Women & Girls in STEM

Eurek-Her is a diverse, engaging non-fiction book which tells the stories of 20 pioneering women, who used their knowledge and skills within STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) to shape and change the world we live in today. What makes this book unique is that the stories of these inspirational women are told from all over the world and at various different time eras in history.

This made the book very interesting to read, because some stories, for example Mary Anning, may have been studied in schools before, but others, for example Mary Herbraea from Ancient Egyptian times, may rarely have been heard. The themes also covered through these women’s stories (including artistry, astronomy and medicine) mean that there is likely a story which will engage every reader interested in STEM.

Each woman has a dedicated page in the book, which tells the story of their life, work and achievements. These follow the traditional layout of a non-fiction book, using subheadings, labels and illustrations to support the reader with their understanding. A glossary of terminology is also included at the back of the book.

As an additional piece to this book, readers can complete one of 12 activities inspired by these stories, each with clear instructions of how to do so. These vary from making your own periodic table, to playing the small test game, and could easily be used as a science experiment at school or home.

A beautifully presented picture about Anna Atkins, who is acknowledged to be one of the first women in the world to take a photograph, and one of the first people to publish a book of photographic images.

After being given a camera in 1841, Anna was excited by this new process, but it was her introduction to Herschel’s discovery of cyanotype printing that sparked a passion for cyanography; the process of using chemicals that react to sunlight to dye paper and print images. In the book, the author’s own drawings and cyanotypes are combined with reproductions of Anna Atkins’ original work.

Zara Rutherford’s I Flew Around the World is an incredibly inspiring true story, chronicling her astonishing journey as the youngest female pilot to fly solo around the globe. This book is an illustrated account of ambition and determination in a record-breaking aviation achievement. The story is bound to capture the interest of any junior children fascinated by flight, adventure and exploration.

This colour-illustrated information text bubbles with insights into Zara’s meticulous preparations, the various places she touched down and the various experiences she encountered.  It’s a superb resource for KS2, particularly for those keen on non-fiction or seeking a contemporary female role model in STEM, offering a real-life testament to chasing ambitions and flying high!

This recommendable narrative non-fiction book celebrates the life of Katherine Johnson, a mathematician who played a crucial role in the smooth running of the Apollo 11 mission to land on the moon.

The story emphasises Katherine’s lifelong passion for mathematics – how she loved to count as a child and how she overcame barriers of inequality and prejudice to reach her dream of using her mathematical talents while working for NASA.

A fantastic biography that celebrates mathematics, space, women in STEM and following dreams.

This book by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara is one of the books in the best-selling series, Little People, BIG DREAMS. These books explore the lives of people who achieved great things, but focus on when they started out as children with a dream.

Mae Jemison became a scientist and the first black woman to be admitted to the astronaut programme at NASA, later becoming the first African-American female astronaut in space. As a child, Mae dreamed of going in a real space rocket and the story shows how she pursued her dreams and overcame obstacles to reach for the stars.

Young children love stories about explorers and space, and this book based on an inspirational true life story has both.

The Fossil Hunter by Kate Winter is a gem of a book. It is a splendid addition for any child learning about Mary Anning, fossils, dinosaurs and what life was like for a working-class woman 200 years ago. The book is hardback, large and begins with a timeline of Mary Anning’s life with page numbers corresponding to different eras.

This eye-catching book is full of facts and perfect to dip into or read altogether. Topics are highlighted, such as the challenge of being a Victorian woman, where recognition for scientific discovery did not happen and the unfairness of this, and why her story is important. Every page has watercolour illustrations which can spread across whole pages, and there are beautiful panoramic fold-out pages where you find out more facts about fossils, dinosaurs or a look into Mary’s cabinet.

This great book to share with children (or any age!) about the inspirational Mary Anning is highly recommended.

This book was a breath of fresh air when first published – such a valuable addition to STEM, with faultless rhyme and brilliant illustrations. Ada, a curious young girl, embarks on scientific explorations, undeterred by challenges. Her story promotes perseverance and intellectual curiosity, encouraging children to ask questions and value their inquisitive nature, thereby building confidence in their problem-solving abilities.

This is the third book in the Harley Hitch series and it works as a standalone. Harley is an excellent role model, as a girl who is into STEM and fascinated by subjects such as palaeontology. She is smart and ecologically aware – and also has great hair!

Children who are starting on their reading journeys often love finding series they can devour and the Harley Hitch books entirely fit the bill. And just because it is aimed at younger readers does not mean they are talked down to – Vashti Hardy uses some great words (‘prodigious’ springs to mind), it is just a shorter and simpler story. The world-building is both imaginative and contains humour. Iron Regis was my particular favourite place name!  Everything is almost like reality, but not quite. George Ermos’s illustrations are lively and amusing and perfectly fit the story. Harley with her purple (sorry, violet) hair springs to life on the page, and the book has an almost cartoon-like quality. In fact, this would make an excellent animated series as it entirely lends itself to visual representation.

This is a delightful book celebrating family and friendships and is part of a very popular series. Anisha is a funny and resourceful character, whose love of STEM and eye for detail makes her the perfect detective in this humorous series of mysteries.  Anisha has an extended family that proves to be strong and supportive when things go wrong. There are authentic cultural references exploring Anisha’s Indian heritage, particularly around food and family.

