Category: Theme Books

Posted on

Growing List of Children’s Books about Fungi

Fungi are a mysterious and misjudged group.  What better way to learn about them than by reading a children’s book?

Disclosure: I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at not extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

Note:  Books are organized by reading age from youngest to oldest.

We Are Fungi by Christine Nishiyama

This unusual picture book tells two stories side-by-side. The text is pretty much standard informational nonfiction, while the illustrations present a fictional young girl on a fungal adventure. Toward the end, the illustrations take a dark turn into fantasy. At the same time, the text presents conflicting attributes about fungi in a way that may be confusing to little ones.

“We are kind and polite, and we are friends of the trees.
We are selfish and rude, and we are enemies of the trees.”

We are Fungi fills a niche of books for the youngest readers, but would be best read with an adult who can answer any questions it raises.

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 3 – 6 years
Publisher ‏ : ‎ We Are Fungi (September 12, 2017)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0999403907
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0999403907

Mushroom Rain by Laura K. Zimmermann and illustrated by Jamie Green

With gorgeous illustrations, Mushroom Rain introduces young readers to the the basics of mushrooms.

Back matter includes a glossary, additional mushroom facts, and a science activity.

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 – 8 years
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sleeping Bear Pr (March 15, 2022)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1534111506
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1534111509

Fungus is Among Us! by Joy Keller and illustrated by Erica Salcedo

The rhyming text will appeal to the youngest reader. The detailed information and interview with a real mycologist (fungus scientist) will engage older readers.

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 5 – 10 years
Publisher ‏ : ‎ The Innovation Press (September 24, 2019)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1943147647
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1943147649

 

Humongous Fungus by Lynne Boddy and illustrated by Wenjia Tang

Mushrooms come in all colors, shapes, and sizes. They carpet the forest floor, and hidden fungi decompose matter, feed plants, and affect how animals function by turning ants and flies into zombies.

For slightly older readers, and written from a UK perspective.

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 7 – 9 years
Publisher ‏ : ‎ DK Children (August 17, 2021)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0744033330
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0744033335

Middle Grade

Funky Fungi: 30 Activities for Exploring Molds, Mushrooms, Lichens, and More by Alisha Gabriel and Sue Heavenrich

 

Although the suggested reading age is 7-9, this book is appropriate for middle grade on up to adult. Educators will love it.

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 7 – 9 years
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Chicago Review Press (June 21, 2022)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1641605774
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1641605779

The Mushroom Fan Club by Elise Gravel

Author-illustrator Elise Gravel is takes a whimsical look at one of her family’s most beloved pastimes: mushroom hunting. As with We Are Fungi above, the nonfiction is tinged with fictional elements, as you can see by the fact the mushrooms all have eyes in the illustrations. .

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 6 years and up
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Drawn and Quarterly; Illustrated edition (May 8, 2018)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1770463224
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1770463226

Fungarium: Welcome to the Museum by Ester Gaya and illustrated by Katie Scott

 

This video shows an overview of the book as the presenter leafs through the pages to music. Gives you an idea of the topics and illustrations. The well-organized sections make a great example of browseable nonfiction.

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 – 12 years
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Big Picture Press; Illustrated edition (April 6, 2021)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1536217093
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1536217094

Molds, Mushrooms & Other Fungi by Steve Parker

 

Steve Parker gives an overview of the different types of fungi and tells what isn’t considered to be a fungus. Did you know a slime mold is not a true fungus? He explains how diverse fungi such as molds, yeast and mushrooms feed, how they reproduce, and how they are useful. He also reveals many of their mysteries.

f you like a book with brilliant color photographs, then you are going to love this one. Starting with the eye-catching bright red toadstool on the front cover, every page is beautifully laid out and visually appealing. Each photo makes you stop and ponder, there will be no leafing through this one. The section on “Tasty Fungi” looks good enough to eat.

Part of the Kingdom Classification series, this is a timely book because it also contains the most up-to-date information about classification of living things.

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Published: August 15, 2009
ISBN-10: 0756542235
ISBN-13: 978-0756542238

Fiction Picture Book

Mushroom in the Rain: Adapted from the Russian of V. Suteyev by Mirra Ginsburg and illustrated by Jose Aruego

 

Caught out in the rain, an ant takes shelter under a tiny mushroom. Soon, a wet butterfly, then a drenched mouse, a dripping sparrow, and even a rain-soaked rabbit each beg to join him under his miniature umbrella. How can the ant let the others in when there is barely room enough for one? But as the rain comes down and down, they all somehow manage to squeeze together and share the  shelter. How can it be? When the sun finally comes out, the ant discovers a secret of just what happens to mushrooms in the rain!

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 3 – 8 years
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Aladdin Books; 1st edition (April 1, 1997)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0689714416
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0689714412

 

 

Posted on

Children’s Books To Inspire Theme Gardens

In a previous post at Growing with Science blog on theme gardens, I promised to dig up (ugh!) some relevant children’s books to inspire creativity in the garden.

Note: Linked titles go to Amazon for further information and reviews. Just so you know, I am an affiliate with Amazon. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of the links, I will receive a small commission at no extra charge to you, the proceeds of which will help pay for maintaining this website.

1. ABC Gardens:

Can you find a flower or vegetable to represent every letter of the alphabet? Or grow a garden in the shape of a letter?

Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert

Reading age: ‎ Baby – 3 years
Publisher: ‎ HMH Books for Young Readers; First edition (April 1, 1996)
ISBN-10: ‎ 015201036X
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-0152010362

Mrs. Peanuckle’s Vegetable Alphabet by Mrs. Peanuckle and illustrated by Jessie Ford

Reading age: ‎ Baby – 3 years
Publisher: ‎ Rodale Kids; Illustrated edition (September 19, 2017)
ISBN-10: ‎ 1623368707
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1623368708

2. Rainbow Gardens or Planting By Color Grow plants to add all the colors of a rainbow. Add to the theme by planting in a rainbow shape. Or create a garden of all one color.

Blue Potatoes, Orange Tomatoes by Rosalind Creasy, and illustrated by Ruth Heller

If you are interested in planting a rainbow garden this book could be a helpful resource. Ruth Heller is definitely one of our favorite authors and illustrators.

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 7 – 11 years
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sierra Club Books for Children; Reprint edition (July 1, 2000)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0871569191
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0871569196

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert

This beautiful book lists many flowers of different colors.

Reading age ‏ : ‎ Baby – 3 years
Publisher ‏ : ‎ HMH Books for Young Readers; Brdbk edition (June 1, 2003)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780152046330
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0152046330

3. Animal Gardens
Grow a garden to encourage butterflies, pollinators, or wildlife.

Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert

Lios Ehlert seems to be dominating this category, but for good reason. This would be a perfect inspiration for a butterfly garden.

Reading age ‏: ‎ 4 – 7 years
Publisher : ‎ HMH Books for Young Readers; First edition (April 1, 2001)
ISBN-10 ‏: ‎ 0152026088
ISBN-13 ‏: ‎ 978-0152026080

A Garden to Save the Birds by Wendy McClure and illustrated by Beatriz Mayumi

Reading age ‏: ‎ 4 – 8 years
Publisher ‏: ‎ Albert Whitman & Company (April 1, 2021)
ISBN-10 ‏: ‎ 080752753X
ISBN-13 ‏: ‎ 978-0807527535

Begin with a Bee by Liza Ketchum, Jacqueline Briggs Martin, and Phyllis Root, illustrated by Claudia McGehee

Grow a garden to help save the rusty-patched bumble bee.

