It’s Science Literacy Week! But what is science literacy, you ask? Literacy is reading, writing, and comprehension, so science literacy is the same concept: reading, writing, and understanding science! Here at Kitchener Public Library, we try to include a little science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) in most of our children’s programs, and this week is no exception. We want to encourage STEM-minded children to go into the fields that interest them. They may someday change the course of history for the betterment of humanity!
This week, all of our children’s programs will specifically touch on science and science literacy, from Babytime right up to Tween Scene. We hope that this inspires even the least scientific among us to see the importance of science in our daily lives and more importantly, help children understand the science around them. Below is a list of science and STEM-related books, both fiction and non-fiction, for you to share with your children.
Books for 0-2 years old
Baby Loves Green Energy by Ruth Spiro, illustrated by Irene Chan
Part of the Baby Love Science! series of board books, this book introduces the concept of green energy for babies and toddlers with bright, high-contrast illustrations and simple, age-appropriate language. Search our catalogue for “baby loves science” for more great titles in this series; you might just learn something yourself!
My First 100 Science Words by Chris Ferrie, illustrated by Lindsay Dale-Scott
It’s never too early to introduce new words to baby! It may seem futile to read science books to someone who can’t communicate back in fully-formed sentences, but even though babies can’t speak, they can perceive speech right from birth. The more you can introduce to your baby earlier, the better understanding they’ll have as they get older. It’s literally science!
Quantum Information For Babies by Chris Ferrie
Also by Chris Ferrie is another great series of science-themed board books for babies. Titled Baby University, this series uses bright, high-contrast illustrations and simple language to explain some of the more notoriously-difficult scientific concepts. I won’t lie, I still don’t understand Quantum Information and I’ve read this title a dozen times. I’ll get it eventually!
Books for 2-5 years old
Marsha Is Magnetic by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Lorena Alvarez
Marsha’s birthday is coming up, and she wants to invite some friends to her party. But first, she needs to get some friends! As any true scientist does, she follows the scientific method of experimentation to try to attract them with her innate magnetism. Of course, the best way to attract friends is to be yourself; will Marsha learn that? I hope so!
Test This Book! by Louie Zong
This fun, interactive read-aloud is great for learning about the scientific method! Two adorable scientists run different experiments on the very book they are inside of, and your little ones are sure to enjoy their very scientific and not at all silly learning process.
Solid, Liquid, Gassy: A Fairy Science Story by Ashley Spires
Esther is a fairy who believes in science over magic (kind of bleak for a magical creature, no?). With help from her friends, she enters her school’s “Magic Fair” with a SCIENCE entry! A local pond disappears, providing the perfect opportunity to experiment and learn about the water cycle. In this book, science kind of is magic, too!
Books for 4-8 years old
Cece Loves Science: Push & Pull by Kimberly Derting and Shelli R. Johannes
Cece loves learning about science and doing cool experiments. In this early reader story, Cece and her friend Isaac learn about force through a classroom challenge to build a dog treat-dispenser that uses both push and pull. Fans of Ada Twist, Scientist will enjoy this scientific tale, but there are also picture books in the series for more science fun!
Wild Kratts: Wild Insects & Spiders! by Martin Kratt & Chris Kratt
Based on their hit animated show, this early reader (and others in the series!) is about brothers Martin & Chris getting wild with wildlife! Easy to read sentences encourage your child to read on their own, and they’ll finish each book full of amazing science facts about all kinds of animals. That’s wild!
Ada Lace, On The Case by Emily Calandrelli & Tamson Weston, illustrated by Renée Kurilla
In this early chapter book series, eight-year-old Ada Lace solves neighbourhood mysteries with the help of her aptitude for science and math. This first book in the series has Ada helping her quirky neighbour Nina find her dognapped puppy.
Books for 8-12 years old
Max Einstein: The Genius Experiment by James Patterson & Chris Grabenstein, illustrated by Beverly Johnson
Max is not your typical kid genius. She is also a computer hacker-extraordinaire and sensational inventor who uses her talents for good! Her remarkable abilities get her recruited to a secret agency whose sole purpose is to solve all the world toughest problems with science (no big deal!). Of course, for every good agency there’s an evil one, and Max and her new friends will have to deal with The Corporation trying to ruin their plans. This book is the first in a series.
A Wrinkle In Time by Madeline L’Engle
This classic novel will be celebrating its 60th anniversary next year, and with good reason! 13-year-old Meg Murray is more of a dreamer than a scientist, but when her scientist father goes missing, she enlists the help of her genius little brother Charles Wallace and their neighbour Calvin to find them. Nothing is at all as it seems, as the three kids meet three witches and visit a different dimension. There is some fascinating, mind-bending science in this story, and it is in fact the first of a series! If you enjoyed the 2018 film version but haven’t yet read the novel with your child, now is the time!
Jack & The Geniuses: At The Bottom Of The World by Bill Nye & Gregory Mone
That’s right, this series is brought to by none other than THE Science Guy, Bill Nye! In another great science-themed mystery series, Jack and his genius foster siblings work for Dr Hank Witherspoon, one of the greatest living scientists in the world. Not only will you read a great adventure story, each book in the series is full of cool facts about the real science you’ll read about, and includes instructions for an awesome DIY science project you can do at home!
Science Experiments for Kids of All Ages!
And if you are looking for some science-themed activities to do on the weekends, here are some new books full of fascinating, delicious, and/or gross experiments for your budding scientists to try in your own home!
Gross Science Experiments by Emma Vanstone
For kids who like to gross out their family & friends, this book is perfect! With 60 icky-fun activities and loads of colour photos, your kids will learn some pretty awesome science while also grossing out grandma. Definitely a winner!
Hack Your Kitchen by Percy Leed, photography by Niki Ahrens
Too many cooks in the kitchen? Not when you’re learning! This book is full of fantastic science recipes experiments that you can actually eat, including edible paper! Now that’s a book you can sink your teeth into.
10-Minute Science Projects by Sarah L. Schuette
There’s so little time in the day, sometimes you just need a quick science project to fit into your schedule. Look no further than this book, full of science projects that should only take 10 minutes to complete—unless you’re having so much fun you try it again!
Science has always been incredibly important to understanding our world and advancing society. It is because of scientists that we have vaccines to help us through the COVID-19 pandemic, and we have scientists to thank for climate change research and how we can prevent it from getting worse. I hope that these books will inspire a new generation of science-minded individuals who are ready to see and learn and understand the world around them.
POST WRITTEN BY HANNAH V., CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMER