You are never too old for a picture book, and you are never too old to be read to either! There are dozens of fantastic picture books to read aloud to upper grades, and I’ve curated this list with a focus on STEM innovators. Please note that Meredith Anderson is an Amazon affiliate and if you purchase a book from the link in this post, she may earn a commission. Find our full disclosure policy here.
Why Read to Your Upper Grades Students?
These books aren’t ones your students would most likely pick up off a shelf to read for themselves, but it’s a great way to introduce historical STEM pioneers and STEM concepts to students in an accessible way. If students hear something that sounds interesting to them, they may choose to read more about the topic or the historical figure. Several of these picture books also have companion novels, so if students are interested they can read further.
- It’s a great way to introduce STEM topics. ⚙️
- It’s the perfect way to share community time. ✏️
- These books are great at sparking STEM discussions! 💬
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly (Picture Book)
While I highly recommend reading the book Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly and then watching the movie, this picture book is a great introduction to four black women mathematicians who were crucial in NASA’s success during the space race. Students will be introduced to Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Christine Darden and their importance as human “computers” while working at Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory.
Who Says Women Can’t Be Computer Programmers? by Tanya Lee Stone
This picture book tells the story of Ada Lovelace and her imagination. What can you imagine that might not exist for 100 years? This is a great one for students to think deeply about what is possible when certain technologies become available. What disease could be cured in 100 years? What assistive devices might be common to help people? What technology might people wear or use that seems farfetched today?
Spark some great conversations about the future while learning about the past:
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba
Moving back into the present, William Kamkwamba was just fourteen years old when he devised a plan to help his family and village by designing and building a windmill. Plagued with drought which led to widespread famine, his village in Malawi needed all the help it could get to help pump water to the land to grow crops. Make sure you check out the full story too!
Nothing Stopped Sophie by Cheryl Bardoe
Sophie Germain was always fascinated with numbers and was the first woman to win a prize from the Paris Academy of Sciences. Sophie Germain was self-taught and went against social norms and the wishes of her parents to become an accomplished mathematician. Her devotion and diligence led her to a theorem that took years to formulate – to predict patterns of vibration.
Building Zaha by Victoria Tentler-Krylov
Learn about Iraqi born Zaha Hadid and her perseverance to succeed as a woman of color against all odds. Don’t be surprised if your students decide they might want to think about becoming an architect!
Ticktock Banneker’s Clock by Shana Keller
Calling all tinkerers! Students will delight in learning about Benjamin Banneker and maybe even be inspired to try creating something of their own invention, either from their imagination or by reverse engineering something and learning from it.
Look Up With Me by Jennifer Berne
Look Up With Me Neil DeGrasse Tyson gives us a peak into the origins of Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s interest in space and astrophysics. A must-read for all kids curious about space, this will get all your students thinking about the vast and wondrous universe.
Mario and the Hole in the Sky by Elizabeth Rusch
Do you have aspiring chemists or environmentalists? You might after reading this book with them! In Mario and the Hole in the Sky, students will be introduced to the problem of the hole in the ozone and how a Mexican American Mario Molina helped fuel the fight against global warming.
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