In a world where curiosity and wonder flourish, introducing children to the realms of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) is both exciting and essential. Picture books not only engage young minds but also provide a gateway to exploration and discovery. This month's selection of picture books features captivating stories with multicultural perspectives and vibrant illustrations, perfect for preschool to elementary readers. Plus, I've included two middle grade novels that captured my heart -- perfect for a read aloud and a beautiful launch pad into problem-based learning. Let's dive into these fascinating tales and accompanying STEM activities that are sure to spark imagination and curiosity in young learners. As an extra bonus, each author included on this list has been a recent featured guest on the Adventures in Learning podcast!
1. Prunella, written by Beth Ferry and illustrated by Claire Keane
What happens when you're born with a purple thumb? Enter the world of Prunella, a girl who prefers corpse flowers to carnations and poison ivy to petunias. After reading about Prunella and her spiny friends, inspire your young botanists to research and plant a garden of creepy and eccentric plants. There's computational thinking involved with mapping out a garden -- even an imaginary one -- and science and the arts unite in the design of the creepy plant garden.
2. Sheepwrecked! by author/illustrator Ashley Belote
Baahoy, mateys! This brand-new pun-filled pirate's yarn is sure to inspire some wild and wooly adventures! Encourage young engineers to design the perfect pirate ship with simple materials like craft sticks, foil, tape, or blocks. Experiment with sink and float. Unleash your math and artistic spirits to create the perfect pirate map as you work on sequencing and following directions.
Bonus: Ashley's Frankenslime and Witch & Wombat make perfect Halloween pairings. You can experiment with different slime recipes (the math and science possibilities are endless) and let students create their own recipes just like in Frankenslime. For Witch & Wombat, build connections to animal adaptations Have students research different types of adaptations and create the perfect pet. You can build connections between science and literacy by having them build their pet with found objects, then have them write/draw about the adaptations they included and why.
3. Shake It Off! by author/illustrator Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Students will be chanting along with this spunky goat as they learn to shake off their troubles through persistence and outside the box thinking. Encourage creativity by inviting children to design their own solutions to the little goat's problems. You can also use this book as a springboard for self-portraits about what makes each of your students special and unique, fostering a love for STEAM and the arts.
4. Not Nothing by Gayle Forman
It's Not Nothing to create a middle grade novel that is filled with amazing three-dimensional characters that leave you wanting more -- especially when the story centers around a 107-year-old Holocaust survivor and a 12-year-old boy with a deep secret who is stuck doing community service in a senior home. But this book is magical. It is funny, moving, and teaches important lessons about rising to the occasion of our lives. Read this powerful book as a class, then explore ways to share stories with the people in your community.
Bonus: Gayle Forman has a number of amazing resources for this book on her website, including Operation Rise, Holocaust history, intergenerational learning, and (for a limited time) free virtual author visits!
5. Mid-Air by Alicia D. Williams
For your middle school readers, Mid-Air by Newbery Honor award-winning author Alicia D. Williams is sure to be a hit! This novel-in verse is a stunning tale of love and loss and hope (and it was recently longlisted for the National Book Award). It's a beautiful book to jumpstart important conversations about being true to yourself and figuring out what moves your spirit.
Unleash the curiosity and creativity of young readers with these engaging books and experiences, fostering a love for learning that transcends boundaries. With each turn of the page, a new world of exploration awaits, bridging the gap between imagination and knowledge in a multicultural landscape. Let's inspire the next generation of innovators and thinkers through the pages of these captivating reads. Happy reading and exploring!
Remember, the journey of discovery begins with a single story – where will it take you next?
Note: I am a bookshop.org affiliate. If you click through the links and make a purchase, I may make a small commission. I share these books with you as a gift and encourage you to visit your local libraries and independent bookstores to request these titles.
Comments