For British Science Week, a celebration of all things Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, we have created a list of some of our favourite books for children of all ages, which feature STEM and inspiring STEM role models, both real and fictional! Perfect to be enjoyed in the classroom or at bedtime.
How to Code a Rollercoaster by Josh Funk
Pearl and her trusty robot, Pascal, have a day out at the amusement park. Spinning teacups, ice cream, and of course: rollercoasters! But what Pearl and Pascal know, is that using code, they can keep track of their ride tokens and calculate when the queue is short enough to get a seat on the biggest ride of them all–the Python Coaster. Variables, sequences, and a hunt for a secret hidden code make this a fun day out with a difference that will show young readers the benefits of code.
Look Up! By Nathan Bryon & Dapo Adeola
Let science-mad chatterbox Rocket launch into your hearts in this inspiring picture book. Rocket's going to be the greatest astronaut, star-catcher, space-traveller that has ever lived! But...First, she needs to convince her big brother Jamal to stop looking down at his phone and start LOOKING UP at the stars.
Bursting with energy and passion about space and the natural world, this heart-warming picture book will reignite your desire to turn off those screens and switch on to the outside world.
My First Coding Book by Kiki Prottsman
A fun and engaging introduction to programming and coding, covering a wide range of concepts including algorithms, debugging, sequencing, pattern recognition and loop patterns. Children learn how to become super coders as they are taken through problem-solving step-by-step. Colourful and engaging pages invite them to get involved and solve problems, and complex computer terms are explained in an accessible way, with interactive examples.
Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts
A warm and funny picture book from the powerhouse author/illustrator team behind Ada Twist, Scientist, about pursuing your passion. Rosie is a brilliant inventor of gizmos and gadgets who dreams of becoming a great engineer. When her great-great-aunt Rose (Rosie the Riveter) mentions that her one unfinished goal is to fly, Rosie sets to work building a contraption to make her dream come true. But when her contraption doesn't fly, is it a failure – or a raging success?
Leonora Bolt: Secret Inventor by Lucy Brandt, illustrated by Gladys Jose
Violet Baudelaire meets Peanut Jones in an epic STEM-themed adventure about believing in your brainpower – and yourself!
Leonora Bolt spends creates incredible inventions in her TOP SECRET laboratory, under the watchful eye of her terrifying uncle. When a strange boy reveals that Uncle Luther has, in fact, been stealing her inventions and selling them, Leonora must leave Crabby Island for the first time, to embark on an unforgettable journey that will test her brainpower to its limits. Can Leonora dream up an invention that will defeat her evil uncle once and for all?
An Adventurer's Guide to Outer Space by Isabel Thomas, Yas Imamura & Lucy Hawking
Wannabe astronauts: grab your spacesuit and join adventurer Mia as she blasts off for an unforgettable trip around the universe. Space enthusiasts will spot out-of-this-world constellations, new asteroids, and distant galaxies in this wonderful book. With breathtaking facts and interactive space activities, this captivating book will excite and inspire the adventurers of the future.
Fantastically Great Women Scientists and Their Stories by Kate Pankhurst
A celebration of women who made some of the world's most important scientific breakthroughs by Kate Pankhurst, descendent of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst.
Did you know, women have been responsible for many of the world's most groundbreaking scientific discoveries? Read the true and inspiring stories of the incredible female scientists whose hard work and persistence changed our understanding of science, and transformed people's ideas of what women can do.
Including comic strips, family trees, maps and more, Fantastically Great Women Scientists and Their Stories features Mae Jemison, Marie Curie, Elizabeth Blackwell, Janaki Ammal, Caroline Herschel, Katia Krafft, Tu Youyou and Rosalind Franklin.
Ada Lace is on the Case by Emily Calandrelli
Ada Lace is an eight-year-old girl with a knack for science, maths and solving mysteries with technology...
Ada Lace--third-grade scientist and inventor extraordinaire has discovered that her neighbour's beloved Yorkie has been dognapped!
With the help of Nina (who is convinced the dog was stolen by aliens!) and her ever-growing collection of gadgets, Ada sets out to find the wrongdoer. As their investigation becomes more and more mysterious, Ada and Nina grow closer, proving that opposites do, in fact, attract.
Cookie and the Most Annoying Boy in the World written & illustrated by Konnie Huq (Piccadilly Press)
Konnie Huq’s award-winning series, starring science-mad Cookie, blends fiction, facts and fun in a completely original way, highlighting ultra-relevant themes such as STEM, saving the planet and coding, as well as chaotic family life and madcap school science projects! Konnie’s own cartoon illustrations add layers of humour and each book includes 20 pages of fun activities.
Beetle Boy by M.G. Leonard, illustrated by Julia Sardà
The first book in M.G. Leonard's acclaimed trilogy features exotic beetles, a daring quest, brilliant characters and a truly venomous villain. Darkus can't believe his eyes when a huge insect drops out of the trouser leg of his horrible new neighbour. It's a giant beetle – and it seems to want to communicate. But how can a boy be friends with a beetle? And what does a beetle have to do with the disappearance of his dad? And who is Lucretia Cutter, with her taste for creepy jewellery? A brilliant read and perfect introduction to sorting and classifying invertebrates based on their similarities and differences.
Super problem-solvers and curious creators will love the brand new SuperQuesters series, which inspires a love of STEM learning through interactive play and stories. SuperQuesters: The Case of the Stolen Sun is out on 3 May, Pre-order, published by new children’s publisher, QuestFriendz.