Reading age: ‎ 4 – 9 years
Publisher: ‎ Univ Of Minnesota Press (May 25, 2021)
ISBN-10: ‎ 1517908043
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1517908041

4. Food Themes – Grow the ingredients for your favorite foods.

Grow Your Own Pizza: Gardening Plans and Recipes for Kids by Constance Hardesty, Jeff McClung (Illustrator)

The title says it all for this fun book.

Reading age ‏: ‎ 8 years and up
Publisher ‏: ‎ Fulcrum Publishing; Illustrated edition (March 1, 2000)
ISBN-10 ‏: ‎ 1555913989
ISBN-13 ‏: ‎ 978-1555913984

Gardening with Children by Beth Richardson

This book for adults gardening with children tells how to grow a pizza garden, among other things.

Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert

Here Lois Ehlert is again. There is a reason we keep going back to these classics.

Reading age ‏ : ‎ Baby – 3 years
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Clarion Books; First edition (March 15, 1990)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0152325808
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0152325800

What’s better than a pie garden?

Patty’s Pumpkin Patch by Teri Sloat

Follow the progress of a pumpkin patch through the seasons while finding items from the alphabet. For example, in the field where the pumpkins are being planted, “a” is for ant and “b” is for beetle.

5. Story Book Gardens

Linnea in Monet’s Garden by Cristina Bjork, Lena Anderson (Illustrator), Joan Sandin (Translator)

If you are interested in art, artists, Monet, nature, gardening or traveling to Paris, this is the book for you. Definitely inspires me to want to grow a “Monet Garden” of my own. Beautiful, sweet, and informative, I keep our copy with the art books, but it wants to be with the nature and gardening books, too.

Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

Need I say more?

6. Heritage or Cultural Gardens

Corn Is Maize by Aliki

This older picture book is part of the Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. It has a wealth of information about many aspects of corn, including how it was first domesticated.

The Ugly Vegetables by Grace Lin

A Chinese-American girl wishes her mother’s garden was more like her neighbors’ gardens. That is, until her mother uses the vegetables to make soup.

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 – 8 years
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Charlesbridge; 1st edition (July 1, 2001)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1570914915
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1570914911


7. Forts/Huts

Grow places to hide and play inside.

Sunflower House by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt

A young boy plants the seeds in a large circle to grow a sunflower house. When the plants are tall enough, he invites his friends over to play in it. The text is written in rhyme.

Adult nonfiction books for gardening with children:

Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots: Gardening Together with Children by Sharon Lovejoy

This is the classic book on gardening with children. As you can tell from the title, Lovejoy has many fun and creative ideas about gardening, including theme gardens.

A Child’s Garden: 60 Ideas to Make Any Garden Come Alive for Children by Molly Dannenmaier

The hardcover copy I have says “Enchanting Outdoor Spaces for Children and Parents.” Enchanting is the right word. Mixed with informative text about how children play and how important it is for them to play outdoors, are photos of fairytale settings for children to play in. On pages 158-159 is a photo and list of the plants in the George Washington River farm alphabet garden.

 

See our list of books for gardening with children, as well.

Posted on

Building a List of #KidlitSTEM Books about Animal Architects

This month we are building a list of children’s books about animal architects. Do you have any titles to suggest? We’d love to hear them.

 

Note: Post contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you click through one of the title links or cover images and purchase a book, I will receive a small commission– at no extra cost to you –which I use to help maintain this blog.

Beginning Readers

National Geographic Readers: Animal Architects by Libby Romero

Using the story of the three little pigs building houses as an entry point into the topic, Libby Romero then guides young readers through many different members of the animal kingdom that really do construct places to live. Some are familiar builder, like beavers and birds, but others will likely be surprises.

The gorgeous photographs by National Geographic, make this a visual treat for Level 3 Fluent Readers.  The back matter includes a quiz, glossary, and index. Excellent reference for older readers who want to browse a topic quickly, as well.

Reading age : 7 – 9 years
Publisher : National Geographic Kids; Illustrated edition (January 15, 2019)
ISBN-10 : 1426333277
ISBN-13 : 978-1426333279

Picture Books

The Nest That Wren Built by Randi Sonenshine and illustrated by Anne Hunter

This gently rhyming book about Carolina wrens building a nest follows the style of “The House That Jack Built.”

This is the bark, snippets of twine,
spidery rootlets, and needles of pine
that shape the nest that Wren built.

The text goes into detail about how the wrens gather materials to make the nest, from soft moss for a lining to snakeskin for warding off predators. It also covers how the parents care for the eggs and baby birds.  The back matter includes a glossary and additional interesting facts about wrens.

See activity suggestions at Growing With Science.

Reading age : 4 – 8 years
Publisher : Candlewick; Illustrated edition (March 10, 2020)
ISBN-10 : 1536201537
ISBN-13 : 978-1536201536

A Nest Is Noisy by Dianna Hutts Aston and illustrated by Sylvia Long

Although the cover may lead you to think this book is also about birds, it is actually about all kinds of animal nests, including some unusual ones like that of the African Gray Tree Frog.

These authors have a series of titles together, each one more amazing than the one before. You’ll probably want your own personal copy of this one.

Activity suggestions at Growing with Science.

Reading age : 4 – 8 years
Publisher : Chronicle Books; Illustrated edition (March 14, 2017)
ISBN-10 : 1452161356
ISBN-13 : 978-1452161358

We Build Our Homes: Small Stories of Incredible Animal Architects by Laura Knowles and illustrated by Chris Madden

 

Featuring two-page spreads of 26 different creatures from around the world, each explains how and why these unique animals build homes. Readers will learn about everything from Aardvarks to Weaver Ants. In fact, We Build Our Homes is longer than the average picture book, but that is because the animals are so fascinating that it would have been difficult to include fewer.

As you can see from the cover, Chris Madden’s lovely digital illustrations have incredible depth. For those who want to learn more, the back matter has “A Map of the World” and a “Builder’s Fact File.”

Reading age : 4 – 7 years
Publisher : words & pictures; Illustrated edition (October 16, 2018)
ISBN-10 : 1910277827
ISBN-13 : 978-1910277829

A Wasp Builds a Nest: See Inside a Paper Wasp’s Nest and Watch It Grow by Kate Scarborough and Martin Camm

Wasps may not be anyone’s favorite creature, but after reading this book, you will be hard-pressed not to admire them. The book opens with a queen wasp awakening from hibernation and follows her through the creation of a colony to her eventual death in the fall, all centered on the nest that she and her daughters construct.

The book design is particularly innovative. The interior pages are shingled, starting as a partial page and getting larger as the wasp nest grows. So cool!

