Include any science topic in the library catalog and you’re sure to find a great selection of children’s science books on that topic. but which of the myriad of dinosaur or ocean books will you enjoy reading with your child? When you’re looking for science picture books to read aloud, you really don’t want a book that’s just a collection of facts. you want something with a story, with a bit of humor, even! And you sure want attractive illustrations!
You are reading: Science picture books for middle school
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I’ve filled this list with what I think are good science picture books to share with kids, not just science fact reference books. common core standards and stem/steam curricula mean there is a greater interest in finding quality, fun science books for kids than non-fiction to share in the classroom as teaching tools, but the picture books on this list They’re also great for reading at home.
Because this list is so large, I’ve broken it down into 10 well-loved topics and given a brief overview of why I liked each selection. happy reading!
illustrated dinosaur books
after reading these books, be sure to visit your local natural history museum.
How big were the dinosaurs? lita judge wrote one of my favorite fictional picture books, red sleigh, so it was only natural that she chose her dinosaur book. I love it.
wow, we were wrong about the dinosaurs in kathleen v. kudlinski. remember brontosaurus? this book goes beyond the facts about dinosaurs as we know them now, but how our scientific understanding changes over time.
barnum’s bones by tracey fern. this is a fun look at the man who discovered the first t-rex, every kid’s favorite dinosaur.
dinosaurs inside and out by roxie munro. If many of these books seem a little advanced to your kids, then Inside Out Dinosaur is a good choice for your preschooler. Munro’s oversized book is simple: alternating pages show the inside and outside of the dinosaurs! is a perfect read before heading to your local natural history museum.
my first big dinosaur book by catherine d. Hughes is a longer and deeper book, but it’s still great for preschoolers and up.
Illustrated plant science books
Read these books, then plant a garden or visit your local botanical garden!
celebritrees: historical and famous trees of the world by margi preus. an interesting look at famous trees and what makes them so special.
farmer will allen and the grow table by jacqueline briggs martin. a former basketball star turns an abandoned lot into a community garden. this is a great way to teach kids that not all farms need tractors.
garden secrets: food chains and the food web in our backyard. the story of two boys who plant and harvest a crop will encourage children to become little scientists in their own gardens.
living sunlight: how plants bring life to the earth by molly bang and penny chisholm. because I’m an arts & literature type of person i love science books that describe their topics in poetic terms. the text is wonderful. I guarantee you will take a deep breath in and out by the end! Plus, Molly Bang’s illustrations are just illuminating.
a seed is sleepy by dianna aston. a beautifully illustrated book that makes seeds fascinating! Kids will be amazed at the complex powerhouses that seeds really are!
illustrated space books
Want even more titles for your space-obsessed kids? check out the books on our list of space books for kids. Head over to NASA for up-to-date scientific information!
pluto’s secret: the story of the discovery of an icy world by margaret weitekamp and david devorkin. Pluto has had a rough time these last few years. It’s about time he got his own book. is a fun and playful story, with lots of facts about the little boy.
national geographic’s big space book by catherine d. hugs. I think you could put a “big book” in each of these categories for which there is a relevant title. I’m usually put off by books that feature branded merchandise, but this is an excellent series that grows with the child. (also, ng is a very high quality “brand name”). I recommend it.
The Mighty Mars Rover: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity by Elizabeth Rusch. It’s for ages 8 and up, but my youngest loves looking at the pictures. You won’t get any closer to Mars than with this book.
Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11. Brian Floca’s detailed illustrations tell the story of Apollo 11.
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a black hole is not a hole by carolyn cinemi decristofano. For those over 8 years old. this book is very good. actually made me understand black holes…and made me laugh.
Illustrated animal books
Does your child love animals? Check out our expanded list of non-fiction animal books!
frog song by brenda z. guiberson gorgeous illustrations, gorgeous onomatopoeic text you can practically feel, and splendid facts about these interesting endangered creatures.
eat like a bear by april pulley sayre. little known fact: I really like bears! Share the love of bears with this simple and fun book about how and what bears eat throughout the year. includes a final note on different types of bears. ideal for the little ones.
animalium of jenny broom. This wonderful oversized book is a fantastic choice for kids who love sorting and those who love lingering in natural history museums. wonderfully accurate illustrations that evoke nature illustrations from the past take curious children and adults on a journey through the animal kingdom. simply wonderful.
can we save the tiger? by martin jenkins. More than a book about tigers, author Martin Jenkins examines various extinct species, what led to their extinction, and how we can work to save endangered animals.
life: the staggering numbers in the lives of animals by lola m. schaefer is a fun look at animals for kids who also love numbers.
illustrated earth science books
earth science covers a lot of topics! We’ve got a whole list of books for kids who love volcanoes, earthquakes, and dirt! Check out our list of earth science picture books.
a rock is animated by dianna aston. kiddo is really into rocks and gems these days. I look forward to the next time he and his uncle, the geologist, get together. he has been reading books for older children, but this is a beautiful picture book for children just starting out.
volcano ascending by elizabeth rusch. a dramatic look at volcanoes using paper collage illustrations that will have her kids “hissing” and “pop!-ing” and yelling “volcano rising!” at the end.
grand canyon by jason chin. The story follows a child and an adult on a walk through the magnificence of the Grand Canyon, detailing how the layers, plants, and wildlife that live in the basin were formed. There is so much information in here that you and your kids will want to read it over and over again and then start planning your next vacation right away!
planet earth/upside down by gail gibbons. this book does exactly what the title suggests: it shows the layers of the earth and how they work together to form an amazing planet.
the sun, the wind and the rain by lisa westberg peters. this is a delightful book that uses a child building a sandcastle as a parallel to the way mountains are formed. the simple explanation makes it a good choice for younger children.
ocean picture books
The world’s oceans are full of mystery, learn more from the National Ocean Service. your local aquarium is your next stop!
