Teaching Science Through Children’s Literature
Curriculum Materials Center, David & Lorraine Cheng Library
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Here is a selected list of children’s books for Grades PreK-3 that can be used to teach topics in
the life science, earth science and physical science. References in brackets [Ansberry 2007] identify a
teaching aid with suggested teaching activities. (Not all entries identify a teaching aid.) Teaching aids
are listed on the last page.
Life Science – The study of living things.
Animals
Bishop, N. (2008). Frogs. New York, NY: Scholastic Nonfiction. (Grades K-4).
Fun facts about frogs, where they live, how and what they eat, along with vivid photographs help
children learn about amphibians.
Call Number: j597.8 Bis
Cannon, J. (1983). Stellaluna. New York, NY: Scholastic. (Grades PreK-2).
After falling head first into a bird’s nest, a baby bat is raised like a bird until she finds her
mother. [Butzow, 1998].
Call Number: [Big Book] P J Can
Carle, E. (1977). The grouchy ladybug. New York, NY: Thomas Y. Crowell. (Grades PreK-2).
A grouchy lady bug challenges every insect she meets regardless of their size or strength.
[Brainard, 1993; Butzow, 2000].
Call Number: P J Car
Carle, E. (1985). The very busy spider. New York, NY: Putnam. (Grades PreK-2).
The farm animals try to divert a busy spider from spinning her web. She persists and produces a
web of beauty and usefulness. [Butzow, 2000].
Call Number: P J Car
Earle, S. (1999). Hello, fish!: Visiting the coral reef. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society.
(Grades K-3).
An underwater explorer takes a tour of the ocean and introduces such fish as the damselfish, red
lipped batfish, and brown goby.
Call Number: j597 Ear
Ehlert, L. (2015). Holey Moley. New York, NY: Beach Lane Books. (Grades K-3).
After digging holes and munching on crawly bugs, a chubby mole settles in her cozy burrow for
winter.
Call Number: P J Ehl
Herrington, L. M. (2014). Caterpillar to butterfly. New York, NY: Scholastic Children’s Press.
(Grades PreK-2).
Explores the life cycle of butterflies by following a monarch butterfly’s growth process.
Call Number: j595.78 Her
2
Jenkins, M. (2011). Can we save the tiger? Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. (Grades K-4).
The tiger is one of thousands of endangered species. Why do we need to prevent them and others
from extinction?
Call Number: j591.68 Jen
Lionni, L. (1987). Swimmy. New York, NY: Dragonfly Books. (Grades K-2).
A little black fish in a school of red fish figures out a way to protect them from natural enemies.
[Butzow, 2000].
Call Number: P J Lio
McCloskey, R. (1976). Make way for ducklings. New York, NY: Viking. (Grades K-2).
Follow the family of mallard ducks as they make their home near a city pond. [Brainard, 1993;
Butzow, 2000].
Call Number: P J McC 1976
McDonald, M. (1990). Is this a house for Hermit Crab? New York, NY: Orchard Books. (Grades K-3).
Hermit Crab seeks a new home when his house gets too small. [Brainard, 1993].
Call Number: j595.384 McD
Pringle, L. (1973). Twist, wiggle, and squirm: A book about earthworms. New York, NY: Thomas Y.
Crowell. (Grades 1-3).
Describes the physical characteristics, behavior, and reproduction of many different species of
earthworms.
Call Number: j595.146 Pri
Royston, A. (1992). Baby animals. New York, NY: Little Simon. (Grades K-2).
Describes the appearance and behavior of such baby animals as a kitten, duckling and piglet.
Call Number: j599.039 Roy
Ryder, J. (1987). Chipmunk song. New York, NY: E. P. Dutton. (Grades K-3).
Follow this chipmunk in late summer as he gathers food, prepares for winter, and hibernates until
spring. [Brainard, 1993 & Butzow, 2000]
Call Number: P J Ryd
Ryder, J. (1990). Lizard in the sun. Littleton, MA: Sundance Publishers. (Grade K-3).
A child is transformed into a tiny lizard for a day and discovers what it is like to change colors in
a sunny, leafy world.
Call Number: P J Ryd 1990
Ryder, J. (1991). Winter whale. New York, NY: Morrow Junior Books. (Grade K-3).
Transformed into a humpback whale, a child experiences life in the ocean among other whales.