Reading age : 5 – 8 years
Publisher : Firefly Books (August 2, 2016)
ISBN-10 : 1770856951
ISBN-13 : 978-1770856950

Spiders Spin Webs by Yvonne Winer and illustrated by Karen Lloyd-Jones

Although the text in this older title is relatively simple, the gorgeously detailed illustrations more than make up for it. A grand introduction to spider homes.

Reading age : 4 – 9 years
Publisher : Charlesbridge Pub Inc (July 1, 1998)
ISBN-10 : 0881069833
ISBN-13 : 978-0881069839

Middle Grade

Wild Buildings and Bridges: Architecture Inspired by Nature by Etta Kaner and Carl Wiens

Taking the idea of animal architects to another level, several of the examples in this book show how human architects used animal homes to design innovative buildings. Includes ventilation systems copied from termite mounds, and efficiently-shaped dorms modeled after honey combs.

Also includes some simple hands-on activities.

Reading age: 8 – 12 years
Publisher : Kids Can Press; Illustrated edition (October 2, 2018)
ISBN-10 : 1771387815
ISBN-13 : 978-1771387811

Fiction

Roberto, The Insect Architect by Nina Laden

Another older book,this family favorite follows the life of a termite who doesn’t want to eat wood, but wants to build with it. Creativity at its best.

Reading age : 6-10 years
Publisher : Chronicle Books; Illustrated edition (September 1, 2000)
ISBN-10 : 0811824659
ISBN-13 : 978-0811824651

You Nest Here With Me by Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple

In this rhyming bedtime book, the mother narrator describes all sorts of birds in their nests to lull her own little ones to sleep.

Reading age: 4-8 years
Published by Boyds Mills Press (Mar 03, 2015)
ISBN 9781590789230

Posted on

Simple Machines: Books for Kids

Children love to explore how to use simple machines. What better way to reinforce their hands-on learning than reading an age appropriate book?

Note: Post contains affiliate links to Amazon.

Beginning Readers

Pulleys (Simple Machines) by Martha Elizabeth Hillman Rustad

Learn about what a pulley is and how it works, with controlled vocabulary and short sentences.

Grade Level : Preschool – 2
Publisher : Capstone Press (January 1, 2018)
ISBN-10 : 1543500803
ISBN-13 : 978-1543500806

Screws (Simple Machines) by Martha Elizabeth Hillman Rustad

Explains what a screw is and how it is used.

The series covers each of the simple machines separately. For example, the next title is about inclined planes.

Grade Level : Preschool – 2
Publisher : Capstone Press (January 1, 2018)
ISBN-10 : 1543500781
ISBN-13 : 978-1543500783

Picture Books

Simple Machines  by D. J. Ward and illustrated by Mike Lowery

Part of the excellent Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. Explains the six simple machines: the lever, the wheel and axle, the pulley, the ramp, the wedge, and the screw. Has an activity suggestion.

Grade Level : Preschool – 3
Publisher : HarperCollins; Illustrated Edition (October 6, 2015)
ISBN-10 : 0062321471
ISBN-13 : 978-0062321473

Simple Machines: Wheels, Levers, and Pulleys by David A. Adler and illustrated by Anna Raff

Simple Machines introduces important mechanical vocabulary and uses easy-to-understand examples to illustrate how we use machines to solve all kinds of problems.

Grade Level : Preschool – 3
Publisher : Holiday House; Reprint Edition (January 30, 2016)
ISBN-10 : 0823435725
ISBN-13 : 978-0823435722

Pull, Lift, and Lower: A Book About Pulleys by Michael Dahl and illustrated by Denise Shea

Introduces young readers to how pulleys work using common real world examples. Includes activity suggestions.

Grade Level : Kindergarten – 4
Publisher : Picture Window Books; Illustrated Edition (January 1, 2006)
ISBN-10 : 9781404819085
ISBN-13 : 978-1404819085

 

Middle Grade

Simple Machines: Forces in Action (Do It Yourself) by Buffy Silverman and edited by Megan Cotugno

Explore simple machines with real world examples. Encourages older children to carry out the activities themselves.

Grade Level : 3 – 6
Publisher : Heinemann; Revised ed. Edition (August 1, 2016)
ISBN-10 : 1484636406
ISBN-13 : 978-1484636404

Smash!: Wile E. Coyote Experiments with Simple Machines by Mark Andrew Weakland and illustrated by Christian Cornia

Wile E. Coyote of cartoon fame tries to catch Roadrunner using traps made out of simple machines. Engaging series explains basic physics concepts.

Grade Level : 3 – 6
Publisher : Capstone Press (January 1, 2014)
ISBN-10 : 1476552134
ISBN-13 : 978-1476552132

Experiment Collections:

The Kids’ Book of Simple Machines: Cool Projects & Activities that Make Science Fun!by Kelly Doudna.

The Kids’ Book of Simple Machines is a hands-on science book for early elementary-aged children. It has concise explanations of the science of simple machines, clear step-by-step instructions, and enticing colorful photographs of the projects. In addition, the background information in the different sections introduces children to famous scientists and inventors, from Archimedes to the Wright brothers.

The six simple machines covered are the lever, pulley, inclined plane, wedge, wheel and axle, and screw. After a brief introduction to each type in the front, the following chapters give more in-depth information, numerous examples of the different simple machines, and several activities and projects to explore the concepts more fully.

Whether you are teaching science in the classroom, after school, or at home, The Kids’ Book of Simple Machines is a well-designed and useful resource. The young makers of the world are going to have hours of fun trying out the activities in this book.

Age Range: 5 – 9 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten – 4
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Mighty Media Kids (August 25, 2015)
ISBN-10: 1938063597
ISBN-13: 978-1938063596

Explore Simple Machines!: With 25 Great Projects by Anita Yasuda and illustrated by Bryan Stone

Nomad press is known for their hands-on experiment collections. Explore the six simple machines with a series of doable projects. Great for budding engineers and physicists.

Grade Level : Kindergarten – 4
Publisher : Nomad Press; Act Edition (October 1, 2011)
ISBN-10 : 1936313820
ISBN-13 : 978-1936313822

Sensational Science Projects With Simple Machines by Robert Gardner and illustrated by Tom LaBaff

Grade Level : 3 – 4
Publisher : Enslow Elementary (March 1, 2006)
ISBN-10 : 0766025853
ISBN-13 : 978-0766025851

Posted on

Children’s Books About Reptiles

If your children are interested in lizards, snakes, turtles or alligators, then they are likely to want to learn more about all the different kinds of reptiles.

books about reptiles for kids

Nonfiction:

Beginning readers

Get to Know Gila Monsters (Get To Know Reptiles) by Flora Brett

In this book Brett has done a good job of finding facts that will be interesting to children, such as how big are Gila monsters, what do they eat, what is their life cycle, and whether or not Gila monsters are venomous. She also separates the facts (Gila monsters are venomous) from the myths (their bite is not fatal to humans).

The book is illustrated with color photographs. Just a note, there is one photograph of a Gila monster eating a deer mouse that might be too graphic for sensitive youngsters.

Get to Know Gila Monsters is a perfect introduction to a desert creature is unfamiliar to many people. This is a must have for units on deserts and would also be useful for lessons about life cycles.

