Animals in Surprising Shades: Poems About Earth's Colorful CreaturesSusan Johnston TaylorThe coloration of a myriad of different animals is described through various poetry formats.Winning TitlesView book detailsNSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12 2024
The 2024 edition contains 41 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.
2024 Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12See the original list
Selections41
Published byNational Science Teaching Association
SectionsWinning Titles
Winning Titles
41 selections
Animals in Surprising Shades: Poems About Earth's Colorful CreaturesSusan Johnston TaylorThe coloration of a myriad of different animals is described through various poetry formats.Winning TitlesView book details
At Home with the Prairie Dog: The Story of a Keystone SpeciesDorothy Hinshaw Patent, photographed by William Muñoz, graphics by Marlo GarnsworthyDig into the prairie ecosystem, its flora and fauna, and the important role of the prairie dog through this book’s engaging text and captivating photographs.Winning TitlesView book details
Becoming Bionic and Other Ways Science Is Making Us SuperHeather Camlot, illustrated by Victor WongUsing superheroes as a starting point, this book looks at the ways scientists have found to extend human capabilities and push us past the limits of the bodies we were born with.Winning TitlesView book details
Before Colors: Where Pigments and Dyes Come FromAnnette Bay PimentelTrace the sources of pigments and dyes throughout the natural world and discover how the beauty of color is used in art and culture.Winning TitlesView book details
Ben Rothery's Deadly and Dangerous AnimalsBen Rothery, illustrated by Ben RotheryHave you ever heard of an assassin bug? The book encourages reconsideration regarding deadly and dangerous animals. Not always the biggest and strongest, some species use special features, speed, or intelligence to be labeled dangerous and deadly.Winning TitlesView book details
Bone Wars: The True Story of an Epic Battle to Find Dinosaur FossilsJane Kurtz, illustrated by Alexander VidalA tragic and cautionary tale about two early paleo scientists who went from collaborating colleagues to competitive adversaries. While Marsh and Cope discovered over 100 species, the mess they created through their battles affected accuracy in dinosaur identification for decades.Winning TitlesView book details
The Clues Are in the Poo: The Story of Dinosaur Scientist Karen ChinJane Kurtz, Karen Chin, illustrated by Francisco RiolobosKaren Chin, a curious and persistent (eventual) paleontologist took a meandering route to studying the “beings cleaning up the dinosaur world”. She now connects the past to the present studying dinosaur poo.Winning TitlesView book details
Creep, Leap, Crunch! A Food Chain StoryJody Jensen Shaffer, illustrated by Christopher Silas NealThis cumulative food chain story is told using lyrical text as animals move through the day “creeping, leaping, and crunching” in a forest ecosystem.Winning TitlesView book details
EvolutionSarah Darwin, Eva-Maria Sadowski, illustrated by Olga BaumertCaptivating and educational, this children's book on evolution and natural selection is a delightful journey through Earth's history and origins of life.Winning TitlesView book details
Extra Life: The Astonishing Story of How We Doubled Our Lifespan (Young Readers Adaptation)Steven JohnsonSharing stories of real-life scientific discoveries over the last 100 years, the author explains how specific innovations and advancements, such as vaccines, contributed to the lengthening of our life span.Winning TitlesView book details
Find Out About Animal CamouflageMartin Jenkins, illustrated by Jane McGuinnessExplores a variety of interesting creatures who have developed clever ways to survive.Winning TitlesView book details
Grizzly Bears: Guardians of the WildernessFrances BackhouseGrizzly bears play an important role in their ecosystems. Author and scientist Frances Backhouse takes readers on a journey of discovering the biology and behaviors of grizzlies and invites us to consider ways we can coexist with these incredible creatures.Winning TitlesView book details
Her Eyes on the Stars: Maria Mitchell, AstronomerLaurie Wallmark, illustrated by Liz WongNot only was Maria Mitchell the first American to discover a comet, she was also the first female astronomy professor who made many more discoveries, setting an example for the many generations of women that followed.Winning TitlesView book details