Coral Reefs: A journey through an aquatic world full of wonders. once again, jason chin hits the nail on the head with his amazing illustrations. A girl at the New York Public Library starts reading about the ocean and finds herself swept up on an adventure of scientific discovery.
Sunlight from the Ocean: How Tiny Plants Feed the Seas by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm. be sure to read this as a complement to vivid sunlight, above.
all the water in the world by george ella lyon is a wonderfully poetic look at the water cycle.
Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle by Claire A. nivola science is not only about the elements, it is also about people.
seahorse: the shyest fish in the sea by chris butterworth. as a child he was a bit obsessed with the little seahorse. They seemed so magical to me. John Lawrence’s illustrations of woodcuts and engravings perfectly capture that magic.
Illustrated books on human biology
every child wants to know more about how their bodies work. These biology books will start to satisfy your curiosity.
who has what? all about girls’ bodies and boys’ bodies by robie h. harris is an excellent book for children who are beginning to realize that not everyone is the same.
The Human Body Factory: The Basics of Your Insides by dan green is for kids ages 7 and up who like books with a lot of information!
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What’s Eating You?: Parasites: The Inside Story of Nicola Davies. moms will be grossed out, kids will be fascinated.
weird but true: human body: 300 shocking facts about your amazing anatomy. National Geographic does it again. get ready for your kids to tell you all sorts of interesting science facts over dinner.
what does a baby do? Cory Silverberg This is an unsimplified version of how things work, but it’s completely age appropriate. In addition, it is a celebration of families. excellent.
environmental books
These illustrated science books cover topics such as energy use, environmental damage and recovery, and the impact of human actions on the environment.
island of energy: how a community harnessed the wind and changed their world by allen drummond. hold on to your hats. The story of how the Danish island of Samsø became completely energy efficient will inspire your children.
meadowlands: a wetland survival story by thomas f. Yezerski was a particularly interesting book for my children since we live nearby. I’m glad the name “meadowlands” is no longer synonymous with football in their minds!
What’s wrong with gasoline? By Anne Rockwell Overall, I find the “Let’s Read and Find Out” series of level science books to be an excellent series. You will easily find them at your local library. my son found this to be a fascinating book. is a good start to learning about fossil fuels.
no monkeys, no chocolate by melissa stewart & Young Allen is an interesting look at how monkey behavior is integral to the continued existence of chocolate. this is a great conversation starter about the interconnectedness of life on earth and how important it is to maintain balance in the environment.
the boy who harnessed the wind by william kamkwamba mixes social studies, engineering and environmental issues. he learns how a fourteen year old boy changed his community.
illustrated evolution books
Evolution is a fascinating subject and many schools do not treat it comprehensively. Guide your kids down the path of scientific discovery with these wonderful evolution science books!
island: a history of the galapagos. Jason Chin’s wonderful illustrations tell the story of evolution on “Darwin’s Island” from its geological beginnings to the present. fascinating.
older than the stars by karen c. fox. I love, love, love this book. like several other books on this list, it has a kind of “double text”. you can read the big text straight out like a story for younger kids, but the sidebars will interest older kids looking for answers to their burning questions. This beautiful look at how the universe evolved links all living things to the beginning of time.
lucy a long time ago by catherine thimmesh is for ages 8 and up. It’s a fascinating look at the 1974 discovery of “Lucy” by paleontologists and how it changed the way we view our human ancestry. there is a lot of information in this book, but it is very accessible (even for adults like me!).
Life on Earth: The Story of Evolution by Steve Jenkins is a kid-friendly take on a huge topic. you can read a little or a lot of this book because each page has small asides about various animals or evolutionary traits.
Our Family Tree: An Evolutionary Story by Lisa Westberg Peters is a good book for explaining a complicated subject to children ages 4 and up.
illustrated engineering books
Increased attention to stem topics means learning about engineering science is hotter than ever! Keep up with the Joneses with these engineering-themed picture books.
toilet: how it works by david macaulay. Many of David Macaulay’s books on engineering and structures are for middle graders and up, but this easy, level read will draw kids into the world of mechanics with their favorite subject: the bathroom. (this is part of the how it works easy read series. be sure to check out the other books!)
If You Lived Here: Houses of the World by Giles Laroche is a combination of architectural science and social studies.
brooklyn bridge by lynn curlee. It’s true that we have a toddler bias toward books about New York City. can you argue, however, about the genius of this bridge? This book is not only about the science of bridge engineering, but also about the history of the time, the people involved, and contains illustrations, maps, and star diagrams.
dreaming up: a celebration of construction by christy hale. kids at play reflects great feats of engineering around the world. great for preschoolers. I definitely would have put this one on my list of picture books for little engineers and inventors if I had discovered it sooner!
abc engineering: how engineers shape our world by patty o’brien novak. Teach your kids ages 4 and up all the ways engineers contribute to the world.
more lists of books to love:
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