Science books for kids cover so many interesting things. There are nonfiction books that are full of information about everything from animals to weather to outer space (and so much more). There are biographies of important scientists that can inspire young people to read. There are also stories in which kids who love science can see themselves in the characters and learn more about how things work in the world of science. These days, there are even books that can start teaching young people how to write computer code. The following is a list of 20 science books that are great for a classroom library or a bedroom bookcase.

Science Books for Kids: Board Books

Bayesian Probability for Babies by Chris Ferrie

Chris Ferrie's Baby University Books are a whole lot of different things all at once. They are both funny and educational at the same time. From quantum physics to organic chemistry, he explains difficult scientific concepts to young kids in a way that makes sense. If I were to say this was one of his most esoteric works, I'd say it was this one. There are a lot of great books by him, but they're all the building blocks for future STEM geniuses.

Baby Loves Quarks by Ruth Spiro, Illustrated by Irene Chan.

If you don't believe me, read this book. I didn't fully understand what a quark was until then. In this book, the author is very aware of what he's doing. He wants to teach the basics of particle physics and chemistry, and he does so with a lot of thought. Going beyond just quarks, it talks about protons, neutrons, atoms, and molecules, as well. A way that fits into the world babies live in. Other books in the Baby Loves Science series are also fun, like Baby Loves Coding, Baby Loves Structural Engineering, and a lot of other things!

The Adventures of John Muir by Kate Coombs, Illustrated by Seth Lucas

Describe the "Father of the National Parks" to babies and young children. It tells the story of John Muir's love for nature in a way that is like a board book. It talks about how his efforts to protect land led to many of our national parks, including Yosemite. A great book for kids who like to go outside (and their parents, too!).

Baby Code! Music by Sandra Horning, illustrated by Melissa Crowton

The Girls Who Code board book series makes coding easy to understand by using computer language to talk about things that people already know. This book talks about musical things like playing a xylophone or hearing a song on your cell phone. A child who can't walk might think it's a little silly to learn how to code. Maybe. But this is a fun show that often breaks with gender norms as well. For example, in Baby Code! Music, the father is the main person who takes care of the child.

Bathtime Mathtime by Danica McKellar, illustrated by Alicia Padrón

It's a book about bath time! It teaches numbers, but it also teaches things like sequencing, patterns, and basic arithmetic. One naked baby, two feet, three friends, four ducks and more are used to teach all of this. Also, it's funny!

Backyard Bugs by Jill McDonald

With its lovely collage-style illustrations, this board book teaches kids the names of bugs they're likely to see in their own yards. Insects like bees, dragonflies and spiders are also on the list. It also looks at grasshoppers. In fact, there is even a way to do something fun at the end of the book. Natural world subjects like Dinosaurs, Weather, and Ocean Life are also covered by Jill McDonald in her Hello World series of picture books.

Science Books for Kids: Picture Books

Georgia’s Terrific, Colorific Experiment by Zoe Persico

Geordie wants to be a scientist when she grows up. This means that in order to be a scientist, she must start a project and make a test. Her family is full of artists, and they keep giving her advice. Georgia thinks art and science don't go together, though. A lot of her experiments don't work out, so she learns to listen to her family after a few. If she wants to be a scientist, she can make her own way. Even science has room for creativity, though! Here, we learn about the scientific process and how important it is to work together.

A Computer Called Katherine by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison

In this picture book, the story of Katherine Johnson is told. A child, Katherine was good at math, but because she was Black and female, she didn't get the same chances or respect as her classmates. She knew this was not right. During her time as a member of NASA, she worked on calculations that helped the first man go into space.

Jurassic Farts: A Spotters Guide by P.U. Rippley, illustrated by Evan Palmer

This book of dinosaur facts is both educational and fun. Each page helps people learn more about different dinosaurs, so they can better understand what they were. A different sound effect also mimics the sound of each dinosaur's fart, which is sure to make readers laugh. The battery-powered book does get a little silly at times. But it also has a lot of real scientific information about dinosaurs in it, too. I can't think of a better way to learn than this!

Gravity by Jason Chin

Jason Chin's beautiful drawings show how gravity is important in both small and big ways. For example, he shows how objects on Earth and moons and planets move because of gravity. When he thinks about what a universe without gravity would look like, he makes fun of it. They also help people understand the complicated concept of gravity in a way that is easier to understand.

Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes by Nicola Davies, Illustrated by Emily Sutton

I'm pretty sure I didn't know what a microbe was when I was a child, either. I knew there were germs, but I didn't know what they were or that there were good ones. A lot of different things can be done with microbes, and this book makes them easy to understand. They don't just make you sick. Some of the things microbes do also help you make yogurt. They also make it easier for people to breathe in the air. A very interesting look at a subject that isn't very clear.

Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner, Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

In this picture book, you'll see two different parts of the same world. Moose and birds drink from the edge of the pond, and the water looks like the sky. But there's also a lot going on below the pond. There are tadpoles, fish, and beavers in the water. All of the things in the pond depend on each other, and pollution and loss of habitat are putting them all at risk. These words are important, but this book is very calm. It has good information and a very important message that people should read. A lot of their other songs have the same themes. They wrote Over and Under the Snow and Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, too.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba  and Bryan Mealer, Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon

William Kamkwamba is trying to get electricity to his village in Malawi even though there is a lot of rain. This picture book tells the real story. In the library, William reads every book. Then, with scraps from the junkyard, he makes a windmill out of wood and metal. In this book, young people will learn about the power of science, as well as about culture and economic hardship.

Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating, illustrated by Marta Álvarez Miguéns

The aquarium is where Eugenie Clark fell in love with sharks at the age of 9 when she saw them in person for the first time. They were thought of as bad, killing machines by the people who were around them. Her goal was to study sharks and make people see them in a different way. In the past, people didn't think that women could study sharks. A lot of things got in her way, but she overcame them to learn a lot about sharks and other sea creatures. This picture book doesn't just tell you about the life of an important scientist. It also shows you how he worked. It also has a lot of important information about sharks in it.

Cece Loves Science by Kimberly Derting & Shelli R. Johannes, Illustrated by Vashti Harrison

Cece likes to ask questions and find out the answers. So when her teacher tells the class to come up with an experiment, she and her friend Isaac come up with a lot of different ideas. Following their decision not to learn whether or not a bear is ticklish, they decide to find out if animals eat vegetables. In the beginning, only Cece's dog is willing to help them out. Cece is a trainee scientist who has her own treehouse laboratory. She doesn't want to give up. She and Isaac come up with new ways to improve their experiment and get the results they want. They work together to do this. The publisher has a fun activity for kids who read this book in class, and the last page of Cece's science facts is sure to inspire other young people to try new things in the lab.

Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty, Illustrated by David Roberts

To start, this book tells the story of curious Ada Twist. She knows that if you look hard enough, you can find the answer to any question. This is why she comes up with a series of experiments to find out what's making her house smell bad. Parents don't like it when some of her tests make even more smells, so they don't like it. She has a curious, scientific mind, and after everyone stops and thinks a little, they decide to help her out. We also have Iggy Peck: Architect and Rosie Revere: Engineer in the same group!

Science Books for Kids: Chapter Books

Trouble Next Door by Karen English, Illustrated by Laura Freeman

It's Calvin's goal to win the school science fair. Calvin is in 3rd grade. But when his data doesn't back up his theory, he doesn't know what to do, so he doesn't know what to do. What will happen to him when the bully from school moves into a foster family right next door? As Calvin learns more about his new neighbor, Harper, he may have to agree that there are more important things than winning a science fair, but he doesn't know yet.

Who Is Jane Goodall? by Robert Edwards, Illustrated by John O’Brien

When Jane Goodall was a child, she was obsessed with animals and lived in London. As an adult, she worked as a scientist in Africa to study chimpanzees. This illustrated biography tells her story. A good book for kids who love animals, this one also shows how patient and determined Jane was when she did her research.

Mad Scientist Academy: The Dinosaur Disaster by Matthew McElligott

The Mad Scientist Academy is a little different from most schools because it is told in a comic book style. When it comes to Oscar, the school pet is a dinosaur named after him, too. A scavenger hunt is set up on the first day of school by Dr. Cosmic, who made a robotic dinosaur exhibit this summer, and he wants the kids to find Oscar. But when the robots start to come to life, things start to go wrong. This series is a lot like the magic school bus, but it has gone up a few steps.

Science Comics: The Brain: The Ultimate Thinking Machine by Tory Woollcott, Illustrated by Alex Graudins

It looks like Fahama has been kidnapped by an evil scientist who wants to use her brain to make a zombie helper. It will be hard for her to get away before she loses one of her most important parts if she doesn't learn about brains quickly. The science comics series also talks about Plagues, Dogs, Coral Reefs, and even more scientific topics.

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