Our Top STEM Picks for Little Bookworms!

We’re huge champions of the transformative power of reading, and what better way to join in with International Children’s Book Day 2025 than sharing some of our favourite reads.

Whether you’re looking for a new bedtime story for your toddler, or encouraging your older reader to dive deep into the mysteries of the universe, these STEM-themed books are sure to inspire every budding bookworm!

Picture books for preschoolers

1. Martha Maps It Out - Leigh Hodgkinson

   Full of immersive maps and fun details, get ready to explore all the people and places that make Martha's world special, and dream of a future where anything is possible.

2. Look Up! - Nathan Bryon

   Winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2020, discover the wonder of space in this heart-warming story perfect for budding astronauts!

3. Big Bad Wolf Investigates Fairy Tales - Catherine Cawthorne

   Could a princess really feel a pea through all those mattresses? Join the Big Bad Wolf for a twist on the classics as he uses science to unravel the mysteries behind traditional fairy tales.

4. Count on Me - Miguel Tanco

   Discover why there is always more than one way to see the world in this beautifully illustrated book celebrating individuality and numbers!

5. Songs of the Birds - Isabel Otter

   The perfect pick for nature enthusiasts, little ones will love pressing the sound button to bring birdsong, and the fascinating world of birds, to life.

Top picks for emerging readers

1. Eurek-HER! - Frances Durkin

   From ancient Mesopotamia to the present day, discover twenty inspirational stories about world-changing women in STEM!

2. How To Spaghettify Your Dog and other science secrets of the universe - Hiba Noor Khan

   Have you ever wondered how to slow down time? Or what would happen if you fell into a black hole? This fun story is bursting with physics facts that uncover the mysteries of our universe!

3. The Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning unearthed the truth about the dinosaurs - Kate Winter

   Do they love all things dinosaurs? Packed full of facts and beautiful art, this book explores the fascinating and inspiring life of fossil hunter Mary Anning.

4. Beetles for Breakfast...and other weird and wonderful ways to save the planet - Madeleine Finlay

   Would you brush your teeth with biodegradable algae? Or eat a beetle burger for lunch? Learn about the bizarre but genius ways our lives could be changed by planet-saving tech!

5. Jack-Jack, Return of the Chickens - Ben Garrod

   Jack-Jack, the world’s coolest dog, is set for an epic new adventure in the latest book from Norwich Science Festival Patron, Ben Garrod.

Riveting reads for older kids

1. Mission: Arctic. A scientific adventure to a changing North Pole - Katharina Weiss-Tuider

   This illustrated guide follows the true story of the largest Arctic expedition ever undertaken, where more than five hundred scientists from all over the world set out to discover the secrets hidden deep in the ice.

2. Hidden Figures: Young Readers Edition – Margot Lee Shetterly

   Adapted especially for kids, this is the powerful true story of five female mathematicians who were essential to the success of NASA’s space missions, including sending the first man to the moon.

3. The Disappearing Spoon: Young Readers Edition - Sam Kean

   Explore the wacky, weird, and wonderful true stories behind one of the greatest scientific tools in history - the periodic table!

4. Climate Rebels - Ben Lerwill

   Discover twenty-five hopeful climate stories from people fighting to save the planet, including Greta Thunberg, David Attenborough, and Jane Goodall.

5. How to Win a Nobel Prize - Prof. Barry Marshall

   Learn the secrets behind some of the biggest scientific discoveries in this time-travelling adventure perfect for science fans, and future Novel prize-winners!
   

If you love books, why not check out Norwich Book Festival! The ultimate celebration of stories, The Forum's newest festival returns to the city for eight days of fantastic events, 24-31 October 2025!