Mrs T's Musings

STEM is such a fun and versatile learning area, and it can be a great opportunity for introducing some new picture books to your students. If you’re looking for some picture books that celebrate and encourage STEM, you’re in the right place. Here’s a list of 15 of my favourite STEM themed picture books.

The Imagineer by Christopher Cheng

The Imagineer is a fun story about an inquisitive young girl who goes to visit her grandfather and explores some of the gadgets and machines that he grew up with. She enjoys inventing things and gets inspired by her grandpa to create a brand-new machine just for him. One of the things I appreciate about this book is that it introduces some new vocabulary as well as information about historical inventions.

Math-terpieces: The Art of Problem-Solving by Greg Tang

This book is excellent for incorporating the Arts into STEM (or STEAM). Greg Tang introduces children to famous works of art while asking them to use maths problem-solving skills to find number combinations and notice patterns. Its interactivity makes it extra engaging as a read-aloud book. 

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires 

The Most Magnificent Thing is about creating new inventions and understanding that mistakes are part of the process. In this story, a girl (and her dog) set out to make the ‘most magnificent thing’. After a while they realise that it’s not quite as simple of a task as they thought, and take a break from their work before realising that sometimes it helps to look at things from a different perspective. 

If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen 

What would you include in your dream car? In this fun and imaginative book, Jack decides to design his own car with all the features he thinks are best. With so many creative and exciting ideas, this book is sure to inspire readers young and old.

Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall

Jabari is trying to build a flying machine, but his first attempts are unsuccessful. When his little sister tries to join him, he thinks he can do better on his own. In time though, he learns that working together can be helpful and fun!

Goldilocks and the Three Engineers by Sue Fliess

A classic tale with a fresh new twist! In this story, Goldilocks is an inventor who decides to take a walk for some inspiration. While she’s out, 3 bears come across her house and her half-finished inventions and decide to help her out.

Gus’s Garage by Leo Timmers

Gus’s garage is full of all the tools and gadgets he needs. One by one, his friends come to ask for his help with fixing things that have broken. Gus always knows just what to do to help them out. 

The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons by Natascha Biebow

This is a fascinating account of the invention of Crayola crayons. It clearly highlights how new inventions are often designed to meet a specific need. Plus, because the invention of focus is crayons, it’s much more interesting to kids as they often use crayons at school every day. 

Franny’s Fix It Shop by Edward Miller

This is a book that we discovered for the first time at the library one day, and I’m so glad we did because I’d definitely use it again. Franny has a Fix-It Shop, where she helps her friends fix items that have broken. As she fixes things, we’re introduced to the different kinds of simple machines and given plenty of real-life examples. 

Someone Builds the Dream by Lisa Wheeler

This book gives an interesting perspective on all the people involved in making the ‘dream’ a reality. It focuses on the unsung heroes of design and engineering projects and gives children a glimpse at the work and effort involved in taking ideas and turning them into completed works. It also helps students to see how their skills can be used towards larger, collaborative projects. 

Be a Maker by Katey Howes

This fun book encourages kids to think about how many different things they can make in a day. It includes lots of inspiration to help kids come up with their own creations, and highlights that anyone can be a ‘maker’. The engaging rhyming text and playful illustrations make this one an excellent read-aloud. 

Going Places by Peter and Paul Reynolds 

To prepare for an upcoming go-cart race, a class of students are given the same materials and instructions to build individual go-carts. One girl decides to use the materials in a different way though, inspiring a boy to use his imagination too. Together they design an original, out-of-the-box go-cart that stands out from the rest. 

What To Do With a Box by Jane Yolen

What would you do with a box? This beautiful book highlights how something as simple as a box can be used to create so many different things. All it takes is a little imagination and inspiration. 

Have You Thanked an Inventor Today by Patrice McLaurin

This book does an excellent job at highlighting the impact of inventions on our daily life, while encouraging students to be thankful. It goes through some lesser talked about inventions and the inventors that created them. It offers a diverse range of male and female inventors, making it inclusive for students. 

An Engineer Like Me by Dr Shini Somara

Zara is a curious girl who asks lots of questions that lead her to coming up with creative inventions. The questions she asks work as great discussion prompts with students. With its focus on creative thinking and problem-solving, this book teaches children that they can be engineers too.

I hope that you enjoy exploring these Fun STEM Picture Books with your students! Feel free to leave a comment letting me know what your favourite kids’ STEM books are. 

Do you want some tips for helping students reflect on their learning while you’re here? Then have a read through my blog post on How to Help Students Reflect on Their Learning.

Have a question or a request? You can contact me at blueskydesignsbymrst@gmail.com.