The illustrations by Emma McCann help to reflect the humour in the story and the text is often broken up with lists and diagrams, making the book particularly appealing to children who may be daunted when faced with full pages of text. 

What a brilliant book! Ten-year-old Matilda has decided to build a rocket to travel to the moon and back. This story is jam-packed with facts about what is needed for each stage. From gravity and orbits to fuel calculations, you find out how previous space missions solved each aspect of space travel and the science behind them. And of course, all the key questions about space missions are answered like how do you poop in space?!

Matilda is a brilliant role model for women in STEM – intelligent, sparky and ambitious. Her narrative voice is strong and entertaining.

The mix of science and the history of the Apollo missions makes this book absolutely fascinating, and the illustrations, font styles and chatty style make it an easy read for Key Stage 2.

With brilliant links to STEM subjects, this would be a particularly good addition as a reading-for-pleasure choice alongside the Earth and Space topic in Science. It also shows ambition, resilience and the ability to research and plan before undertaking a task.

Introducing Max Einstein – child genius and number one fan of Albert Einstein.

As a thirteen-year-old girl living on the streets of New York, Max knows nothing of her past. Max doesn’t have many friends but thankfully, conversations with her namesake, the famous physicist, mean she is never alone. Conscious of her prodigious abilities but also her social standing, Max intentionally underperforms at college to blend in with the crowd. Outside of college Max devises crafty inventions to help the plight of her homeless companions.

A turn of events sees Max recruited by the Change Makers Institute and sent to Jerusalem. Here Max finds herself in competition with other bright-minded teenagers to win the ultimate prize of solving the world’s greatest problems – using science. 

The Genius Experiment is bursting at the spine with scientific trivia in the form of facts, theories and outside-the-box thinking. Einstein’s relativity and Newton’s motion are thematic to the story. Throughout the book are sketches of Max’s notebook drawings, which depict her ideas and innovations.

Agent Asha is a clever and engaging story that weaves computing knowledge – such as how the internet works and if/then logic – into the story.

Asha is from an Indian family in Brent and her family are delighted when she visits the library – supposedly to study. Little do they know that she is getting involved in a secret spy mission! She triumphs in this secret mission with wit, intelligence and a little dash of disobedience. Asha is a great role model; it is especially welcome to see female representation in computing and STEM-based roles. The point is not laboured, but nor does it need to be, sometimes for children, it is enough just to see themselves reflected in stories. The family tree of Asha’s family at the back covering India, Africa and the UK is useful background as well and adding an extra dimension of interest to readers appreciating Asha’s cultural identity.

I really enjoyed this story and would have no hesitation recommending it to my Year Four class (both boys and girls). It would work best as an independent read rather than a class read-aloud, simply because several features such as diagrams and computer code details are best appreciated close up. I think it would be most suitable for Year Threes to Year Fives. The story is exciting and well set up for sequels – one to watch in the future!

Leonora Bolt Secret Inventor is an entertaining STEM-themed narrative and a great story choice for Year 3 and above. The book follows a young female scientist named Leonora, who is passionate about creating new and ingenious inventions to solve the problems of those around her.  Gladys Jose’s illustrations enhance the storytelling experience, as does the good dose of humour woven through the narrative.

Leonora’s secret workshop serves as the backdrop for her endeavours, which become critical in her confrontations with her invention-stealing uncle. What follows is an imaginative adventure with quick-thinking Leonora using her STEM skills and natural wit to triumph.  Readers who love science and innovation will find this an engaging and entertaining storytime choice.

Set in the USA, Emmy and her family have just relocated to California from Wisconsin. In a leap of faith, to promote her father’s career as a pianist, Emmy’s family have left behind everything they know and love. Including her Mom’s career in opera.

It is clear from the outset that Emmy is going to struggle to fit into her new school (culturally, a world away from her old one), so she decides to keep her head down and concentrate on her classwork. One of the electives that she has chosen is Computer Science. It is in this class that she meets a new friend: a girl who loves coding, yet hides her talents because it is not in keeping with her choir-girl image. Conscious that if her friends find out about her secret passion, she could be ostracised from the friendship group, Abigail’s internal struggles are real.

As the school term moves on, Emmy’s two worlds of coding and music begin to interweave making this ‘novel in verse’ a masterpiece, showing how notes and beats and rhythms overlap with code and language and algorithms. Among this runs a rich storyline of friendship. Can Emmy’s new friend accept her outside of the classroom? Will they be able to break through the prejudice of being girls who enjoy coding? And will they be able to support their teacher as she faces her health problems?

This is a joyous and accomplished piece of writing. The use of verse in the novel is powerful and captures the emotions exquisitely. A perfect book for children (and adults) who enjoy coding and/or music.

A new addition to the Questioneers series sees Ada Twist ask lots of questions about flight. How do things fly? Is it a mystery? A puzzle or a quest? Why are aeroplanes the shape they are? Why can’t birds fly as soon as they are born?

This full-colour, non-fiction, early reader series based on the Ada Twist, Scientist  series is going to be so popular in the classroom for KS1 and lower Ks2. With age appropriate text, real images and diagrams, who wouldn’t want to read and learn more?

Discover everything there is to know about flight, including about creatures that fly and the history of aircraft. Curiosity has never been so easy to access and so brilliantly documented. I LOVE it and so will my students.