Well, 2020 has been a year. And it's only half over.
But at least for me, it's also brought a renewed dedication to my kids' education, even while scrambling to pull together lessons, children's books, and curriculum materials the best I can. Given the ongoing struggles our country has with racism and racial bias, it's important to me that the picture books I choose show a diverse array of people of color.
I've been trying to pull together a good collection of STEM picture books that incorporate racial diversity. So, doing what most of us do these days, I hopped on Pinterest -- thinking, naively perhaps, that surely someone would have solved my problem for me. I mean, how hard could it be to find STEM children's books that have characters of color?
Apparently quite difficult.
While I did find several lovely lists of African American Inventors & Scientists, Black Inventors, Multicultural STEM Picture Books, Multicultural STEAM Books for Children, STEM Featuring African American Girls and Environment and Nature Books by Black Authors it just wasn't enough. I found quite a number of picture book biographies of famous figures, many books that were out of print, and some other gems. But I wanted more. I wanted diverse books that teach about the human body, multicultural picture books that teach the scientific method, books that depict scientists of color, and kids of all colors exploring nature. I wanted books with characters of color digging into all the scientific subjects: geology, hydrology, ecology, physics, chemistry, astronomy, climate and weather, picture books with kids of color exploring renewable energy, sustainable living, and reducing, reusing, and recycling. And I wanted books where STEM concepts were taught with characters of color featured prominently, not just as the "token POC."
So I decided to make my own list.
I've spent the past few weeks scouring picture book after picture book, trying to find the very best STEM picture books prominently featuring people of color. As I sifted through the books, I noticed a few patterns. First, the vast majority of STEM children's books out there are more purely non-fiction type informational texts that don't prominently feature human characters at all -- I didn't do a precise calculation but I'd gauge that only about 10% of the books I looked at featured prominent human characters of any race.
Of the select picture books that were of a more narrative non-fiction sort, and therefore had human characters, I estimate that only about 30% of STEM narrative non-fiction picture books prominently feature characters of color. I'm talking featuring prominently at all, as part of a cast of characters. If narrowed this to only books where a character of color was the central protagonist, this figure would be substantially lower.
I also couldn't help but notice that the vast majority of books that feature characters of color are not written or illustrated by authors or illustrators of color. They aren't #ownvoices. I haven't finished looking into this, but from what I've examined so far, I'd say that only about 10-20% of the STEM picture books that feature characters of color are written or illustrated by people of color. In this day and age, these are shamefully low percentages.
Publishing: you can do better than this.
In the meantime ...
As we set up our science curricula, and our reading nooks, let's support the Diverse STEM Books that are out there. I'm pleased that despite their rarity, after much searching, I've found good options for almost every S.T.E.M. subject under the sun, so there should be something on this list for you!
I've focused here on picture books that feature characters of color, and are therefore often of the read-aloud, narrative non-fiction variety. I've included some informational texts as well. You can browse the whole list, or jump directly to one of the topics listed in the Table of Contents. In each topic, I've included pictures and Goodreads summaries of a few of my favorites.
Happy reading <3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Atmospheric Science: Climate & Weather
Computer Science, Coding & Math
Earth Sciences: Geology, Hydrology & Palentology
Engineering, Invention, & Design
Environmental Science & Sustainability
My list is a work in progress, and it's not perfect. I've currently focused on narrative non-fiction picture books, and though some biographies and informational texts are there, I haven't scoured that literature as thoroughly yet. Additionally, some of the books, especially those that lean more toward traditional non-fiction, don't feature characters of color as prominently as I would like. And many of the books on this list are not written by authors of color. In the instances where I knew the author was BIPOC, I denoted this with an asterisk *
Despite these shortcomings, I wanted to share the list with you anyway. I'm always looking for more books and better books, so if you know of any, please let me know! For now, I hope you find my list a useful start <3
Note: Please support Black and Indigenous-owned bookstores! All the links in this post are to BIPOC-owned bookshops that provide online shopping and delivery options. If you'd rather find a Black-owned store near you, check out this list.
General STEM Picture Books
Here is a collection of diverse picture books that introduce STEM concepts, the scientific method, and provide an overview of STEM careers. I've highlighted a few of my favorites, but you can find the full list of 30 books at the end of the section.
What Can I Be? STEM Careers from A to Z
Grade Level: Preschool, K-2
Summary: "What Can I Be? STEM Careers from A to Z is an inspiring and easy-to-read alphabet picture book that teaches our next generation about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers. This book provides colorful illustrations of six diverse children representing various STEM careers (i.e. astronauts, doctors, scientists, and engineers, etc), helping children (5 to 8 years old) see themselves in one of the STEM careers, and motivates them to shape their future through STEM!"
Also read: Baby Loves Scientists* and Dream Big, Little Scientists and Just Like You*
by Rebecca Kai Dotlich illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa*
Grade Level: Preschool, K-2
Summary: "A whirlwind tour through the intriguing world of science
What exactly is science? Stars and planets, rocks and soil, hurricanes and airplanes—science is all of these things and so much more. It's also about curiosity: asking questions and exploring possible answers. Through simple words and child-friendly illustrations, this poetic picture book introduces young children to the exciting and ever-changing world of science."
Also read: Scientists Ask Questions
Grades: PreK-2
Summary: This is just too cute. Multiculutral fairies exploring the scientific method!
"An enchanting STEM-and-fairy-filled picture book. All the fairies in Pixieville believe in magic-- except Esther. She believes in science. When a forest tree stops growing, all the fairies are stumped--including Esther. But not for long! Esther knows that science can get to the root of the problem--and its solution! Whether you believe in fairy magic or the power of science, you will be charmed by Esther, the budding fairy scientist."
by Shelli R. Johannes, Kimberly Derting
illustrated by Vashti Harrison*
Grade Level: Preschool, K-2
Summary: "A series about a 'science-loving, question-asking girl' who discovers that scientific inquiry ... can lead to a lot of fun and adventure.”
Also read: Libby Loves Science and Two Problems for Sophia
Little Leonardo's Fascinating World of Science
Grade Level: 1-3
Summary: Part of a STEAM series! "An introductory primer for kids learning about the "S" in "STEAM" Science. Little Leonardo's Fascinating World of Science introduces kids to the vast and varied areas of science and the different types of scientists they can aspire to become. Whether it's ancient dinosaur bones unearthed by paleontologists, anthropologists studying different cultures around the globe, or new planets discovered by astronomers, there's bound to be something here any child will find fascinating and appealing."
Max Axiom: Investigating the Scientific Method
illustrated by Al Milgram and Tod G. Smith
Grade Level: 2-6
Summary: One of a series covering many STEM topics from genes, to viruses, to food chains. This volume of the comic-book style set of graphic novels is about the scientific method: "When Max Axiom, Super Scientist faces flooding in his city, he has to use two things to help him prevent the river from overflowing: the scientific method and his scientific superpowers. Investigating the Scientific Method with Max Axiom, by Donald Lemke, introduces young scientists to hypotheses, experiments, analysis, and research in a fun graphic novel format. Full-color illustrations and fast-paced text bring excitement to the process of scientific discovery."
Illustrated by Magali Mansilla
Grade Level: K-3
Summary: There are 5 stories in this fun series: one for each of the letters in S.T.E.A.M. Great for gently introducing young scientists to problem-solving and STEAM concepts via story.
Grade Level: 2-6
Summary: This series, aimed at older readers, focuses on environmental sustainability issues and solutions. An information-packed rather than narrative-focused series of texts, however they could be read aloud in sessions.
Grade Level: PreK-4
Summary: No diverse STEM list would be complete without mentioning the enduringly fun Magic School Bus Series. While it's not perfect, it does include a diverse cast of characters, and is a perennial favorite for kids that has aged well.
Let's Read And Find Out Science Series
Grade Level: PreK-4
Summary: These classic, informational yet still read-aloud -able texts actually often have a diverse cast of characters. They are more straightforward and perhaps easier to understand, albeit a little less fun than the Magic School Bus series, and most are still in print. They cover a wide range of topics, from seeds to senses, to dinosaurs and fossils. Unfortunately, if you do a search for the series name ("Let's Read And Find Out Science") on Bookshop.org, you'll come up with nothing, as the website doesn't list them using that name. Amazon does however, so you can do a search on Amazon and find a comprehensive list of the books before *ahem* ... buying them somewhere else more worthy of your dollars. I've also included many of these books in the sections below. <3
Other Diverse STEM Series: Benjamin Blog and His Inquisitive Dog by Anita Ganeri ...
More General STEM Picture Books featuring BIPOC Characters:
Preschool, K-2:
What Can I Be? STEM Careers from A to Z* || A is for Atom* || Dream Big, Little Scientists || Dream Big, Little One* || Smart Sarah and the Magic of Science* || ABC for Me: ABC What Can She Be? || Baby Loves Scientists* || This Little Scientist || Scientist, Scientist, Who Do You See? || This Little Trailblazer: A Girl Power Primer || What Is Science?* || Georgia's Terrific, Colorific Experiment || S is for Scientists: A Discovery Alphabet || Look What Brown Can Do!* || Just Like You* || What is Science? || Cece Loves Science: Push and Pull* || The Weather Girls || Goodnight Lab || Libby Loves Science || A Hundred Trillion Billion Stars || Little Professor Skye || Mighty Mommies and Their Amazing Jobs || My First 100 Technology Words || Scientists Ask Questions || Two Problems for Sophia || Melia & Jo || Fairy Science ||
Grades 1-6:
Little Leonardo's Fascinating World of Science || Born Curious: 20 Girls Who Grew Up To Be Awesome Scientists* || Black Women in Science* || Mad Margaret Experiments with the Scientific Method || Little Leonardo's MakerLab Space || Max Axiom: Investigating the Scientific Method ||
Please support Black and Indigenous-owned bookstores! All the links in this post are to BIPOC-owned bookshops that provide online shopping and delivery options. If you'd rather find a Black-owned store near you, check out this list.
*denotes a book by an author or illustrator of color
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Agriculture & Gardening
A collection of books about farming, agricultural science, soil science, and community gardening:
Green, Green: A Community Garden Story
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: "Green grass is wide and fresh and clean for a family to play in, and brown dirt is perfect for digging a garden. But when gray buildings start to rise up and a whole city builds, can there be any room for green space? The neighborhood children think so, and they inspire the community to join together and build a garden for everyone to share in the middle of the city."
Also read: Indigo Blume and the Garden City* and Messy Bessey's Garden* and The Garden of Happiness and The Apple Tree*
Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table
by Jacqueline Briggs Martin and Will Allen*
Illustrated by Eric-Shabazz Larkin*
Grade Level: 1-6
Summary: "Will Allen is no ordinary farmer. A former basketball star, he's as tall as his truck, and he can hold a cabbage--or a basketball--in one hand. But what is most special about Farmer Will is that he can see what others can't see. When he looked at an abandoned city lot in Milwaukee he saw a huge table, big enough to feed the whole world. No space, no problem. Poor soil, there's a solution. Need help, found it. Farmer Will is a genius in solving problems. In 2008, the MacArthur Foundation named him one for his innovative urban farming methods, including aquaponics and hydroponics."
