It’s that time of the year when you’re making your list, checking it twice, for gifts that spark a love of science for the kids in your life.
Ira talks with Mahnaz Dar, young readers’ editor at Kirkus Reviews and Carrie Wolfson, collection development librarian at the Boulder Public Library to round up some of the top kids’ science books of 2024 and make recommendations based on listener questions.
Still looking for a specific kids science book, but didn’t get a chance to ask our experts in advance? Carrie and Mahnaz will be on hand to give a few more recommendations this next week. Submit your additional requests, and come back to this page on December 14 for their expanded recommendation list.
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Young Readers’ Editor at Kirkus Reviews
The Observologist
by Giselle Clarkson
“Who says explorers need access to vast forests or deep seas? With this gorgeously crafted guidebook, Clarkson schools youngsters in the art of observology (the study of looking), offers pointers on identifying creepy-crawlies, and lists easily located places where teeny-tiny wildlife can be found; readers will be delighted at the plethora of natural treasures all around them.”
My Antarctica
by G. Neri
“Neri documents two months spent on a grant-funded trip to our most frigid continent. Though the author struggled with math and science as a student, he realizes he has a gift for making these topics accessible to others; this is a book that demonstrates that STEM is for truly everyone.”
Evidence!
by Deborah Hopkinson
“When people started dying of cholera in 19th century London, everyone was convinced there was nothing that could be done—except Dr. John Snow, who relied on logic and good old-fashioned detective work to establish that all the afflicted had access to the same contaminated water pump. Drama, tension, and science in action—this tale has it all.”
The Iguanodon’s Horn
by Sean Rubin
“When the iguanodon was first discovered, people assumed it had a huge, rhino-like horn atop its nose. Though kids will flock to this book for the striking dino images—and giggle at some of the incorrect assumptions scientists have made about these prehistoric creatures—they’ll also learn an important lesson: Science is a never-ending process, and scientists are constantly making new discoveries.”
The Noisy Puddle
by Linda Booth Sweeney
“Sweeney follows two siblings as they spend time observing a vernal pool—a puddle formed from rain and melting snow—over the course of a year. With enticing, almost three-dimensional images and lush verse, this is a lovely ode to ecosystems, no matter how seemingly small.”
Collection Development Librarian for Children and Teens at the Boulder Public Library
The Next Scientist
by Kate Messner
“What were Isaac Newton, Mae Jemison, and Jane Goodall up to as kids? All sorts of things! This affirming, expansive picture book chronicles a diverse group of over 20 scientists and their childhood experiences.”
All The Rocks We Love
by Lisa Varchol Perron and Taylor Perron
“This geology-themed picture book, brimming with plucky rhymes and playful jewel tones, is ideal for sharing with the littlest nature explorers. Read the book together to discover different rock varieties like granite, obsidian, and agate then head outdoors to hunt for the real thing!”
The Wonderful Wisdom of Ants
by Philip Bunting
“The world of ants comes to life in this clever picture book for younger kids. Packed with awe-inspiring facts and sprinkled with humor, it will be a hit with emerging and established bug lovers alike.”
Bounce: A Scientific History of Rubber
by Sarah Albee
“What would life be like without rubber? From early Indigenous sports to contemporary car tires, rubber’s unique properties have left a mark. This entertaining history mixes great storytelling, comical illustrations, and scientific interludes to create a sophisticated picture book for kid readers.”
A Meerkat Diary
by Suzi Esztehas
“This scrapbook style read is packed with facts, anecdotes, and dozens of irresistible photos of baby meerkats. Kids will delight in the animal shenanigans and chatty diary entries as they get to know a single meerkat family over the course of several day.”
Requests From Listeners Like You
Here are some book recommendations from our guests, as requested by you, our fans and followers!
Kay from Charlottesville, VA requested book ideas for a “13 year old boy who likes looking for critters in streams.” Here’s what Mahnaz and Carrie had to say:
Spooky Lakes
by Geo Rutherford
Mahnaz said, “I have a book that’s about lakes… The author is a TikTok creator, and the book has spun off a few TikTok videos. So I feel like it would be a really cool way for this kid to expand his interests a little bit. I think then you could also check out the videos—with some parental supervision!”
