There’s always a good time to encourage young readers and help develop your child’s literacy skills. And with the right book in hand, reading can hook kids on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) — subjects that may seem boring and difficult, but come alive with tantalizing stories, beautifully illustrated pages, and how-to instructions. Whether learning how to make butterfly gardens to discovering the secrets of mummies, these books spark curiosity, encourage learning, and are lots of fun too. There’s a lot more to STEM books than you might think.
After a visit to the Science Center’s Butterfly Encounter, where lots of colorful butterflies fly around and yep, land right on you, who wouldn’t want one of their very own? Learn how to make a garden that will surely attract butterflies with the how-to book, Making Butterfly Gardens, by Dana Meachen Rau/Illustrated by Kathleen Petelinsek. For ages 3-9, this nonfiction book offers directions and tips for an outdoor garden. It’s part of a series of how-to titles where children can try their hand at tackling projects and learning new skills. While it’s not spring yet, now is as good a time as any to start planning.
Geraldine and the Most Spectacular Science Project by Sol Regwan / Illustrated by Denise Muzzio, is the first book in the Gizmo Girl series. A STEM topic picture book for ages 5-8, it really grabs young readers with its colorful, eye-catching illustrations. The book features Geraldine, an ambitious second-grade girl who dreams of becoming an astronaut. She knows that she’s clever and inventive, but can she create the winning entry in her class science contest?
Armed with nothing but her strong will and the broken parts of her parents’ old gadgets and gizmos, she sets out to invent an amazing contraption. Geraldine will teach readers that science can be found in everyday objects, including discarded gadgets. Plus, she helps lead the way for kids to believe in themselves, try new things, and follow their dreams.
Natural Dyeing with Plants: Glorious Colors from Roots, Leaves & Flowers by Franziska Ebner / Romana Hasenöhrl
Here’s a how-to book that truly blends art and science. Comprehensive, easy to use, and chock-full of illustrations, it presents how the natural colors from plants can be easily transferred to wool, silk, or other materials at home. Perfect for the budding dyer, this book has everything you will need to walk you through a project from beginning to end. It’s probably best suited for either older children/teens or younger ones to enjoy alongside an adult.
Secrets of the Mummies by Harriet Griffey
If you’re planning on visiting the Mummies of the World: The Exhibition, here’s a great book to read before or afterwards. Geared for proficient readers in grades 2 to 4, it discusses the Egyptian preservation of dead bodies, non-fiction stories associated with mummies, and mummies from different cultures, including Incan and Sicilian. This learning to read book offers easy-to-digest information and facts, making mummification interesting and less scary.
All of the above titles can all be found right at the Science Center’s Gift Shop