Also read: Max Axiom: Photosynthesis and How a Seed Grows and Dirt: The Scoop on Soil
The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver
Illustrated by Frank Morrison*
Grade Level: PreK-3
Summary: "The inspirational story of George Washington Carver and his childhood secret garden is brought to life in this picture book biography. When George Washington Carver was just a young child, he had a secret: a garden of his own. Here, he rolled dirt between his fingers to check if plants needed more rain or sun. He protected roots through harsh winters, so plants could be reborn in the spring. He trimmed flowers, spread soil, studied life cycles. And it was in this very place that George’s love of nature sprouted into something so much more—his future."
Illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: A fun riff on the folktale of the gigantic turnip, which emphasizes the importance of working together. It also includes tidbits about planting and cooking. "Grandma Lena takes good care of the turnips she plants in her garden. One turnip grows so big that Grandma can't pull it out of the ground! Even when Grandpa, Uncle Izzy, and the dog help Grandma yank and tug, the big ol' turnip doesn't budge."
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: A sweet and sad story that follows the life-cycle of a chicken from chick to death to new life and introduces children to the concept of a food chain. "Sonya raises her three chickens from the time they are tiny chicks. She feeds them, shelters them and loves them. Everywhere Sonya goes, her chicks are peeping at her heels. Under her care, the chicks grow into hens and even give Sonya a wonderful gift- an egg! One night, Sonya hears noises coming from the chicken coop and discovers that one of her hens has disappeared. Where did the hen go? What happened to her? When Sonya discovers the answers, she learns some important truths about the interconnectedness of nature and the true joys and sorrows of caring for another creature."
by Carla Messinger* and Susan Katz
Grade Level: PreK-4
Summary: A beautiful juxtaposition of two Lenape girls, one in modern day, one living long ago as they participate in family traditions throughout the seasons. "A young Lenape Indian girl observes and reflects on the small, important ways her family today, and her ancestors generations before, celebrate the cycle of seasons.Today when a Lenape Indian girl ventures to the stream to fish for shad, she knows that another girl did the same generations before her. Through the cycle of the seasons, what is important has remained: being with family, knowing when berries are ripe for picking, listening to stories in a warm home. Told by Traditional Sister and Contemporary Sister, each from her own time, this is a book about tradition and about change. Then and now are not so very different when the shadbush blooms."
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: "Sink your teeth into the plants that feed the world—flowers, fruits, seeds, and all! With its simple text and bright, appealing illustrations, this book is perfect for young readers learning about where their food comes from. Clearly-labeled diagrams show the different parts of plants we use and eat—leaves of spinach and cabbage, the roots of carrot plants, and the wide variety of fruits, such as apples, berries, and tomatoes. Plants Feed Me explores the different types of seeds we eat— beans, nuts, rice, and even how wheat is ground into flour and used to make many other types of food. Smiling children pick fruits and vegetables, and learn how plants grow from seeds, stretching toward the sky for sun and into the earth for nutrients. This celebration of fruits, vegetables, and more is sure to get kids interested in what's on their plates!"
Grandpa Cacao: A Tale of Chocolate, From Farm to Family
Grade Level: 1-3
Summary: "This beautifully illustrated story connects past and present as a girl bakes a chocolate cake with her father and learns about her grandfather harvesting cacao beans in West Africa. Chocolate is the perfect treat, everywhere
As a little girl and her father bake her birthday cake together, Daddy tells the story of her Grandpa Cacao, a farmer from the Ivory Coast in West Africa. In a land where elephants roam and the air is hot and damp, Grandpa Cacao worked in his village to harvest cacao, the most important ingredient in chocolate. Chocolate is a gift to you from Grandpa Cacao, Daddy says. We can only enjoy chocolate treats thanks to farmers like him. Once the cake is baked, it's ready to eat, but this isn't her only birthday present. There's a special surprise waiting at the front door . . ."
More Gardening & Agriculture Picture Books
Green, Green: A Community Gardening Story* || Indigo Blume and the Garden City* || Messy Bessey's Garden* || Lola Plants a Garden || Little Seeds || The Bear's Garden || The Garden of Happiness || Green Gardening and Composting || Zana's Great Big Chore* || City Green || Rainbow Stew || The Apple Tree* || All Around Us* || Mr. Okra Sells Fresh Fruit and Vegetables* || How Did That Get in My Lunchbox? The Story of Food || How a Seed Grows || Dirt: The Scoop on Soil || Fungus is Among Us! || The Ugly Vegetables* || Scary, Scary Sasha* || What's in the Garden? || Our Community Garden || Te'Lario's Amazing Mushroom Farm* || The Extraordinary Gardener || Alejandro's Gift || Max Axiom: Photosynthesis || We Planted a Tree || Let's Eat! Sustainable Food for a Hungry Planet || Remembering Lionsville* || Grandpa Cacao: A Tale of Chocolate, From Farm to Family* || First Day in Grapes (about the migrant farming experience, but with a focus on changing schools)||
Biographies:
Harvesting Hope ||Picture Book of Cesar Chavez || I Am Farmer: Growing an Environmental Movement in Cameroon || Farmer Will Allen: Growing Table* || The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver* || Wangari's Trees of Peace ||
Animal Husbandry & Beekeeping
The Thing About Bees* || Bea's Bees || Buzzing With Questions || These Bees Count || Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo's Beemore Breakthru* || Save the Bees || Kami and the Yaks || Muktar and the Camels || The Herd Boy ||
Wild Harvest Books:
Collecting Colour || Wild Berries* || I Wait* || Tucker by Ian Abdulla* || You and Me: Our Place ||
Please support Black and Indigenous-owned bookstores! All the links in this post are to BIPOC-owned bookshops that provide online shopping and delivery options. If you'd rather find a Black-owned store near you, check out this list.
*denotes a book by an author or illustrator of color
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Astronomy Picture Books
Here is a list of diverse children's books about astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, astronauts, space exploration, outer space, and aerospace engineering!
Grade Level: K-4
Summary: "Do you have what it takes to be an astronaut? Blast off in this fun nonfiction picture book by the author of Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum to find out! With an appealing text and funny, brightly colored illustrations, Meghan McCarthy transports aspiring space travelers to astronaut school in her young nonfiction picture book. Take a ride on the "Vomit Comet" and learn how it feels to be weightless. Try a bite of astronaut food, such as delicious freeze-dried ice cream. Have your measurements taken--100 of your hand alone--for your very own space suit. Get ready for liftoff!"
Illustrated by Stasia Burrington*
Grade Level: PreK-4
Summary: "A beautiful picture book for sharing and marking special occasions such as graduation, inspired by the life of the first African American woman to travel in space, Mae Jemison. When Little Mae was a child, she dreamed of dancing in space. She imagined herself surrounded by billions of stars, floating, gliding, and discovering. She wanted to be an astronaut. Her mom told her, "If you believe it, and work hard for it, anything is possible.” Little Mae’s curiosity, intelligence, and determination, matched with her parents' encouraging words, paved the way for her incredible success at NASA as the first African American woman to travel in space. This book will inspire other young girls to reach for the stars, to aspire for the impossible, and to persist with childlike imagination."
Also read: Astro Girl*
Grade Level: 1-6
Summary: "Astronaut John Herrington shares his passion for space travel and his Chickasaw heritage as he gives children a glimpse into his astronaut training at NASA and his mission to the International Space Station. Learn what it takes to train for space flight, see the tasks he completed in space, and join him on his spacewalk 220 miles above the earth. This unique children's book is illustrated with photos from Herrington's training and space travel and includes an English-to-Chickasaw vocabulary list with space-related terms."
Swift Walker: A Space Adventure
Illustrated by Ravshan Karimov
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: Take a fun trip through the solar system with Swift! "Join Swift Walker as his speedy legs take him on a journey that is out of this world, and learn about all the planets in our solar system while you're along for the ride. Swift Walker introduces kids to real facts about our solar system with a fun character they can relate to. Perfect for home, school, or homeschoolers."
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: "This musical mission to Mars will have young astronauts talking--and singing--about the science of space travel. Explore the science behind a trip to Mars, from launch to landing on the Red Planet. Set to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell," this jaunty journey follows five adorable, bobble-headed astronauts as they learn how to bathe in zero gravity, grow veggies in space, and entertain themselves on the six-month trip. Even the design of the book defies gravity, as text and art float free on the page, encouraging readers to turn the book sideways and upside-down. An interactive, innovative approach to interstellar fun."
Illustrated by Rebecca Gerlings
Grade Level: 1-3
Summary: "Join two curious kids as they explore their backyard, and contemplate their place within our vast universe in this adorable picture book that’s full of comparisons to help kids understand cosmic size. If Pluto was a pea… the Sun would be like a tent, Mercury would be a marble, and Earth would be a golf ball. Pluto is the smallest 'planet' in our solar system, but how small is small? As it turns out, it only takes the contents of a lunchbox and a backyard to find out."
Neil deGrasse Tyson - A Life Among the Stars
by Jennifer Berne & Neil deGrasse Tyson*
Grade Level: PreK-4
Summary: "Neil deGrasse Tyson was born curious. And the secrets of a billion galaxies lay there—waiting for him to explore its cosmic mysteries. He just had to look up. Up beyond the city lights, up at the shining stars, up through the Milky Way, and past the veil of the night sky. Follow young Neil's journey as he discovers the wonders of space, the thrill of science, and the joy in sharing the beauty of our amazing universe. Read his favorite mind-blowing facts and learn what mysteries are left to solve. From On a Beam of Light author Jennifer Berne and debut paper illustrator Lorraine Nam comes the inspiring true tale of Neil's life and how he became a world-famous astrophysicist. The future of discovery lays with you. Look up with Neil and begin your own journey into the cosmos."
Illustrated by James E. Ransome*
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: "Mama's away one night, and her son can't sleep. He tries to relax by counting stars, but the more of them he sees, the more determined he is to count every single one. Then the boy finds that Daddy can't sleep either. Together, the two of them set off on an unforgettable all-night journey of discovery."
(Let's Read and Find out Science)
by Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano
Grade Level: 1-4
Summary: "The sun is out in the day and always has a circle shape. The moon’s shape seems to change and you can sometimes see it in the daytime and at night. What are the sun and the moon? How are they the same and how do they differ? Hop into your spaceship and find out! With beautiful illustrations and engaging text, The Sun and the Moon will guide young readers into a deeper understanding of their observations of the sun and the moon. Featuring a find-out-more section with instructions on how to keep an observation log and how to make moon ice, a glossary of new terms, and web research prompts, this book will begin children’s explorations of the sun and the moon."