Age Range: 6 – 9 years
Publisher: Capstone Press (January 1, 2015)
ISBN-10: 1491422459
ISBN-13: 978-1491422458

National Geographic Readers: Snakes! by Melissa Stewart

Reading level: Ages 5 and up
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books (April 14, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1426304285
ISBN-13: 978-1426304286

Nic Bishop Snakes by Nic Bishop

Reading level: Ages 4 and up
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Nonfiction (October 1, 2012)
ISBN-10: 0545206383
ISBN-13: 978-0545206389

Picture Books

A Place for Turtles by Melissa Stewart and illustrated by Higgins Bond

Starting with the endpapers, which show range maps for 10 common species, the book is full of information about turtles. In a series of two-page spreads, Melissa Stewart introduces the reader to a problem that turtles face and what is being done about it, using simple and easy to comprehend language. Some ideas for protecting turtles are as straightforward as keeping your dog on a leash when hiking or using cloth bags rather than plastic ones.

The reality of our world today is that many animals are in danger. Unlike some books about threatened and endangered animals that can be depressing to read, this book remains positive by emphasizing what actions can help mitigate the threats. Turtles and turtle lovers both will surely benefit from it.

Ages: 6-10
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Peachtree Publishers (March 1, 2013)
ISBN-10: 1561456934
ISBN-13: 978-1561456932

Snakes by Seymour Simon

Reading level: Ages 6 and up
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (March 13, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0061140953
ISBN-13: 978-0061140952

Garter Snake at Willow Creek Lane (Smithsonian’s Backyard Book) by Janet Halfmann and illustrated by Anne Wertheim

The story follows Garter Snake, who is the main character. It starts dramatically with Garter Snake’s birth on the first page (yes, some snakes give birth rather than lay eggs). She overcomes several challenges that include encounters with Bingo the dog, but all ends well with her finding a safe, warm place to overwinter. In between, the reader learns a great deal about the life history of garter snakes in general, including what they eat and how they defend themselves.

Garter Snake at Willow Creek Lane is just what you would expect from the high-quality Smithsonian Backyard series, sure to inspire children to learn more about snakes and nature in general. With so many options, I’m sure you can find a version that fits your needs.

Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Soundprints; First Edition edition (June 1, 2011)
ISBN-10: 1607272083
ISBN-13: 978-1607272083

Snakes by Gail Gibbons

Reading level: Ages 7 and up
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Holiday House; Reprint edition (June 10, 2010)
ISBN-10: 082342300X
ISBN-13: 978-0823423002

Lizard in the Sun by Joanne Rider and illustrated by Michael Rothman.

This older text takes the reader through a day in the life of a lizard. It may be hard to find.

Publisher: HarperCollins (1994)
ASIN: B01FIZHEPU

Middle Grade/Activity Collections

National Geographic Kids Everything Reptiles: Snap Up All the Photos, Facts, and Fun by Blake Hoena

Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books (September 13, 2016)
ISBN-10: 1426325266
ISBN-13: 978-1426325267

Awesome Snake Science! 40 Activities for Learning About Snakes by Cindy Blobaum

Do you need live snakes to do the activities from this book? No, Blobaum has created scientifically-relevant activities that can be done with items from around the home, although they beg to be supplemented by a trip to a zoo to see some live specimens. For example, learning how to estimate the length of a snake lying on the ground is something snake scientists must do in the field quickly and accurately. In Blobaum’s “Snake Survey” activity, snake stand-ins like lengths of yarn and belts to help children learn the estimating, measuring and data-collecting skills that can definitely be applied in the real world. These are fabulous activities for the young hands-on learner.

Awesome Snake Science! is an amazing book that sets a new standard for how hands-on science should be done. It is sure to appeal to budding scientists, particularly those interested in becoming ophiologists 9snake scientists).

Reading level: Ages 9 and up
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Chicago Review Press (July 1, 2012)
ISBN-10: 1569768072
ISBN-13: 978-1569768075

The Snake Scientist (Scientists in the Field Series) by Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop (Photographer)

Reading level: Ages 10 and up
Paperback: 48 pages
Publisher: Sandpiper; None edition (February 26, 2001)
ISBN-10: 0618111190
ISBN-13: 978-0618111190

Fiction

Verdi by Janell Cannon – Lovely fiction picture book to pair with nonfiction

Reading level: Ages 4 and up
Hardcover: 56 pages
Publisher: Harcourt Children’s Books; 1st edition (April 1, 1997)
ISBN-10: 0152010289
ISBN-13: 978-0152010287

Posted on

T. Rex-sized List of Dinosaur Books for Kids

Dinosaurs are a popular topic for many young readers and there are a confusing array  of  titles on the market. We found some of the gems that deserve consideration for this list.

 

Note: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links to provide covers and quick access to more information about the book. If you click through and choose to buy a title, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

 

For another list that features those who study dinosaurs, see STEM Tuesday.

Board Books/Concept Books

Baby Touch and Feel: Baby Dinosaur by Dawn Sirett and illustrated by Peter Minister and Eleanor Bates

 

Follow the action of different kinds of baby dinosaurs, each with textured and colorful patches to feel. It is a tactile adventure!

Grade Level: Preschool and up
Publisher: DK Children; Brdbk edition (May 8, 2018)
ISBN-10: 1465468412
ISBN-13: 978-1465468413

Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs by Byron Barton

Explores dinosaur diversity with admirable simplicity. My STEM story time participants could guess what many of the dinosaurs were (they are unnamed in the text). They wanted to hear all the scientific names of the ones they didn’t know, which are given in the last spread of the book. Great choice for preschoolers.

Age Range: 2 – 4 years
Publisher: HarperFestival; Brdbk edition (April 22, 1994)
ISBN-10: 0694006254
ISBN-13: 978-0694006250

Dinosaur Roar! by Henrietta Stickland

This older favorite is actually more about opposites than about dinosaurs, but learning opposites is an important STEM skill.

Publisher: Pan MacMillan; UK ed. edition (May 19, 2016)
ISBN-10: 1509827382
ISBN-13: 978-1509827381

One-osaurus, Two-osaurus by Kim Norman and illustrated by Pierre Collet-Derby

Delightful combination of hide-and-seek and counting book, this is fun to read again and again.

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 3 – 7 years
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Candlewick (March 23, 2021)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1536201790
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1536201796

1-2-3 Dinosaurs Bite by the American Museum of Natural History and illustrated by Steve Jenkins.

Gobble, gobble, munch, and crunch: watch the pages disappear! Five hungry dinosaurs–from mighty little Microraptor to colorful Carnotaurus–sink their teeth into this tasty novelty book.

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 3 – 7 years
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Union Square Kids; Brdbk edition (October 2, 2012)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1402777221
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1402777226

Picture Books

Book of Dinosaurs: 10 Record-Breaking Prehistoric Animals by Gabrielle Balkan and illustrated by Sam Brewster

Explore the world of dinosaurs by finding out which record-breaking dinosaurs had:
• The toughest armor
• The sharpest eyesight
• The biggest belly
• The spikiest tail
and more!

Guess-and-reveal format draws in young readers. Textured pages also add interest. High quality and highly informative. Good for readers ready to transition to encyclopedic collections.

