If you’re ready to bring curiosity, wonder, and Confetti Moments into your science block, look no further than science picture books! At Ramona Recommends, I believe picture books are powerful teaching tools that build connection and make learning stick. Whether you’re teaching solids and liquids, exploring the stars, or diving deep into digestion (musically, of course!), these picture books are ready to ignite student engagement in your elementary classroom.
Let’s Open the Magic and make science unforgettable!
States of Matter: Make It Stick with Humor
Fairy Science: Solid, Liquid, Gassy by Ashley Spires
Who says states of matter can’t be magical and funny? Follow Esther the fairy as she breaks away from typical fairy magic and dives into real science. It’s a hilarious and factual tale—perfect for introducing matter in a relatable, engaging way.
Confetti Teaching Tip: After reading, ask your students to identify solids, liquids, and gases around the classroom or playground. Connect this with a short written response using the RACE strategy to explain their thinking!
Forces & Energy: Learning Through Laughter
Gravity Is Bringing Me Down by Wendelin Van Draanen
This clever picture book is a lighthearted introduction to gravity and how it affects everything from falling apples to flying dreams. It helps young scientists grasp a tricky concept while keeping the tone playful.
Pair this read aloud with a movement activity like dropping various objects and predicting which will hit the ground first!
Earth’s Changing Patterns
Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring by Kenard Pak
This seasonal beauty brings earth patterns to life through poetic language and shifting illustrations. It’s ideal for discussing seasonal changes and the Earth’s natural rhythms.
Try this: Use the text to model making inferences and text connections. Then let your students journal their own seasonal observations.
Weather Wonders
Drop by Emily Kate Moon
Want to make the water cycle adorable and understandable? Follow Drop on her adventure through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. It’s the perfect weather introduction for younger grades!
Don’t forget to grab my Blizzard POP reading comprehension pack—perfect for reinforcing weather vocabulary, inference, and comprehension skills.
Out-of-This-World Space Read Aloud
The Sun Is Kind of a Big Deal by Nick Seluk
This humorous, info-packed book will light up your students’ curiosity. The sun is the star of the show—literally—and the perfect launch pad for space science lessons.
Build your morning meeting around space facts and let students create a “Sun’s Resume” listing all its stellar responsibilities.
Environment & Ecosystems
Moth & Butterfly: Ta-Da! by Dev Petty
Two insects. Two transformations. One joyful story of change and respect for the environment. This book is a fun way to teach life cycles and biodiversity.
Looking for nonfiction connections? Grab my Ocean Pollution Reading Passage and Wild Places POP pack for Earth Day and environmental literacy connections.
The Human Body Has Never Been So Fun
Digestion: The Musical by Adam Rex
Get ready to laugh—and learn. This musical romp through the digestive system hits all the science beats while keeping kids singing (and maybe cringing) in the best way.
After the read aloud, students can storyboard the “acts” of digestion and label the parts of the system with a fun foldable.
Tech & Innovation
Doll-E 1.0 by Shanda McCloskey
Empower your budding engineers! This story celebrates curiosity, coding, and creativity, and it’s a fantastic way to introduce tech and robotics.
Use it to kick off a STEM challenge: Can your students “upgrade” a common object just like Doll-E?
Bonus Resources to Open the Magic
- 📚 STEM Picture Book List: Handpicked favorites to celebrate STEM with purpose and play.
- 🌱 Free Earth Day Picture Books: 13 magical reads for making Earth Day meaningful.
Keep the Reading Magic Going!
Need more ideas to keep those pages turning across contents? Don’t miss my Nonfiction Picture Book Blog or Math Picture Books for more titles to spark curiosity in every content area. Already peeking ahead to back-to-school season? I’ve got you covered with a look at how I launch my reading block right from day one.