Also Read: The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System.
More Diverse Picture Books about Outer Space and Astronauts of Color:
Baby Loves Aerospace Engineering || Baby Astronaut || Astronaut Handbook || Busy People: Astronaut || Astro Girl* || My Rainy Day Rocket Ship || Celestina the Astronaut Ballerina || Mae Among the Stars* || You Should Meet: Mae Jemison || Astronaut Annie || Atom Smart: Rocket Dreams || Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race || Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 || Katherine Johnson: You Should Meet || Mission to Space* || The Astronaut with a Song for the Stars ||
Solar System With Ellen || Nerdy Babies: Space || Rocket Says: Look Up! || Gravity* || What Makes Day and Night? || Under the Milky Way || Under the Southern Cross || If Pluto Was a Pea || Swift Walker: A Space Adventure* || Look Up With Me* || Max's Starry Night* || Just for You: Only the Stars* || Starstruck: The Cosmic Journey of Neil Degrasse Tyson || Hey-Ho, to Mars We'll Go! || Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo's Mission to Pluto* || Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo's Meteorite Mission* || My First 100 Space Words || The Sun and the Moon || The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System || The Sky is Full of Stars || Wishing on a Star: Constellation and Stargazing Activities for Kids || How Many Stars in the Sky?* || Blast Off! ||
Please support Black and Indigenous-owned bookstores! All the links in this post are to BIPOC-owned bookshops that provide online shopping and delivery options. If you'd rather find a Black-owned store near you, check out this list.
*denotes a book by an author or illustrator of color
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Atmospheric Science
Picture books about the earth's atmosphere, weather, climate, climate science, climate change and global warming. Also browse the Environment section for more books on renewable energy specifically!
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: Another darling book from the author-illustrator of The Nature Girls. "Summer, Fall, Winter, or Spring—the Weather Girls are ready for whatever the seasons might bring! It’s summer time. We rise and shine! All set to go. We form a line. A big bright sun. Let’s have some fun. We sing and dive and splash and run. Followthese busy girls as they climb mountains, fly hot-air balloons, and soak in a rainbow-sky sunset. Charming rhyming verse and adorable art make this picture book irresistible—and perfect for sharing!"
Also Read: Clouds, Rain, Clouds Again and The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks.
by Brittney Shipp (Meteorologist)*
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: "Have you ever had a dream you thought was too big to share-boldly? Well, this book is for you The Meteorologist In Me is an inspirational tale about a little girl named Summer with a big dream- to become a TV Meteorologist. She loves sharing weather facts with her family and friends and wonders why everyone laughs at the thought of her on T.V. Join Summer's journey as she overcomes her fears, conquers her doubts and gains the courage to reach for her dreams. The Meteorologist In Me encourages us to remember, we can do anything we put our minds to - no matter what."
Illustrated by Bronwyn Bancroft*
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: A sparsely worded story about waiting for water in the Australian outback. "As one dry day follows another in the Australian outback, everyone and everything is waiting for the rain, which seems as though it will never come. Rosie’s kids, the panting dogs, the fat green frogs, and Old Stephen all do what they can to keep cool as they watch for storm clouds on the horizon. Stunningly beautiful full-color artwork and spare text evoke the long wait during the dry season, and the jubilant relief when the long-promised rain finally arrives. Any child can identify with the theme of how hard it is to wait for something you want, and the outsize, brilliantly colored, stylized illustrations—which feature imagery from Aboriginal mythology—make this an especially striking picture book that will captivate and delight young readers."
Also read: Come On Rain and Umbrella.
Illustrated by Maggie Prewett*
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: What is life like in an Australian duststorm? Find out in this fun story! "When a group of desert children invite their school teacher, Mrs White, home for dinner to show her why their homework is always grubby, no-one expects what is to come! They are happily showing Mrs White their higgledy piggledy garden when suddenly a big red sand storm comes billowing over the hill. Sand and spinifex whips at their legs and flies at their heads. They can hardly see through the storm. They hurry back home, only to discover that everything is now red. Their lovely clean house is covered in red dust. The beds are red. The washing on the line is red. The table is red. Their delicious dinner is red and ruined. And Mrs White’s clean white dress has turned into a dusty red dress. Now Mrs. White finally knows why the children’s homework is always so grubby!" If you're in the U.S., you may be able to find this book at Book Depository.
Hip Hip Hooray, It's Monsoon Day
Illustrated by Richard Johnsen
Grade Level: 1-3
Summary: Explores the beauty and danger of the monsoon in the Sonoran Desert of the Southwestern US. "Hip, Hip, Hooray, It's Monsoon Day! is a story of how many people anticipate and celebrate the coming of the monsoon season, which largely defines the North America's spectacular Sonoran Desert. As the story unfolds, Aaron and his family introduce use to cultural traditions and meteorological wonders, and to the animals and plants of this region."
Also Read: Desert Girl, Monsoon Boy* .
A Place Where Hurricanes Happen
Illustrated by Shadra Strickland*
Grade Level: 1-6
Summary: "New Orleans is known as a place where hurricanes happen . . . but that's just one side of the story. Children of New Orleans tell about their experiences of Hurricane Katrina through poignant and straightforward free verse in this fictional account of the storm. As natural and man-made disasters become commonplace, we increasingly need books like this one to help children contextualize and discuss difficult and often tragic events."
More books about Hurricanes: Max Axiom: The Whirlwind of Hurricanes and The Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane and Magic School Bus Presents: Wild Weather and When the Storm Comes and A Storm Called Katrina*
(Let's Read And Find Out Science)
Illustrated by Mary Ann Fraser
Grade Level: 1-4
Summary: "Read and find out about the ups and downpours of the water cycle! With colorful illustrations and engaging text, Down Comes the Rain is a fascinating look into the stages of the water cycle. After rain comes down, the sun comes out and dries the puddles. But the water isn’t gone. The heat from the sun has turned it into water vapor—it has evaporated. Eventually, this moisture in the air condenses to form new clouds. Soon the rain will fall again. This book also includes a glossary and a find out more section with an activity about the water cycle. Both the text and the artwork were newly vetted for accuracy by Don W. Hen and Dr. Sonia M Kreidenweis, Professor of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University."
Also read: The Magic School Bus At the Waterworks.
Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge
by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen
Grade Level: 1-6
Summary: "Trust the bestselling science series of all time to get down to the facts on global warming, so kids can understand the crisis --and how they can help solve it. Like it or not, global warming is a hot topic that will affect the younger generation more than anyone. So why not turn to the teacher kids love most, Ms. Frizzle! Only the Friz can boil all the hoopla down to the scientific facts in a fun and informative way. With trademark simplicity and wit, Joanna Cole explains why the earth is getting warmer, and Bruce Degen's bright, action-filled illustrations make the science easy to understand and fun to learn. This team brings a new, improved understanding to climate change, engaging kids and empowering all. Teachers will cheer!"
What's So Bad About Gasoline? (Let's Read and Find Out Science Series)
Grade Level: 1-6
Summary: "Look around to see what uses oil—cars, airplanes, boats, factories, and countless other machines. The world is dependent on oil as its main source of energy. Although oil is plentiful right now, the supply will eventually run out, and even worse, burning oil is very damaging to the environment. What alternatives can help us use less oil and how can we protect the environment?"
Also read: The Magic School Bus Climate Challenge and Baby Loves Green Energy and Max Axiom: Understanding Global Warming and Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo's Ice Worm Intervention*
Weather Books:
The Weather Girls* || Clouds || The Meteorologist in Me* || Ready For Weather || The Weather / El Tiempo || Together In All Weather || Today is a Sunny Day || Storm in the Night || Rain!* (for younger readers: about the fun of a rainy day)|| Clouds, Rain, Clouds Again || Cloudy Day, Sunny Day* || My Little Golden Book About Weather || In the Rain || Hip Hip Hooray, It's Monsoon Day || Mrs. White and the Red Desert || Science Comics: Wild Weather: Storms, Meterology, and Climate || Max Axiom: The Whirlwind of Hurricanes ||
Water Cycle Picture Books:
|| All the Water In the World || We Need Water || The Drop in My Drink || Magic School Bus at The Waterworks || The Great Big Water Cycle Adventure (there are different skin tones, but to call this book diverse is a bit of a stretch) || The Wild Water Cycle || A Drop in the Ocean: The Story of Water (few characters, but they are racially diverse) || A Drop Around the World (I'm honestly not sure about this one. It's a neat idea, but feels "othering" to me in its execution) || Rivers of Sunlight || Hey Water! || Follow the Water From Brook to Ocean (this is the non-atmosphere half of the water cycle) || You Wouldn't Want to Live Without Clean Water! || My Little Planet: We Need Water || Why Should I Save Water? || The Magic School Bus: At The Waterworks || Zana's Water Woes || One Well
Climate Picture Books:
The Magic School Bus Climate Challenge || Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo's Ice Worm Intervention* || Weird Weather: Why Does Climate Change? || What's so Bad About Gasoline? || Earth's Fever || My Weather Companion Series || Brilliant! Shining a Light on Sustainable Energy || Solar Story || Running on Sunshine || Light is All Around Us || Green Energy || The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind || Green Machine: The Slightly Gross Truth about Turning your Food Scraps into Green Energy || Living Sustainably: Using Energy to Get Around || Air is All Around You || Max Axiom: A Refreshing Look at Renewable Energy || Max Axiom: Understanding Global Warming ||
Board Books:
Nibi is water - Nibi Aawon nbiish || Nerdy Babies: Weather || Baby Loves Green Energy ||
Please support Black and Indigenous-owned bookstores! All the links in this post are to BIPOC-owned bookshops that provide online shopping and delivery options. If you'd rather find a Black-owned store near you, check out this list.
*denotes a book by an author or illustrator of color
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Biology & Ecology
Explore the natural world and the plants and animals in ecosystems and habitats of the great outdoors with these diverse picture books about ecology, zoology, botany, and aquatic and marine biology.
Introduction to Ecology: Biomes, Ecosystems & Food Chains
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: An adorable introduction to the earth's biomes. "A picture book starring an adorable troupe of girls exploring different biomes--the ocean, the desert, the tundra, the grasslands, the forest--and meeting all the cute animals that inhabit them. Delightfully charming art showcases the girls in scenes outdoors with bright, vivid colors. Aki's simple lines bring this world of nature fully to life!"
Read also: Zoe & the Fawn*, and Ruby's Birds, and Bugs!*, and Where's Rodney?* and Fly, Firefly* and Around One Log
Illustrated by Francesca Sanna
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: "Our friend Earth does so many wonderful things! She tends to animals large and small. She pours down summer rain and autumn leaves. She sprinkles whisper-white snow and protects the tiny seeds waiting for spring. Readers of all ages will pore over the pages of this spectacular book. Its enticing die-cut pages encourage exploration as its poetic text celebrates everything Earth does for us, all the while reminding us to be a good friend in return. A celebration of the natural world and rallying cry for positive action for Planet Earth. Great opportunities to share life science concepts and amazing facts about the environment with children."
