Science books don’t have to be boring or bland. These great new children’s books make our universe exciting and get kids excited about science. Here are some of my favorite new science books for children:

Cosmic! 

Starting with its glowing meteor shower cover, this is one of the most spectacular pop-up books I’ve ever seen. It grabbed me from the very first page where a loud “BOOOM!” and huge pop-up of the Big Bang got me thinking about the birth of the cosmos.

Easy-to-understand descriptions and gorgeous interactive imagery (pop-ups, pullouts, flaps and more) teach readers about energy waves, the Hubble space telescope, the scale of the universe, our solar system, star births, star types, star deaths, the sun, types of galaxies, black holes, space exploration and much more. Intricate pop-ups of the moon landing and of our solar system will please even the pickiest adults while delighting children.  

One Million Things: A Visual Encyclopedia 

This is probably one of the things that marks me as a nerd, but I used to love reading encyclopedias (especially picture encyclopedias) when I was a kid. One Million Things is full of really gorgeous photography that excites and educates. Although it’s a lot fun to just flip open and read at random, One Million Things is amazingly well-organized too.

There are 8 sections: Nature, the Human Body, Science and Technology, Space, The Earth, People and Places, History, and Arts & Culture. This book would make a great addition to your home library and will be indispensible when your elementary school student or middle schooler works on projects and science homework.

Earth Matters: An Encyclopedia of Ecology 

Earth Matters introduces children to ecology and environmentalism with beautiful photography and compelling copy. As you read the book, you’ll embark on a visual exploration of different habitats (polar, desert, temperate forests, tropical forests, grasslands, mountains, oceans, freshwater), learn about the plants and animals that live in them, and how climate change threatens each habitat. There are even some practical suggestions on how kids can make a difference. Another cool feature: Earth Matters is a “green” book. It’s made of recycled paper and printed with vegetable inks- not petroleum products.

Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World

We all know how baby humans interact with their siblings, but your kids might be interested to learn about sibling relationships in the animal kingdom too. Hyena cubs often fight to the death, but cheetah brothers help each other hunt. A fun picture book to read with kids- especially if you have any problems with sibling rivalry.

Animal Tracks and Signs: Track Over 400 Animals From Big Cats to Backyard Birds

This is a fun book to buy a budding zoologist or an enthusiastic Boy Scout or Girl Scout who loves camping. Life-size illustrations of footprints (and even droppings!) as well as detailed explanations give kids the tools to understand and interpret animal tracks. 

The Ultimate Guide to Your Microscope

Hands-on experimentation makes science exciting. This book teaches kids everything they need to know about making their own slides and using their microscopes. If you’re looking for a good first microscope for kids, you might want to try the My First Lab Duo-Scope Microscope ($64.95). You can use this microscope to view both translucent slides with the light from below or solid objects with a second light shining down from above.  Long-lasting LEDs provide the light.

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