[Butzow, 1998].
Call Number: P J Ryd
3
Sill, C. P., & Sill, J. (2014). About birds: A guide for children/Sobre los Pájaros: Una guía para niños.
Atlanta, GA: Peachtree (Grades K-4).
Introduces the world of birds from eggs to flight and songs to nests.
Call Number: j598.2 Sil
Habitats
Aardema, V. (1981). Bringing the rain to Kapiti Plain: A Nandi tale. New York, NY: Scholastic.
(Grades K-3).
A cumulative rhyme reading how Ki-pat brought rain to the drought stricken Kapiti Plain.
Call Number: [Big Book] P J Aar
Baker, J. (1987). Where the forest meets the sea. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books.
(Grades PreK-2).
On a camping trip in an Australian rain forest a young boy thinks about the history of the plant
and animal life around him.
Call Number: P J Bak
Gibbons, G. (1993). Caves and caverns. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace. (Grades K-3).
Learn about caves their formation and physical features along with the animals who live there.
Call Number: j551.4 Gib
Halpern, S. (1992). My river. New York, NY: Maxwell Macmillan. (Grades PreK-3).
Frogs, fish, a turtle and other creatures who live in or around a river state their need for the river,
making a plea for protecting this natural resource.
Call Number: [Big Book] P J Hal
Kalman, B. (2014). Where on earth are deserts? New York, NY: Crabtree Publishing. (Grades K-3).
Explores what deserts are and the different types while detailing specific deserts around the
world.
Call Number: j551.41 Kal
Schnell, L. K., & Marks, A. (2015). High tide for horseshoe crabs. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.
(Grades K-3).
Focusing on the mass-spawning event follow the life cycle of the horseshoe crab at Delaware
Bay.
Call Number: j595.4 Sch
Yezerski, T. (2011). Meadowlands: A wetlands survival story. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus, Giroux.
(Grades 1-3).
The history of the meadowlands from its pristine state to the pollution caused by
industrialization.
Call Number: j577.69 Yez
4
Plants
Bang, M., & Chisholm, P. (2009). Living sunlight: How plants bring the earth to life. New York, NY:
Blue Sky Press. (Grades PreK-3).
Understand the energy we share with all living things in nature and how plant life effects the
earth.
Call Number: j572.46 Ban
Branley, F. M. (1975). Roots are food finders. New York, NY: Crowell. (Grades 1-3).
Explains in simple terms the function and importance of roots and root hairs on a plant.
Call Number: j582 Bra
Carle, E. (1987). The tiny seed. Natick, MA: Picture Book Studio. (Grades PreK-2).
Trace the life cycle of a flowering plant from seed to blossom observing its changes throughout
the seasons. [Butzow, 2000].
Call Number: P J Car
Cherry, L. (1990). The great kapok tree. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. (Grades PreK-3).
In the rainforest, animals living in a kapok tree convince a man why it is important not to cut
down the trees. [Butzow, 1998].
Call Number: P J Che
Ehlert, L. (1991). Red leaf, yellow leaf. New York, NY: Scholastic. (Grades K-3).
Shadow the growth of a maple tree from seed to sapling observing the changes that happen in
each season. [Brainard, 1993 & Butzow, 1998].
Call Number: [Big Book] P J Ehl
Guiberson, B. Z. (1991). Cactus hotel. New York, NY: Henry Holt. (Grades K-3).
Desert animals scamper about looking for food until they get tired and return to their home, a
giant saguaro cactus. [Butzow, 1998].
Call Number: j574.526 Gui
Tresselt, A. (1992). The gift of the tree. New York, NY: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books. (Grades K-3).
Traces the life cycle of an oak tree and describes the animals that depend on it for shelter and
food. [Butzow, 2000].
Call Number: j574.526 Tre
Udry, J. M. (1987). A tree is nice. New York, NY: Harper Collins. (Grades K-3).
Explore the many benefits a tree provides as it is planted and grows. [Butzow, 2000].
Call Number: P J Udr
Zoehfield, K. W., & Lamont, P. (2012). Secrets of the garden: Food chains and the food web in our
backyard. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf. (Grades K-3).
A family makes their garden preparing the soil, planting seeds, watering the garden and
watching for a harvest of vegetables.
Call Number: P J Zoe
5
Earth & Space Science – The study of the earth and its forces.