Illustrated by Clara Anganuzzi
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: This book is such a soft and lovely introduction to the earth's ecosystems and the importance of protecting them, it's a pity it's not easier to find. "When Tessa writes a love letter to the Earth, it's the beginning of a glorious adventure. She blows bubbles with whales, soars with birds and joins in with the noisy rainforest hullabaloo! Tessa wants everyone to know how special our planet is. She believes that there is a chance to save the Earth if enough of us share the message..."
Grade Level: PreK-1
Summary: "How can a leaf become a fish? Join two young children and their dads to find out, as they observe life in and around a stream. Energetic collage art and simple, lyrical text depict the ways plants and animals are connected in the food web. Back matter provides information about the trout life cycle as well as conservation efforts that kids can do themselves.
It's a natural choice for Earth Day."
For Older Kids try: Max Axiom: Exploring Ecosystems || Max Axiom: The World of Food Chains || Max Axiom: Photosynthesis ||
Forest Ecosystems
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: "As trees sway in the cool breeze, blue jays head south, and leaves change their colors, everyone knows--autumn is on its way!
Join a young girl as she takes a walk through forest and town, greeting all the signs of the coming season. In a series of conversations with every flower and creature and gust of wind, she says good-bye to summer and welcomes autumn."
Others in the series: Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring, and Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter
Also read: Summer Days and Nights* .
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary:"Tch, tch, sh, sh, tup, tup. Spend the day picking wild blueberries with Clarence and his grandmother. Meet ant, spider, and fox in a beautiful woodland andscape, the ancestral home of author and illustrator Julie Flett. This book is written in both Enlglish and Cree, in particular the n-dialect, also known as Swampy Cree from the Cumberland House area. Wild Berries is also available in the n-dialect Cree."
Other Books Set in the Rainforest: In the Rainforest (Let's Read and Find Out series) and Yara's Tawari Tree.
Do You Really Want to Visit a Rainforest?
Grade Level: K-4
Summary: "A child goes on an adventure to the Amazon Rainforest, discovering what the climate is like and encountering some of the many species of animals and plants that live in a tropical rainforest. Includes world map of tropical rainforests and glossary."
Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal*
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: "Discover the wonder that lies hidden among the roots, above the winding rivers, and under the emerald leaves of the rainforest. Features animals like the slender parrot snake to the blue morpho butterfly. Explores the canopies, where toucans and pale-billed woodpeckers chatter and call. Other animals include capuchin monkeys who swing from vines and slow-moving sloths who wait out daily thunderstorms. Under the canopy of the rainforest hundreds of animals make their homes, but up in the leaves hides another world. This stunning read is perfect for kids who can't get enough of the rainforest and all the animals living in it. Equal parts educational and beautiful, this book is perfect for parents and grandparents, as well as librarians, science teachers, and educators."
Other books about Rainforests: Exploring Rain Forests with Benjamin Blog ...
Aquatic Ecosystems: Rivers, Streams, Ponds, & Lakes
Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: "A secret underwater world brought to life: In this book, readers will discover the plants and animals that make up the rich, interconnected ecosystem of a mountain pond. Over the pond, the water is a mirror, reflecting the sky. But under the water is a hidden world of minnows darting, beavers diving, and tadpoles growing. These secrets and many others are waiting to be discovered.over and under the pond. An entertaining and educational look at the beauty the ecosystem has to offer. Stunning illustrations paired with an easy-to-follow storyline make this a great read for any early elementary school student."
Grade Level: 1-6
Summary: "In the first of three linked stories, a young boy and his grandfather set out in a birchbark canoe early one spring morning. Together, they discover the peaceful beauty of the lake. In the second story, the sun rises high in the summer sky as they climb a rocky cliff for a bird's-eye view of the land. And, finally, as an autumn night descends, they venture into the woods. Under the patient and gentle guidance of his grandfather, the boy gradually comes to respect the ways of nature and to understand his own place in the world."
Desert and Grassland Ecosystems
by Frances* and Lindsay Haji-Ali
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: "Frances and Lindsay Haji-Ali take us counting backwards from FIFTEEN to ONE on this spectactular journey in the far north of Western Australia. When Frances and Lindsay lived with their family in Broome, they often set out to visit Nana in the tiny outback town of Wyndham over 1,000 km north. These road trips took them across the magnificent Kimberley landscape and inspired this counting story. From bulbous boabs and wild brumbies to weary travellers, flying magpie geese and flowing waterfalls, David Hardy’s striking illustrations capture the awe and excitement of this special family adventure."
Other books exploring Australian ecology: I Saw, We Saw* (written and illustrated by children) || My Home, Broome (illustrations incorporate work from local primary students) ||
Grade Level: PreK-4
Summary: "A stunning picture book about the beauty of the natural world and finding a new place to call home. The beauty of the natural world is just waiting to be discovered . . . When Jayden touches down in New Mexico, he's uncertain how this place could ever be home. But if he takes a walk outside, he just might find something glorious. Flowers in bright shades . . . Birds and lizards and turtles, all with a story to tell . . . Red rock pillars towering in the distance . . . Turquoise sky as far as the eye can see . . . Perhaps this place could be home after all. Gorgeously poetic and visually stunning, this story from acclaimed creators Nikki Grimes and Wendell Minor celebrates the beauty of the Southwest USA as a young boy sees it for the very first time."
Books set in the Southwestern US: Trail Blazers: The Adventures of Lena Lynn* ... The Desert is My Mother* (Bilingual English/Spanish), ... Whispers of the Wolf ... Our California*(also includes manmade features) ... Abuelita's Heart* ... Navajo ABC: A Dine Alphabet Book*.
Books set in African Deserts & Grasslands: We All Went on Safari: A Counting Jounrey Through Tanzania || Diego's Egyptian Expedition || Diego's Safari Rescue ||
Arctic Ecosystems: Tundra, taiga/boreal forest sea ice
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: An introduction to arctic ecosystems and the potential impacts of climate change on the animals who live there. "The freezing ecosystem in the far north of the globe is home to many different kinds of animals. They can be. Strong, like a walrus, Tough, like a lemming, Resilient, like an arctic fox. But no arctic animal is as iconic as the polar bear. Unfortunately, the endangered polar bear is threatened with extinction due to rapid climate change that is causing the ice where it hunts/lives to melt at an alarming rate. If Polar Bears Disappeared uses accessible, charming art to explore what would happen if the sea ice melts, causing the extinction of polar bears, and how it would affect environments around the globe."
by Rebecca Hainnu* and Anna Ziegler
Grade Level: 1-4
Summary: A sweet, informative story where a girl has a day out with her grandmother, and learns about the history and ecology of the tundra. "During the short Arctic summers, the tundra, covered most of the year under snow and ice, becomes filled with colorful flowers, mosses, shrubs, and lichens. These hardy little plants transform the northern landscape, as they take advantage of the warmer weather and long hours of sunlight. Caribou, lemmings, snow buntings, and many other wildlife species depend on tundra plants for food and nutrition, but they are not the only ones... A Walk on the Tundra follows Inuujaq, a little girl who travels with her grandmother onto the tundra. There, Inuujaq learns that these tough little plants are much more important to Inuit than she originally believed. In addition to an informative storyline that teaches the importance of Arctic plants, this book includes a field guide with photographs and scientific information about a wide array of plants found throughout the Arctic."
Other books set in or near the Arctic and Antarctic: Fishing with Grandma ... SkySisters* ...
Marine Ecosystems: Oceans, estuaries, beaches, and tidepools
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist
Illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens
Grade Level: 1-4
Summary: "This is the story of a woman who dared to dive, defy, discover, and inspire. This is the story of Shark Lady. Eugenie Clark fell in love with sharks from the first moment she saw them at the aquarium. She couldn't imagine anything more exciting than studying these graceful creatures. But Eugenie quickly discovered that many people believed sharks to be ugly and scary--and they didn't think women should be scientists.Determined to prove them wrong, Eugenie devoted her life to learning about sharks. After earning several college degrees and making countless discoveries, Eugenie wrote herself into the history of science, earning the nickname "Shark Lady." Through her accomplishments, she taught the world that sharks were to be admired rather than feared and that women can do anything they set their minds to."
Also read: Swimming with Sharks and The Ocean in Your Bathtub .
Sandy Feet! Whose Feet? Footprints at the Shore
Illustrated by Steliyana Doneva
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: "When a family spends a day at the beach, the children investigate various footprints to see what type of creatures live along the shoreline. Rhyming text turns a sandy beach into an outdoor classroom. The tracks and habits of local wildlife, including hopping sandpipers, scuttling crabs, and burrowing turtles, are identified and explained for young ecology detectives. Even Daddy's feet make an appearance! And at day's end, it's time for tired feet to make their way home. STEM-based back matter includes information on how clues like footprints can identify the type of wildlife inhabiting any given habitat."
Other books about beaches, tidepools, and the intertidal zone: Joshua by the Sea*
Backyard Ecology:
Citizen-science for your budding urban, suburban, or rural ecologist.
Illustrated by Ramona Kaulitski
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: "One evening at dusk a wind current carries a lone firefly out over the sea. Glancing down into the water, the insect is mesmerized by the glowing bioluminescence, mistaking it for other fireflies. Seeking company, the firefly plunges into the waves. Luckily, there are human bystanders who can lend a hand. Based on an event witnessed by nature writer and ecologist Rachel Carson (The Sea Around Us and Silent Spring) where a firefly attempts to join its "family" in the ocean, this lyrical story written in verse perfectly illustrates the wonder and delight the natural world offers those who pay close enough attention. Back matter includes science facts about fireflies and bioluminescence, as well as information about Carson's life."
Grade Level: K-3
Summary: "Meet Ruby, a plucky young girl who uncovers the wild side of her city neighborhood with the help of a grown-up friend. When Ruby realizes there are amazing birds right in her neighborhood, her imagination takes flight. Birders have a name for the moment they get hooked--they call it their spark moment. This is the story of Ruby's spark moment, in her very own words. This delightful story includes a seek and find element with birds hiding on nearly every page. Information about where to find all of the birds in real life follows, plus Ruby's tips for taking a nature walk, and how to connect with Celebrate Urban Birds, a citizen-science project at the Cornell Lab."
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: A beautiful book about the joy of exploring urban and suburban landscapes and ecoscapes at twilight. "It's that special time of evening, when the hours and the possibilities seem endless: Light is fading. A buzz of excitement and wonder takes over the neighborhood....What outdoor adventures await? Join a diverse group of suburban kids as they dash and dodge in classic street games like tag and kick-the-can and reconnect with nature's simple pleasures catching frogs, hunting fireflies, and climbing trees. These explorers play, laugh, and make the most of their own front yards right up until their parents call out that "It's time to come home!" But when the sun begins to set tomorrow, they'll be back for more evening excitement! This ode to the timeless magic of summer evenings spent outside will remind kids of the fun and friends that wait just outside their doors and leave adults smiling with nostalgia for their own dusk explorations."
