Book List #3

Great Children’s Books About Science

Baeyer H. C. Rainbows, Snowflakes, and Quarks: Physics and the World Around Us. New York: Random House, 1993. Print.

[A totally awesome book for HS Physics teachers!  I have a copy on my personal bookshelf.  It's a great way to introduce some fun facts into physics class.  MJ]

Bentley, W A, and W J. Humphreys. Snow Crystals. New York: Dover Publications, 2002. Print.

Bentley, W A. Snowflakes in Photographs. Mineola, N.Y: Dover, 2000. Print.

[Bentley's photos are a wonder to behold and add magic to science lessons at any age level.  MJ]

Bial, Raymond. A Handful of Dirt. New York: Walker, 2000. Print.

Discusses the nature and importance of soil and the many forms of life it supports.

Bulla, Clyde R, and Stacey Schuett. A Tree Is a Plant. New York: Scholastic, 2002. Print.

Describes how an apple tree grows from seed and explains how its roots obtain food and how its leaves change with the season.

Cassino, Mark, Jon Nelson, and Nora Aoyagi. The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2009. Print.

This book about the science of snow features photos of snow crystals in their beautiful diversity and includes how snow crystals are formed into different shapes and snow-crystal-catching instructions in the back of the book.

Heiligman, Deborah, and Bari Weissman. From Caterpillar to Butterfly. New York: Collins, 2008. Print.

While watching a caterpillar brought to school in a glass jar slowly change into a beautiful butterfly, the class and the reader learn the basics about the mystery of metamorphosis.

Himmelman, John. An Earthworm's Life. New York: Children's Press, 2000. Print.

Describes, in simple text and illustrations, the daily activities and life cycle of the earthworm.

Hipp, Andrew. The Life Cycle of an Earthworm. New York, N.Y: PowerKids Press, 2002. Print.

Briefly explains what a worm is, how it mates, reproduces, and its benefits to the ecosystem.

Jenkins, Priscilla B, and Lizzy Rockwell. A Nest Full of Eggs. New York: Scholastic, 1998. Print.

Describes how in the spring the American robin prepares her nest, lays her eggs, and waits patiently on her nest keeping the eggs warm until twelve days pass and they are ready to hatch.

Jordan, Helene J, and Loretta Krupinski. How a Seed Grows. Paw Prints, 2008. Print.

Uses observations of bean seeds planted in eggshells to demonstrate the growth of seeds into plants.

Kalman, Bobbie. The Life Cycle of an Earthworm. New York: Crabtree Pub, 2004. Print.

An introduction to the various types of worms, how they reproduce, what they eat, where they are found, and the threats to their existence.

Libbrecht, Kenneth G. The Art of the Snowflake: A Photographic Album. St. Paul, MN: Voyageur Press, 2007. Print.

The perfect geometry and exquisite beauty of nature is nowhere so clear to us as in the snowflake. But how have we been able to appreciate this infinitesimal wonder in all its crystalline glory? This book, as much a work of art as a testament to science, reveals how one of the snowflake's most inspired photographers came to such intimate knowledge of his craft and its fleeting focus. Beautiful pictures illustrate Kenneth Libbrecht's story of the microphotography of snow crystals, from the pioneering work of Wilson Bentley in the 1890s right up to Ken's own innovations in our age of digital images. A breathtaking look at the works of art that melt in an instant, this is a book to page through and savor, season after season. [When I first saw a Libbrecht book I was blown away by the beauty of his photos.  Students and teachers alike will be amazed and delighted.  Being able to examine nature this close can add whole new dimensions to lessons in math and science. MJ]

Libbrecht, Kenneth G. Ken Libbrecht's Field Guide to Snowflakes. St Paul, Minn: MBI Pub, 2006. Print.

Examines all the different kinds of snowflakes.

Libbrecht, Kenneth G. The Little Book of Snowflakes. Stillwater, MN: Voyageur Press, 2004. Print.