The Scientists in the Field series
by various authors
Carrie said, “[This] series follows scientists as they’re out in the wild doing science, and there are a number related to marine biology. So for a kid who’s interested in river systems, this [series] has wonderful photographs… and showcases a lot of wonderful scientists.”
Beth from southwestern Ohio said, “The child I’m shopping for is a newborn, and I would like suggestions for books that will plant ideas related to plants and animals, earth and sea… I am looking for something like a series or grouping of books that I could give as successive gifts throughout his first 2-3 years.” Here’s what Carrie had to say:
Hello Hello series
by Brendan Wenzel
Carrie suggested Brendan Wenzel’s Hello Hello series, including Hello Hello Colors, Hello Hello Shapes and Hello Hello Opposites, and said, “They all feature brilliant, colorful illustrations of real wildlife, but also introduce those early concepts to young learners. You’ll see everything from a sloth and a cheetah for your opposite books, and then animals of all kinds of different shapes and sizes and speeds. I also recommend as that child gets older, to use your your public library! The folks there are there to know books, get to know your kid, and find stuff that really supports your family throughout a child’s reading life.”
Suzanne P. from Morristown, NJ said, “My son Simon is 11 years old and he’s in sixth grade. He loves math, physics, pottery, and anything to do with plants or gardening. He also loves to swim, sail, and loves listening to Science Friday.” (Thank for being a fan, Simon!) Here’s what Mahnaz and Carrie had to say:
Oliver’s Great Big Universe: Volcanoes Are Hot!
by Jorge Cham
Mahnaz said, “I describe them as Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets good, accurate STEM, because they’re very accessible, they’re fun, and they’re written from the point of view of a young boy who’s writing his own comic. He just takes these really big concepts like volcanoes or the Big Bang Theory and puts them into mixed comparisons that are just going to make a lot of sense to kids.”
Big Ideas That Changed the World series
by Don Brown
Carrie said, “I’m a big fan of the Big Ideas That Changed the World series from Don Brown. These are non fiction comic books that cover some great developments in the history of STEM. The latest one is called All Charged Up!, and it’s about the history of electricity. It goes through the very earliest experiments with electricity, all the way to the modern age, and has wonderful artwork and a scientist leading you through the book. A great one for a creative kid who loves learning about all kinds of topics.”
Cathy from Vancouver, Canada asked for recommendations for a “12-year-old who loves reading and thinks of themselves as “science-y.” Went through a rock phase a couple of years ago, but seems to be drifting to chemistry and biology.” Here’s what Carrie and Mahnaz had to say:
Frozen in Time
by Carmella Van Vleet
Carrie said, “It’s a longer book for older kid readers that goes through how scientists use ice to look into the history of climate and environment, and analyze those samples to tell us what might be coming or what we can do in our own time. It has a lot of hard science in it for a kid who’s maybe getting into chemistry, but it’s also just really engaging and well told.”
Marni T. from Downers Grove, IL said, “I’m shopping for a 10-year-old girl. She is very creative and loves to sing, draw, paint, write poetry, and cook. She also loves experimenting with cooking, and performing chemistry experiments. We have the Wow in the World books and she loves those!” Here’s what Mahnaz had to say:
What Is Color?
by Steven Weinberg
Mahnaz said, “This one sits really beautifully at the intersection of science, art, even history. It goes into the science of the electromagnetic spectrum, how different pigments were developed, and also how that led to the creation of different artistic works of art. He explains science, he expounds on art from Michelangelo to O’Keefe, even musing on what even is art?”
Mahnaz Dar also mentioned Oliver’s Great Big Universe by Jorge Cham (which was one of her picks for our 2023 best science books for kids round-up).
Carrie Wolfson also spoke about the Who Would Win? series from Scholastic.
Further Reading
Need more science book recommendations for kids? Check out our lists from 2023, 2022, 2017, 2016 and 2014.