BeesPiotr SochaA rich, fun, and comprehensive history of the bee! From Cleopatra to pollination. From hives to world explorers.Winning TitlesView book detailsNSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12 2018
The 2018 edition contains 53 selections published by the National Science Teaching Association. The source organizes the selections into Winning Titles. It is one annual edition of the NSTA science trade-book bibliography for students and educators. The selected trade books connect literacy with science subjects and were published during the preceding year.
2018 Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12See the original list
Selections53
Published byNational Science Teaching Association
SectionsWinning Titles
Winning Titles
53 selections
BeesPiotr SochaA rich, fun, and comprehensive history of the bee! From Cleopatra to pollination. From hives to world explorers.Winning TitlesView book details
Birds Make NestsMichael GarlandIn this beautifully illustrated book, explore the wide variety of nests made by birds.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure AD310LATOS Book Level 2.3View book details
BotanicumKathy Willis, illustrated by Katie ScottStunning artwork gives the impression of being in an art gallery as the reader learns details of both exotic and common plants in this oversize picture book.Winning TitlesView book details
Can an Aardvark Bark?Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Steve JenkinsExplore vocalizations that animals use to communicate in this question-and-answer format book with engaging, detailed collage illustrations by Steve Jenkins.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure 720LATOS Book Level 4.1View book details
Cao Chong Weighs an ElephantSongju Ma Daemicke, illustrated by Chistina WaldSix-year old Cao Chong faces the problem of weighing an elephant; he comes up with a creative solution using buoyancy in this beautifully illustrated picture book.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure 830LATOS Book Level 4.2View book details
Caroline’s CometsEmily Arnold McCullyThis book is filled with beautiful illustrations and narrates the inspirational story of Caroline Herschel. She overcame struggles to become the first woman to discover a comet and first-ever woman to get paid for her scientific research.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure AD800LATOS Book Level 4.7View book details
ABCs from SpaceAdam VoilandStunning satellite photographs of the Earth from space, each representing a different letter of the alphabet, with descriptions at the back of the book providing additional information.Winning TitlesView book details
About Habitats: SeashoresCathryn Sill, illustrated by John SillIllustrations are richly enhanced with a plethora of visual information for the young reader to quickly grasp the beautiful and diverse landscapes, animals, and plant life that are the essence of viable and productive seashoresWinning TitlesView book details
Animal JournalJuan Carlos AlonsoFantastically illustrated, with specific animal statistics and factual information, showcasing the magnificent diversity of terrestrial animals.Winning TitlesView book details
Bat CountAnna Forrester, illustrated by Susan DetwilerA beautifully told story about two families: Jojo’s family and the bat family. Take your reader through this journey to understand the importance of bats and their recovery in nature.Winning TitlesView book details
Finding WondersJeannine AtkinsThis unique novel in verse shares compelling biographies of Maria Merian and her metamorphosis discoveries, Mary Anning and her fossil discoveries, as well as Maria Mitchell and her comet discoveries.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure 970LATOS Book Level 5.8View book details
Girl CodeAndrea Gonzales, Sophie HouserThe inspiring true story of two high school girls who met at a summer coding camp for girls, created a Tampon Run video game that went viral, and got an inside look at the tech industry. An excellent example of girls finding their voice and using technology to address social issues.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure 1030LATOS Book Level 7.2View book details
The Girl Who Thought in PicturesJulia Finley Mosca, illustrated by Daniel RieleyA compelling story about the way Dr. Temple Grandin used her visual thinking to invent groundbreaking improvements in farming, especially animal care.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure AD680LATOS Book Level 3.5View book details
Grand CanyonJason ChinHike with a dad and daughter to the bottom of the canyon while they explore the rock layers, the history that created them, and the animals that call this place home.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure 1000LATOS Book Level 6.9View book details
Great Penguin RescueSandra MarkleExamines the history and causes of the declining African Penguin population—and shares the hope to be found in the innovative conservation methods being used to try to restore their numbers.Winning TitlesView book details
Hawk MotherKara HagedornSunshine, an injured red-tailed hawk, will never have babies of her own. Beautiful photographs delight the reader as Sunshine’s story of (nevertheless) becoming a mother ofWinning TitlesView book details