Bat Count: A Citizen Science Story
Illustrated by Susan Detweiler
Grade Level: 1-6
Summary: "Jojo is prepping for an exciting night; it's time for the bat count. Bats have always been a welcome presence during the summers in the family barn. But over the years, the numbers have dwindled as many bats in the area caught white-nose syndrome. Jojo and her family count the bats and send the numbers to scientists who study bats, to see if the bat population can recover. On a summer evening, the family quietly makes their way to the lawn to watch the sky and count the visitors to their farm."
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: "When you see ants running around a hill of dirt, they may not look like they are doing anything important; but each ant that lives in the hill has a special job. Some ants clean the nest or dig new tunnels. Others bring in food or store seeds to eat later. And in each ant city there is a queen ant who is busy laying eggs. In the miles of tunnels and hundreds of rooms underground, these industrious insects work together to keep their ant city alive.
Also read: Hank's Big Day: The Story of a Bug and Bugs!* and Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo's Beemore Breakthru*
Backyard
by Amanda Braxton-Smith & Lizzy Newcomb
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary:
(Let's Read And Find Out Science Series)
Grade Level: PreK-2 Summary: "A house is a home for you, a nest is a home for a bird, and a cave is a home for a bear. But for some animals a shell is a home. Snails and turtles and crabs and clams all have shells that act as their homes and protect them from harm. This Level 1 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out picture book is a fascinating exploration of the many creatures that make a home in a shell. Features rich marine vocabulary and beautifully accurate illustrations of the many types of shells--inside and out. Young readers will love exploring the fascinating homes of creatures like hermit crabs, scallops, and turtles. Both text and artwork were expert-reviewed for accuracy."
More Picture Books:
Ecosystems & Exploring the Natural World
The Nature Girls* || My Friend Earth || Here and Now || Trout Are Made of Trees || Max Axiom: Exploring Ecosystems || Southwest Sunrise* || Max Axiom: The World of Food Chains || Baby Botanist || Only a Tree Knows How to Be a Tree || Just Like Me, Climbing a Tree || Everywhere, Wonder (about observations in general, not just the natural world) || All Around Us* || The Girl of Sparrows || A Persistent Vine* || Native Plant Stories* || Tiger of the Snows || Let's Go Outside! || Where's Rodney?* || Hiking Day || The Hike || The Camping Trip || Hike by Pete Oswald || Dusk Explorers || Morning on the Lake* || A Walk on the Tundra* || Wild Berries || Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn || Adventure Day* ||
Zoology & Animal Picture Books
Fly, Firefly* || Bat Count || What if You Had Animal Eyes? (a series) || Zoo Day || Ant Cities || Hank's Big Day: The Story of a Bug || Ruby's Birds || Bugs!* || The Thing About Bees* || Bea's Bees || Buzzing With Questions || These Bees Count || Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo's Beemore Breakthru* || Save the Bees || Noah Builds an Ark || My Caribbean Dream* || A River Ran Wild || The Boy Who Grew A Forest || Little Bitty Friends || Zoe and the Fawn* || Sharing Our World: Animals of the Native Northwest Coast || Keepers of the Animals: Native American Stories* || Around One Log || Max Axiom: A Journey into Adaptation || Handa's Noisy Night (a bedtime story) || Do You Really Want to Visit a Rainforest? || Luke's Rainforest Adventure* || When My Dad Went to The Jungle ||
Aquatic & Marine Biology Picture Books
Over and Under the Pond || Joshua by the Sea* || Save the Ocean || We Are Water Protectors || What Lives in a Shell? || If Sharks Disappeared || Shawn Loves Sharks || Shark Lady || The Very Last First Time || The Magic School Bus On The Ocean Floor || The Salmon Run || A Walk on the Shoreline || Explore Diversity in the Sea || Free Diving* ||
Board Books & Books for Younger Learners
Jungle Journey: Little World, Push-and-Pull Adventure || Nerdy Babies: Ocean ||
Please support Black and Indigenous-owned bookstores! All the links in this post are to BIPOC-owned bookshops that provide online shopping and delivery options. If you'd rather find a Black-owned store near you, check out this list.
*denotes a book by an author or illustrator of color
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Chemistry Picture Books
While most of the diverse chemistry picture books are of the textbook and how-to variety, there are a few that would work well for read-alouds, which I'm highlighting here:
Grade Level: 1-6
Summary: "Women in Chemistry follows a conversation between an inquisitive young girl, who wonders what living things are made of, and a scientifically astute narrator, whose answers are both accurate and approachable to a young mind. In this way, learning the basics of chemistry becomes a natural outcome of enjoying the story. Designed to motivate girls to learn more about the natural world and see how one person can change the world, this book has been peer reviewed by an extensive team of scientists, science educators, and parents. Delve into the minds of inspirational women who've changed the world with their scientific discoveries. Scientists profiled include Cleopatra the Alchemist, Marie-Anne Paulze Lavoisier, Dawn Shaughnessy, Rosalind Franklin, and Ada Yonath. Concepts covered in this book include: protons, neutrons, electrons, atoms, elements, the periodic table, molecules, chemical structures, chemical reactions, matter, mass, observations, research, hypotheses, experiments, and more."
Georgia's Terrific, Colorific Experiment
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: "Science and art come together in this colorful and empowering picture book about a strong minded girl scientist and her artist family. Is it possible for science and art to really mix? Georgia wants to be a scientist, and a great one at that. But in order become a great scientist, she must first create her own, unique experiment. Her mother, father, grandma, and brother all want to help, but they're artists. How could they possibly help her with science? Everyone knows art and science just don't go together! As Georgia struggles to create her unique experiment, she eventually learns that sometimes science, too, can be a work of art."
Mario and the Hole in the Sky:
How a Chemist Saved Our Planet
Grade Level: 1-4
Summary: "The true story of how a scientist saved the planet from environmental disaster. Mexican American Mario Molina is a modern-day hero who helped solve the ozone crisis of the 1980s. Growing up in Mexico City, Mario was a curious boy who studied hidden worlds through a microscope. As a young man in California, he discovered that CFCs, used in millions of refrigerators and spray cans, were tearing a hole in the earth's protective ozone layer. Mario knew the world had to be warned--and quickly. Today Mario is a Nobel laureate and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His inspiring story gives hope in the fight against global warming."
More Chemistry Picture Books:
Women in Chemistry || Georgia's Terrific, Colorific Experiment || How to Make Ice Cream in a Bag || How to Make Bubbles || How to Make Slime || How Do Molecules Stay Together? || Hooray for Helium! || Cheer for Chlorine || Fizz, Bubble & Flash || Quantum Mechanics! || Temperature: Heating Up, Cooling Down || The Book of Ingeniously Daring Chemistry || Mario and the Hole in the Sky: How a Chemist Saved Our Planet || Max Axiom: The Dynamic World of Chemical Reactions || Max Axiom: Photosynthesis || Max Axiom: Super Cool Chemical Reaction Activities || Zana's Great Big Chore ||
Please support Black and Indigenous-owned bookstores! All the links in this post are to BIPOC-owned bookshops that provide online shopping and delivery options. If you'd rather find a Black-owned store near you, check out this list.
*denotes a book by an author or illustrator of color
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Computer Science, Coding, & Math
Here is a collection of books for all your budding programmers, computer scientists, and mathematicians!
Illustrated by Ben William Whitehouse
Grade Level: PreK-3
Summary: "Gabi's garden needs some help. Where to begin? Gabi and her best friend Adi use if/then statements to decide what to plant, what to water, and what to pick! These scientific thinkers find ways every day to use computer coding concepts to make work and play more fun!" Also in the series: Gabi's Fabulous Functions*, and Adi's Perfect Patterns and Loops*, and Adi Sorts with Variables*.
Grade Level: PreK-3
Summary: "All summer, Pearl has been trying to build the perfect sandcastle, but out-of-control Frisbees and mischievous puppies keep getting in the way! Pearl and her robot friend Pascal have one last chance, and this time, they’re going to use code to get the job done. Using fundamental computer coding concepts like sequences and loops, Pearl and Pascal are able to break down their sandcastle problem into small, manageable steps. If they can create working code, this could turn out to be the best beach day ever! With renowned computer science nonprofit Girls Who Code, Josh Funk and Sara Palacios use humor, relatable situations, and bright artwork to introduce kids to the fun of coding."
Also Read: How to Code a Roller Coaster* or Baby Loves Coding
Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton*
Grade Level: 2-6
Summary: "Sasha Savvy Loves to Code is an early reader chapter book (ages 7-10). The main character, Sasha Savvy, is a super smart 10-year old African-American girl, who lives in Washington, DC. Sasha must choose which class to take for summer camp. Her mom discovers that the camp is offering a new class for girls on how to code. Sasha thinks this will be boring and doesn't believe that she is good at computer stuff. Despite this, she decides to give it a chance and convinces her best friends Gabby Reyes and Ashley Webster, to attend the coding camp with her. Sasha's mom, a Software Developer, gives her a unique formula to help her remember how to code but will it be enough to get her through a challenging first day of camp with bugs everywhere, computing errors, that is."
How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13
Illustrated by Tiemdow Phumiruk*
Grade Level: K-4
Summary: "The bold story of Katherine Johnson, an African-American mathematician who worked for NASA during the space race and was depicted in the film Hidden Figures. You've likely heard of the historic Apollo 13 moon landing. But do you know about the mathematical genius who made sure that Apollo 13 returned safely home? As a child, Katherine Johnson loved to count. She counted the steps on the road, the number of dishes and spoons she washed in the kitchen sink, everything! Boundless, curious, and excited by calculations, young Katherine longed to know as much as she could about math, about the universe. From Katherine's early beginnings as a gifted student to her heroic accomplishments as a prominent mathematician at NASA, Counting on Katherine is the story of a groundbreaking American woman who not only calculated the course of moon landings but, in turn, saved lives and made enormous contributions to history."
