Having trouble getting your children interested in STEM subjects? Reading is one of the best ways to get young children to learn and incorporating STEM into their reading can help get them excited about STEM subjects. Luckily, there are so many books available that can help teach them about STEM subjects in a fun and engaging way. Some publishers even make it easy to find STEM-related books by having an entire categorization for their STEM-related books, fictional and nonfictional alike.
Here are some STEM-related books for students in grades three through six to help get children started on their STEM journeys.
1. Tiny Stitches: The Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien Thomas by Gwendolyn Hudson Hooks
This nonfiction book, geared toward a 4th-grade reading level, deals with the science of surgical procedures and details the creation of the “Blalock-Taussig shunt,” a surgical technique developed in the 1940’s which increases blood flow to the lungs in certain cases. The procedure was developed by a surgeon named Vivien Thomas, who went uncredited for the procedure. Thomas had to fight discrimination and resistance from his colleagues for the recognition he deserved as a pioneer in medicine. If your child is interested in history, this book may be perfect for exposing them to the wonders of medical science!
Link: https://www.leeandlow.com/books/tiny-stitches
2. Prairie Dog Song by Susan L. Roth & Cindy Trumbore
Does your kid love animals? This book is a great way to introduce them to the field of environmental science! It deals with the ways human activities can affect an ecosystem by describing how farmers and ranchers in the 1800’s completely altered the landscape of North American grasslands, which pushed animals like the prairie dog out. It goes on to celebrate the scientists who are working to bring back the healthy, majestic grasslands of North America.
Link: https://www.leeandlow.com/books/prairie-dog-song
3. Selvakumar Knew Better by Virginia Kroll
For children who are extremely curious about natural disasters and the powerful forces of nature, this book is the one for them! It tells the inspiring story of how a family’s dog, named Selvakumar, saved a boy’s life from a tsunami in 2004. Children who read this will certainly be left wanting to learn more about plate tectonics, ocean waves, and the Earth in general.
Link: https://www.leeandlow.com/books/selvakumar-knew-better
4. Honda: The Boy Who Dreamed of Cars by Mark Weston
Everyone knows the name “Honda.” It’s a name that has become a dominating force in the automotive industry. But most people don’t know the history of the famous brand. Soichiro Honda was only seven years old when he first saw a car in 1914 rolling into his small Japanese town. From that moment on, young Soichiro would work hard to learn about automotive engineering and the science behind how cars work. As he grew up, he became an expert mechanic and developed a number of motorized vehicles. If your child is interested in cars or engineering, this book may just inspire them to become the next big innovator in mechanical engineering!
Link: https://www.leeandlow.com/books/honda
5. Tankborn by Karen Sandler
This book for kids reading a sixth grade reading level is a science fiction novel about two Genetically Engineered Non-Humans (GEN’s) assigned to work for humans as slaves. As they investigate a series of disappearances, they unveil a shocking conspiracy. This book delves into themes of genetic engineering, a fast-evolving field of science that is explored in many science-fiction stories. For a child interested in mystery and suspense, this book is a great steppingstone for getting them interested in STEM fields!
Link: https://www.leeandlow.com/books/tankborn
It is never too late to introduce science to a child, and if you hand them a book that gets them interested in science, you could be starting them down a path that helps them change the world!
Written by: Matthew Jenkins
Date: May 2, 2022
