Top 16 Science Books For Kindergarteners Updated 04 /2024

Chameleon, Chameleon

by: Joy Cowley, illustrated by: Nic Bishop - (Scholastic, 2005) 32 pages.

Chameleon, Chameleon lets people see the tropical world of Madagascar's panther chameleon through the eyes of the animal. In full color, Nic Bishop's photos show the lizard's unique appearance and behavior in great detail. Check out the stop-action shot of the chameleon snaring a caterpillar with its long tongue. The brief text of the book is supplemented by notes on the creature and how the photos were taken.

A Handful of Dirt

by: Raymond Bial - (Walker Books for Young Readers, 2000) 32 pages.

You and your kids will never look at dirt the same way again after Raymond Bial takes you on this eye-opening, fun, and dirty tour of one of the planet's most important resources. "Without soil, there would be no life on Earth." A good understanding of this concept is important when you're teaching young people about the basics of environmentalism.

Corn Is Maize: The Gift of the Indians

by: Aliki - (HarperTrophy, 1986) 40 pages.

No, I didn't know. It's a simple, scientific explanation of how corn came to be that shows how Native American cultures have made a big difference in the world. Corn was being grown by the time that the Pilgrims arrived in America. They used it in many ways. People call corn "The Gift of the Indians." Children will learn how corn grows and why it is called "The Indian Gift."

My Bag and Me!

by: Karen Farmer, illustrated by: Gary Currant - (Penton Kids, 2008) 12 pages.

When a little boy goes shopping with his mom, he learns that what he buys and how he takes it home can have a big impact on the environment. Young people can use this book's reusable shopping bag to help cut down on their carbon footprint.

On Earth

by: G. Brian Karas - (Putnam, 2005) 32 pages.

In this book, kids will get their first look at how their everyday observations connect to the bigger world around them. Take a ride in space like a merry-go-round: This is the way Karas takes his readers through space. With very little text, this book talks about the Earth's daily and yearly cycles in words and pictures. Children will learn about the orbit, rotation, and tilt of the planet Earth, gravity, why we have seasons, and what happens when day turns to night. Even though the concepts are complicated, they will understand the basics. There are simple words in this book for young readers, but because the scientific concepts are so complicated, some adult help will be very helpful.

Stars Beneath Your Bed: The Surprising Story of Dust

by: April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by: Ann Jonas - (Greenwillow Books, 2005) 32 pages.

Who knew that something that we see every day could be so interesting? By painting pictures and writing poetry, the author talks about dust, how it comes from pollen, house dust, fires, volcanic ash, and how it changes the colors of the sunsets that we see in the sky. There is a two-page section at the end of the book that will need an adult to explain.

The Curious Garden

by: Peter Brown - (Little, Brown and Co., 2009) 40 pages.

With all the talk of getting back to the garden, this book is the perfect kick start for kids who dream of being green. In Peter Brown's book, a small child and a small garden start a big change in a city made of steel and concrete. You can read about Liam's adventures and see how his world changes.

Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy

by: Carl R. Sams and Jean Stoick - (C.R. Sams II Photography, 1999) 48 pages.

You can see real photos in this wonderful book about winter, but it also tells a story with a lot of imagination. When a snowman shows up in the woods after a storm, two wildlife photographers were there to record the animals and birds' reactions.

A Rock Is Lively 

by Dianna Aston.

Kids these days love rocks and gems. I can't wait to see how he and his uncle the geologist get along when they meet again. Until now, he's been reading books for older kids. This is a lovely book for kids who are just starting to read.

Grand Canyon 

by Jason Chin. 

On their way to see the Grand Canyon, they go on a walk with a grown-up. They learn about how the layers were formed and what plants and wildlife can be found in the basin. Here, you and your kids will want to read it again and start planning your next trip right away!

The Sun, The Wind and the Rain 

by Lisa Westberg Peters. 

In this book, a child makes a sand castle to show how mountains are made. Simple words make it a good choice for young children.

Sea Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea 

by Chris Butterworth

At first, I was a little crazy about the tiny sea horse. They looked like they were made of magic to me. He did a great job of capturing that magic with illustrations from woodcuts and engravings.

No Monkeys, No Chocolate 

by Melissa Stewart & Allen Young

This is an interesting look at how monkey behavior is important to the long-term survival of chocolate. There are so many different kinds of life on Earth, and it's important to keep the environment in balance.

Older than the Stars 

by Karen C. Fox

I love this book so much. Many of the other books on this list have "double text." This one is no different. Large text can be read to younger children as a story. The sidebars will be interesting to older kids who are looking for the answers they've been looking for. This beautiful look at how the universe came to be shows how all living things are linked to the beginning of time.

Lucy Long Ago 

by Catherine Thimmesh

Children ages 8 and up can go. It looks at how paleontologists found "Lucy" in 1974 and how it changed how we think about our human ancestry. There is a lot of information in this book, but it's easy to read even for adults like me.

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