Science books for 1st graders

Can a very small girl understand anything as enormous and complicated as infinity? Yes! This quirky philosophical book transforms the mind-numbing concept into a kid-friendly personal story. Silly, graspable ways to contemplate “forever” are presented via ice cream, families, school recess, stars, and shoes. With clever, old-fashioned illustrations.

Perfect for: Kids who like math.

Find Infinity and Me at your local library.

Poetic celebration of rocks, pebbles, stones, and boulders. Explores the many ways kids use rocks — from skipping to climbing to making a wish — and where they can best be found. Artfully designed with hand-tinted, black-and-white photographs. Teaches exploration, observation, and appreciation. Ideal for young geologists and creative, outdoorsy kids.

Perfect for: Kids who like rocks and nature.

Find If You Find a Rock at your local library.

Four major snake families are presented in this meticulously organized book packed with abundant information on the diet, venom, anatomy, reproduction, behavior, and life cycle of these legless reptiles. Beautiful close-up photography makes every scary scale visible on the fifteen specific species shown, including king cobra. A successful herpetology reference guide. Hiss!

Perfect for: Kids who like animals.

Find Snakes at your local library.

Global warming is forcing millions of animal species to adapt their behavior to shorter winters and drastic changes in habitat. With clear explanations, this book describes changes in the life cycles of butterflies, foxes, polar bears, walruses, krill, coral, turtles, penguins, marmots, and other creatures. Accompanied by collage art, a glossary, and a bibliography.

Perfect for: Kids who like animals.

Find A Warmer World at your local library.

Poop, spit, vomit, urine, and blood are some of the repulsive attractions in this fun examination of loathsome acts animals do to survive. Giant water bug breathes through its butt, bunny eats its feces, sea cucumber barfs to scare enemies… Ewww! And awesome! Packed with science facts that provide great education during a gruesome gross-out.

Perfect for: Kids who like animals.

Find Animal Grossapedia at your local library.

Six-year-old Miles is a “Seal Sitter” in the Pacific Northwest. He organizes rescue missions that keep vigil on baby seals who are temporarily abandoned by their mothers. This kid-friendly page-turner provides excellent photos of adorable, big-eyed seal pups, plus it teaches compassion, perseverance, commitment, and appreciation of nature.

Perfect for: Kids who like sea animals.

Find Leopard & Silkie: One Boy’s Quest to Save the Seal Pups at your local library.

In 1997, a New Zealand fishing boat hauled a surprise catch from the deep: a dark red, dead, 25-foot giant squid. The mysterious creature, previously unseen in intact form, was given to scientists at the American Museum of Natural History. Includes soft, majestic illustrations and intriguing facts about the huge cephalopod.

Perfect for: Kids who like sea animals.

Find Giant Squid: Mystery of the Deep at your local library.

While riding on a subway, a boy becomes absorbed in a book about the ancient, immense California redwoods. As he reads, his surroundings change from urban underground to skyscraper-high redwood canopy. The fantastical tale is packed with facts about these spectacular natural wonders, and illustrated with soft, vivid watercolors.

Perfect for: Kids who like nature.

Find Redwoods at your local library.

True, inspiring story of a 14-year-old boy in Malawi who saved his famine-threatened village by constructing a windmill out of junkyard scrap metal. The contraption — from a design in an 8th grade textbook — provided electricity for irrigation for village crops. Dynamic reading for problem-solving, gadget-loving, junior engineers, with gorgeous oil and collage illustrations.

Perfect for: Kids who like stories about real people.

Find The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind at your local library.

This fun picture book about humanity’s closest cousins is screeching with great ape information. Numerous questions about chimpanzee daily life are answered: what they eat, where they sleep, how they play together, what they do when they have a tummy ache. Chimp-loving children will laugh as they learn — they’ll go bananas!

Perfect for: Kids who like animals.

Available only via Kindle.