08 Feb STEAM Titles: Some Of The Best Books For Children Today
Children love stories and books – that’s been true since parents started telling bedtime tales to their little ones many centuries ago. And while a child’s library was once limited to classics like “Winnie the Pooh” and “Alice In Wonderland”, today there is a rich cornucopia of titles for every interest a little one expresses.
Is your child fascinated by science? Do they have a creative bent you’re hoping to encourage? Is building a bridge with living room chairs and bed linens one of their favorite pastimes? Then a book with tales of engineering feats is right up their alley.
In this article, we offer a roundup of several STEAM book titles that have won fans and rave reviews in equal measure. (STEAM, as you know, is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.) It is by no means complete – there are far too many wonderful books being written today for young audiences, we’re pleased to note. But it’s a solid introductory list and offers books for a variety of young readers with themes and stories told by some of today’s most acclaimed children’s literature authors.
1. “Baby Loves Aerospace!”
This book is part of a series by Ruth Spiro, (another is “Baby Loves Quantum Physics!”) Its intended audience is babies and toddlers and makes for fine reading at bedtime or nap time. (Engineering and technology).
2. “Ada Twist, Scientist.”
Written by Andrea Beaty, this book is perfect for preschool children. It poses lots of basic science questions, and because of the central character, it sneaks in plenty of girl power. (Science).
3. “Dreaming Up,” by Christy Hale.
This book for preschool-age children uses great works of architecture around the world to explore and illustrate building techniques. (Engineering).
4. “A Squiggly Story,” by Andrew Larson.
This tale celebrates imagination and creativity. It focuses on a little boy whose sister convinces him to write a letter, and he learns he can tell a whole story by himself. He comes to love words and learns to write his own story. For children aged 3 – 7 years old. (Arts).
5. “How Many Seeds Are In A Pumpkin?” by Margaret McNamara.
This book helps preschool children work on their addition skills in a fun and humorous way. It also promotes diversity, as several of the titles listed here do. (Mathematics).
6. “Magic Trash: A Story Of Tyree Guyton and His Art” by J.H. Shapiro.
A delightful tale for 4 – 6 year old children that has Tyree heeding the words of his grandpa, who tells him to “paint the world.” Tyree does, and soon he is transforming empty buildings and junk into paintings. Themes of the importance of community and diversity are part of this book. (Arts).
7. “Sydney & Simon: Full Steam Ahead!”
This book tells the story of twin mice who want to stage a flower show. They face lots of hurdles but overcome them all. Great illustrations, aimed at readers who are 6 – 8 years of age. (Science, tech, and even some arts).
8. “Danger On The Reef” by Jake Maddox.
This book focuses on siblings whose parents are scientists. While scuba diving, they meet a shark! It’s an adventure story aimed at children 6 – 8 years old, and it gently teaches the lesson of protecting our oceans. (Science).
9. “Ada Lace Is On The Case” by Emily Calandrelli with Tamson Weston.
A new girl moves into a neighborhood and immediately starts learning about the people nearby. She gets involved in the mystery of a missing dog and uses technology to solve it. A perfect story of girl power for readers aged 6 – 8 years old. (Technology).
10. “EngiNerds!” by Jarret Lenner.
This story is about a group of children who hang out together, one of whom builds lookalike robots for each of them. It’s an adventurous tale in which everything goes wrong before everything goes right, and any book that celebrates nerds is okay by us! For readers ages 6 – 8 years old. (Engineering and technology).
11. “The Math Inspectors” by Daniel Kenny.
This is one in a series of books, and this one is entitled “The Case Of The Claymore Diamond.” The two lead characters use math to solve crimes, and in this volume, it’s a jewelry store heist they’re working on. Ideal for readers 9 – 12 years old. (Mathematics).
12. “The Multiplying Mysteries Of Mount Ten” by Krista Van Dolzer.
This book focuses on Ester, who thinks she is going to art camp but winds up at math camp instead. She wants to prove herself and has a fun time while doing it. This volume even includes a logic puzzle you can work on with your child. Perfect for readers aged 10 – 12 years old. (Mathematics).
13. Girls Who Code” by Stacie Deutch.
This book centers on Lucy, who wants to design an app for her uncle, to remind him to take his medication. It emphasizes the importance of family and friendship and even has a mystery worked into the plot. Great for young readers ages 10 – 12 years old. (Technology).
All these books are available either on Amazon or at your local independent bookstore. Many of the authors cited here have more than one title to their credit, so if your child enjoys their work you can order others by the same writer.