Happy Picture Book Month!
In celebration of November being Picture Book Month, I’ll be sharing a few wonderful science-minded picture books with you! Most will be biographies of my favorite science pioneers.
With the holidays approaching, these would make terrific gifts for children ages 6-10. Feel free to share this post with your friends.
For this first week, I've chosen two books written about important 16th & 17th century scientists. Of course, the word "scientist" was not used until much later, but these guys definitely qualify!
Newton's Rainbow: The Revolutionary Discoveries of a Young Scientist by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, is a brand new release that will both delight and inform school-aged children. It portrays the challenges and curiosities of his oft-difficult childhood in a way that's both truthful and inspiring. Readers will have a front row seat to his developing scientific habits of mind, and will be fascinated by the concepts of his explorations and discoveries, all in the context of an interesting story. The illustrations are colorful, and do a splendid job of extending the reader's understanding. And they'll learn what probably DID happen when the apple fell from the tree!
Another favorite of mine is The Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei. It sets the standard for picture books about science pioneers. Not only does this biography build a world with maps and original notes and sketches of Galileo, but it also captures his sense of wonder. It presents the accepted science concepts of the time, Galileo’s questioning nature, and his belief that the sun, not the earth, is the center of our universe. It also details the skepticism of his contemporaries and church leaders. Gentle prose and meticulous Illustrations are sure to engage young readers and send them on a quest to learn more.
Enjoy the wonderment of science
and be inspired by
the diligence and creativity of its earliest pioneers!