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 7 – 10 years
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Phaidon Press (June 15, 2022)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1838664297
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1838664299

Dinosaurs! by Gail Gibbons

Discusses current theories about dinosaurs as well as introduces some of the different kinds.

Gail Gibbons has two nonfiction picture books for youngsters. Dinosaurs! is the version for preschoolers. The next book, Dinosaur Discoveries, is for older readers.

Age Range: 3 – 6 years
Publisher: Holiday House; New edition (January 23, 2018)
ISBN-10: 0823440117
ISBN-13: 978-0823440115

Dinosaur Discoveries by Gail Gibbons

Unique presentation that groups dinosaurs by families. For example, the ceratopsians are shown on a two-page spread, including the familiar Triceratops, but also Torosaurus, Protoceratops, Pentaceratops, etc. Allows children to see how the different members are similar. Additional information in the back matter, and a map of places fossils have been found in the end papers.

Gail Gibbons has two picture books for youngsters. Dinosaurs! (above) is the version for preschoolers. Dinosaur Discoveries is for older readers.

Age Range: 6 – 9 years
Publisher: Holiday House; New edition (June 12, 2018)
ISBN-10: 0823440095
ISBN-13: 978-0823440092

The Truth About Dinosaurs by Guido van Genechten

Narrated by a talking chicken, and featuring dinosaurs on scooters and bikes, The Truth About Dinosaurs wanders into the realm of informational fiction. Still, it is a delightful, fun, imaginative introduction to the idea that birds and dinosaurs are related.

As the chicken says,

Obviously I’m a dinosaur. Look at my feet. These are dinosaur feet, right?

Age Range: 4 – 6 years
Publisher: Clavis (August 1, 2018)
ISBN-10: 1605374237
ISBN-13: 978-1605374239

How Big Were Dinosaurs? by Lita Judge

The illustrations feature people and modern animals next to different kinds of dinosaurs to help put their different sizes into clearer perspective. Starts with Microraptor, which was about as big as a chicken.

Because this is an older book, the biggest listed is Argentinosaurus. Now we know Titanosaur (the next book in the list) was even bigger.

Age Range: 6 – 9 years
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press; First edition (August 27, 2013)
ISBN-10: 1596437197
ISBN-13: 978-1596437197

Titanosaur: Discovering the World’s Largest Dinosaur by Diego Pol, Jose Luis Carballido, and Florencia Gigena

Everything about this book is huge (and hugely impressive):

  • At 11.8 x 11.8 inches it is physically bigger than most picture books.
  • It is written by the actual paleontologists who dug up the dinosaur. Their excitement about the find bounds off of each and every page.
  • It features the biggest dinosaur ever found (so far)
  • It is likely to appeal to readers far outside its recommended age range

Age Range: 5 – 7 years
Publisher: Scholastic Press (February 26, 2019)
ISBN-10: 1338207393
ISBN-13: 978-1338207392

Feathered Dinosaurs by Brenda Z. Guiberson and illustrated by William Low

For the hardcore dinosaur enthusiast, this book explores a number of dinosaurs that were thought to have feathers. Readers will be astonished how much some of them look like birds. The illustrations are not brightly colored or cute, but instead are as scientifically accurate as possible.

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (March 1, 2016)
ISBN-10: 0805098283
ISBN-13: 978-0805098280

Not About Dinosaurs, but Related

I Am NOT a Dinosaur! by American Museum of Natural History, Will Lach, and illustrated by Jonny Lambert

There are any number of weird creatures that lived and went extinct long ago. How can you tell whether they were dinosaurs? With dynamic paper collage illustrations and a succinct but descriptive text, the reader learns that animals from a saber-toothed cat to a plesiosaur were not dinosaurs. The last spread shows a few of the most common dinosaurs for comparison.

Age Range: 4 – 7 years
Publisher: Sterling Children’s Books (April 19, 2016)
ISBN-10: 1454914912
ISBN-13: 978-1454914914

Middle Grade

Although the dinosaur craze generally hits around preschool or the early elementary years, there are plenty of books for older readers who are interested in becoming paleontologists.

Inside Dinosaurs (Inside Series) by Andra Serlin Abramson, Carl Mehling, Jason Brougham and illustrated by Jason Broughham.

With 10 fold-out pages, this book from the American Museum of Natural History has a lot more information than first meets the eye.

Age Range: 9 – 12 years
Publisher: Sterling (October 5, 2010)
ISBN-10: 1402777787
ISBN-13: 978-1402777783

Scaly Spotted Feathered Frilled: How do we know what dinosaurs really looked like? by Catherine Thimmesh

Shows how scientific illustrators decide what dinosaurs looked like when drawing or painting them. It’s a question young readers ask and the answers are fascinating!

Age Range: 10 – 12 years
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers (October 1, 2013)
ISBN-10: 0547991347
ISBN-13: 978-0547991344

 

Looking for books and science activity suggestions for older kids? Check out these at STEM Tuesday.

Posted on

Children’s Books: Cars and Trucks

Want to ramp up your STEM activities for preschoolers? Read some of these children’s book about cars, trucks, and trains. No need to stay in the nonfiction section, either.

Then build some actual ramps and learn about physics with toy cars and trucks.

Disclaimer: Just so you know, I am an affiliate with Amazon. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of the image or title links, I will receive a small commission at no extra charge to you, the proceeds of which will help pay for maintaining this website.

Board Books

Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle and illustrated by Jill McElmurry

 

At a recent STEM story time, I let the kids pick the book for us to read. Little Blue Truck was clearly a fan favorite.

In the book, a truck helps a bigger truck who is stuck in the mud. (Note:  the central concept of the importance of friendship might be more appropriate for the older preschoolers.)

Although the genre is fiction, you can extend learning with STEM activities like rolling toy trucks in playdough or blue paint to find out more about how friction works.

HMH Books has some great Little Blue truck party and activity ideas to download

Age Range: Baby – 3 years
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers; Brdbk edition (July 7, 2015)
ISBN-10: 9780544568037
ISBN-13: 978-0544568037
ASIN: 0544568036

Calling All Cars by Sue Fliess and illustrated by Sarah Beise

Follow all sorts of cars through a day long road trip, which ends with a gentle bedtime message:

Rest cars, Hush cars
No more rush, cars.
Cars pull in, turn off the light.
Sweet dreams, sleepy cars…goodnight!

The artist added interest by including clues to the events of the next page. Children will have great fun guessing what comes next.

Age Range: 1 – 4 years
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky; Brdbk edition (June 1, 2016)
ISBN-10: 9781492638360
ISBN-13: 978-1492638360
ASIN: 1492638366

Freight Train by Donald Crews

 

Another familiar favorite for members of STEM story time. Introduces color and also some terminology about trains, for example caboose and cattle car. Simple, but with gorgeous artwork.

Age Range: 2 – 4 years
Publisher: Greenwillow Books (September 20, 1996)
ISBN-10: 0688149006
ISBN-13: 978-0688149000

Tons of Trucks by Sue Fliess and illustrated by Betsy Snyder

Sue Fliess is the queen of the fun, bouncy rhyme that is so perfect for this age group.  Technically a novelty book, the pages have lots of parts to spin and peek under. Toddlers will love it.