Also read: The Girl With the Mind for Math
Grade Level: K-2
Summary: "Mr. Tiffin and his students explore skip counting and estimation in a fun pumpkin-themed classroom experiment! This book makes a wonderful read-aloud companion to any math or science curriculum, and it's a fun way to reinforce counting skills at home. "How many seeds are in a pumpkin?" Mr. Tiffin asks his class as they gather around the big, medium, and small pumpkins on his desk. Robert, the biggest kid, guesses that the largest one has a million seeds; Elinor, sounding like she knows what she's talking about, guesses the medium one has 500 seeds; and Anna, who likes even numbers better than odd ones, guesses that the little one has 22. Charlie, the smallest boy in the class, doesn't have a guess. Counting pumpkin seeds is messy business, but once the slimy job is done, to everyone's surprise, the smallest pumpkin has the most seeds! As Charlie happily exclaims, "Small things have a lot going on inside of them." Also read: Little Leonardo's Fascinating World: Math
More Picture Books About Coding and Math:
How to Code a Sandcastle* || How to Code a Roller Coaster* || Gabi's If/Then Garden* || Sasha Tech Savvy Loves to Code* || Baby Loves Coding || Baby Code Music! || Little Leonardo's MakerLab: Robots ||
Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13* || A Computer Called Katherine || Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race || Rox's Secret Code || Little Leonardo's Fascinating World: Math || The Girl with the Mind for Math || It's About Time || How Do You Know What Time it Is? || How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? || Divide and Ride! || The Great Divide: A Mathematical Marathon || STEAM Stories: The Picnic Problem || A Hundred Trillion Billion Stars || Millions, Billions, & Trillions || How Much is a Million? || Amanda Bean's Amazing Dream || Counting on Frank ||
Please support Black and Indigenous-owned bookstores! All the links in this post are to BIPOC-owned bookshops that provide online shopping and delivery options. If you'd rather find a Black-owned store near you, check out this list.
*denotes a book by an author or illustrator of color
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Earth Sciences: Geology, Hydrology, Palentology
Dig into the earth sciences with diverse kid geologists, hydrologists, geographers, palentologists, and archaeologists as they explore plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, landforms, rocks, fossils, dinosaurs, the water cycle, rivers, erosion, and the forces that shape the land:
(Let's Read and Find Out Series)
Illustrated by James Graham Hale
Grade Level: 1-3
Summary: "A mountain might be thousands of feet high, but it can still grow taller or shorter each year. This classic picture book explores how mountains are made—including how Mount Everest grew from a flat plain under an ocean to become 29,028 feet tall! This book features simple activities and fascinating cross-sections of the earth’s moving crust that clearly explain plate tectonics. Both text and artwork were vetted for accuracy by an expert in the field."
Also read: The Incredible Plate Tectonics Comic and Max Axiom: The Earth-Shaking Facts About Earthquakes and Magic School Bus Presents: Planet Earth and Hill of Fire and Max Axiom: The Explosive World of Volcanoes
Grade Level: 1-4
Summary: I have not had a chance to get my hands on this book yet, but it looks so fun! "The fourth totally awesome, funny, and incredibly informative book in the "I'm Trying to Love..." book series! Think rocks are boring? Hard to like? Kinda just sit there, doing nothing? Why even write a whole book about them Bethany Barton will tell you why . . . because we wouldn't be here if there were no rocks! From the Grand Canyon to volcanos to diamonds and fossils, geology--the study of rocks--shows us where we've been and where we're going. With tons of humor and scores of fascinating facts, Bethany Barton introduces younger readers to geology and why rocks matter . . . enough to write a whole book about them!"
(Let's Read and Find Out series)
Grade Level: 1-4
Summary: "Readers follow two enthusiastic rock hounds around the globe as they add to their collection. Along the way they will learn how sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks are formed. From the Egyptian pyramids to Roman roads, from the diamond ring on your finger to the pebbles under your feet rocks are everywhere!" Also read: The Magic School Bus: Inside the Earth
Grade Level: PreK-1
Summary: "Hey, water I know you You're all around. Join a young girl as she explores her surroundings and sees that water is everywhere. But water doesn't always look the same, it doesn't always feel the same, and it shows up in lots of different shapes. Water can be a lake, it can be steam, it can be a tear, or it can even be a snowman. As the girl discovers water in nature, in weather, in her home, and even inside her own body, water comes to life, and kids will find excitement and joy in water and its many forms. An engaging, aesthetically pleasing nonfiction picture book, complete with accessible backmatter on the water cycle, water conservation, and more."
Also read: Rivers of Sunlight and One Well and Follow the Water From Brook to Ocean
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: "Drip. Sip. Pour me a cup. Water is water unless...it heats up. Whirl. Swirl. Watch it curl by. Steam is steam unless...it cools high. This spare, poetic picture book follows a group of kids as they move through all the different phases of the water cycle. From rain to fog to snow to mist, talented author Miranda Paul and the always remarkable Jason Chin (Redwoods, Coral Reefs, Island, Gravity) combine to create a beautiful and informative journey in this innovative nonfiction picture book that will leave you thirsty for more."
(Let's Read and Find Out Series)
Grade Level: 1-4
Summary: Another great book in this informational series. "What is a fossil? Sometimes it's the imprint of an ancient leaf in a rock. Or it could be the skeleton of a dinosaur that has turned to stone! Aliki describes the different ways fossils are formed and what they tell us about life on Earth long ago."
Here We Go Digging For Dinosaur Bones
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: A fun sing-along book for your youngest palentologist! "Young paleontologists and dinosaur enthusiasts are invited on a fossil dig, set to the tune of "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush." Hike the trail, scan the ground, and make a find--then discover how to build a T. Rex from its bones. Includes hand-play motions for sing-alongs and bite-size science sidebars."
Also Read: Digging Up Dinosaurs
More Earth Science Picture Books:
Nerdy Babies: Rocks || Let's Go Rock Collecting || The Rock Factory: The Story About the Rock Cycle || Dirt: The Scoop on Soil ||
The Magic School Bus: Inside the Earth || How Mountains are Made || The Incredible Plate Tectonics Comic || Hill of Fire || What's Under the Bed? || Max Axiom: The Earth-Shaking Facts About Earthquakes || Max Axiom: The Explosive World of Volcanoes || Magic School Bus Presents: Planet Earth
Rivers of Sunlight || Hey Water! || We Are Water Protectors || Follow the Water From Brook to Ocean || You Wouldn't Want to Live Without Clean Water! || My Little Planet: We Need Water || Why Should I Save Water? || The Magic School Bus: At The Waterworks || Zana's Water Woes || One Well
There Were Dinosaurs Everywhere || Archaeologists Dig For Clues || Hands-On Archaeology: Real-Life Activities for Kids || Little Archaeologist || Baby Palentologist || I'll Be a Palentologist || Fossils Tell of Long Ago ||
Please support Black and Indigenous-owned bookstores! All the links in this post are to BIPOC-owned bookshops that provide online shopping and delivery options. If you'd rather find a Black-owned store near you, check out this list.
*denotes a book by an author or illustrator of color
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Engineering, Invention, & Design
Explore innovative invention and design with these books featuring engineers, architects, builders, makers, and other inventors of color, and a world of architecture, engineering, invention, construction, gadgets, and design.
Abby Invents Unbreakable Crayons
Illustrated by Dana Necsulescu
Grade Level: PreK-3
Summary: For fans of Ada Twist, Scientist, written by an engineer! "Tired of coloring with broken crayons, Abby invents the world's first UNBREAKABLE CRAYONS. She even gets a patent to prove it Through Abby's failures and eventual success, she playfully introduces young readers to the scientific method. This book also contains a fun activity page, encouraging young readers to create their own unbreakable crayons. For kids ages 5-8."
Also check out: Izzy Gizmo and Two Problems for Sophia and Jabari Tries
STEAM Stories: The Backyard Build
Illustrated by Magali Mansilla*
Grades: PreK-3
Summary: One volume in a STEAM series where kids DIY! "Max and Suzy are bored and wish they had a playground in the garden—can the dynamic duo use their engineering know-how to build a swing, slide, and see-saw? Challenges include: choosing the best material to use, how to measure things, and work out how to test their designs. Next steps at the end of the book detail the engineering behind the story, with hands-on activities for children to experiment with the concepts explained, and find out for themselves how things work. This STEAM story introduces the concepts of planning and implementing a project. Together with Max and Suzy, young learners will explore the wonders of engineering."
Little Leonardo's Fascinating World of Technology
Grade Level: 1-3
Summary: One of a STEAM series. "An introductory primer for kids focusing on the "T" portion of "STEAM" the ever-changing area of Technology. With original Renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci as inspiration, this fascinating new volume in the Little Leonardo series introduces kids to the wonders of technology and the people who create it. Learn how nine fields of technology are present in nearly every aspect of our lives. From the invention of the wheel several thousand years ago to the increasing miniaturization of our computers, smartphones, and other electronic devices, we've always been looking for new ways technology can make our lives easier."
Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson's Super Soaking Stream of Inventions
Grade Level: 2-6
Summary: Biography. "You know the Super Soaker. It’s one of top twenty toys of all time. And it was invented entirely by accident. Trying to create a new cooling system for refrigerators and air conditioners, impressive inventor Lonnie Johnson instead created the mechanics for the iconic toy. A love for rockets, robots, inventions, and a mind for creativity began early in Lonnie Johnson’s life. Growing up in a house full of brothers and sisters, persistence and a passion for problem solving became the cornerstone for a career as an engineer and his work with NASA. But it is his invention of the Super Soaker water gun that has made his most memorable splash with kids and adults."
Have You Thanked An Inventor Today?
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: ""Have You Thanked an Inventor Today? chronicles the school day of a little boy, highlighting different inventions he uses throughout his day, all of which were invented by African-Americans. It comes complete with brief biographies about each inventor as well as fun activities that promote and encourage reading comprehension. It was selected by Microsoft as a book that inspires STEM and received a 5 Star Rating from Reader's Favorite!"
More books about inventors: Gary and the Great Inventors* || The Woman Who Invented Weaving || Benjamin Banneker (Astronomer, Clockmaker) ||
More Diverse Picture Books about Design, Engineering and Invention:
Great Inventors || Gary and the Great Inventors* || Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson's Super Soaking Stream of Inventions || Famous STEM Inventors || Have You Thanked an Inventor Today? || The Inuit Thought of It || Ada Twist, Scientist || When Grandpa Gives You a Toolbox || Little Leonardo's Fascinating World of Engineering || Little Leonardo's Fascinating World of Technology || The Carpenter || Math on the Job: Working in Construction || Abby Invents Unbreakable Crayons* || Jabari Tries || The Patchwork Bike || Boxitects || Touch the Earth || Princess Truly: I Can Build It! || Izzy Gizmo || Building Books || Dreaming Up || STEAM Stories: The Backyard Build* || STEAM Stories: Robot Repairs* || Be a Maker || Galimoto || Two Problems for Sophia || What Does it Mean to Be An Entrepreneur? || The Invention Hunters || The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind || Anna, Kid Engineer || Iqbal and his Ingenious Idea || Sweet Dreams, Sarah || Benjamin Banneker (Astronomer, Clockmaker) || Lewis Latimer: The Man Behind a Better Lightbulb || The Unstoppable Garrett Morgan || Phones Keep Us Connected || Max Axiom: Super Cool Construction Activities || Our Inventor || The World is Not a Rectangle || Little Leonardo's MakerLab: Building || The Woman Who Invented Weaving ||
Please support Black and Indigenous-owned bookstores! All the links in this post are to BIPOC-owned bookshops that provide online shopping and delivery options. If you'd rather find a Black-owned store near you, check out this list.
