Whether they are a young Marie Curie or Albert Einstein, a budding botanist, cuckoo for chemistry or simply looking for something new and exciting to read over the summer vacation, if there is one thing we know about our young Live Science readers, it’s that they love a good science book.
With the help of our sister magazine “How It Works,” we’ve pulled together some of the best science books for kids of all ages, which should keep their young minds fizzing with ideas long into the future.
To make things easier, we’ve grouped them into two sections: one featuring books for children under 10 years old, and the other books for older children and young adults. They are all books that have been released recently, but if there are any that you think we have missed then please let us know on social media (here’s where you can find us), or ping us an email at [email protected].
Best science books for kids under 10 years oldHow to Explain Robotics to a Grown-up
A child’s guide to educating enquiring parents (Image credit: Charlesbridge Publishing)Details
Author: Ruth Spiro
Illustrator: Teresa Martinez
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing
Price: Available on Amazon for $17.99
Release date: Sept. 17, 2024
Part of the “How To Explain” book series, this latest installment teaches children how to explain the mechanical world of robotics to their parents. The book follows a confident young boy and his curious mother, as he explains the basic components and principles that make a robot.
The inquisitive duo go on a journey of discovery through their home to a robotic expo, to uncover the science behind different robots and understand how they use technology to complete tasks. The story outlines the three main principles of robotic coding: Sense, Compute and Act, and delves into how the three work together to create a robot.
A charming feature of this book series are the handy ‘pro tips’ on how to help adults understand the subject, while simultaneously imparting learning skills to the young reader. For example, “Unlike robots, humans sometimes need a break! A snack and a little humor may be just what your grown-up needs to stay focused and ready to learn.”
Related: Check out the best laptops for coding and programming you can get right now
Pet selector!
A hilarious guide to both usual and unusual household pets (Image credit: words and pictures)In this charismatic guide to pets, comedian turned pet detective Russell Kane lends a comedic helping hand to those looking to bring a new furry friend into the family. Focusing mostly on breeds across the feline and canine kingdoms, Kane introduces his young readers to the various personalities and behaviors of commonly considered pets. He uses a handy key to rate their qualities, such as intelligence, playfulness and neediness.
Helpful advice aside, Kane has also explored the origins of our furry friends, which some readers may find surprising. For example, French bulldogs, not from France, were bred by British lace-makers in the 1800s to ward off pests, and Shih Tzu or ‘little lions’ were Buddhist monks’ companions, who sometimes slept in their sleeves.
Although cats and dogs are featured heavily in the book, there is also a menagerie of other animals such as rabbits, rodents and reptiles to consider. Along with being helpful and humorous, this book is full of entertaining illustrations that bring each pet’s personality to life, from easy-going Persian cats to ball-crazed Jack Russell terriers.
Related: Do any animals keep pets like humans do?
Our Earth
A rhyming guide to caring for our planet (Image credit: Atmosphere Press)The declining state of the natural world is dire, making it an essential issue for us to be knowledgeable about. But the future of Earth doesn’t have to be a negative one. This rhyming children’s book contains vibrant and cheerful illustrations as it explains the planet we live on.
By providing ideas for ways in which we can all look after Earth in a conversational and child-friendly manner, “Our Earth” is the perfect book for budding environmentalists or indeed any member of the next generation. The delightful illustrations and memorable rhymes make the underlying message in this book a simple one, and children ages three to eight will enjoy reading it.
Whether you choose to walk and ride your bike to school, or you’re sorting your rubbish into recyclable materials, “Our Earth” teaches the reader that we can all play a part in shaping the future of the planet, no matter how small the action or how young the person.
Stomp, Soar, Dino Roar
Take a dinosaur tour with Terri the Triceratops (Image credit: Sourcebooks Explore)Details
Author: Max Amato and Brendan McAuliffe
Illustrator: Nathan Reed
Publisher: Sourcebooks Explore
Price: Available on Amazon for $18.99
Release date: Oct. 1, 2024
In an immersive short story for young readers, the dinosaurs of the Cretaceous period are introduced through colorful cartoons and sounds. You will explore the world in this ancient era with newborn Triceratops Terri, as she encounters new species for the first time, too.
Each illustration enables the reader to visualise how every dinosaur would engage with its surroundings and — most importantly in “Stomp, Soar, Dino Roar” — its echoing sounds. The text’s size, shape and design helps readers to recreate the style of each sound, and phonetic spellings break down the complicated dinosaur names beneath the main text.
Hear from dunking, water-loving dinosaurs and dueling competitors as the rhymes become an entertaining and fast-paced tour. At the end of “Stomp, Soar, Dino Roar,” you get more information about each dinosaur mentioned, with useful fact files and illustrations to show the size of each in comparison to a human. More thorough information about how we know what each dinosaur may have sounded like — through fossils and the analysis of living relatives — is included at the back of the book, as well as a timeline to visualise how long ago animals like Terri graced the Earth.
Read more: A brief history of dinosaurs
A Kid’s Guide to the Night Sky
Source : Live Science