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Books, Reading, and Storytelling

A compilation of STEM read-aloud storybooks, storytelling, companion hands-on activities, lists of STEM books and biographies, library collaboration resources, and annual events such as Summer Reading Programs and National Children's Book Week. Also included are resources for STEM tactile and Braille books for visually impaired participants.

Annual Events

Storytime Read-Aloud Books and Storytelling Activities

Exploring Earth: Bear’s Shadow activity image of a mother and girl holding a flashlight representing the sun

Exploring Earth: Bear’s Shadow

In this activity, learners move a flashlight around an object to make and experiment with shadows, followed by reading a storybook.
Group of learners participating and enjoying the Hide and Seek Moon activity

Exploring the Solar System: Hide and Seek Moon

In this activity, learners use binoculars to find a hidden object on a Moon poster and learn how cultures around the world have viewed the Moon.
Learner colors paper elephant ears

Horton Hears a Who! Storytime

In this activity, learners make paper elephant ears to wear and listen to "Horton Hears a Who!" by Dr. Seuss before exploring scent molecules.
A family pays attention to a the story of "Horton Senses Something Small"

Horton Senses Something Small

In this activity, young learners listen to the Dr. Seuss book "Horton Hears a Who", they look at small things using lenses and use their sense of smell to detect things that are too small to see.
"How Small is Nano?" with five images of various cells and a ruler just below

How Small Is Nano? Book and Poster

Posters and banners for the Nanoscale project in various sizes in multiple formats. Formative evaluation and survey instruments for the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network.
Image showing an illustration of a Mars rover

Is That Robot Real? children's book and poster

Book, graphics panels, and evaluation report on fact and fiction around robots.
Cover to a book called Alice in Nanoland featuring a girl with blonde hair, a green shirt and purple skirt

Alice In NanoLand

Alice In NanoLand book suitable for reading areas, story-times, or to augment a program; along with formative evaluation.
Boy holding a plastic bag of green oobleck with a plastic Easter egg

Exploring Materials - Oobleck

In this activity, learners investigate the properties of a cornstarch and water mixture, called Oobleck, and test its ability to protect from impacts.
Children with surprised faces and adults using the Frankenstein kit Battery Stack activity  - adults dressed as Mary Shelley and the Monster

Frankenstein 200 Kit

Hands-on activities and professional development resources that encourage creativity and reflection about responsible innovation, developed in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein.
Facilitator and Learner use a block with a rover image to transport astronauts

Exploring the Solar System: Story Blocks

Every space mission has a story. In this activity, learners use blocks to tell a creative story about planning a space mission to explore the Moon together.
Book cover from the Break Moon Book featuring an illustration of of a family at a dinner table eating fruit

Breakfast Moon picture book

Picture book for young learners about how we see the Moon and how it changes over time.
Learners discuss a picture card from the activity together

Exploring Nano & Society - Tell a Nano Story

In this activity, learners are inspired by picture cards to tell a story about nanotechnologies in the future.

Lists of STEM Story Books

stack of library books

Night Sky Storytelling & Indigenous Ways of Knowing

Libraries

Museum and Library Collaborations 

STEM Resources for Libraries

Activity Lending Libraries

More Hands-on Activities

Writing and Nature Journals

Nature Journals and Outdoor Observations

Science Notebooks and Journaling