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
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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...
Detective dogs are on the case : how working dogs sniff out invasive species
Stevens, Alison Pearce
Paper Book
A lively introduction to some of North America's most troublesome invasive species--and to the industrious dogs and handlers working to stop their spread! Meet Fenton and Frost; Fagen and Dia; Hilo, Diesel, and Seuss. These intrepid environmental detectives are on the...
Else B. in the sea : the woman who painted the wonders of the deep
Harvey, Jeanne Walker
Paper Book
Else Bostelmann donned a red swimsuit and a copper diving helmet and, with paints and brushes in hand, descended into the choppy turquoise sea off the coast of Bermuda. It was 1930, and few had ventured deep into the sea before. She discovered a fairyland six fathoms below the surface-fantastic...
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...
Evidence! : how Dr. John Snow solved the mystery of cholera
Hopkinson, Deborah
Paper Book
The incredible true story of the doctor who traced London's cholera outbreak to a single water pump, and went on to save countless lives through his groundbreaking research! Dr. John Snow is one of the most influential doctors and researchers in Western medicine, but before he...
The fabulous Fannie Farmer : kitchen scientist and America's cook
Smith, Emma Bland
Paper Book
ALSC Notable Children's Book CCBC Choices 2025 A NSTA-CBC Best STEM Book 2025 Texas Topaz List 2025 Rise- A Feminist Book Project Title Fannie Farmer, America's most famous cooking teacher, discovers that precise measurements are a recipe for cooking success...
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...
How to explain coding to a grown-up
Spiro, Ruth
Paper Book
The best-selling author of the Baby Loves Science series levels up with this playful STEM picture book introducing kids-and grown-ups-to the coding world. Grown-ups do NOT have all the answers! In this tongue-in-cheek guide, an in-the-know narrator instructs perceptive kid...
How to explain robotics to a grown-up
Spiro, Ruth
Paper Book
The best-selling author of the Baby Loves Science series levels up with this playful STEM picture book introducing kids-and grown-ups-to the robotics world. Do you want to know a secret? Sometimes grown-ups need YOU to explain things to THEM. Like robotics! In this...
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. AN ALA NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK A GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 2024 KID'S BOOK AWARD WINNER A HORN BOOK FANFARE TITLE ...
Just in Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault
Clendenan, Megan
Psst . . . Guess what? 800 miles from the North Pole, buried deep in a mountain, the Svalbard Seed Vault holds priceless treasure. Seeds! Perfect for 5-8-year-old future conservationists, this is a fascinating glimpse into unique conservation, highlighting the importance of natural...
Many voices : building Erie, the canal that changed America
Lawlor, Laurie
Paper Book
"The Nation's First Superhighway" existed before the spread of cars... or even railroads! This immersive photo book ferries readers through the past and present of the Erie Canal, from impossible idea to groundbreaking reality. In the twenty-first century, it's hard to imagine a...
Never give up : Dr. Kati Karikó and the race for the future of vaccines
Dadey, Debbie
Paper Book
The first-ever picture book biography about Dr. Katalin Karikó, winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Growing up in a small Hungarian town, Kati Karikó was curious about everything.That included her family's farm animals--and the cells inside of them. As an adult, she...
Safe crossing
Percival, Kari
Paper Book
How does an amphibian cross the road? With the help of the Amphibian Migration Team! Learn all about a citizen scientist who acts as a crossing guard for migrating amphibians and helps build them a tunnel to safety in this delightful nonfiction picture book! From...
Sew sister : the untold story of Jean Wright and NASA's seamstresses
Matich, Elise
Paper Book
Did you know that the white material on the outside of space shuttles was not metal or glass but actually fabric? Specialized quilts, two inches thick, covered the space shuttles and protected the astronauts from deadly heat and radiation. Jean Wright was one of the eighteen "Sew Sisters" who...
Smash, crash, topple, roll! : the inventive Rube Goldberg : a life in comics, contraptions, and six simple machines
Thimmesh, Catherine
Paper Book
A 2025 Science Friday Best Science Book for Kids A joyfully illustrated picture book biography of Rube Goldberg for STEM-loving children and the many people who enjoy doing simple tasks the hard way. Award-winning author Catherine Thimmesh's...
Unlocking the universe : the cosmic discoveries of the Webb Space Telescope
Slade, Suzanne
Paper Book
A stunning STEM feast on NASA's Webb Telescope--the world's most powerful telescope--will marvel future scientists and engineers about space and the universe beyond. Building the James Webb Space Telescope was no easy feat. It started with a big dream and an even bigger team-...
Urban coyotes
Carson, Mary Kay
Paper Book
A new addition to the acclaimed Scientists in the Field series, Urban Coyotes follows the scientists of the Urban Coyote Research Project as they track, study, and care for coyotes living among humans in one of America's largest cities, Chicago. But that's the thing about...
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...
Wildlife crossings: protecting animal pathways around the world
Barr, Catherine
Paper Book
How have we prevented wild animals from accessing the pathways they need to survive? A look at seven species that humans have put at risk and are now trying to help. From the cocreators of Water: How We Can Protect Our Freshwater comes a compelling picture book about...
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...

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