NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12 2021

Science books selected each year by NSTA and the Children's Book Council.

2021 Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12See the original list

EditionView all years

Selections33

Published byNational Science Teaching Association

SectionsWinning Titles

Winning Titles

33 selections

Cover of Animal Homes

Animal HomesMary HollandTake a home tour of selected bugs, birds, and mammals. Beautiful, full-page photos complement descriptions, materials, and uses of animals’ homes. A Spanish edition is availableWinning TitlesLexile 71LATOS 1.1View book details

Cover of Atomic Women: The Untold Stories of the Scientists Who Helped Create the Nuclear Bomb

Atomic Women: The Untold Stories of the Scientists Who Helped Create the Nuclear BombRoseanne MontilloThis book is a fascinating read through the lives of the women at the forefront of nuclear science. Driven by passion and determination, these women overcame formidable obstacles while making invaluable contributions to the production of the first atomic bomb.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of Audubon Birding Adventures for Kids: Activities and Ideas for Watching, Feeding, and Housing Our Feathered Friends

Audubon Birding Adventures for Kids: Activities and Ideas for Watching, Feeding, and Housing Our Feathered FriendsElissa Ruth Wolfson, Margaret A. BarkerDo you have a young bird watcher in your life? This book will build their knowledge of birding in a fun and engaging way with a beginners’ field guide, easy-to-do activities, games, and more!Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of The Big Bang Book

The Big Bang BookAsa Stahl, illustrated by Carly Allen-FletcherThis book provides a simple and accurate story of how the universe came to be and our place in that universe for young readers.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of The Big One: The Cascadia Earthquakes and the Science of Saving Lives

The Big One: The Cascadia Earthquakes and the Science of Saving LivesElizabeth RuschFollow scientists through the Pacific Northwest as they find evidence of the “Big One,” also known as the Cascadia earthquake. Could such an event happen again? Learn what the science says and how people are preparing.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of Blood and Germs: The Civil War Battle Against Wounds and Disease

Blood and Germs: The Civil War Battle Against Wounds and DiseaseGail JarrowLearn more about medical horrors that ultimately led to medical advances such as sanitation in this in-depth look at the battle against diseases that caused significantly more casualties than the war itself.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of Bones: An Inside Look at the Animal Kingdom

Bones: An Inside Look at the Animal KingdomJules Howard, illustrated by Chervelle FryerDive into this book to discover how the structure of an animal’s bones can tell us much about what it eats, how it moves, where it lives, and where it came from.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of Born Curious: 20 Girls Who Grew Up to Be Awesome Scientists

Born Curious: 20 Girls Who Grew Up to Be Awesome ScientistsMartha Freeman, illustrated by Katy WuThis collection of short biographies of twenty ground-breaking female scientists from different backgrounds and life experiences shares how curiosity drove them to pursue careers in science.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of Bright Dreams: The Brilliant Inventions of Nikola Tesla

Bright Dreams: The Brilliant Inventions of Nikola TeslaTracy Dockray, illustrated by Tracy DockrayThis book follows Nikola Tesla from being a young child desiring to be an inventor through his adult life persevering to become an inventor who changed electricity for all.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of Changing the Equation: 50+ US Black Women in STEM

Changing the Equation: 50+ US Black Women in STEMTonya BoldenThis book is filled with the profiles of notable, inspiring, and pioneering black women in STEM. Their accomplishments and contributions throughout American history are an inspiration to all women of color.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of Condor Comeback

Condor ComebackSy Montgomery, Tianne StrombeckEngage in every aspect of California Condor conservation and management by peering over the shoulders of the biologists and volunteers who work to keep the Condor from extinction.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of Darwin's Rival: Alfred Russel Wallace and the Search for Evolution

Darwin's Rival: Alfred Russel Wallace and the Search for EvolutionChristiane Dorion, illustrated by Harry TennantA lavishly illustrated guide to the fascinating explorations of Alfred Russel Wallace, who discovered the theory of evolution—but Charles Darwin got there first.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist

Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First PaleontologistLinda Skeers, illustrated by Marta Álvarez MiguénsFollow Mary Anning on her fearless exploring and thirst for knowledge that led to the formation of paleontology as a scientific field of study.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of Exploring the Elements: A Complete Guide to the Periodic Table

Exploring the Elements: A Complete Guide to the Periodic TableIsabel Thomas, illustrated by Sara GillinghamA marvelous overview of the elements with clear explanations, delightful historical details (cobalt was called “goblin metal”), and descriptions of modern uses. This book is an essential guide for classrooms and budding scientists.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of If You Take Away the Otter

If You Take Away the OtterSusannah Buhrman-DeeverWith colorful scenes and an engaging story of the sea otters’ history, readers will learn about the important role one species can play in keeping an ecosystem healthy, and the ways people learned from their actions and helped sea otters survive.Winning TitlesLexile AD910LATOS 5View book details

Cover of Journey Under the Arctic

Journey Under the ArcticFabien Cousteau, James O. Fraioli, illustrated by Joe St. PierreAdventure underneath the world’s coldest ocean to discover how Earth’s changing climate affects the inhabitants of the ocean.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of Jumbo: The Making of the Boeing 747