*denotes a book by an author or illustrator of color
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Environmental Science & Sustainability
Here you can find books about environmental sustainability, natural resources, conservation & stewardship, recycling, green living, atmospheric science, climate change, renewable energy, and caring for the environment for your budding naturalist, environmental scientist, or concerned citizen. Perfect reads for Earth Day or any day.
Illustrated by Christiane Engel
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: A lovely introduction to enjoying different ecosystems and small things you can do to take care of them. "From leaves falling and becoming fertilizer to raindrops bringing plants to life in the spring, the cycle of every season has something to enjoy. While delighting in all nature offers, we need to remember to respect and treasure the world around us. This sweet rhyming story follows the change in seasons and illustrates how we can all be stewards of the Earth."
Also read: Our Big Home , Heal the Earth , and 10 Things I Can Do to Help My World
Natural Resources Books
Grade Level: 1-6
Summary: A beautiful and informative exploration of how we extract and process several of earth's natural resources. "From salt, tofu, and rice to glass, cotton, and paper, the Earth bestows upon us so many gifts. As we utilize these wonderful gifts in our everyday lives, we need to remember to give thanks to nature who has given them to us. Vivid, step-by-step descriptions and engaging illustrations introduce young readers to how different gifts from the Earth are made, such as salt, glass, clothes, and paper."
Also read: Be a Friend to Trees, and Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya*
Illustrated by Magaly Morales*
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: A sugary-sweet and magical story connecting a little girl's bubble gum back to the people who harvested the chicle in Mexico. "Chavela loves chomping chicle—chewing gum. And she loves blowing bubbles even more. One day, while out with her abuelita, she finds a mysterious kind of gum she’s never seen before. She pops it in her mouth and blows a giant bubble that lifts her up into the air and carries her on a magical journey. Luscious, candy-colored paintings illustrate this fantastical story with an ecological twist. An afterword provides information on natural chewing gum, the rainforest, and sustainable farming, as well as music to a traditional Latin American folksong."
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: A lovely story that could be used as a gentle nudge toward the importance of natural resources and their conservation. "Yara lives with her Mama in the Amazon jungle trying to rescue her beloved but increasingly troubled rainforest home. When Yara falls gravely ill, the forest returns the love and saves Yara’s life. Written in rhyme and featuring vibrant watercolor illustrations by Joanna Pasek, this is the introductory volume to a new picture-book series showing children how all living things on our beautiful planet depend on one another."
Water Conservation and Protection Books
Illustrated by Michaela Goade*
Grade Level: PreK-4
Summary: "Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption—a bold and lyrical picture book written by Carole Lindstrom and vibrantly illustrated by Michaela Goade. Water is the first medicine. It affects and connects us all . . . When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth And poison her people’s water, one young water protector Takes a stand to defend Earth’s most sacred resource."
Also read: The Water Walker* || One Well
Ecosystem Conservation Books
The True Story of Jadev Payeng
Grade Level: PreK-4
Summary: "As a boy, Jadav Payeng was distressed by the destruction deforestation and erosion was causing on his island home in India's Brahmaputra River. So he began planting trees. What began as a small thicket of bamboo, grew over the years into 1,300 acre forest filled with native plants and animals. The Boy Who Grew a Forest tells the inspiring true story of Payeng--and reminds us all of the difference a single person with a big idea can make."
Also read: Planting the Trees of Kenya and Seeds of Change and Mama Miti and Wangari Maathai and Wangari's Trees of Peace
Climate Change Books
Grade Level: 1-6
Summary: "Look around to see what uses oil—cars, airplanes, boats, factories, and countless other machines. The world is dependent on oil as its main source of energy. Although oil is plentiful right now, the supply will eventually run out, and even worse, burning oil is very damaging to the environment. What alternatives can help us use less oil and how can we protect the environment? Read and find out!
Also read: The Magic School Bus Climate Challenge and Energy: Heat, Light, and Fuel and Max Axiom: Understanding Global Warming and Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo's Ice Worm Intervention*
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: An introduction to arctic ecosystems and the potential impacts of climate change on the animals who live there. "The freezing ecosystem in the far north of the globe is home to many different kinds of animals. They can be. Strong, like a walrus, Tough, like a lemming, Resilient, like an arctic fox. But no arctic animal is as iconic as the polar bear. Unfortunately, the endangered polar bear is threatened with extinction due to rapid climate change that is causing the ice where it hunts/lives to melt at an alarming rate. If Polar Bears Disappeared uses accessible, charming art to explore what would happen if the sea ice melts, causing the extinction of polar bears, and how it would affect environments around the globe."
by Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano
Illustrated by Giovana Medeiros
Grade Level: PreK-4
Summary: "The sun is a source of energy for living things. Energy that comes from sunshine is called solar energy. But how does solar energy work? And how can we use solar energy to not only stay on the cutting-edge of technology, but to help keep the environment healthy? This nonfiction picture book is an excellent choice to share during homeschooling, in particular for children ages 4 to 6. It’s a fun way to learn to read and as a supplement for activity books for children. Read and find out about solar roads that light up when there’s danger ahead, like a moose on the road—and did you know that someday tiny solar chips placed in someone’s eyes could help a blind person see? Learn all this and more!"
Also read: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind* and Baby Loves Green Energy and Max Axiom: A Refreshing Look at Renewable Energy
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: "Alba the fish has spent her entire life collecting precious objects that drift down to the ocean floor. From delicate shells to brightly colored coral, each year on her birthday she gathers one more precious item. But over the years, Alba notices her collection is losing its sparkle and that the world is changing. There is trash everywhere! When, on her birthday hunt, something unthinkable happens, it seems like the plastic may have changed her ocean home forever. Is it too late? Alba and the Ocean Cleanup is a beautifully illustrated picture book about what we can do to save this important ecosystem."
Also read: Save the Ocean and Galapagos Girl / Galapagueña* and My Caribbean Dream*
Grade Level: 1-6
Summary: An informational text that examines various recycling and landfilling processes. Part of a series of environmental and science texts. "Follow that garbage truck…to the landfill to see how trash keeps piling up…to the incinerator to see how trash can be turned into energy…to the recycling center to see how a soda bottle can be turned into a flowerpot. This classic picture book is a fascinating exploration of what happens to our trash. This nonfiction picture book is an excellent choice to share during homeschooling, in particular for children ages 4 to 6. It’s a fun way to learn to read and as a supplement for activity books for children. Now rebranded with a new cover look, this picture book is filled with fun charts and diagrams to explain how we deal with the problem of too much trash. Activities throughout the book empower kids to help the environment, whether it's by separating trash from recycling or using a lunch box instead of a paper bag. Both text and artwork were vetted for accuracy by Robin Woods, formerly of the United States Environmental Protection Agency"
Also read: Kids Fight Plastic , Recycling Day
More Diverse Environmental Sustainability Picture Books
The Earth Gives More || Our Big Home || Alba and the Ocean Cleanup || Heal the Earth || One Earth || Earth Day || This is Our World || Earth Hour || Earth Day || Keepers of the Earth || Our Gift Filled Earth* || You Should Meet: Kids Who Are Saving the Planet || Old Enough to Save the Planet || The Everything Kids' Environment Book || 10 Things I Can Do to Help My World || Sissy Goes Tiny || One Plastic Bag || Kenya's Art || Magic Trash || The Soda Bottle School || Rainbow Weaver || Rocket Says Clean Up! || Kids Fight Plastic || Recycling is Fun || Where Does the Garbage Go? || We Recycle by Torrey Maloof || Green Machine: The Slightly Gross Truth about Turning your Food Scraps into Green Energy || Trash Revolution: Breaking the Waste Cycle || Katie Woo Saves the Earth || Trash Talk: Moving Toward a Zero-Waste World || Recycling Day || Go Green! || 10 Things I Can Do to Help My World || Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya* || Wangari's Trees of Peace || Fairy Science || Love the Earth || Save the Land || Save the Arctic || One Well || Be a Friend to Trees || Galapagos Girl / Galapagueña* || My Caribbean Dream* || Riki's Birdhouse ||
More Diverse Energy Conservation & Renewable Energy Books
The Magic School Bus Climate Challenge || What's so Bad About Gasoline? || Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo's Ice Worm Intervention* || Weird Weather: Why Does Climate Change? || Earth's Fever || My Weather Companion Series || Baby Loves Green Energy || Brilliant! Shining a Light on Sustainable Energy || Solar Story || Running on Sunshine || Light is All Around Us || Baby Loves Green Energy || Green Energy || The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind* || Green Machine: The Slightly Gross Truth about Turning your Food Scraps into Green Energy || Living Sustainably: Using Energy to Get Around || Air is All Around You || Max Axiom: A Refreshing Look at Renewable Energy || Max Axiom: Understanding Global Warming ||
Natural Resource Extraction
Free Diving* ||
Please support Black and Indigenous-owned bookstores! All the links in this post are to BIPOC-owned bookshops that provide online shopping and delivery options. If you'd rather find a Black-owned store near you, check out this list.
*denotes a book by an author or illustrator of color
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Medical Science Picture Books
Multicultural picture books about medical doctors, nurses, dentists, veterinarians, health, illness, and the human body: anatomy and physiology.
Grade Level: Preschool, K-4
Summary: "Olivia's Doctor Adventures" allows children to explore the world of medicine by learning about different types of doctors through the eyes of a child. Take a journey with Olivia as she dives in and learns about surgeons, pediatricians, cardiologist and so much more! This is a great STEM book for children for all ages and will plant the seeds of possibility in their minds that they too can become doctors!"
Also read: Doc Like Mommy*
Patricia's Vision: The Doctor Who Saved Sight
illustrated by Alleanna Harris*
Grade Level: Preschool, K-4
Summary: "Born in the 1940s, Patricia Bath dreamed of being an ophthalmologist at a time when becoming a doctor wasn’t a career option for most women—especially African-American women. This empowering biography follows Dr. Bath in her quest to save and restore sight to the blind, and her decision to “choose miracles” when everyone else had given up hope. Along the way, she cofounded the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness, invented a specialized laser for removing cataracts, and became the first African-American woman doctor to receive a medical patent."
Grade Level: PreK
Summary: A nice introductory text about the role of nurses in medical communities.
"Nurses keep us healthy. Learn about a nurse's tools, workplace, and role in the community."
Open Wide, Tooth School Inside
Grade Level: K-2
Summary: "A fun-filled introduction to teeth. It's time for tooth school and Dr. Flossman is excited to meet the incoming class of 32--eight incisors, four canines, eight premolars, and twelve molars, including the four wisdom teeth. There's just so much to learn--from brushing and flossing to dentin and pulp to every student's nightmare: tooth decay!
