10 Top Elementary Science Trade Books for 2008
Books Recommended by the National Science Teachers Association
Sep 2, 2008
Every year the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) recommends the best science literacy tradebooks for elementary school. These books are reviewed by a panel made up of elementary teachers, science teachers, and other members of the science education community.
Their review focuses on reading level, scientific accuracy, connections with science standards, and grade level appropriateness. Additionally the panel makes recommendations based on the science concepts being addressed in each book. After reviewing the panel’s recommendations, the NSTA publishes the list as the outstanding science trade books for that year.
Literacy and Science Trade Books for 2008
Here are the 10 top elementary science trade books for 2008 as recommended by the NSTA:
SuperCroc: Paul Sereno’s Dinosaur Eater
- by Paul Sereno and Natalie Lunis
- Bearport Publishing, 2006. ISBN 978-1-59716-255-5
- Paleontologist Paul Sereno and his team traveled to Niger in search of dinosaur bones.
Close to the Wind: The Beaufort Scale
- by Peter Malone
- Penguin Young Readers Group, 2007. ISBN 978-0-399-24399-8
- This beautifully vividly portrays the 13-point wind scale created by British naval officer Francis Beaufort.
Gut-Eating Bugs: Maggots Reveal the Time of Death!
- by Danielle Denega
- Franklin Watts and ISBN 978-0-531-17525-5
- Can bugs tell the time of death? This book has three case studies that explore how insects found on dead bodies help scientists solve the crime and tell the time of death by studying the insects’ life cycles.
Being Caribou: Five Months on Foot With a Caribou Herd
- by Karsten Heuer
- Walker & Company, 2007. ISBN 978-0-8027-9565-6, $17.95
- The amazing five-month migration of a caribou herd to the Alaskan calving grounds is articulately told through firsthand accounts of the author.
Face to Face With Caterpillars
- by Darlyne A. Murawski
- National Geographic Society, 2007. ISBN 978-1-4263-0052-3
- Firsthand information and stunning photographs provide glimpse into the form, diet, defenses, habitat, and geographic range of many extraordinary caterpillars.
Guess What Is Growing Inside This Egg
- by Mia Posada
- Millbrook Press, 2006. ISBN 978-0-8225-6192-7
- Rhyming clues are given to help readers guess which animals are growing inside eggs depicted in illustrations. Eggs of birds, reptiles, spiders, and mollusks are featured. Answers are given on subsequent pages, with additional information about each featured species.
Here Is the Wetland
- by Madeleine Dunphy and Wayne McLoughlin
- Web of Life Children’s Books, 2007. ISBN 978-0-9773795-8-3
- With the text of each page building on the previous page’s lyrics, this book presents the abiotic and biotic features of a wetland using simple but rich language.
It’s a Butterfly’s Life
- by Irene Kelly
- Holiday House, 2007. ISBN 978-0-8234-1860-2
- Through engaging text and beautiful illustrations, learn about the life cycle of butterflies and many more interesting facts about these colorful insects.
Sneeze!
- by Alexandra Siy and Dennis Kunkel
- Charlesbridge Publishing, 2007. ISBN 978-1-57091-654-0
- Connecting the science of a sneeze with the different things in nature that make this happen, this book uses remarkable micrograph pictures to tell the story from both the macro and microscopic world.
Tracks of a Panda
- by Nick Dowson and Yu Rong
- Candlewick Press, 2007. ISBN 978-0-7636- 3146-8
- This engaging book relates the nature, diet, and environment in which a baby panda develops.
These books make a great addition to any elementary classroom for connecting science and literature. Students will enjoy these books as they develop a better understanding science through the stories and images. All books are priced less than $20.00.
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