208 pages; ages 7-10. (2017)
Kids love to ask questions. Why is the sky blue? How does the car go? Here are two fun books from National Geographic Kids that help answer the plethora of questions we face every day.
How Things Work: Inside Out, by T. J. Resler
I love NGK books, but sometimes they get buried beneath a stack of other “gotta reads”. This book, published about 6 months ago, is a great place for kids to find inspiration and explanations. It features gizmos, gadgets, construction, auto engineering, and accidental inventions. Inside the pages you’ll find the inside scoop on segways, self-driving cars, and sticky situations (think gecko glue). There are bios of engineers, scientists, inventors, and architects who dreamed big and – more importantly – didn’t stop when they were told something was impossible. There are plenty of things to try, too. So make sure the kitchen junk drawer is well-stocked this summer and there’s a place to invent.
128 pages; ages 4-8. (2018)
Little Kids First Big Book of Why 2, by Jill Esbaum
Want to know why you yawn, why bubbles are round, why birds sing, or why weeds grow in gardens? Then this is the place to look. The book is divided into four sections: Me, Myself, and I; Fun and Games; Awesome Animals; and Nature. Each page features photos, easy-to-read text, fun facts, and sometimes a question. Each section contains two hands-on activities and ends with a game. Back matter includes a “Parent Tips” section with nine “beyond the book” activities to share with children. Each activity focuses on some aspect of STEM: observation, experiment, measuring – plus imagination and art. A list of resources includes books and websites for further exploration.
It’s STEM Friday! (STEM is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
Copyright © 2018 Sue Heavenrich All Rights Reserved.
STEM Friday 