Age Range: Baby – 3 years
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers; Ltf Nov edition (July 3, 2012)
ISBN-10: 0547449275
ISBN-13: 978-0547449272

Beginning Readers

National Geographic Readers: Trucks by Wil Mara

To increase interest, this informational text is narrated by a truck driver named “Slick.” Describes some different types of trucks and some of their parts, like the hydraulics.

Age Range: 4 – 6 years
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books; National Geographic Readers edition (September 8, 2009)
ISBN-10: 9781426305269
ISBN-13: 978-1426305269
ASIN: 1426305265

Picture Books

Race! by Sue Fliess and illustrated by Edwardian Taylor

 

Can you tell we’re Sue Fliess fans around here? This book has deeper text and is for a bit older readers than the ones above, but still features lively rhymes and a lot of action words.

Cars go on a race through a winding course that turns out to be the back yard of a very imaginative boy. Read it again to see what you missed racing through the first time.

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: little bee books (July 4, 2017)
ISBN-10: 1499802374
ISBN-13: 978-1499802375

If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen

Also told in rhyme, this imaginative text explores the potential of cars . Involves thinking way outside the box.  Shifts towards the upper end of the recommended age range and maybe beyond.

Age Range: 3 – 5 years
Publisher: Puffin Books; Reprint edition (June 14, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0147509149
ISBN-13: 978-0147509147
ASIN: 0142408255

What Do Wheels Do All Day? by April Jones Prince and illustrated by Giles Laroche

 

All the places readers may find wheels in use, from the familiar like cars and bikes, to less familiar like helicopter rotors.  Simple vocabulary, so probably the lower end of the recommended age range.

Age Range: 4 – 7 years
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers; 1st edition (May 22, 2006)
ISBN-10: 0618563075
ISBN-13: 978-0618563074

Wheels on the Bus (Raffi Songs to Read) by Raffi and illustrated by Sylvie Wickstrom

Wheels on the Bus is a classic song. The illustrations are somewhat dated.

Age Range: 2 – 3 years
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (January 20, 1998)
ISBN-10: 0517709988
ISBN-13: 978-0517709986

Cars and How They Go by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Gail Gibbons

If you are an adult and want to know more about how a car works, this is the book for you. It gives details about the inner workings of combustion engines, etc. Probably most useful for children with a passion for learning what makes a car go.

Grade Level: 2 – 3
Publisher: Trophy Pr (August 1, 1986)
ISBN-10: 0064460525
ISBN-13: 978-0064460521

 

Posted on

See, Hear, Taste: Children’s Books About Senses

Teaching a lesson or giving a story time about the senses? This list will get you started.

 

Disclaimer: Just so you know, I am an affiliate with Amazon. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of the image or title links, I will receive a small commission at no extra charge to you, the proceeds of which will help pay for maintaining this website.

Board Books:

Baby Loves the Five Senses: Taste! by Ruth Spiro and illustrated by Irene Chan

What’s to like:

The series has a lot going for it. Each book features Chan’s delightful illustrations and Spiro’s bouncing, enthusiastic text. Babies hear STEM vocabulary words that might not come up in typical conversations. The concepts are simplified, but not to the point they are no longer accurate.

See a more complete review at Wrapped in Foil.

Age Range: 2 – 3 years
Series: Baby Loves Science
Publisher: Charlesbridge; Illustrated edition (August 18, 2020)
ISBN-10: 1623541549
ISBN-13: 978-1623541545

Others in the series:

Baby Loves the Five Senses: Touch! (by Ruth Spiro and illustrated by Irene Chan

Age Range: 2 – 3 years
Publisher: Charlesbridge; Illustrated edition (August 18, 2020)
ISBN-10: 1623541557
ISBN-13: 978-1623541552

Baby Loves the Five Senses: Smell! by Ruth Spiro and illustrated by Irene Chan

Age Range: 1 – 3 years
Series: Baby Loves Science
Publisher: Charlesbridge; Illustrated edition (August 18, 2020)
ISBN-10: 1623541530
ISBN-13: 978-1623541538

 

Loud Lion, Quiet Mouse board book by Pamela Chanko and illustrated by Marybeth Butler

Great choice to introduce hearing and sound. Preschoolers will want to roar and squeak right along with you. Loud Lion, Quiet Mouse might also be appropriate for discussions about using indoor voices.

Age Range: 1 – 3 years
Publisher: Children’s Press; Brdbk edition (September 1, 2017)
ISBN-10: 0531226832
ISBN-13: 978-0531226834

My Five Senses (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1) by Aliki

This is a classic title. The author quietly and simply introduces each sense. Then she gives examples where we use a different number of senses. Sometimes we use one sense, such as when we look at the stars. Other times we may use four or five at once. Appropriate for preschoolers.

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: HarperCollins; Revised edition (August 4, 2015)
ISBN-10: 006238192X
ISBN-13: 978-0062381927

How Does the Ear Hear?: And Other Questions About The Five Senses (Good Question!) by Melissa Stewart and illustrated by Jim Madsen

With denser text and more complex discussions, this book is for older children.

Age Range: 7 and up
Publisher: Sterling Children’s Books (January 7, 2014)
ISBN-10: 1454906723
ISBN-13: 978-1454906728

The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degen

Publisher blurb: To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Scholastic is re-releasing the ten original Magic School Bus titles in paperback. With updated scientific information, the bestselling science series ever is back!

Also longer and with more complex text, it explains the senses in a highly imaginative way. Good choice for elementary-aged readers who prefer fiction to nonfiction.

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: Scholastic (September 1, 2001)
ISBN-10: 9780590446983
ISBN-13: 978-0590446983

The Sense of Taste (A True Book) by Ellen Weiss

Illustrated with full color stock photographs, this informative text is for older readers ready to delve into scientific concepts.

Age Range: 7 and up
Publisher: Childrens Pr; Reprint edition (March 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 053121835X
ISBN-13: 978-0531218358

Sound (Simply Science) by Darlene Ruth Stille

Sometimes “just the facts” are just what is needed.

Age Range: 7 – 9 years
Publisher: Compass Point Books; 1st edition (January 1, 2001)
ISBN-10: 0756509785
ISBN-13: 978-0756509781

Cold, Crunchy, Colorful: Using Our Senses (Jane Brocket’s Clever Concepts) by Jane Brocket

Jane Brockett is an amazing photographer, so you have to see this one to really understand how gorgeous it is.

Check out the snippet from Google Books:

 

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: Millbrook Press TM (January 1, 2014)
ISBN-10: 1467702331
ISBN-13: 978-1467702331

 

Spiky, Slimy, Smooth: What Is Texture? (Jane Brocket’s Clever Concepts) by Jane Brocket

Other books in the series also could be used in a lesson on senses, as well.

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: Millbrook Press TM (January 1, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0761346147
ISBN-13: 978-0761346142

Coming Soon:

Let’s Explore the Five Senses (Bumba Books ® ― Discover Your Senses) Paperback – January 1, 2020
by Candice Ransom (Author)

I included this title to remind myself to go look for it as soon as it is published.

