Non-fiction picture books, of course, can engage children in the same way as fiction picture books–prompting them to use their imaginations, take a journey, explore, think, and have fun.
As a science teacher to K – 2 elementary school students, I often use non-fiction titles in my classroom as a teaching tool and they’re always met with great enthusiasm and spark wonderful questions/discussions. I’ll be using a few titles this spring to highlight our science studies, so I thought I’d share:
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating, illustrated by Marta Álvarez Miguéns.
Dive into this story about Eugenie Clark and her fascinating life as a pioneering scientist with a passion for sharks.
Coyote Moon by Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
Go on the hunt with a mother coyote in the suburban landscape, as she searches for a meal for her hungry pups.
Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by David Litchfield
Learn all about the planet Earth from the point of view of Earth herself.
Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles by Patricia Valdez, illustrated by Felicita Sala
A colorful, fascinating story of Joan Procter, who grew up to be the Curator of Reptiles at the British Museum.
Plants Can’t Sit Still by Rebecca E. Hirsch, illustrated by Mia Posada
Explore all of the ways that plants can move.
I’m always on the lookout for more titles, so feel free to comment with science-centered non-fiction suggestions 🙂
Jennifer Mary G 