Hidden Systems: Water, Electricity, the Internet, and the Secrets Behind the Systems We Use Every DayDan Nott, illustrated by Dan NottKey systems we rely on, such as the electrical and water systems and the internet along with other systems that we take for granted, how they developed, and how they are implemented in the world are explained in this graphic novel.Winning TitlesView book details
How Birds SleepDavid Obuchowski, illustrated by Sarah PedryFly around the world to discover how different birds sleep in this beautifully illustrated book.Winning TitlesView book details
How to Spacewalk: Step-by-Step with Shuttle AstronautsKathryn D. Sullivan, Michael J. RosenRetired astronaut, Kathryn Sullivan, walks the reader through the step-by-step experience of being an astronaut, including moving in zero gravity and conducting experiments in space.Winning TitlesView book details
If the Rivers Run FreeAndrea Debbink, illustrated by Nicole WongDelve into how humans can impact rivers. This story is told in a rhyming text.Winning TitlesView book details
Jumper: A Day in the Life of a Backyard Jumping SpiderJessica LananDiscover the world of Jumper as she hides, leaps, and hunts her way through the garden in this wonderfully illustrated book about a backyard jumping spider.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure AD560LATOS Book Level 5.5View book details
Masked Hero: How Wu Lien-teh Invented the Mask That Ended an EpidemicDr. Shan Woo Liu, Kaili Liu GormleyA familiar topic and an unfamiliar person. Written by his great-granddaughter, Doctor Wu Lien-teh’s biography provides a window into his life, highlighting a familiar modern-day problem – stopping an epidemic using masks and isolation!Winning TitlesView book details
Mission: Arctic: A Scientific Adventure to a Changing North PoleKatharina Weiss-Tuider, illustrated by Christian SchneiderHave you ever wanted to explore the mysterious Arctic Circle? Mission: Arctic takes readers on an incredible adventure aboard the research vessel Polarstern as it drifts with the sea ice and researchers discover some important information about our changing climate.Winning TitlesView book details
My Indigo World: A True Story of the Color BlueRosa ChangThe process of using the indigo plant to obtain the elusive color of blue for textiles is explained by the author to include the science behind the dyeing process.Winning TitlesView book details
Old Enough to Make a Difference: Be inspired by real-life children building a more sustainable futureRebecca Hui, illustrated by Anneli BrayEach of us has the power to make a difference. Meet twelve young and inspiring entrepreneurs who have become change-makers in their communities by starting businesses that are making a positive impact in our world.Winning TitlesView book details
Paper World: Human BodyRuth Symons, illustrated by Gail ArmstrongThis book takes the reader on an immersive adventure of the human body using big flaps and stunning paper-cut art on each page to learn about the body’s mighty muscles, fast-firing nerves and the intricacies of the brain.Winning TitlesView book details
The Pie That Molly GrewSue Heavenrich, illustrated by Chamisa KelloggThis book reveals a story, told in a rhythm, about the journey of seed, the joy of sharing a pumpkin pie, and the details in between all because Molly sowed a seed.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure 760LATOS Book Level 4.9View book details
Queen of Leaves: The Story of Botanist Ynes MexiaStephen Briseño, illustrated by Isabel MuñozYnez Mexia found her passion for botany at age 51. This biography is told through parallel narratives (loneliness, adaptation, scars, and shooting up strong) of the wax palm, a species she re-discovered, and her life journey.Winning TitlesView book details
Rooting for Plants: The Unstoppable Charles S. Parker, Black Botanist and CollectorJanice N. HarringtonBotanist Charles S. Parker’s life is a story of an African American that made significant contributions throughout his life, demonstrating determination, perseverance, curiosity, bravery, and so much more, encouraging us to remember that science is for everyone.Winning TitlesView book details