Presents photographs of snowflakes taken by Kenneth Libbrecht with a special photomicroscope, and includes snowflake facts, as well as related quotations from poets, naturalists, and others.

Lin, Grace, and Robert Mercer. Robert's Snowflakes: Artists' Snowflakes for Cancer's Cure. New York: Viking, 2005. Print.

Award-winning children's book illustrators created the snowflakes and well-known writers added the perfect poems for the winter season.

Locker, Thomas. Water Dance. San Diego: Voyager Books/Harcourt, 2002. Print.

Water speaks of its existence in such forms as storm clouds, mist, rainbows, and rivers. Includes factual information on the water cycle.

Locker, Thomas. Cloud Dance. San Diego: Silver Whistle/Harcourt, 2000. Print.

Clouds of many shapes and sizes drift and dance across the sky. Includes factual information on the formation and different kinds of clouds.

Locker, Thomas, and Candace Christiansen. Sky Tree: Seeing Science Through Art. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1995. Print.

A tree stands on a hill by a river, its branches showing the seasons, filling with changing leaves, clouds, snow, birds, mist, fog, and the spring sun.

Locker, Thomas. Mountain Dance. San Diego: Silver Whistle/Harcourt, 2001. Print.

A poetic description of various kinds of mountains and how they are formed. Includes factual information on mountains.

Locker, Thomas, and Joseph Bruchac. Rachel Carson: Preserving a Sense of Wonder. Golden, Colo: Fulcrum Pub, 2009. Print.

A biography of Rachel Carson interspersed with her own memorable quotes.

London, Jonathan, and Greg Couch. Sun Dance, Water Dance. New York: Dutton Children's Books, 2001. Print.

Celebrates a great summer day of childhood near and in a river.

Maestro, Betsy, and Loretta Krupinski. Why Do Leaves Change Color?New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1994. Print.

Explains how leaves change their colors in autumn and then separate from the tree as the tree prepares for winter.

Martin, Jacqueline B. Snowflake Bentley. Boston, Mass: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010. Print.

A biography of a self-taught scientist who photographed thousands of individual snowflakes in order to study their unique formations.

McKinney, Barbara S, and Michael S. Maydak. A Drop Around the World. Nevada City, Calif: Dawn Publications, 1998. Print.

Presents the water cycle through the journey of a raindrop around the world, in sky, on land, underground, and in the sea, in its liquid, solid, and vapor forms, as it supports life everywhere.

Nelson, Robin. Rocks. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, 2005. Print.

A simple introduction to the types of rocks on Earth.

Pfeffer, Wendy, and Holly Keller. From Tadpole to Frog. New York: Scholastic, 2003. Print.

Describes the metamorphosis from tadpole to frog.

René, Ellen. Investigating Why Leaves Change Their Color. New York: Rosen Pub. Group's PowerKids Press, 2009. Print.

An introduction to leaves and the changes that they go through.

Rustad, Martha E. H, and Gail Saunders-Smith. Snowflakes. Mankato, Minn: Capstone Press, 2009. Print.

An introduction to the snowflake.

Strauss, Rochelle, and Rosemary Woods. One Well: The Story of Water on Earth. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2007. Print.

Water is a necessity of life on earth. Learn ways to protect it while learning water's story.

Symes, R F, Colin Keates, and Andreas Einsiedel. Rocks & Minerals. New York: Knopf, 1988. Print.

Text and photographs examine the creation, importance, erosion, mining, and uses of rocks and minerals.

Waldman, Neil. The Snowflake: A Water Cycle Story. Brookfield, Conn: Millbrook Press, 2003. Print.

Follows the journey of a water droplet through the various stages of the water cycle, from precipitation to evaporation and condensation.

Walker, Sally M. Rocks. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, 2007. Print.

Explains what a rock is, how it is formed and different types of rocks.

Wick, Walter. A Drop of Water: A Book of Science and Wonder. New York: Scholastic, 1998. Print.

Describes the origins, characteristics, and uses of water.