Five Faves: Scientist Picture Books

There are so many new things to explore and learn about in the world. Scientists ask questions and then do experiments to find answers. Even young people can be scientists by doing their own research, asking questions, and working to find answers. Here are a couple of picture books about young scientists with big ideas!

My Dog is Not a Scientist

Written by Betsy Ellor

Illustrated by Luisa Vera

San Diego, CA : Yeehoo Press, 2023. Picture Book.

Yara is getting ready for the science fair at her school where she hopes to be able to prove that she is a scientist and beat Eddie, who wins every year. Yara starts to try all kinds of experiments but her dog, Renzo, keeps messing everything up! She gets worried that she won't be able to succeed with her goal.

Marsha is Magnetic

Written by Beth Ferry

Illustrated by Lorena Alvarez

Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2021. Picture Book.

Martha is a scientist that tries to use the scientific method to make friends so she will have people to invite to her birthday party. She ends up creating a super-magnetic helmet to try to attract friends with her "magnetic" personality. Will her magnetic hat really help her make friends?

The Last Rainbow Bird

By Nora Brech

Edinburgh : Floris Books, 2022. Picture Book.

These scientists find out that a rare bird called a Rainbow Bird is close to being extinct and set out on a journey to find and save this bird. They find all sorts of other birds along the way. This picture book has beautiful illustrations and more information in the back of the book on ways that scientists help save endangered animals.

Libby Loves Science

Written by Kimberly Derting & Shelli R. Johannes

Illustrated by Joelle Murray

New York, NY : Greenwillow Books, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2020. Picture Book.

Libby and her friends are in charge of a running a science booth at their school festival. They come up with all kinds of fun experiments that people can take part in. At first no one is coming to their booth, but they find a way to attract a crowd and enjoy their time. This books has instruction in the back on how to do each of the experiments that are talked about during the story!

Dream Big, Little Scientists

Written by Michelle Schaub

Illustrated by Alice Potter

Watertown, MA : Charlesbridge, 2020. Picture Book.

Even scientists need to sleep and this is the perfect bedtime story to read before bed. This book features diverse children scientists of all kinds going to bed. It shows an astronaut, a botanist, a physicist, a anthropologist, and many others. Each page is so detailed and shows a variety of fun STEM themed rooms with each child.

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Display: Dino-mite Reads

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