Aldrin, B. (2005). Buzz Aldrin: Reaching for the moon. New York, NY: HarperCollins. (Grades 1-3).
As a boy Buzz Aldrin collected rocks on earth. When he grew up he collected rocks on the
moon. [Fredericks, 2008].
Call Number: jB Ald
Andrews, J. (1998). Very last first time. New York, NY: Macmillan. (Grades PreK-3).
When the tide recedes, an Eskimo girl journeys under the ice walking on the sea bed floor to
gather mussels. [Butzow, 2000].
Call Number: P J And
Baylor, B. (1974). Everybody needs a rock. New York, NY: Scribner. (Grades K-2).
Describes the qualities to consider in selecting the perfect rock for play and pleasure.
[Butzow, 2000].
Call Number: j552 Bay
Baylor, B. (1980). If you are a hunter of fossils. New York, NY: Scribner. (Grades K-3).
A fossil hunter looking for signs of an ancient sea in the rocks of a western Texas mountain
describes how the area must have looked millions of years ago.
Call Number: J Bay
Barrett, J. (1978). Cloudy with a chance of meatballs. Lancaster, PA: Childcraft Education.
(Grades PreK-3).
Life in the town of Chewsandswallow is delicious, it rains soup and juices, snows mashed
potatoes, and blows storms of hamburgers, until that day when the weather changed and things
got worse. [Butzow, 1998].
Call Number: P J Bar & [Big Book] P J Bar
Bial, R. (2000). A handful of dirt. New York, NY: Walker. (Walker). (Grades 3-6).
Discusses the nature and importance of soil and the many forms of life it supports.
[Royce, 2012].
Call Number: j577.57 Bia
Branley, F. M. (2005). Earthquakes. New York, NY: HarperCollins. (Grades K-2).
Learn why earthquakes happen, where they are most likely to occur, and what to do if one
happens near you.
Call Number: j551.22 Bra
Branley, F. M. (2005). Sunshine makes the seasons. New York, NY: HarperCollins. (Grades K-2).
Introduces how the sun’s relationship to the earth is responsible for seasonal changes.
Call Number: j508.2 Bra
Chin, J. (2012). Island: A story of the Galapagos. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press. (Grades 1-4).
The biography of the Galapagos Island from birth, through adolescence, to adulthood, and
beyond.
Call Number: j508.866 Chi
6
Cole, J. (1987). The magic school bus inside the earth. New York, NY: Scholastic. (Grades K-4).
Mrs. Frizzle takes her class on a trip to learn about earth layers and how rocks are formed.
[Brainard, 1993].
Call Number: j551 Col
Cole, J. (1990). The magic school bus lost in the solar system. New York, NY: Scholastic.
(Grades K-4).
Mrs. Frizzle’s class explores outer space and gravity. [Butzow, 2000].
Call Number: j523.32 Col
Ets, M. H. (1963). Gilberto and the wind. New York, NY: Puffin Books. (Grades PreK-2).
Gilberto discovers that the wind can sometimes be a good playmate. [Brainard, 1993].
Call Number: P J Ets
Gibbons, G. (1987). Weather forecasting. New York, NY: Four Winds Press. (Grades PreK-3).
Describes forecasters at work in a weather station and the equipment they use to track the
changes in weather. [Royce, 2012].
Call Number: j551.6 Gib
Glaser, L. (2000). Our big home: An earth poem. Brookfield CT: Millbrook Press. (Grades PreK-3).
Describes the water, air, soil, sky, sun and more shared by all living creatures on Earth.
Call Number: P J Gla
Hader, B., & Hader, E. (1948). The big snow. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books.
(Grades K-4).
The animals are busy preparing for winter when snow comes early and they are surprised by a
banquet. [Butzow, 2000].
Call Number: P J Had
Hendershot, J. (1987). In coal country. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf. (Grades K-3).
Natural resources, environment, coal and rock formations, life cycles, seasonal changes, mining,
air and water pollution. [Butzow, 1998].
Call Number: P J Hen
Kerley, B. (2001). The dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins. New York, NY: Scholastic. (Grades 1-3).
The true story of Waterhouse Hawkins, who built life-sized models of dinosaurs to educate the
world about these ancient animals. [Fredericks, 2008].
