Oh hey, it’s me again. Your resident children’s book nerd. I know I don’t have to re-emphasize the incredible things that books can bring to your little ones – literacy awareness, bonding time, a perspective of the outside world, among many, many other things.
Books also have this wonderful way of exposing young children to people and concepts that can be a little larger than life, like science. With the recent emphasis on STEM in our society, the influx of STEM-related children’s books is also on the rise. Lucky us, because they are all amazing. STEM books highlight so many other things than just science, technology, and math – they get into ideas of perseverance, creativity, and pushing through naysayers and societal struggles (like sexism and racism).
The best part of STEM books is maybe the idea that each one reinforces – dreams and interests, even of children, are worth pursuing and supporting.
Here are 15 of our favorite STEM books for every age range.
Babies & Toddlers
With a little boy who loves sharks, I started to look into books that featured this fascinating animal. I fell in love with the story of Eugenie Clark who defied, not only sexism, but also the common fears related to diving deep to study these ferocious and graceful animals.
For every little child who looks at the stars and wonders what is out there comes the story of Carl Sagan – a little boy who looked at the stars and never stopped wondering.
Andrea Beatty can do no wrong when it comes to STEM children's literature – this trio is a must-have for parents who want to stock their shelves with stories of creation, problem-solving, and staying true to who you are despite struggle and outside noise.
Raye Montague's story is one for everyone. The true story of a little girl with a dream who persisted through sexism and racial inequality is one that will give young children a glimpse into the struggles and triumphs of others.
Temple Grandin is one of the most incredible minds of modern science, and the fact that she has Autism simply added to her unique abilities to connect and relate to animals. What that resulted in is groundbreaking breakthroughs in farm science around the world.
Katherine Johnson's story has recently become popular due to the standout film, Hidden Figures. Her story is much deeper than that and so relatable for little kids who love number, problem-solving, and figuring things out.