Books That Spark Curiosity/STEAM
“Children are natural explorers and scientists and have remarkable capacities to gather, organize, and manipulate data. Children are capable of formulating and testing hypotheses, analyzing their findings, making corrections, and testing them again.”
(Daly, 2019)
In early childhood education, STEAM refers to learning through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. A book can be the perfect way to spark children’s natural curiosity and create learning opportunities. The following books will inspire your STEAM projects in your classroom, program, or home. The Featured Favorites include suggested questions to consider as children respond to the book. Keep in mind often, the best questions come from the children's curiosity as they listen.
Featured Favorites
Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building by Christy Hale (2012)
Structures created by imaginative children are featured next to actual buildings. Children can see and understand how their structures, made of blocks, cardboard, blankets, and chairs, are similar to those designed by famous architects! With architectural awards and acclaim for its' unique approach to encouraging young children to build and dream, this is an excellent addition to your STEAM library.
Ages 4-7 years
After the Story
What kind of structures do you like to create?
Can you draw a building you would like to create?
What will you use to build your structure?
Hey Ho to Mars We'll Go by Susan Lendroth, Illustrated by Bob Kolar (2019)
With factual information and sung to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell,” readers can take an imaginary journey to Mars. This book is an engaging and fun introduction to space travel for young children. Young astronauts will learn about gravity, sleeping on walls, and growing greens in space.
Ages 3-6 years
After the Story
What do you know about Mars?
What would it be like to live on the Space Station?
Check out this great link! Listen to Hey Ho to Mars We'll Go
Read by Christina Cook from the International Space Station!
I Can Code: If/Then by Vicky Fang Illustrated by Jade Orlando (2020)
This unique book builds an understanding of cause and effect through clever stories and interactive flaps. Discovering how actions have consequences, "If I push this ball, Then it rolls away," is foundational to future learning about coding.
Ages 2-5 years
After the Story
Let children predict what will happen with each action before lifting the flap.
Invite children to practice cause-and-effect relationships with real objects, like different-sized balls.
So Light, So Heavy by Susanne Strasser (2018)
As the elephant’s friends, who are so light, join him on the teeter-totter, it still doesn't move. Children, especially toddlers, will enjoy the surprise ending! This book contains repetition, silliness, and simple, colorful illustrations. It is sure to be a favorite!
Ages 2-4 years
After the Story
Using a classroom balance, children can find objects and experiment with trying to balance the "teeter-totter."
Zoo webcams are fun to watch online and give children the opportunity to observe animals just like a scientist. On the San Diego Zoo website, children can see hippopotamuses, elephants, giraffes, and penguins. Can you walk like a penguin, an elephant, a giraffe?
Splash by Ann Jonas (1997)
In a backyard pond, animals splash playfully, jumping in and out, creating opportunities to add and subtract. Each bright, colorful illustration tells a math story as fish, frogs, a turtle, a dog, a cat, and a child playfully jump in and out of the pond. Splash provides an introduction to counting, adding, and subtracting.
Ages 4-8 years
After the Story
Answering the question at the bottom of each page, "How many are in my pond?" is a great place to start sharing this book with children.
Create opportunities to count on by using the illustrations.
What else is happening in the story? Encourage children to use their imagination to create new stories.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (1969)
Finding a booklist where The Very Hungry Caterpillar doesn’t appear would be challenging. This timeless treasure by beloved children's author Eric Carle is an entire preschool curriculum in one book. In this much-loved story, children experience the life cycle sequence from egg to caterpillar to butterfly and learn about healthy eating! The beautiful art of Eric Carle is an artistic treasure and encourages children to explore collage creations.
Ages baby and up
After the Story
There are endless ways to respond to The Very Hungry Caterpillar!
Ask children to recall the sequence of events in the story. Talk with children about how the caterpillar changed. What other things change as they grow?
Consider sharing an informational text with children to build background knowledge about caterpillars. National Geographic Kids
Caterpillar to Butterfly by Laura Marsh is a great choice. Use it as a reference to support children's curiosity or to generate new questions about caterpillars and butterflies.
After sharing books by Eric Carle, invite children to create collages using a variety of colors and textures.
More STEAM Favorites
Architecture for Babies By Jonathan Litton, illustrated by Thomas Elliott (2018)
Ages baby - 3 years, Engineering
Boxitects By Kim Smith (2020)
Ages 3-8 years, Engineering
Charlotte the Scientist is Squished By Camille Andros Illustrated by Brianne Farley (2017)
Ages 3-8 years, Science
Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow? By Susan A. Shea and Tom Slaughter (2011)
Ages 2-6 years
Garden Time by Jill McDonald (2022)
The Hello World! series is full of books to share with children
Ages baby-3 years
Gabi’s If/Then Garden by Caroline Karanja
Ages 4 and up, Technology
How to Say Hello to a Worm: A First Guide to Outside by Kari Percival (2022)
Ages 1-5 years, Science
If I Built a House by Chris Van Dusen
Ages 3-5, Engineering
Kate Who Tamed the Wind by Liz Garton Scanlon and Lee White (2018)
Ages 4-8 years, Science
Lifetime: The Amazing Numbers in Animal Lives, by Lola M. Schaefer
Ages 5 and up, Science and Math
Lia & Luis by Ana Crespo
Ages 3+, Math
(Also available in Spanish)
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Art and Science
Not a Box by Antoinette Poris
Ages Baby+, Engineering and Math
(Available in Spanish & Chinese)
Peg+Cat: The Pizza Problem by Jennifer Oxley & Billy Aronson
Ages 3+, Technology and Math
Round is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes by Roseanne Greenfield Thong, Illustrated by John Parra.
Ages 3+, Math
Sunny Days by Deborah Kerbel illustrated by Miki Sato (2022)
Ages baby to 3 years
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt (2015) by Kate Messner with art by Christopher Silas
Ages 3-7
Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner with art by Christopher Silas Neal (2011)
Ages 3-7, Science
What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page (2003)
Ages 3+, Science
Ideas for Sharing Books with Children
ArtMaking Using Picture Books and Art to Read Our World by Michelle Kay Compton, MA, and Robin Chappele Thompson, Ph.D. (2022)
Growing in STEM: STEM Resources and Materials for Engaging Learning Experiences
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/mar2017/stem-materials-experiences
10 Tips to Support Children's Science Learning
https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/support-science-learning
Creating Coding Stories and Games
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/feb2017/creating-coding-stories-and-games
Problem-Solving with Young Children Building Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Resilience by Ann Gadzilowski (2022)
Story Time from Space
Library Connections
Check Out the local library in your Wyoming community. Librarians are an excellent resource and can help you find the perfect books for your classroom, program, or home. If you can’t get to your local library, try the Libby App!
Use your local library card and access the Libby App for children’s books on your phone, tablet, or computer.
https://library.wyo.gov/find-thousands-of-e-books-and-audiobooks-in-gowyld-with-libby