Best read with a toothbrush in hand, this hilarious book is full of interesting facts (for instance, George Washington's teeth were not made of wood, despite popular belief) and a classroom full of quirky characters. Young readers will laugh their way to a better appreciation for those pearly whites that beckon them to brush. And from there it's just a short hop to flossing. This title has Common Core connections."
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: "In My Amazing Body, many aspects of health and physical fitness are explained in a way that younger children can readily understand. This lively picture book explores the importance of a good diet and plenty of exercise, and encourages kids to make positive decisions about caring for themselves. Kids discover that even healthy people get ill sometimes, but that our bodies have special abilities to protect us and restore our health. Titles in this series for younger children explore emotional issues that boys and girls encounter as part of the growing-up process. Books are focused to appeal to kids of preschool through early school age. Written by psychotherapist and counselor Pat Thomas, A First Look At books promote positive interaction among children, parents, and teachers, and encourage kids to ask questions and confront social and emotional questions that sometimes present problems. Books feature appealing full-color illustrations on every page plus a page of advice to parents and teachers."
The Story of How We Get Our Skin Color
Grade Level: PreK-2
Summary: "Celebrate the essence of one way we are all special and different from one another--our skin color! This bilingual (English/Spanish) book offers children a simple, scientifically accurate explanation about how our skin color is determined by our ancestors, the sun, and melanin. It's also filled with colorful photographs that capture the beautiful variety of skin tones. Reading this book frees children from the myths and stereotypes associated with skin color and helps them build positive identities as they accept, understand, and value our rich and diverse world. Unique activity ideas are included to help you extend the conversation with children."
Grade Level: 1-6
Summary: "Educator and psychologist Dr. JoAnn Deak offers a fun and engaging introduction to the anatomy and functions of the brain that will empower each young reader to S-T-R-E-T-C-H and grow their fantastic, elastic brain. Looking for award-winning picture books for curious kids? Your Fantastic Elastic Brain is the perfect fit. Dr. Deak shares information in ways that are accessible for parents, teachers, and children alike. Delightful illustrations with accurate details foster motivation to learn and grow in new ways.
Max Axiom: Understanding Viruses
by Agniesezka Biskup & Wade A Bresnahan Illustrated by Nick Derington
Grade Level: 2-6
Summary: "Follow Max Axiom on a microscopic adventure into the world of VIRUSES In this action-packed graphic novel, the one-and-only Super Scientist shrinks to the size of bacteria, discovers ways to stay healthy, and more Through comic-book style art, Max Axiom transforms science topics, like biology, into superpowered adventures." Also read: Germs Make Me Sick
More Diverse Picture Books About Medical Professions:
Olivia's Doctor Adventures* || I Want to Be a Doctor || Doc McStuffins || Doc Like Mommy* || The Doctor with an Eye for Eyes || Patricia's Vision: The Doctor Who Saved Sight* || The Little Doctor / El Doctorcito* || A Day with a Doctor || Tiny Stitches: The Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien Thomas* || I'll Be a Doctor || Nola the Nurse Series* || Helping You Heal: A Book About Nurses || Nurses Help || A Day in the Life of a Nurse || I Want to Be a Nurse || Hooray for Nurses! || Doctors Help || Keeping You Healthy: A Book About Doctors || Hear Your Heart || EMT Morales - Clamshell Stretcher || EMT Morales - Comfort Bear || How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon? || Doctor First Time || Hospital First Time || Leo Gets a Checkup || Lions Aren't Scared of Shots || Dentists Help || Hooray for Dentists! || Open Wide: Tooth School Inside || The Crocodile and the Dentist || Ava Goes to the Dentist || A Visit to the Dentist || Today I'm a Veterinarian ||
More Diverse Picture Books About the Human Body:
Play Tabs: Body || Hello World: My Body || Brilliant Body || My Amazing Body || Little Explorers: My Amazing Body || My Busy Body || Baby Loves the Five Senses: Sight || Baby Loves the Five Senses: Hearing || Baby Loves the Five Senses: Smell || Eyes, Nose, Fingers and Toes || I Love You, Nose! I Love You Toes! || Lucha Libre: Anatomy || Power Up: Your Incredible, Spectacular, Supercharged Body || The Busy Body Book: A Kid's Guide to Fitness || The Everything Kids' Human Body Book || Let's Talk About Body Boundaries ||
Skin Picture Books:
Your Skin and Mine || All the Colors We Are: The Story of How We Get Our Skin Color || Your Skin Holds You In || Daddy, Why am I Brown?* ||
Nervous System Picture Books:
My Fantastic, Elastic Brain || Our Brains || My Nervous System || Why I Sneeze, Shiver, Hiccup, & Yawn ||
Immune System Picture Books:
Germs Make Me Sick || Sick Simon || My Respiratory System || Our Lungs || Immune System || Max Axiom: Understanding Viruses || Max Axiom: The Surprising World of Bacteria ||
Digestive System Picture Books:
The Quest to Digest || Your Amazing Digestion from Mouth Through Intestine || Max Axiom: A Journey through the Digestive System || The Magic School Bus: Inside the Human Body ||
Circulatory, Muscular & Skeletal System Picture Books:
The Magic School Bus Has a Heart || Our Muscles || My Muscular System || My Muscles || You Can't See Your Bones with Binoculars || How Many Teeth? || Teeth are Not For Biting ||
Cell Biology Picture Books:
Stem Cells are Everywhere || Max Axiom: The Basics of Cell Life || Max Axiom: Decoding Genes ||
Please support Black and Indigenous-owned bookstores! All the links in this post are to BIPOC-owned bookshops that provide online shopping and delivery options. If you'd rather find a Black-owned store near you, check out this list.
*denotes a book by an author or illustrator of color
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Physics Picture Books
A collection of multicultural picture books about physics. Many of the books about forces, matter, and energy lean a little more toward the informational-text side of non-fiction but I tried to highlight a few with a bit of a narrative weaving through, so they should still suit a read-aloud!
Grade Level: PreK-1
Summary: "What keeps objects from floating out of your hand? What if your feet drifted away from the ground? What stops everything from floating into space? Gravity. As in his previous books, Redwoods, Coral Reefs, and Island, Jason Chin has taken a complex subject and made it brilliantly accessible to young readers in this unusual, innovative, and very beautiful book. Chin's approach makes this book a must-have common core tool for teachers and librarians introducing scientific principals to young students."
Also read: Groovy Gravity
Grade Level: 1-6
Summary: "Can you make an ice cube disappear? Put it on a hot sidewalk. It melts into water and then vanishes! The ice cube changes from solid to liquid to gas. This Level 2 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out picture book is a fascinating exploration of the three states of matter. Uses simple, fun diagrams to explain the difference between solids, liquids and gases. This book also includes a find out more section with experiments designed to encourage further exploration and introduce record keeping. Both text and artwork were vetted for accuracy by Dr. Leonard Fine, formerly of Columbia University, and Dr. Karin Block of the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the City College of New York."
Also read: Max Axiom: The Solid Truth About States of Matter or Air is All Around You
Grade Level: 1-6
Summary: "Did you know that energy comes from the food you eat? From the sun and wind? From fuel and heat? You get energy every time you eat. You transfer energy to other things every time you play baseball. In this book, you can find out all the ways you and everyone on earth need energy to make things happen." Also try: Energy: Heat, Light, and Fuel or The Powerful World of Energy with Max Axiom
Grade Level: 1-6
Summary: "Explore the functions of levers, wheels, and pulleys, and learn how to lift a lion, pull a panda, and deliver a basket of bananas to a baboon birthday party!"
Also read: Max Axiom: A Crash Course in Forces and Motion
Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung
Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom
Grade Level: 1-6
Summary: "When Wu Chien Shiung was born in China 100 years ago, most girls did not attend school; no one considered them as smart as boys. But her parents felt differently. Giving her a name meaning “Courageous Hero,” they encouraged her love of learning and science. This engaging biography follows Wu Chien Shiung as she battles sexism and racism to become what Newsweek magazine called the “Queen of Physics” for her work on beta decay. Along the way, she earned the admiration of famous scientists like Enrico Fermi and Robert Oppenheimer and became the first woman hired as an instructor by Princeton University, the first woman elected President of the American Physical Society, the first scientist to have an asteroid named after her when she was still alive, and many other honors."
Grade Level: 1-6
Summary: "Can one girl's questions change the world? The Science Wide Open series invites your child into the breathtaking world of science! Women in Physics follows a conversation between an inquisitive young girl, who wonders why things move the way that they do, and a scientifically astute narrator, whose answers are crafted to be both accurate and approachable to a young mind. Concepts covered in the Women in Physics book include: Matter, Mass, Force, Gravity, Atoms, Elements, X-rays, Radioactivity, Observation, Research, Hypotheses, Experiments, …and more! Scientists profiled include Emilie du Chatelet, Laura Bassi, Marie Curie, Irene Joliot-Curie, and Chien-Shiung Wu. The Science Wide Open series has been peer reviewed by a team of over 17 PhDs and science educators, along with hundreds of parents!"
Energy: Heat, Light, and Fuel || Energy Makes Things Happen || Light is All Around Us || Light: Shadows, Mirorrs, and Rainbows || The Invention Hunters Discover How Light Works || Baby Loves Thermodynamics || The Magic School Bus and the Electric Field Trip || The Invention Hunters Discover How Electricity Works || Baby Loves Quantum Physics || Max Axiom: The Illuminating World || The Powerful World of Energy with Max Axiom ||
Baby Loves Gravity || Gravity by Jason Chin || Groovy Gravity || How Do You Lift a Lion? || Roll, Slope and Slide || How Do Seesaws Go Up and Down || STEAM Stories: The Great Go-Kart Race || Forces: Physical Science for Kids || Move It! Motion, Forces and You || Forces Make Things Move || Simple Machines: Wheels, Levers, and Pulleys || The Invention Hunters Discover How Machines Work || The Invention Hunters Discover How Sound Works || Max Axiom: A Crash Course in Forces and Motion || Max Axiom: The Attractive Story of Magnetism || The Book of Wildly Spectacular Sports Science: 54 All-Star Experiments ||
What is the World Made Of? All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases || What's the Matter in Mr. Whisker's Room? || Change It! Solids, Liquids, Gases and You || Matter: See It, Touch It, Taste It, Smell It || Max Axiom: The Solid Truth About States of Matter || Touch It! Materials, Matter and You || Air is All Around You || Matter: Physical Science for Kids || Women in Physics || Queen of Physics* ||
Please support Black and Indigenous-owned bookstores! All the links in this post are to BIPOC-owned bookshops that provide online shopping and delivery options. If you'd rather find a Black-owned store near you, check out this list.
*denotes a book by an author or illustrator of color
{ Return to Table of Contents }
I hope you found this list helpful!
If you have any suggestions, please let me know in the comments!
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