6 Inspiring Books for Beginner Scientists

Flotsam, by David Wiesner
When pint-sized scientists go to the beach, it’s usually not to tan. In this story, told only in lush illustrations, a boy brings all his best scientific gear to the shore to collect flotsam—little objects that wash ashore. He hits the motherlode when he discovers an old underwater camera and develops its awe-inspiring photos. The book won Wiesner his third Caldecott Medal (the first two were for Tuesday and The Three Pigs) and it might win you the medal for World’s Coolest Present-Giver.

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Space, by Catherine D. Hughes
If you’re not familiar with the National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book series, you ought to check it out, especially if you’ve got a kid who’s ready for a deep dive into their favorite subject. This one goes deep into space, with chapters on the Earth, the solar system, the Milky Way, and beyond. Along the way, you’ll find fun facts and big photographs. And if a lot of the material is new to you as well as your kid, flip to the back for a Parent Guide with ideas for follow-up activities and conversations.

Rosie Revere, Engineer, by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts
This book is a critically acclaimed award winner for a good reason (and not just because my kid shares a first name with the protagonist). In cute, rhyming couplets, it tells the story of Rosie, great-great-niece of Rosie the Riveter, who dreams of being an engineer. She collects little objects that other people throw out, and invents hot dog dispensers and other awesome things. Her big lesson comes when she builds a flying machine that crashes, and her Aunt Rosie tells her that you can only fail if you quit. It’s an important lesson for any young scientist, and it teaches kids how great it can be to break the mold.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Young Readers Edition, by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
The original Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a memoir written for adults. Thank goodness the author penned a young readers edition, because kids ought to hear his story. When Kamkwamba was a boy in Malawi, he saved his family’s farm by researching solutions at his village library, then building a windmill out of scrap metal that generated enough electricity to pump water to the crops. Not only is it a riveting story, it’s all the proof that kids need that you don’t need to be an adult to make a difference.

Me … Jane, by Patrick McDonnell
For the kid in your life who likes to monkey around: here’s a picture-book version of the life of Jane Goodall, the animal activist, conservationist, and environmentalist who’s best known for her work with chimpanzees. You might recognize McDonnell’s illustration style from his comic strip, MUTTS. Combined here with the touching story of Jane’s young life, showing the origins of her love of nature, it’s a perfect fit that won dozens of awards, including the Caldecott Honor.

TIME for Kids BIG Book of Why: 1,001 Facts Kids Want to Know, by the Editors of TIME For Kids Magazine
When your kid first discovers the word “why” and asks it after everything you say, you get mixed emotions: Hooray that my kid is so curious, and, lord, some stuff is hard to explain. Luckily, TIME has our backs, at least for 1,001 questions about topics like animals, space, technology, and our bodies. Kids will get snappy, easy-to-follow answers to, “why are dogs’ noses wet?”, “why do I have a belly button?”, and more, with lots of interesting facts along the way that your kid hadn’t even thought to ask about.
Do you have a young scientist in your house?