Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

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Topic: Science, Maths and Computing

Non-fiction

Everything in the Universe is made up of just 118 chemical elements, all of which are listed in the Periodic Table. Lift the flaps in this informative book and discover which elements are crucial to life, which are smelly, explosive or radioactive and lots more. An essential introduction to the building blocks of chemistry, with over 125 flaps.

Chapter book

A brilliantly original, fast-paced and funny debut novel – perfect for fans of Roald Dahl!

When Alice Dent gets a cold, she has no idea how much trouble it’s about to cause. Because this is no ordinary cold: it comes with some seriously weird side-effects. For a start, Alice can’t stop giggling and every animal she meets sticks to her like glue!

But when the mysterious Best Minister for Everything Nicely Perfect and his scary masked henchmen come to take her away, Alice realizes her troubles are only just beginning …

Non-fiction

A journey into the wonderful world of your microbiome.

Within our bodies hides an entire world of organisms called microbes. They digest our food and protect our immune systems, and without them, we would die. Through Katie Brosnan’s personable illustrations, we follow the digestive process from the moment the food enters our mouths to the moment the waste leaves our bodies. Along the way we are introduced to a variety of microbes – good and bad – and gain an insight into the vast ecosystem that exists inside us.

Scientists are only now beginning to comprehend the significance of our microbiome. This is a gorgeously presented introduction to a most fascinating scientific frontier.

Non-fiction

What’s so special about animal skeletons? Find out in BONES, an inside look at the animal kingdom.

How are animals able to bite, run, jump and fly? What special adaptions have they developed over time? Bones takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the biological history of the animal kingdom, with sections focusing on different animal abilities – biting, flying, jaws, tails, and more – explaining how their amazing bodies allow them to do so many different things.

Chapter book

James Patterson has teamed up with the world’s most famous genius to entertain and inspire a generation of children – with the first and only children’s adventure series officially approved by the Albert Einstein Archives.

Max Einstein is a typical 12-year-old. She…

Goes to college every day
Plays speed chess in the park
Builds inventions that help the homeless
And talks to Albert Einstein

All normal stuff, right?

Until one day when Max is recruited by a mysterious organisation! Their mission: solve some of the world’s toughest problems using science. She’s helped by a diverse group of young geniuses from around the globe as they invent new ways to power the farthest reaches of the planet.

But that’s only if the sinister outfit known as The Corporation doesn’t get to her first…

Non-fiction

Imagine someone told you that your dream could never come true. What would you do? Meet Marie Curie. Shy and reserved, she loved science more than anything else in the world. But she lived at a time when women couldn’t be scientists. Marie followed her passion and is now remembered for her game-changing discoveries. But while she tinkered away with test tubes and experimented with a glow-in-the-dark chemical elements, Marie became a mother. Irene and Eve grew up to be fiercely independent and determined women just like their mother, and had many adventures of their own. Join these three incredible women in this gorgeously illustrated book as they save lives during WWI and WWII, win Nobel Prizes, overcome tragedies, travel all around the world and change the history of science forever. This uplifting and touching tale of strength, science and sisterhood, written and illustrated by two remarkable sisters Imogen and Isabel Greenberg, is a triumph of female empowerment.

Non-fiction

Think Magic Is Just An Illusion?

Think again! Discover science – REAL magic at your fingertips.

Learn some amazing experiments to wow your friends, find out how magicians use science in their most famous tricks and discover the magic of the world around you.

Packed with activities for kids from magic tricks to optical illusions, and peppered with fascinating facts, this educational book is a must-have for scientists and magicians alike. Added bonus, each ‘trick’ or experiment in the book uses easy to get hold of items.

Get ready to wow your friends with some cool science-backed magic like:
– Magnetic fingers
– Reading minds
– Colour changing potion
– Guess the coin
– Floating ping pong ball and much more!

Non-fiction

Designed to present physics in a totally new light, this science book explores the topics of physics, light and sound alongside incredible artwork from surrealist artist Ximo Abadia. Visualise sonar sound, discover the speed of light and understand basic quantum physics with easy to understand, engaging text by acclaimed science writer Colin Stuart.

Impressive design meets exciting content in this physics title that will truly captivate and inspire.

Lightning! Rainbows! Auroras! Discover Earth’s most amazing natural phenomena in this adventure around the globe, including a glow-in-the-dark poster.

Follow two intrepid explorers as they witness the Northern Lights, marvel in wonder at glow worm caves, go hunting for double rainbows, and dodge volcanic lightning. A perfect book for young explorers. Turn off the light to see the 640 x 296 mm tear-out poster glow, featuring the stages of a solar eclipse. (Be sure to charge it in the light first.)

Each spread features an enchanting illustration of a different natural phenomenon animated by a description of the science behind it, told in exciting prose. Fact boxes call out more information.

Non-fiction

So you think everyday life is boring?! WHAT?! Hoo-ee, are you wrong!

No, seriously. There’s so much EXTRAORDINARY science going on right from the minute you wake up to when you go to sleep. Actually, while you’re asleep, too.

Science is a non-stop EVERYWHERE, everything adventure with some incredibly cool stuff going on, too.

You’ve got your incredible brain, which has worked out how to read these words and make playing a video game feel as EXCITING as real life; you’ve got aeroplanes that can somehow get from the ground into the sky with all those people AND their luggage on board; you’ve got electricity and artificial intelligence and GPS and buses coming in threes (that’s science too) and LOADS more.

In Secret Science, Dara O Briain takes you on a journey from the comfort of your favourite chair to the incredible science behind your everyday life and on into the future!

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