Age Range: 4 – 7 years
Publisher: Lerner Publications TM (January 1, 2020)
ISBN-10: 1541587065
ISBN-13: 978-1541587069

This Beach Is Loud! (Little Senses) by Samantha Cotterill

Not everyone experiences the world in the same way. Falling in the realm of realistic fiction, this picture book captures the experience of a trip to the beach for a young boy with sensory issues. All the new sounds coupled with the weird texture of the sand overwhelms him. Fortunately, his dad understands and helps the boy soothe himself.

This Beach is Loud! allows readers young and old to glimpse what it is like to hear and feel too much. Also, young readers with sensory issues will be able to recognize and identify with someone who is like themselves. That is a rare experience.

Age Range: 3 – 7 years
Publisher: Dial Books (June 18, 2019)
ISBN-10: 0525553452
ISBN-13: 978-0525553458

 

Do you have any suggestions for this list? We’d  be glad to hear or see them.

Posted on

STEM Books for Kids: Slugs and Snails

Explore science and nature with these great children’s books about slugs and snails!

(Note:  Linked titles go to Amazon for more information. Please see the disclaimer below).

Beginning Readers:

Snail-Snaily-Snails (Penguin Young Readers, Level 2) by Bonnie Bader


Good mix of facts presented with controlled vocabulary and simple sentences ideal for the young reader. Illustrated with color photographs. Covers both anatomy and some of the different kinds of snails.

Age Range: 6 – 7 years
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers (March 21, 2017)
ISBN-10: 9780451534392
ISBN-13: 978-0451534392

Nonfiction Picture Books

Are You a Snail? (Backyard Books) by Judy Allen and illustrated by Tudor Humphries

The Allen-Humphries team has come up with a winning formula in this series. Young readers learn about snails by comparing a snail’s life with their own.

Age Range: 5 – 8 years
Publisher: Kingfisher; Reprint edition (May 16, 2003)
ISBN-10: 9780753456040
ISBN-13: 978-0753456040

Let’s Look at Snails by Laura Hamilton Waxman

 

Full color photographs grab the readers eye. Text is age-appropriate and filled with interesting facts.

Age Range: 6 – 9 years
Publisher: Lerner Classroom (August 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1580138659
ISBN-13: 978-1580138659

Snails Are Just My Speed! by Kevin McCloskey

Part of the Giggle and Learn series, this title combines fun illustrations with serious information about snails.

Keven McCloskey put the eyes where they should be, on the eye stalks or tentacles. Yes!

He also puts in a lot of mucus for the “ick, gross” factor, but also adds useful information, like humans make mucus too, but it is mostly on the inside.

In the back is an awesome lesson on how to draw a snail (Turn the page for useful tips for parents and teachers about “How To Read Comics With Kids.”)

Snails Are Just My Speed! should fly off the shelves. Check out a copy today!

Age Range: 4 – 7 years
Publisher: TOON Books (May 1, 2018)
ISBN-10: 194314527X
ISBN-13: 978-1943145270

The Slug: The Disgusting Critters Series by Elise Gravel

Combining accurate information with  silly cartoon illustrations and hilarious asides, Elise Gravel has come up with a winning formula for making nonfiction “slide” down easily.

Age Range: 6 – 9 years
Publisher: Tundra Books; Reprint edition (July 5, 2016)
ISBN-10: 1770496564
ISBN-13: 978-1770496569

A Slug’s Life by John Himmelman

 

An older book that might be harder to find. The illustrations are amazing as the reader follows a slug through adventures. Includes information about the life cycle.

Age Range: 5 and up
Publisher: Childrens Pr (August 1, 1998)
ISBN-10: 0516263560
ISBN-13: 978-0516263564

Snailology (Backyard Buddies) by Michael Elsohn Ross and illustrated by Darren Erickson  with Brian Grogan (Illustrator, Photographer)

 

 

This older book may be hard to find, but it is well worth the hunt. Contains both scientifically-accurate information and activity suggestions for slightly older readers.

Age Range: 7 and up
Publisher: First Avenue Editions (February 1, 2000)
ISBN-10: 157505437X
ISBN-13: 978-1575054377

Picture Book Fiction:

A writing friend recently introduced me to the cutest fiction picture book about a snail, Escargot by Daska Slater and illustrated by Sydney Hanson.

Delightful! See for yourself:

Age Range: 4 – 6 years
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (April 11, 2017)
ISBN-10: 0374302812
ISBN-13: 978-0374302818

Snail Trail by Ruth Brown

 

Short, sweet rhyming picture book for preschoolers about a snail’s adventure.

Age Range: 3 – 5 years
Publisher: Andersen Press (April 1, 2013)
ISBN-10: 1849392528
ISBN-13: 978-1849392525

 

Disclaimer: Just so you know, I am an affiliate with Amazon. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of the title links, I will receive a small commission at no extra charge to you, the proceeds of which will help pay for maintaining this website.

Posted on

The M in STEM: Women Who Count

What is mathematics and why is it important? Let’s explore the lives of women who love math (and computers).

Disclaimer: Just so you know, I am an affiliate with Amazon. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of the title links, I will receive a small commission at no extra charge to you, the proceeds of which will help maintain this website.

Let us know if you have any suggestions for this list.

Last Name A – G

Elizabeth Friedman

Code Breaker, Spy Hunter: How Elizebeth Friedman Changed the Course of Two World Wars by Laurie Wallmark and illustrated by Brooke Smart

Elizebeth Friedman was brilliant at cracking codes, but her story has been unknown for years because her work was classified. When her papers were declassified in 2015, the general public learned that during the years around World Wars I and II she uncovered spy rings, took down smugglers, and created the first cryptology unit for the CIA (at the time called the OSS).

Review and more information at Growing with Science blog

Reading age : 7 – 11 years
Publisher : Harry N Abrams Inc; Illustrated edition (March 2, 2021)
ISBN-10 : 1419739638
ISBN-13 : 978-1419739637

Sophie Germian

Nothing Stopped Sophie: The Story of Unshakable Mathematician Sophie Germain by Cheryl Bardoe and illustrated by Barbara McClintock

Nothing would stop Sophie Germian, not her parents taking away her candles so she couldn’t study math at night, not the professor who discovered that the homework that he thought was from a man came from a woman, and not when she tackled a math problem that everyone said would be impossible to solve.

Age Range: 6 – 9 years
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (June 12, 2018)
ISBN-10: 0316278203
ISBN-13: 978-0316278201

Last Name H – L

Grace Hopper

Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code (People Who Shaped Our World) by Laurie Wallmark and illustrated by Katy Wu

Grace Hopper enlisted in the Navy during World War II and discovered a love for computers. She rose to the rank of Rear Admiral before her retirement. Among her many accomplishments she is probably best known for naming the “computer bug.”

Age Range: 5 and up
Publisher: Sterling Children’s Books (May 16, 2017)
ISBN-10: 1454920009
ISBN-13: 978-1454920007

Hypatia

Of Numbers and Stars: The Story of Hypatia by D. Anne Love and illustrated by Pamela Paparone

Hypatia, the daughter of a mathematician and philosopher named Theon, studied mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy at a time when few women received an education. She became a scholar and teacher.

