With all of the apps, electronics, kits, and games, it’s easy to forget that science books continue to be a fantastic resource for both education and entertainment.
There are countless science books available for kids of all ages and education levels. The best books teach scientific concepts and ideas through fun, memorable, and engaging content. Many booksand quite a few on this list provide multiple science experiments that can easily be performed at home, using common household items. Whether it’s a book of experiments and activities, a biography of a historically significant scientist, or simply a book of information that kids will find fascinating, science books for kids are a wonderful way to encourage children to explore science and the world around them.
Science Books For Kids
 | The Everything Kids’ Science Experiments Book | Check price at |
 | 101 Great Science Experiments | Check price at |
 | Albert Einstein and Relativity for Kids | Check price at |
 | The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science | Check price at |
 | Kitchen Science Lab for Kids Most Popular Lowest Price | Check price at |
 | Science Experiments You Can Eat | Check price at |
 | Gardening Lab for Kids | Check price at |
 | Dad’s Book of Awesome Science Experiments | Check price at |
 | Isaac Newton and Physics for Kids | Check price at |
 | Mistakes That Worked | Check price at |
1.The Everything Kids’ Science Experiments Book
Written by a high school science teacher,The Everything Kids’ Science Experiments Book: Boil Ice, Float Water, Measure Gravity-Challenge the World Around You!covers many areas of science covering elements of the main three, physics, chemistry, and biology. Kids perform exciting and educational experiments using simple household items. Using stuff you find around the house is sure to be a hit. This book would be excellent for teachers looking for some inspiration or small activities to do in class.
2.101 Great Science Experiments
101 Great Science Experimentshas ideas for fun science experiments for parents and children to do together, as well as experiments for children to do independently.This is a big, colorful, fun science book withl ots of photos and illustrations in addition to instructions.It is full of fun practical science demonstrations, many of which can be done with common household items. This book is at a level that young gradeschoolers can understand, and covers science topics as high as middle school levels.
3.Albert Einstein and Relativity for Kids
Albert Einstein and Relativity for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities and Thought Experimentsintroduces children to Albert Einstein and his pivotal contributions to science. Children learn about the famous scientist and perform activities and experiments that help to illustrate Einstein’s theories and ideas. Kids of all ages will enjoy learning about Albert Einstein, the man behind the famous name. This scientist is known for so many scientific advancements that it’s great to read about his life as a boy and to learn about the inspiration for his ideas. Best of all, this book provides easy to do activities. Easy and Einstein seem like an oxymoron, but its true.
4.The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science
The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science: 64 Daring Experiments for Young Scientistsis styled after retro science magazines which gives it a different look and feel from other science books. It provides fun, educational, and “daring” experiments. If you’re a science teacher, this book is sure to give you plenty of ideas and demonstrations which will appeal to different levels of students. Totally irresponsible science is light-hearted and breezy, with a good variety of activities. Fortunately, the definition of irresponsible is pretty generous; a ten year old with microwave privileges can do most of these activities without too much adult intervention, so the kid will get to do the activity themselves, which is a lot better than watching your dad/teacher do all the fun or tricky parts!
5.Kitchen Science Lab for Kids
Kitchen Science Lab for Kids: 52 Family Friendly Experiments from Around the Househas kitchen friendly experiments for kids of all ages. It’s designed to engage and educate the entire family with fun activities. The author is a mother of three children and she uses all her knowledge and creativity to write a book full of wonderful experiments using household items or items easy to locate. Even her youngest child was able to participate in the experiments. Her oldest child used the experiments to think more critically and analytically.
6.Science Experiments You Can Eat
Science Experiments You Can Eat: Revised Editionprovides young scientists with experiments that are fun, educational, and edible. Finally, an excuse to play with their food! First published in 1974, the revised edition has been updated to include modern technology. It’s still a fantastically fun way to teach kids science. The kids love the experiments and they are so easy to follow. You could use it every day in lesson planning to teach the scientific method. What a great way to use all five senses to make learning fun and real-world applicable!
7.Gardening Lab for Kids
A little different than science books with just experiments,Gardening Lab for Kids: 52 Fun Experiments to Learn, Grow, Harvest, Make, Play, and Enjoy Your Gardenorganizes a year’s worth of plant-related activities into 52 weekly lessons. It encourages children to learn about nature, the environment, and where their food comes from in a fun way. The book is full of many project ideas using simple things around the house, garageor purchased inexpensively. Find great ‘rainy day’ projects inside, as well as many to get kids hands dirty and back to nature. There are unique and creative ideas you could never invent yourself! The pictures and descriptions are vivid, and the family can do many of the projects together.