Jumbo: The Making of the Boeing 747Chris Gall, illustrated by Chris GallDescribing the engineering it took to put the Boeing 747 in the skies, Jumbo details the design process and how this incredible machine became “Queen of the Skies.”Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of The Kitchen Pantry Scientist: Chemistry for Kids: Homemade Science Experiments and Activities Inspired by Awesome Chemists, Past and Present

The Kitchen Pantry Scientist: Chemistry for Kids: Homemade Science Experiments and Activities Inspired by Awesome Chemists, Past and PresentLiz Lee Heinecke, illustrated by Kelly Anne DaltonThese thoughtful, interesting experiments are based on various biographies of scientists, many of whom have been forgotten or marginalized.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of Marjory Saves the Everglades: The Story of Marjory Stoneman Douglas

Marjory Saves the Everglades: The Story of Marjory Stoneman DouglasSandra Neil Wallace, illustrated by Rebecca GibbonThis book is a beautifully illustrated biography of Marjory Stoneman Douglas who advocated for designating the Florida Everglades as a national park. Her lifelong environmental activism helped save the diverse animal and plant species living in the Florida Everglades.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of Nesting

NestingHenry Cole, illustrated by Henry ColeThrough beautiful text and illustrations, learn about the life of a hatch of robins as its parents support the robins’ survival.Winning TitlesLexile 241LATOS 2View book details

Cover of North Pole / South Pole: From Pole to Pole: A Flip Book

North Pole / South Pole: From Pole to Pole: A Flip BookMichael Bright, illustrated by Nic JonesNorth Pole? South Pole? Are they really that different? With this fact-filled and engaging flip book, you can discover and compare the natural and human environments in both places.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of Old Enough to Save the Planet

Old Enough to Save the PlanetLoll Kirby, illustrated by Adelina LiriusThis empowering book shares the stories of twelve young climate activists who are raising awareness in their communities and the world at large to save the planet from the devastating effects of global warming.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of Packs: Strength in Numbers

Packs: Strength in NumbersHannah SalyerThis beautifully illustrated story teaches children that animal group behavior is important for survival with actions such as finding food and defending themselves against predators.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of Pika Country: Climate Change at the Top of the World

Pika Country: Climate Change at the Top of the WorldDorothy Hinshaw Patent, Marlo Garnsworthy, photographed by Dan HartmanLearn about the Pika and how climate change endangers these mammals.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of Plasticus Maritimus: An Invasive Species

Plasticus Maritimus: An Invasive SpeciesAna Pêgo, Isabel Minhós Martins, illustrated by Bernardo P. CarvalhoBiologist Ana Pêgo collected, named, and cataloged a terrible new species: Plasticus maritimus, also known as the plastic waste that is destroying the world’s oceans.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of The Polio Pioneer

The Polio PioneerLinda Elovitz Marshall, illustrated by Lisa AnchinThe Polio Pioneer is an inspiring story of Dr. Jonas Salk and how his hard work and dedication to the field of medicine helped discover a vaccine for polio.Winning TitlesLexile AD820LATOS 5.2View book details

Cover of Pretty Tricky: The Sneaky Ways Plants Survive

Pretty Tricky: The Sneaky Ways Plants SurviveEtta Kaner, illustrated by Ashley BarronAn amazing look at the insidious, thieving, and downright deceptive ways that plants obtain resources and protect themselves to survive the challenges of life.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of Return from Extinction: The Triumph of the Elephant Seal

Return from Extinction: The Triumph of the Elephant SealLinda L. RichardsThis fact-filled ecological success story recounts how elephant seals were once hunted to extinction but are now a thriving species once more.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of Sea Otters: A Survival Story

Sea Otters: A Survival StoryIsabelle Groc, Isabelle GrocDiscover how the sea otter impacts the ecosystem of the Pacific Ocean.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of To Fly Among the Stars: The Hidden Story of the Fight for Women Astronauts

To Fly Among the Stars: The Hidden Story of the Fight for Women AstronautsRebecca SiegelExcitement, disappointment, perseverance, and success permeate this book that tells the tale of the men and women of the Mercury space expedition.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of What Do Scientists Do All Day?

What Do Scientists Do All Day?Jane Wilsher, illustrated by Maggie LiDiscover the daily actions of different scientists on a visual tour of fourteen different places, from a nature reserve to an energy plant.Winning TitlesView book details

Cover of What Do You Do If You Work at the Zoo?

What Do You Do If You Work at the Zoo?Steve Jenkins, Robin Page, illustrated by Steve JenkinsDiscover what zookeepers do with different animals in a zoo through this beautifully illustrated book presenting how various animals are cared for in zoos around the world.Winning TitlesLexile AD900LATOS 5.3View book details

Cover of Wildlife Ranger Action Guide: Track, Spot & Provide Healthy Habitat for Creatures Close to Home

Wildlife Ranger Action Guide: Track, Spot & Provide Healthy Habitat for Creatures Close to HomeMary Kay Carson, illustrated by Ilona SherrattLearn about the importance of lizard lodges and bee boxes. Using everyday materials, this field guide suggests activities to turn backyards into personal learning and conservation zones.Winning TitlesView book details