You (almost) never mind when they decide to take apart old electronics. So adding another ingredient to their learning lab just makes sense, which is why we’ve rounded up six new STEAM books (that’s science, technology, engineering, arts and math to you newbies) that push inquiring minds to ask, “Why?.” From books with fearless new characters to hands-on tinkering tutorials and simple science projects, read on for our favorite new releases. Bonus: reading these with your kids could help cut back on the number of times you find yourself re-assembling your universal remote!
The Curious Kid’s Science Book: 100+ Creative Hands-On Activities
By Asia Citro, MEd
Ages 4-8
Available Sept. 2015
From 150+ Screen Free Activities for Kids and Fun at Home with Kids author and educator Asia Citro, comes a new book of science fun, and it’s just as colorful and engaging as it’s predecessor. The breakdown of each experiment—which range from cooking to environmental science, engineering and a whole chapter dedicated to baking soda and vinegar—make them easy to understand. Asia has a gift for making hands-on creativity seem like second nature and even though the book is aimed for scientists ages 4-8, there are also advanced level questions and projects, making this book perfect for families with kiddos of all sizes. Each one has a conclusion from a very enthusiastic test subject, usually Asia’s daughter or her friends, the index makes for easy searching and there’s a great supply checklist at the back of the book.
Buy it now: amazon.com/thecuriouskidssciencebook
Hello Ruby: Adventures in Coding
By Linda Liukas
Ages 4-7
Available Oct. 2015
Ruby is a small girl with a big imagination. Written by a central figure in the programming world, this classic adventure story takes young kids through 10 chapters of curiosity, playfulness and rules— a celebration of computing. Join a spunky girl whose favorite expression is “Why?” as she meets up with friends Django, Penguin and the Snow Leopard on a journey to retrieve her lost collection of special gems. The youngest readers will love to hear about Ruby’s trials and triumphs, while older listeners will gain familiarity with basic coding concepts: sequences, variables, loops, conditionals and operators. Kids can also go online to download interactive games from Ruby’s world, and an app in in the works.
Buy it now: helloruby.com/shop
Human Body Theater
By Maris Wicks
Available Oct. 2015
Get ready for a theatrical review of the entire human body— graphic novel style. The grinning skeletal figure takes kids on an anatomical journey, and the colorful graphics make this an almost comical take on the human body’s ooey-gooey insides. Kids will laugh to see dancing oxygen bubbles make their way through a heart valve and we can hear the giggles that’ll come from the chapter about the digestive system. Kids will learn why they get sick, why they need to eat good foods, and why they see, taste, touch and smell. At the end, when they finally get to meet the little girl who has been putting on her “body layers” chapter by chapter, they’ll want to flip back to the beginning and start all over again.
Buy it now: amazon.com/Human-Body-Theater
Ruff Ruffman’s 44 FAVORITE Science Activities
By Candlewick Press
Ages 8-12
Available Mar. 2015
For the older scientists in the group, the PBS star of FETCH! lends himself to a book filled with projects great for either school or home. Ruff simplifies the scientific method for kids, provides a sweet lab notebook, gives the heads up on safety procedures and even gives tips for creating award-winning science fair projects. Look for the icons indicating levels of difficulty, or when/if parents need to get involved. From there on out, it’s 44 step-by-step brain busting experiments waiting to be tested.
Buy it now: candlewick.com/ruffruffman
Tree of Wonder
By Kate Messner
Aged 4-10
Available Aug. 2015
Imagine trying to count all the amazing and eco-tastic diversity found in a rain forest. It’ll take more than 10 fingers to get the job done! New number counters and practiced pros alike will enjoy the lush illustrations in this delightful account of one almendro tree that dozens of creatures call home, including toucans, bats and monkeys. Each number (and animal) doubles, until reaching over 1,000 leafcutter ants. Not only is it a visual treat, but it’s a fun way to combine a little math and ecology, all in one read.
Buy it now: chroniclebooks.com/tree-of-wonder
Peg + Cat: The Race Car Problem
By Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson
Ages 3-7
Available Sept. 2015
A fun first in a series about STEM-loving Peg and her trusty sidekick Cat. They’ve built an amaaaaazing car out of things they found lying around in the junkyard, and now, Peg will have to guess, brainstorm, play games, sing songs and make mistakes during her efforts to race in the Tallapegga Twenty (a really big deal!). It’s a good thing Peg knows the best shape to use for making wheels and how to count laps to keep track of who is ahead! Touted by Common Sense Media as a TV role model, Peg and Cat’s creative approach to problem-solving aims to help children find new and positive ways to deal with everyday situations in their lives.
Buy it now: candlewickpress.com/pegandcat
Does your kid like to explore STEAM stuff? Share with us in a Comment below.
— Gabby Cullen
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