Katherine Johnson

Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 by Helaine Becker and illustrated by Dow Phumiruk

Katherine Johnson was a gifted mathematician who was denied a high school education where she lived because of her skin color. Her father decided to move the family to another town where there was a school she could attend. Through persistence and hard work Katherine ended up working for NASA, where she performed the many complicated calculations needed for successful space flight.

This is the kind of biography that makes you want to stand up and cheer at the end. Helaine Becker does a wonderful job of summarizing Katherine Johnson’s life, distilling it to the essentials needed for a picture book. It’s delightful how she plays with Katherine’s love of counting by repetition of the phrase “count on me” through the text.

Age Range: 5 – 9 years
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (June 19, 2018)
ISBN-10: 9781250137524
ISBN-13: 978-1250137524
ASIN: 1250137527

Sophie Kowalevski

Numbers in Motion: Sophie Kowalevski, Queen of Mathematics by Laurie Wallmark and illustrated by Yevgenia Nayberg

Sophie Kowalevski grew up observing the pages of calculus problems her father had used to paper her bedroom walls. The desire to understand the intriguing symbols propelled her to study advanced math. Later she became a prominent mathematician — the first to earn a doctorate at an European university — and professor in a time when women weren’t even allowed to enter many college campuses. Sophie broke down barriers for women who came after her.

Numbers in Motion will inspire budding mathematicians and historians alike. Readers will likely end up wanting to learn more about this remarkable woman. Investigate a copy today.

Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Publisher: Creston Books (March 3, 2020)
ISBN-10: 1939547636
ISBN-13: 978-1939547637

 

Ada Byron Lovelace

Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine by Laurie Wallmark and illustrated by April Chu, which is the story of a unique and fascinating woman who was years ahead of her time.

Adults may have heard of the British poet Lord Byron, but likely they have missed the story of his inventive math whiz of a daughter, Ada Byron Lovelace. Lovelace overcame a severe childhood illness to write the first computer program. Who knows what she might have achieved if she hadn’t died at a relatively young age and if her collaborator, Charles Babbage, had actually built the analytical machine he had planned.

Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine is likely to resonate with kids interested in computers, math, and engineering and inspire some who haven’t yet found their passions. History buffs, particularly those interested in women’s history, will also want to check it out.

Age Range: 5 and up
Publisher: Creston Books (October 13, 2015)
ISBN-10: 1939547202
ISBN-13: 978-1939547200

 

Last Name M – Q

Danica McKellar

Not only do we have books about women mathematicians, we also have some children’s books by a woman. Danica McKellar, who best known as the actress on The Wonder Years, is not just another celebrity using their fame to hawk children’s books. She is a serious mathematician whose goal is to get kids excited about math through books and videos.

Goodnight, Numbers by Danica McKellar and illustrated by Alicia Padron is for children who are learning their numbers.

Age Range: 2 – 5 years
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers (March 7, 2017)
ISBN-10: 110193378X
ISBN-13: 978-1101933787

Hot X: Algebra Exposed! by Danica McKellar

Don’t let the suggestive title fool you, this is a serious guide to algebra and more. It’s also a call for young people to work hard, particularly at math, in order to attain their dreams. McKellar wants her readers to feel smart and confident, and develop the skills to be successful. It is a very positive message repeated throughout the book.

Although clearly written as a resource to supplement a math course, the tips and exercises could be a useful for instructors or for tutors looking for yet another way to get a point across. There are are additional solutions to problems on McKellar’s Hot X website.

The bottom line is that Hot X is much more than just a pretty face and a clever title. If you are studying or teaching algebra, you should take a look at it.

Hardcover: 876 pages
Publisher: W. H. Freeman (1979)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0716710471
ISBN-13: 978-0716710479

Girls Get Curves: Geometry Takes Shape by Danica McKellar

Once again, the cover may give a suggestive message, but it is only designed to get reluctant mathematicians to look inside. There they’ll find ways to master the core concepts of high school geometry, including congruent triangles, quadrilaterals, circles, proofs, theorems, etc.

Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Plume; 6.2.2013 edition (July 2, 2013)
ISBN-10: 0452298741
ISBN-13: 978-0452298743

Maryam’s Magic: The Story of Mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani by Megan Reid and illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel

When she was a child, Iranian mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani loved to tell stories. She wanted to become a writer. She struggled with math. Once she began to study geometry, however, she could understand it and it excited her. Soon she was using her storytelling to help her solve difficult mathematical problems.

In 2014, Maryam Mirzakhani became the first woman and also the first Iranian to win the prestigous Fields Medal in mathematics. Sadly, she passed away shortly afterwards of breast cancer (a fact that is mentioned in the text).

Educators should read Megan Reid’s lovely “Author’s Note” in the back matter.

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 – 8 years
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Balzer + Bray (January 19, 2021)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062915967
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062915962

 

Raye Montague

The Girl With a Mind for Math: The Story of Raye Montague (Amazing Scientists) by Julia Finley Mosca and illustrated by Daniel Rieley

Raye Montague wanted to design ships, but the college she went to wouldn’t allow women into the engineering program. After studying business instead, she landed a job typing for the Navy. Working hard, she learned about computers and devised a program that could design a ship in much less time. Eventually she became an official engineer and took over as head of the department where she had started as a typist.

The rhyming text is supported with eight pages of back matter. An awesome book!

Age Range: 5 – 10 years
Publisher: The Innovation Press (September 4, 2018)
ISBN-10: 1943147426
ISBN-13: 978-1943147427

Emmy Noether: The Most Important Mathematician You’ve Never Heard Of by Helaine Becker and illustrated by Kari Rust

Emmy Noether is a genius at math, but she is born at a time when women are expected to marry and take care of the house. Her passion for math leads her to study math at a university, but she’s only allowed to audit (sit in). Eventually, the professors recognize her talent and allow her to stay. Later she teaches — without pay — and manages to do her own research into some of the most pressing math and physics problems of the day, including helping Einstein with his theory of relativity. Being forced to flee Germany, her work was largely forgotten for many decades.

The back matter has suggestions for further reading.

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 6 – 9 years
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kids Can Press; Illustrated edition (October 6, 2020)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1525300598
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1525300592

Last Name R – Z

Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer by Traci Sorrell and illustrated by Natasha Donovan

Important Note:  Mary Golda Ross was a member of the Cherokee Nation and author Traci Sorrell is also from the Cherokee Nation.

After getting a degree in math and teaching high school, Mary Ross joined the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. Later she was promoted to become their first female engineer. She helped design state-of-the-art airplanes and spacecraft, which means much of her work is still classified (as the title suggests).

Mary Ross’s story will inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists. Share a copy today!

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 7 – 11 years
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Millbrook Press ™ (March 2, 2021)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1541579143
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1541579149

Collections

Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly and illustrated by Laura Freeman

Author Margot Lee Shetterly wrote the original bestselling book, Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race, for adults. In this picture book for children, she gives a brief summary of each woman’s career, interweaving their stories and at the same time emphasizing their similar struggles as human computers for NASA.

Hidden Figures is a good introduction to these amazing women. It would be a great book to have on hand for both Black History Month and Women’s History Month.

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: HarperCollins (January 16, 2018)
ISBN-10: 0062742469
ISBN-13: 978-0062742469