the acclaimed author of Flygirl andthe bestselling author of Code Name Verity comes the thrilling and inspiring true story of the desegregation of the skies. "This beautiful and brilliant history of not only what it means to be Black and dream of flying but...
Before colors : where pigments and dyes come from
Pimentel, Annette Bay
Paper Book
Colors don't come out of nothing. They always start somewhere . . . With something . . . With someone.
Bounce! : a scientific history of rubber
Albee, Sarah
Paper Book
Ever wondered what makes rubber bounce? Or why it's stretchy? And WHY is rubber so . . . rubbery?! Learn the facinating science and history behind this ubiquitous material! With sidebars, graphics, fun facts, and more, the history of rubber reveals plenty of fascinating secrets...
The enigma girls : how ten teenagers broke ciphers, kept secrets, and helped win World War II
Fleming, Candace
Paper Book
A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book. With numerous starred reviews and accolades, from award-winning author Candace Fleming, comes the powerful and fascinating story of the brave and dedicated young women who helped turn the tides of World War II for the Allies, with their hard work and...
The five sides of Marjorie Rice : how to discover a shape
Alznauer, Amy
Paper Book
"Writing with a storyteller's flair, Alznauer captures her audience's attention with colorful phrases and interesting facts." --Booklist (starred review) Ablaze with pattern and color, this ebullient picture book biography celebrates the intersection of art and science-...
A girl can build anything
Charlton-Trujillo, e. E.
Paper Book
A brilliant, inclusive ode to self-expression, girl power, and the many things readers can create. Have you ever dreamed of building something? Maybe something little-like a birdhouse? Or something big-like a skyscraper? If you can envision it, you can build it! A Girl Can...
The glass pyramid : a story of the Louvre Museum and architect I.M. Pei
Harvey, Jeanne Walker
Paper Book
Two starred reviews! In this "stunning" (Booklist, starred review) picture book, award-winning picture book biographer Jeanne Walker Harvey tells the story of the renowned architect I. M. Pei and his triumph in redesigning the Louvre through problem-solving and...
Hidden systems : water, electricity, the internet, and the secrets behind the systems we use every day
Nott, Dan
Paper Book
We use water, electricity, and the internet every day--but how do they actually work? And what's the plan to keep them running for years to come? This nonfiction science graphic novel takes readers on a journey from how the most essential systems were developed to how they are implemented in our...
Wanda hears the stars : a blind astronomer listens to the universe
Hansen, Amy
A nonfiction picture book biography of astrophysicist Wanda Díaz Merced and how losing her sight didn't stop her from studying the stars. An inspiring true story of a woman scientist of color that's a riveting intersectional read for STEM fans ages 6-9. Growing up in...
Who owns the moon? : and other conundrums of exploring and using space
Levinson, Cynthia
Paper Book
Today's teens may travel to the Moon in their lifetimes. This primer on what to know for a future in space combines technology and science with law and policy for a fascinating look at a very timely subject. For teens who are space fans, this book is loaded with fascinating facts...
The wild river and the great dam : the construction of Hoover Dam and the vanishing Colorado River
Boughton, Simon
Paper Book
★ "In this detailed and informative work, Boughton chronicles the construction of the Hoover Dam via compellingly comprehensive text." --Publishers Weekly, starred review ★ "This well-written narrative is bound to become...
Zero! the number that almost wasn't
Albee, Sarah
Paper Book
How did math work before zero existed? A STEM nonfiction book that unpacks a fascinating history of a number we can't imagine our current world without. From place value to being created and destroyed before being created again, zero has had quite a journey. Respected children's...

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.