Call Number: j567.9 Ker
Kudlinski, K. V. (2005). Boy, were we wrong about dinosaurs! New York, NY: Dutton Books.
(Grades 1-4).
Dinosaurs have been studied for many years. Read about the changes in discovering how these
large animals evolved and became extinct. [Royce, 2012].
Call Number: j567.9 Kud
7
Lyon, G. E. (2011). All the water in the world. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
(Grades K-3).
Introduces young children to the water cycle with simple text and illustrations.
Call Number: j551.48 Lyo
Physical Science – The study of energy and matter.
Berger, M. (1996). Light. New York, NY: Newbridge Communications. (Grades PreK-3).
Different sources of light and its physical qualities are identified in this simple introduction.
Call Number: [Big Book] j535 Ber
Branley, F. M. (2007). Gravity is a mystery. New York, NY: HarperCollins. (Grades K-3).
Simple text and illustrations explain the force of gravity and what we know about it.
Call Number: j531 Bra
Calhoun, M. (1981). Hot-air Henry. New York, NY: William Morrow. (Grades PreK-3).
Siamese cat Henry stows away on a hot-air balloon and sails off into the sky alone.
[Brainard, 1993].
Call Number: P J Cal
Hansen, A., & Lew, K. (2012). Matter comes in all shapes. North Mankato, MN: Rourke.
(Grades PreK-2).
Introduces the concept of matter with examples such as solids, liquids, and gases.
Call Number: j530 Han
Johnson, R. (2013). What is temperature? St. Catherines, ON: Crabtree. (Grades K-3).
Understand the concept of temperature and how it is measured.
Call Number: j536.5 Joh
Kalman, B. (2012). Rapping about the air around us. New York, NY: Crabtree. (Grades K-3).
Learn why we need clean air, how trees clean air, how air moves, and the shapes of air.
Call Number: j533.10 Kal
Myller, R. (1962). How big is a foot? New York, NY: Atheneum. (Grades K-3).
The king wants to surprise the queen with a bed. No one in the kingdom knows how to make one
or how big it should be. Learn together with the townspeople as they learn the different units of
measurement. [Butzow, 2000; Ansberry, 2007].
Call Number: P J Myl
Tompert, A. (1984). Nothing sticks like a shadow. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. (Grades K-3).
Rabbit loves playing with his shadow. Groundhog makes a bet that Rabbit can’t get rid of his
shadow. [Brainard, 1993]
Call Number: P J Tom
8
Wick, W. (1997). A drop of water: A book of science and wonder. New York, NY: Scholastic.
(Grades 3-6).
Describes the origins, characteristics, and uses of water. [Royce, 2012]
Call Number: j546.22 Wic
Teaching Aids
Ansberry, K., & Morgan, E. (2007). More picture-perfect science lessons. Arlington, VA:
National Science Teachers Association. (Grades K-4).
Call Number: Curr.Mats. LB1585 .A57 2007
Brainard, A., & Wrubel, D. H. (1993). Literature-based science activities: An integrated approach.
New York, NY: Scholastic Professional Books. (Grades K-3).
Call Number: Curr.Mats. LB1585 .B73 1993
Butzow, C. M., & Butzow, J. W. (1998). More science through children’s literature: An integrated
approach (2nd ed.). Englewood, CO: Teacher Ideas Press. (Grades K-3).
Call Number: Curr.Mats. LB1585 .B843 1998
Butzow, C. M., & Butzow, J. W. (2000). Science through children’s literature: An integrated
approach (2nd ed.). Englewood, CO: Teacher Ideas Press. (Grades K-3).
Call Number: Curr.Mats. LB1585 .B85 2000
Fredericks, A. D. (2008). More science adventures with children’s literature: Reading comprehension
and inquiry-based science. Westport, CT: Teacher Ideas Press.
(Grades K-4).
Call Number: Curr.Mats. LB1585 .F6858 2008
Fredericks, A. D. (1998). Science adventures with children’s literature: A thematic approach.
Englewood, CO: Teacher Ideas Press. (Grades 1-6).
Call Number: LB1585.3 .F72 1998eb [online]
Royce, C. A., & Ansberry, K. R. (2012). Teaching science through trade books. Arlington, VA:
National Science Teachers Association. (Grades K-6).
Call Number: Curr.Mats. LB1585 .R59 2012
Prepared by
Pat Moore
April, 2016