Catching AirSneed B. Collard IIIBook filled with absolutely stunning photographs accompanied by equally captivating information about animals around the globe that glide long distances through air.Winning TitlesView book details
Chasing Space, Young Readers’ EditionLeland MelvinA memoir of Leland Melvin, former NFL wide receiver turned astronaut, who shares his personal journey and how he overcame adversity, developed a strong work ethic, and seized opportunities to reach his goals.Winning TitlesView book details
Elon Musk and the Quest for a Fantastic Future, Young Readers’ EditionAshlee VanceThis adaptation gives young readers access to Musk’s story from his childhood in South Africa to becoming one of the world’s most innovative business leaders.Winning TitlesView book details
The End of the WildNicole HelgetThis thought-provoking story about an 11-year-old girl, her family, and her community embeds issues related to fracking, the environment, and poverty.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure 610LATOS Book Level 4View book details
Exploring SpaceMartin Jenkins, illustrated by Stephen BiestyBeautiful illustrations and helpful diagrams reflect humankind’s love affair with the night sky, space, and the quest to explore.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure 1080LATOS Book Level 7.5View book details
Feathers and Hair, What Animals WearJennifer Ward, illustrated by Jing Jing TsongRhyming text woven with vibrant, colorful illustrations about different kinds of animal coverings, with more-extensive informationWinning TitlesView book details
Helloflo: The Guide, PeriodNaama Bloom, illustrated by Fleur SciortinoA fun, approachable guide through puberty with real-life facts about a young woman’s changing body.Winning TitlesView book details
Honey GirlJeanne Walker Harvey, illustrated by Shennen BersaniThis touching true story shares how a wellknown seal mom, who was injured by a fishhook, was saved by local scientists and veterinarian, and released back on the beach--to the delight of the local people.Winning TitlesView book details
How Animals BuildMoira Butterfield, illustrated by Tim HutchinsonFold out pages and lift flaps to discover the extraordinary diversity of animal homes and how they are built.Winning TitlesView book details
How to Be an ElephantKatherine RoyFollow a baby elephant and its herd to discover, through beautiful illustrations and words, how its unique body features are perfectly designed for life in the savanna.Winning TitlesView book details
Isaac the AlchemistMary LosureThe story of Isaac Newton’s childhood and how an interest in alchemy and magic led him to become an accomplished mathematician, the father of physics, and an inspiring scientific revolutionary.Winning TitlesView book details
It Starts With a SeedLaura Knowles, illustrated by Jennie WebberThe life cycle of a tree told through poetic text with beautiful illustrations and supplemented by an informative endnoteWinning TitlesLexile Text Measure 660LATOS Book Level 4.3View book details
It’s a Fungus Among UsCarla Billups, Dawn CusickEverything one wants to know about fungi, such as their influence upon the making of foodstuffs (bread), medicines, and human diseases (ringworm), as well as providing habitats for other living organisms. While some fungi are good to eat, there are also many that are poisonous to humans.Winning TitlesView book details
Living Things and Nonliving ThingsKevin KurtzProvides a simple and accurate comparison of living and nonliving things, accompanied by beautiful photographs and questions that promote critical thinking.Winning TitlesView book details
Margaret and the MoonDean Robbins, illustrated by Lucy KnisleyThe story of Margaret Hamilton, who was instrumental in writing the computer programs that allowed for one of the greatest technological events in human history to occur-the successful flights of the Apollo missions.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure 630LATOS Book Level 3.7View book details
Moonlight Crab CountDr. Neeti Bathala, Jennifer Keats Curtis, illustrated by Veronica V. JonesJoin Leena, her mom, and their dog Bobie as they spend their summer as citizen scientists helping in the effort to conserve horseshoe crabs.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure AD780LATOS Book Level 3.7View book details
Mosquitoes Don’t Bite MePendred NoyceThis realistic science fiction tale exposes young readers to conducting scientific research while thinking about social issues, such as health disparities and subtle racism.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure 780LATOS Book Level 5.2View book details
My Journey to the StarsScott Kelly, illustrated by André CeolinThis memoir is a story of an average boy who was inspired by a book about test pilots and astronauts to dream and set goals for his future. Scott Kelly ultimately went into space!Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure 680LATOS Book Level 3.9View book details
Newton’s RainbowKathryn Lasky, illustrated by Kevin HawkesThis biographical story of Isaac Newton traces his curiosity and growing love of science as a child through school experiences that shaped the scholar he became.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure 1010LATOS Book Level 6.8View book details