8.Dad’s Book of Awesome Science Experiments
Dad’s Book of Awesome Science Experiments: From Boiling Ice and Exploding Soap to Erupting Volcanoes and Launching Rockets, 30 Inventive Experiments to Excite the Whole Family!covers chemistry, biology, physics, earth science, and the human body with unique science experiments that will educate and entertain the entire family. This book has easy-to-follow instructions enhanced by full-color photographs. The experiments are a lot of fun, most of the items can be found around the house and learn/re-learn a ton about science in an authentic way. This is one great activity book for parents looking for easy projects to do with their kids.
9.Isaac Newton and Physics for Kids
Isaac Newton and Physics for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activitiesis both a biography of the scientist Isaac Newton and an activity book. Kids can learn about the unique scientist and then explore his scientific concepts through hands-on projects. Kerrie Logan Hollihan has written an amazing book about a fascinating and complex man. She brings Newton to life and makes his ideas accessible to young readers. Excellent visuals and fun activities add to this already rich work, making the book a great resource for teachers, parents, and home-schoolers!
10.Mistakes That Worked
Arguably the most unique on this list of science books,Mistakes That Workedshares the interesting stories behind many familiar items. It hopes to teach young scientists and inventors to experiment with the world around them, and that unexpected results can still be useful. My mom always told me that you can’t make anything if you can’t make mistakes. This book proves the point aptly, highlighting several mistakes that turned into common and often-loved inventions (chocolate chip cookies, Coca-Cola, the Slinky). This is an enlightening book to share with kids, encouraging them to realize that taking risks, learning to improvise and experiment is often the best way to learn, even if you don’t end up creating something new and wonderful.
11.Head to Toe Science: Activities That Teach Kids about the Human Body
Head to Toe Science: Over 40 Eye-Popping, Spine-Tingling, Heart-Pounding Activities That Teach Kids about the Human Bodyteaches anatomy and physiology using fun experiments that require only ordinary products that can be found around the house or at the store. It’s a great way for kids to learn more about how our bodies function. If you are teaching a unit on the body you might find this book to be helpful and informative.
12.Gizmos & Gadgets: Creating Science Contraptions That Work (& Knowing Why)
Gizmos & Gadgets: Creating Science Contraptions That Work (& Knowing Why)focuses less on science experiments and more on “contraptions”. Plenty of science books are filled with fun kitchen experiments but this book is for the inventive maker. Young scientists use common items to build gizmos and learn about physics and scientific practices along the way. It might be a good shout for kids not very interested in anything that seems like learning. Definitely a great buy for kids that think science boring.
13.Janice VanCleave’s Earth Science for Every Kid
Janice VanCleave’s Earth Science for Every Kid: 101 Easy Experiments that Really Workteaches kids to explore earth science concepts using common, inexpensive items. Well organized with easy-to-follow instructions, it’s simple and educational fun. This book is wonderful in that it gives you the experiments and provides explanations for the results.
14.5,000 Awesome Facts (About Everything!)
One of National Geographic’s series of science books,5,000 Awesome Facts (About Everything!)has fun facts and subjects accompanied by lots of color photographs. It’s great for quickly reading about a single subject or for hours of educational fun. Your kids (and you) could spend hours looking at the pictures, reading the descriptions, and saying “mom come look at this!” This book makes an unusual and timeless idea for birthday presents for kids’ friends.
15.Science Arts: Discovering Science Through Art Experiences
Science Arts: Discovering Science Through Art Experiencespresents science education through art. The book includes detailed information for each project and project uses common arts and crafts materials. A great way to encourage scientific thought through creativity. I have bought several of Jean Potter’s other books so when I found her name online, I decided to buy this one. It is everything I thought it would be and MORE! I love artbut never thought the two mixed. This is a book for every kid, teacher, and parent!
Whether they are guides for experiments or pages filled with interesting facts, science books for kids can provide children (and parents!) with a fun and engaging learning experience. Do you and your child have a favorite science book? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Feature image courtesy of Flickr,kodomut.
Author Bio: Gillian Pemberton
Gillian is a blogger and freelance writer. She rules her tiny corner of the internet from a farm in rural Virginia that she shares with horses, dogs, cats, chickens, an outdoorsman, and a perfect step-daughter. She is passionate about all things tech yet prefers to never wear shoes.
