Whether curious about the planets or physics, math or medicine, readers will discover a wealth of information about the various disciplines of science and technology in these series. Well-researched writing, stunning visuals, and thought-provoking content can be found in many of these volumes. The most noteworthy ones, however, not only broaden understanding of the scientific world but ask students to consider their own roles. Time lines mapping key discoveries are a trend for older readers, while outer space, a publishing mainstay, continues to fascinate young audience members. Overall, this crop of scientific narratives delivers, inspiring next generation innovators, change makers, and scientists while sparking the interest of casual readers.

Preschool to Grade 4

Gr 1-3 –Addressing the many questions that curious kids ask, this series offers age-appropriate explanations without veering on the didactic. Each book begins with a fictional scene that drives the narrative, setting up a central question and allowing an “expert” (a park ranger, a character’s parent), who is also part of the story, to share useful knowledge with both the information-seeker and the audience. Readers will easily relate to these possible real-world situations. Eye-catching color photos coupled with thought-provoking sidebars encourage kids to think critically, ask questions, and make educated guesses based on what they’ve learned. VERDICT A smart and incredibly appealing series.

K-Gr 2 –Beginning readers will enjoy this foray into outer space as they learn about the solar system. No more than three very short, simple sentences in a large typeface are found on each attractive spread. The photos effectively complement the descriptive text and will have readers eager to turn the page to discover what’s next. Challenging vocabulary words are highlighted and can be found, along with their pronunciation and an identifying image, in the glossary. The inclusion of a chart comparing each of the set’s subjects to Earth (for instance, Mercury has no moons, while Earth has one) demonstrates how vast the universe is. VERDICT Useful selections for emergent readers and budding space enthusiasts.

Gr 2-4 –Chock-full of facts, this series invites readers to explore the solar system by examining the planets, stars, and celestial bodies that dominate the sky. Accompanied by colorful images, the clear text provides both general and specific information about space, but in an effort to keep the material simple for the intended audience, some material is excluded, which may leave readers with more questions than answers. The placement of Mercury at the end of Planets Near Earth (when the other planets are grouped in order of their distance from the sun) and some redundancy among volumes are minor flaws when considered individually but may be too much when looked at as a whole. VERDICT Weigh the pros and cons of this mixed series before purchasing.

K-Gr 2 –Colorful images and real-world settings, complete with a diverse cast of individuals, make these introductions to word problems fun and inviting. A themed, practical question is posed on each page, encouraging young readers to use their number skills to supply the answer (also provided on each page). Visual clues help less-confident students reach the same conclusion. The use of simple sentences and high-frequency words make these titles solid options for those making their first forays into reading. VERDICT Worthwhile additions for beginning readers and budding mathematicians.

Gr 2-4 –Though aimed at young readers, this series does not shy away from including high-level scientific vocabulary and lesser-known examples in its discussion of the solar system. Students will discover where the Sun’s photosphere and chromosphere are located, what a perihelion is, and what Eros is and where it’s located as well as more commonly known facts about space and the objects that occupy it. Striking, full-page images will entice readers, while the unique design—each page mimics the look of a smartphone screen, complete with battery life icons for page numbers—is fresh and contemporary. “Astronomy at Home,” a hands-on activity at the end of each book, reinforces the material while encouraging connected learning and independent study. VERDICT Strong selections that won’t sit on the shelves for long.

Gr 2-4 –Straightforward text and hands-on activities encourage young scientists to consider the importance of electricity, temperature, light, and sound in these slim volumes. The books all contain four chapters, each of which is followed by a relevant experiment (building a robot, testing whether different objects are light sources) that supports the preceding material. Featuring straightforward instructions, the projects will challenge kids without overwhelming them. Sidebars such as “See the Science,” “Is It a Fair Test?” and “Real World Science” actively engage the reader’s critical thinking skills while emphasizing the significance of the scientific process and the power of observation. Uncluttered, the layout is clean and visually appealing, allowing readers to concentrate on the information without being distracted by unnecessary text and images. VERDICT Solid additions.

Grades 5 & Up

Gr 8 Up –Heavy on text, these books attempt to relate the basic principles of several mathematical fields but fall short. Seemingly straightforward concepts are unnecessarily complicated, be it through jargon or information overload. There’s little variation in the black-and-white color scheme and few illustrations, diagrams, and equations to break up the long blocks of text, making the reading experience cumbersome. VERDICT This series is unlikely to hold reader interest and may be more confusing than enlightening.