Out of School and Into NatureSuzanne Slade, illustrated by Jessica LananThis picture book is a biography of Anna Comstock, an artist and naturalist who chose to pursue a career in science despite what was considered the social norm for women during her era.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure 670LATOS Book Level 3.9View book details
Over and Under the PondKate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas NealDiscover the secrets of a mountain pond’s ecosystem from over and under the pond.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure AD660LATOS Book Level 4.3View book details
Pup the Sea OtterJonathan London, illustrated by Sean LondonAn enchanting story with fetching illustrations portrays the life of a young otter as he grows from a baby to a bachelor.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure AD640LATOS Book Level 4.1View book details
RibbitJorey HurleyDo not let the simplicity of this book fool you--the life cycle of the frog is beautifully illustrated. Great for young readers as wellWinning TitlesView book details
Seagrass DreamsKathleen Hanes, illustrated by Chloe BonfieldBeautifully illustrated counting book introducing readers to life in the world’s seagrass environments. More detail about the animals and a map of their locations around the world are included in the end pages.Winning TitlesView book details
The Secret Life of the Red FoxLaurence Pringle, illustrated by Kate GarchinskyTravel alongside the red fox as this book takes the reader through its the amazing life, season by season. Fun read and great informational text.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure 650LATOS Book Level 4View book details
The Secret ProjectJonah Winter, illustrated by Jeanette WinterThrough simple text structure and captivating illustrations, this book tackles the controversial, sensitive, and gloomy topic of the Manhattan Project. It provides a glimpse of the secret nuclear laboratory at Los Alamos as well as the creation and testing of the first nuclear bomb.Winning TitlesView book details
Secrets of the SeaEvan Griffith, illustrated by Eleanor TaylorBeautifully illustrated with colorful drawings of sea life not often observed by humankind--such as swordtail squid, sea butterfly, or the purple sea urchin. Great book for any home or school library.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure 830LATOS Book Level 5.9View book details
Seven Wonders of the Solar SystemDavid A. AguilarExplore the seven wonders of the Solar System from our Earth to Pluto and Charon, nestled at the edge of the Kuiper Belt. Beautiful illustrations and captivating text transport the reader through space and time.Winning TitlesView book details
When Planet Earth Was NewJames Gladstone, illustrated by Katherine DiemertSimple text paired with colorful illustrations that briefly tell the nearly five-billion-year history of our Earth.Winning TitlesView book details
When The Sky BreaksSimon WinchesterA well-written and -researched book for young readers concerning current dangerous weather phenomena that affect us daily--such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and climate change.Winning TitlesView book details
When the Sun Goes DarkAndrew Fraknoi, Dennis Schatz, illustrated by Eric FreebergTwo curious children create models of solar eclipses in their living room with their astronomer grandparents, later going outside to learn how to safely view them. Readers could easily reproduce their hands-on experiments.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure 890LATOS Book Level 5.7View book details
Shark LadyJess Keating, illustrated by Marta Álvarez MiguénsAs this young girl’s passion for sharks grew as she got older, she broke the mold for women in science to become a renowned shark scientist who helped change public opinion on this misunderstood animal.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure 730LATOS Book Level 3.9View book details
The Street Beneath My FeetCharlotte Guillain, illustrated by Yuval ZommerExplore the world that exists beneath our feet, all the way to the inner core of Earth, as this book literally unfolds to 8 feet (2.4 meters)! Packed as thick as soil, Street will capture the imagination of any young scientist.Winning TitlesView book details
Super WomenLaurie LawlorThe inspiring stories of six female scientists who faced discrimination, persevered, and made significant contributions. Specific examples of sexism illuminate historical struggles in important ways.Winning TitlesView book details
Tall Tall TreeAnthony D. Fredericks, illustrated by Chad WallaceExplore the wildlife in a redwood tree through counting, rhyme, and some hidden surprises!Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure AD620LATOS Book Level 4View book details
This Book Stinks!Sarah Wassner FlynnThrough bright photographs and simple text structure, this book takes a deep look into the hefty problem of trash, offering fun facts and creative solutions for its management.Winning TitlesWord Count 585View book details
Tide Pool SecretsNarelle Oliver, illustrated by Narelle OliverLift flaps to reveal the hidden sea life in tide pools--and learn how animals there keep themselves moist when the water recedes,Winning TitlesView book details