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

Dr. Seuss Day (March 2)
- Seussville reading resources
- Oobleck - Exploring Materials - Oobleck
- Horton Senses Something Small
- Horton Hears a Who! Storytime
National Children’s Book Week (early May)
- http://everychildareader.net/cbw/
Read a Book Month (September)
- https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/read-a-new-book-month/
Summer Reading Programs
The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) (https://www.cslpreads.org) is a consortium of states working together to provide high-quality summer reading program materials for children, teens, and adults at the lowest cost possible for their public libraries. CSLP actively shares innovative and age appropriate ideas, resources, and programs for four age groups, from babies to adults. State libraries and systems join CSLP to empower libraries to foster community. CSLP reaches 16,000 libraries through these state libraries and systems.
- Summer Reading Themes: https://www.cslpreads.org
- Summer reading strategies: https://libguides.ala.org/summer-reading/resources

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.

Tactile Books for Blind and Low-Vision Audiences

Child using the Braille book, called "Getting a Feel for Eclipses," features graphics that teach users about the interaction and alignment of the sun with the moon and Earth

Blind and Low Vision Audiences

Resources for improving accessibility for blind and low vision audiences including strategies, guidelines, audio descriptions, sonifications, tactile books, and tactile 3D-printed models.

Science Fiction Connections

Science fiction art featuring archer figure on a rock shooting an arrow into space

Science Fiction, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Superheroes

There are many ways to incorporate authentic hands-on STEM in science fiction, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Superhero events! A compilation of ways to connect STEM activities to the imaginative and creative world of sci-fi!

Nanoscale Science Activity Compendiums for Educators

Cover of a book labeled DIY Nano

DIY Nano Book

Book of Do-it-Yourself (DIY) hands-on activities about nanoscale science designed for use at home by children and adults.

NanoDays Collection book cover featuring a family of learners observing materials

NanoDays Collection Book

Compendium of all public engagement materials from NanoDays 2008-2015 designed to engage the public in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology and their impact on society impact on society.

Selected Books About Nano

This book collection features a select nano resources for reference, a gentle introduction to nano, as well as some children's books suitable for read-aloud story-times or to augment another programs.

Lists of STEM Story Books

stack of library books

A Mighty Girl STEM books
National Girls Collaborative Project
- Picture Books to Break Stereotypes in STEM (and Beyond!)
  https://ngcproject.org/resources/picture-books-break-stereotypes-stem-and-beyond

Library of Congress science and technology collections for young readers
- Women in STEM https://guides.loc.gov/women-in-science/youngreaders
NASA Museum & Informal Education Alliance (free log-in required)
list of free NASA eBooks, comics, graphic novels, and more
- https://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/content/library-resources
More NASA books
- You are Going book
  https://www.nasa.gov/specials/you-are-going/
- You are Going coloring book
  https://www.nasa.gov/specials/you-are-going/#edu
- First Woman graphic novel
  https://www.nasa.gov/specials/calliefirst/

Night Sky Storytelling

The Astronomy of Many Cultures: A Resource Guide compiled by Andrew Fraknoi
NASA's Universe of Learning Native American Sky resources:
https://universe-of-learning.org/contents/events/science-briefings/science-briefing-the-native-american-sky
Audio stories about the Moon from Lunar Planetary Institute (LPI)
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/explore/marvelMoon/tales/
Moon myths from around the world - Night Sky Network and Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP)
https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/download-view.cfm?Doc_ID=642
Downloadable handout: https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/docs/MoonStoriesASP2019.pdf
Create your own Moon story handout: https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/docs/CreateMoonStory.pdf
Cosmic Serpent - Bridging Native Ways of Knowing and Western Science in Museum Settings
https://www.informalscience.org/sites/default/files/CS-LegacyDoc27Nov2012.pdf
Native Sky Watchers - Two Eyed Seeing – NASA & Indigenous Astronomy – For the Benefit of All
https://www.nativeskywatchers.com/two-eyed-seeing-nasa.html
Indigenous Education Institute (IEI): http://indigenouseducation.org
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian Star Stories:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS6nSmuURFJBLIE-4ulPJMYxOV4Zpj1WZ
Learn more about Indigenous ways of knowing and making local connections in the NISE Network guide Working with STEM Experts: A Guide for Educators in Museums and Other Informal Learning Settings

Libraries

Museum and Library Collaborations

NISE Network Museum & Community Partnerships: Collaboration Guide and additional resources
http://www.nisenet.org/collaboration-guide
NISE Network Online Workshop Recording: Museum Community Partnerships - Part 1: Libraries (2017)
IMLS Museum & Library partners resources https://www.imls.gov/our-work/partnerships

STEM Resources for Libraries

STARnet Libraries https://www.starnetlibraries.org
STARnet Libraries STEM Activity Clearinghouse http://clearinghouse.starnetlibraries.org
LEAP into Science: https://www.fi.edu/leap
Cornerstones of Science: https://cornerstonesofscience.org

Activity Lending Libraries

NISE Network Partner Highlight: Sharing experiences about kit activity lending libraries (2021)

More Hands-on Activities

Howtosmile.org book activities https://www.howtosmile.org/resource-search/books
Howtosmile.org literature activities https://www.howtosmile.org/resource-search/literature

Writing and Nature Journals

Nature Journals and Outdoor Observations

Free video series from John Muir Laws and Children's Creativity Museum
https://creativity.org/nature-journal-connection/
John Muir Laws How to Teach Nature Journaling
https://johnmuirlaws.com/product/how-to-teach-nature-journaling/
Nature Journaling from PLT - Project Learning Tree
Nature Journaling activities from Oregon State University
International Nature Journaling Week (first week in June)
https://www.naturejournalingweek.com
USA National Phenology Network (USA-NPN)
Nature's Notebook tracking seasonal changes in plants and animals
https://usanpn.org/natures_notebook

Science Notebooks and Journaling

NSTA Science Notebooks in Student-Centered Classrooms
https://my.nsta.org/resource/125063