Santiago Saw Things Differently: Santiago Ramón y Cajal, Artist, Doctor, Father of NeuroscienceChristine IversonExplore the life of Santiago Ramon y Cajal and discover how his passion for art transformed the way we understand the nervous system.Winning TitlesView book details
Sew Sister: The Untold Story of Jean Wright and NASA's SeamstressesElise MatichJean Wright’s biography is a captivating, untold story of unlikely heroes and problem solvers at NASA. She was a part of a team of women who sewed the blankets that protected the space shuttle and their crews.Winning TitlesView book details
Shining Star: Vera Rubin Discovers Dark MatterSuzanne Slade, illustrated by Susan ReaganThis story about Ver Rubin describes how she was “starstruck” when young, and persevered during a time when few women pursued to astronomy to become a world-renowned astronomer who discovered the existence of dark matter.Winning TitlesView book details
Sisters in Science: Marie Curie, Bronia Dluska, and the Atomic Power of SisterhoodLinda Elovitz Marshall, illustrated by Anna Balbusso, Elena BalbussoThis book unveils the extraordinary bond between Marie Curie and her older sister Bronia Dluska and how they helped each other reach their academic dreams, leaving an enduring legacy of determination and brilliance.Winning TitlesView book details
Snow Man: A True StoryJonah WinterThe Snow Man, a story of dedication, perseverance, and outright toughness, illustrates a lifetime of data collection in the Colorado Rockies by citizen scientist Billy Barr.Winning TitlesView book details
A Star Explodes: The Story of Supernova 1054James Gladstone, illustrated by Yaara EshetBy connecting astronomy, cultural relevance, and a historical perspective of Supernova 1054 – the Crab Nebula – the reader learns about this explosive event through descriptive narrative and stunning watercolor images.Winning TitlesView book details
A Stone Is a StoryLeslie Barnard BoothThis journey of a stone over time is described, thus helping the reader to make connections to where the rock finds itself in or on the Earth and the rock cycle.Winning TitlesView book details
Tell Me About SpaceLisa Varchol Perron, illustrated by Jennifer FalknerA sturdy board book explores space via the format of a young child’s curiosity.Winning TitlesView book details
We Are BranchesJoyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth KrommesFrom a butterfly wing to a river flowing to the ocean. Branches are all around us and nature’s way to connect.Winning TitlesView book details
We Are Starlings: Inside the Mesmerizing Magic of a MurmurationRobert Furrow, Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Marc MartinTold from the point of view of the flock, readers will learn the how and why of starlings’ harmonious movement as they fly together twisting and turning across the sky.Winning TitlesView book details
We Need to Talk About VaginasAllison K. Rodgers, illustrated by Annika Le LargeThis insightful book provides a thorough and inclusive exploration of anatomy, puberty, and reproduction tailored for young women and offers essential knowledge for a crucial stage of life.Winning TitlesView book details
Whale Fall: Exploring an Ocean-Floor EcosystemMelissa StewartIn this beautifully illustrated children's book, the life cycle of a whale becomes a mesmerizing tale and explores how the death of a whale becomes a thriving ecosystem.Winning TitlesLexile Text Measure AD1060LATOS Book Level 7.3View book details
Why Do Elephants Have Big Ears?: Questions ― and Surprising Answers ― About AnimalsSteve Jenkins, Robin Page, illustrated by Steve Jenkins, Robin PageIllustrated with colorful paper collages, this book provides unique facts and answers the “why” about a variety of animals from across the world.Winning TitlesView book details
The Woman in the Moon: How Margaret Hamilton Helped Fly the First Astronauts to the MoonRichard MaurerThis book tells the story of Margaret Hamiton, who led one for the most crucial parts of the early space program: writing the software that guided the astronauts to the Moon and back.Winning TitlesView book details
Zero Waste: How One Community Is Leading a World Recycling RevolutionAllan Drummond, illustrated by Allan DrummondThe small community of Kamikatsu, Japan has a very big goal: Zero Waste. Told through the eyes of two grandchildren, we learn how one community is using innovative ideas to minimize their trash and to maximize green living.Winning TitlesView book details