18 Awesome STEM Books That Make Science and Technology Fun for Kids
by Melissa Taylor
STEM subjects — science, technology, engineering, and math — are a crucial part of a child’s education both now and in the future. These STEM books are filled with great stories and cool project ideas that can help lay a foundation for any mixture of STEM disciplines. We hope the books recommended here spark excitement, teach something new, and make STEM accessible to your children.
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STEM Books for Kids Ages 6 - 8
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Ask a Scientist
Available from:World-renowned scientist Robert Winston (who you may recognize from his wacky experiments on The Late Late Show with James Corden) answers 100 quirky yet vital science questions from real-life kids. Do dogs cry? Could you jump off the world? Winston responds to these inquiries with logical aplomb.
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The Simple Science Activity Book
Available from:With integrative STEAM books like The Simple Science Activity Book, young artists don’t have to choose between arts and crafts and science and technology. Rather, with unique activities that combine the creative and analytical — studying the states of matter while building an ice sculpture, for instance — budding artists will discover their science and engineering sides, too!
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Math Curse
Available from:Everything is a math Problem with a capital “P” thanks to Mrs. Fibonacci the math teacher! It starts at 7:15 AM when a girl wakes up and remembers it takes 10 minutes to get dressed, 15 minutes to eat breakfast, and 1 minute to brush her teeth so ... 1) if her bus leaves at 8:00 AM, will she make it on time? 2) how many minutes in 1 hour and 3) how many teeth in 1 mouth? This hilarious, math-disaster of a day continues with more math than you can imagine … but will it ever end?
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How Machines Work: Zoo Break!
Available from:Pop-ups, lift-the-flaps, and levers encourage kids to get involved in this STEM adventure story about two animals, Sloth and Sengi, who try to escape the zoo using simple machines. While reading the story, you’ll also discover information on each machine — machines such as a teeter-totter, a pulley, scissors, and a bike.
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The Fact-Finders Ocean
Preorder from:Dive under the waves to explore a reader-favorite topic with this fact-filled graphic novel about life under the sea. A young girl and a shark lead readers through digestible information about the ocean, currents, and the animals that live in each zone. With vibrant illustrations and plenty of humor sprinkled throughout, it’s the perfect book for young marine biologists.
(On sale: 7/22/2025)
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The Magnificent Makers Series
Available from:This series follows a diverse group of friends as they explore various STEM topics. From learning about sound waves and germs to the human body and green energy, this series is chock-full of science, adventure, and fun. Each book also includes two science activities for kids to try.
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TIME for Kids: Weather
Available from:This level 3 reader teaches kids everything they want to know about the weather, from how raindrops form to what makes the wind blow. Readers will learn that fog is just a cloud on the ground, lightning forms when too many electrical charges build up, and the wind in Antarctica blows faster than a racecar.
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Fairy Science
Available from:Fans of Ada Twist, Scientist will love this magical book! Esther is a fairy who does not believe in magic — she believes in science. When a forest tree stops growing, she uses the scientific method to discover why. Esther's curious nature is sure to inspire your own little sprites.
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Once Upon a Star
Available from:James Carter takes readers way, way back to the origins of the universe in this poetic exploration of the Big Bang. How did the planets form? Where’s our place in space? Just what, exactly, makes up the solar system? Once Upon a Star answers these questions, and others we might not even think to ask!
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Count on Me
Available from:There are so many beautiful ways to see the world. For the bright young girl at the center of this book, that way of seeing is through math. As she pauses to appreciate things like the curve of a slide or the many shapes her cat can make, readers sense the inherent (and underappreciated) vibrancy of the math all around us.
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STEM Books for Ages 8 - 12
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Weird Little Robots
Available from:As the new girl in town, Penny Rose has no friends other than the little robots she creates. She joins a secret science club and meets a girl named Lark. The girls soon discover that Penny Rose’s robots can come to life — but to keep them safe, they must stay a secret. This quirky chapter book is an excellent choice for kids who love science but still believe in magic.
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Rebel Girls STEM Stars: 25 Tales of Women in Science
Available from:Kids will love learning about 25 women who broke barriers and smashed glass ceilings in the STEM world. From building computers to pioneering medicine, the women in these stories will uplift and inspire young readers to reach for the stars.
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Weird But True! Space
Available from:Strap in and prepare for takeoff! This little book is jam-packed with weird and wacky facts about outer space. For example, did you know that “astronaut ice cream” has never been taken to space, but a pizza was delivered to the International Space Station? With hundreds of oddball facts, full-color photos, and illustrations, this book is a must-read for space enthusiasts.
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How We Got to Now
Available from:Steven Johnson’s bestselling book about the incredible history of innovation is now available for middle grade readers! We all tend to walk through life without appreciating the genius that made those lives possible — clean drinking water and electricity, for starters — but Johnson revels in those miraculous discoveries and explains how they set even more ideas into motion.
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Swift and Hawk: Cyberspies
Available from:This gadget-heavy thriller is perfect for fans of Alex Rider. When their families get kidnapped, Swift and Hawk embark on a high-tech quest to bring them home safely. Using their expertise in robotics and AI, the two teens use every bit of technology at their disposal to outwit the criminals and save their families. The adventure continues in the sequel, Swift and Hawk: Undercover.
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How Super Cool Tech Works
Available from:Just like the title says, this super cool book showcases and explains what's behind the latest technological inventions. Not only will they learn about today’s tech such as drones, supercomputers, and flying cars, but young tech enthusiasts will also discover future possibilities such as teleportation and artificial intelligence.
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Futureland: Battle for the Park
Available from:A flying theme park, high-tech games, and a sinister plot combine in this futuristic novel for technology lovers. When the games at his family’s theme park start to glitch and kids disappear, Cam’s parents take the blame. But Cam knows they’re innocent and will do whatever it takes to prove it.
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Who Discovered How to Breathe Underwater?: Jacques Cousteau
Preorder from:Journey beneath the waves with this STEM-driven graphic novel about Jacques Cousteau, the inventor of the Aqua-Lung. Jacques combined his curiosity with his love for engineering and the ocean to create the first scuba device. Graphic novel lovers will enjoy this captivating story.
(On sale: 11/4/2025)
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You might also like:
- Inspiring Picture Book Biographies About Women in STEM
- Terrific Coding Books for Kids
- Books About Coding To Inspire Girls To Lead the Next Tech Revolution
- Girl-Centered Sci-Fi Novels for Middle Grade Readers
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2017 and updated in 2025.