STEM Books for Kids
We’re committed to helping every child discover the joy of reading through stories they love. This collection introduces science, technology, engineering, and math for readers ages 5 to 9. Each book makes complex concepts accessible and exciting through engaging stories that encourage problem-solving and innovation.
Birds Like Me Don't Fly
Hank has one enormous dream - he wants to fly! But his wings are small, his body is big, and his feet just won’t leave the ground. When the other birds laugh and say birds like Hank don’t fly, will he give up on his dream? Or could a plank, some tape, and a very big idea change everything? Grab your goggles and find out! This decodable reader practices the nk sound in words like ‘bank,’ ‘clank,’ ‘shrink,’ and ’think.’
Dig, Ned, Dig!
Ned has built a cozy shed in an unknown world, but his magic book says it’s time to dig! Can Ned figure out which end of the shovel goes in the ground? And what happens when his trusty shovel hits something hard and golden deep beneath the hill? Grab a pickaxe and find out! This decodable reader practices the ‘kn’ phonogram in words like ‘knelt,’ ‘knuckles,’ ‘knock,’ and ‘knew.’
Not Again, Dr. Can Do!
Dr. Can Do’s workshop is a disaster zone - redstone dust everywhere, contraptions piled high, and is that a chicken clucking under the repeaters? When he finally decides to tidy up, he spots mountains of extra stone and deepslate that simply have to go. But will a sensible inventor carry it outside, or will Dr. Can Do build something wildly clever instead? This decodable reader practices soft c in words such as ‘place,’ ‘space,’ ‘decides,’ ’notices,’ and ’excellent.’
Catch That Dragonfly!
The homework assignment of a lifetime: catch a real insect and study it up close! But when Kim picks the fastest bug in the playground, can two kids really outsmart a dragonfly that darts at lightning pace? Every time they get close, it zips away like it notices their every move. What clever trick might finally work? This decodable reader practices the soft c sound in words like ‘center,’ ‘circle,’ ’notice,’ and ‘silence.’
Don't Burn The Book!
Ned the maker is running low on coal, and the caves are far too dangerous to explore. Luckily, his friendly book-shaped helper has a clever idea: why not grow a whole forest of your very own? But can Ned really turn trees into fuel, and will bone meal truly make saplings shoot up in seconds? Join Ned as he digs, plants, and chops his way to a brilliant plan! This decodable reader practices suffixes in words like ‘boldly,’ ‘farmer,’ ’taller,’ and ‘hopeful.’
Don't Mix All Three!
Red, Yellow, and Blue Dinosaur have one colorful job: paint the whole gray neighborhood! Red is bold and fiery, Yellow is sunny and giggly, and Blue has actually read the rulebook. Mix two colors and something magical happens - but what about that one big rule nobody is supposed to break? What could possibly happen if three silly dinosaurs mixed all three colors at once? This decodable reader practices 3+ syllable words such as ‘beautiful,’ ‘dangerous,’ ‘incredible,’ and ‘wonderful.’
I'll Do It Myself!
Jill’s yard is buried under cobblestone, and the line for the village stone bin is massive. Why wait all day when she could just build one herself? With a pattern from Dr Can Do and a chest full of buckets and redstone, Jill marches off to her workshop - but will every piece fall into place before sunset? This decodable reader practices VC/CV syllables in words like ‘bucket,’ ‘pattern,’ ‘sunset,’ and ‘problem.’
Panha Won't Come Down!
Panha’s town is buried under thick, gloomy smog, and she’s had enough! Has anyone ever really seen the sky behind all that gray? When Panha climbs the tallest hill and spots actual sunlight, she races home with a wild idea: invent a plane, fly above the clouds, and bring the sun back. But what will she find waiting up there? This decodable reader practices words with prefixes such as “declared,” “exclaimed,” “replace,” and “unfair.”
Go, Troll Queen, Go!
After a week of rain, the sun is finally out and the wind is perfect - can a homemade kite with a secret weapon really fly higher than every other kite on the street? Follow along as one clever kid measures, cuts, and draws a smiling troll queen onto paper wings, then sends her soaring past the rooftops. Will she rule the whole sky? This decodable reader practices es plurals in words like ‘splashes,’ ‘bushes,’ ‘rushes,’ ‘sketches,’ and ‘reaches.’
Don't Sit on That Cloud!
Birds swoop, dragonflies dart, and butterflies drift past on fancy yellow wings - but what about kids without feathers? Could you climb onto a soft cloud and float away at sunset? Could a kite carry you upwards over forests and valleys? Three brilliant friends are determined to find out, even if a silly mistake or two might send them tumbling! This decodable reader practices VC/CV syllables in words like ‘rabbit,’ ‘sunset,’ ‘yellow,’ ‘mountains,’ and ‘until.’
Frequently Asked Questions
What are STEM books and why do they matter for early readers?
STEM books introduce science, technology, engineering, and math concepts through stories that make complex ideas accessible to children ages 5 to 9. The National Council of Teachers of English identifies cross-curricular reading as essential for building the background knowledge that supports comprehension — and STEM books are a natural way to bring informational content into a child’s reading practice.
How do STEM story books support reading development?
STEM books build vocabulary, background knowledge, and critical thinking simultaneously — all components that Scarborough’s Reading Rope model (2001) identifies as essential for skilled reading. Words like experiment, observe, measure, and predict expand a child’s language well beyond everyday conversation, and the problem-solving narratives keep them engaged.
At what age can children start reading STEM picture books?
Children can enjoy STEM picture books from kindergarten, when their curiosity about how things work is at its peak. Ehri et al. (2001) found that systematic phonics instruction benefits children from kindergarten through sixth grade, and these STEM books use decodable text that puts that phonics knowledge into practice with real science content.
What formats are these STEM books available in?
STEM books are available to read on the Bookbot website, with many titles free to access. Depending on the title, children may also find options such as PDF downloads, printable versions, audiobooks, or read-aloud mode with word-by-word highlighting that follows along with the text.
What STEM topics and reading levels are covered?
The collection includes stories about animals, space, weather, plants, machines, inventions, and problem-solving. Reading levels range from simple CVC words for beginning readers through advanced phonics patterns for more fluent readers. You can filter by grade level or browse the scope and sequence.