Gr 8 Up –This well-researched series presents eight scientific fields of study and explores their origins, current impact, and future implications. Beginning with an attention-grabbing introduction, the narrative is engaging, immersing readers in the histories of these subjects. What follows is a chronicle of each subject that includes key figures and their impact on science and culture as well as technologies that have played a role in the discipline’s evolution. Complex scientific principles are made accessible through meaningful, straightforward language, and in-text citations and source notes provide greater credibility and authority. Historical photographs are numerous and put a face on the men and women who have shaped science. VERDICT A first-purchase consideration.

Gr 4-6 –This information-packed set examines the most significant developments in science and technology. While the criteria used to determine what makes these 12 discoveries the “biggest” in their respective fields isn’t clear, the choices are nonetheless solid. Engrossing and revealing, the narratives mix straightforward reporting with fascinating anecdotes, such as how the word bug has come to mean a computer error or glitch, and eyebrow-raising facts that will have readers clamoring for more. Even the selection of these six broad technologies is a bit unexpected and intriguing and should pique student interest. Vibrant color photos and historical images provide strong text support and add visual interest, giving the books additional weight. VERDICT A satisfying and truly enjoyable series.

Gr 5-8 –Examining more than a dozen major discoveries in each volume, this set chronicles scientific breakthroughs that have had a tremendous impact on the world. Developments in the fields of chemistry, earth and space science, life science, medicine, and physics are presented in chronological order, emphasizing how scientists continually build upon the findings of their predecessors through scientific inquiry, observation, and experimentation. Designed to look like a student’s spiral notebook, the layout, complete with sidebars that appear to be taped or stapled to the page and tabs that name a scientific pioneer and the date of his discovery, is colorful and engaging without being gimmicky; it certainly helps that the content is well written and to the point. VERDICT A solid history of science and technology.

Gr 10 Up –Providing readers with a solid overview of matter, energy, waves, and particles, this series explains the basic principles of physics in a practical and understandable manner. Using real-life examples, such as the arc of a basketball, each volume effectively illustrates unfamiliar concepts and terminology that may otherwise be difficult to comprehend. Vivid photographs work in tandem with black-and-white photos or reproductions of illustrations depicting well-known scientists to convey past and present accomplishments in each field, while sidebars engage readers with lesser-known theories and anecdotes, striking a nice balance between presenting facts and acknowledging the people behind the science. Although the books switch between standard and metric measurement, this inconsistency can certainly be overlooked. VERDICT Enlightening and attractive additions.

Gr 5-8 –True to their series’ name, these well-designed volumes present various developments in these different subjects as points on a time line. Each book begins with an introduction to the discipline, which emphasizes how science builds upon, and sometimes overturns, the work of previous scientists, then further breaks down the broad subject into four distinct subdisciplines with their own chronologies. The straightforward information is accompanied by historical photographs and images as well as supplemental sidebars that immerse readers in the topic. At the end of each book, a section called “Your Turn on the Timeline” encourages creativity, critical thinking, and independent research, enhancing the value of this set. VERDICT Visual and nonvisual learners alike will appreciate this series’ approach.

Gr 4-7 –Well intentioned but flawed, this compilation of different science experiments is overwhelmed by its design. The experiments include both the standard and the less common and should appeal to an audience with a wide range of abilities. However, the volumes attempt to engage and provide as much information as possible but instead drown in clutter. The notebooklike design, which features sidebars that appear to be taped to the page, is overflowing with photos, instructions, supplies, and other bits of information that seem randomly placed on each page; even the order of the step-by-step directions is questionable at times due to the layout. Small, lightly colored type font makes the text difficult to read in places. Useful sections like “Scientist Kit” and “Quiz Zone” are not enough to save what could have been a valuable resource. VERDICT Not recommended.

For the most part, the upcoming spate of science books for children and teens encourages critical thinking, analysis, reflection, hands-on learning, and independent research. ABDO’s well-researched “History of Science” is a page-turner; the accessible writing and choice of topics will capture and hold the attention of even the most reluctant teen reader. Similarly, 12-Story Library’s “Technology Breakthroughs” is an information-packed chronicle of the world’s biggest scientific discoveries. For younger readers, Cherry Lake’s “Tell Me Why” series features recognizable situations that answer commonly asked questions in a meaningful and realistic, way while Creative Education’s “Across the Universe” isn’t afraid to expose beginning readers to proper scientific terminology. Except as noted, the other series would be acceptable purchases for most collections.