Science 1 - Energy Books

"Biggest, Strongest, Fastest" by Steve Jenkins is an informative and visually stunning children's book that showcases the extraordinary attributes of various animals. Through precise cut-paper illustrations and engaging facts, Jenkins highlights record-breaking animals in the natural world, from the smallest to the largest, the fastest to the slowest. This book not only captivates young readers with its vivid depictions but also educates them about the wonders of biology and the diversity of life on Earth.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcG7ePvq5eo

"Go, Dog. Go!" by P.D. Eastman is a beloved children's book that celebrates the joy of movement, featuring a variety of dogs engaging in activities, driving cars, and attending a dog party in a tree. Through simple, repetitive text and vibrant illustrations, the book introduces concepts of colors, sizes, and relative positions, all while following the dogs' adventures. This classic story captivates young readers with its fun narrative and encourages them to explore the fundamental building blocks of reading and comprehension.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfZZlIWxWEE

Internet Archive Library: https://archive.org/details/bigbluebookofbeg0000unse_b8h5/page/198/mode/2up

"Hot Rod Hamster" by Cynthia Lord and illustrated by Derek Anderson is an exhilarating children's book that follows the adventures of a fearless hamster with a need for speed as he builds and races his own hot rod car. With its catchy rhymes and dynamic illustrations, the book engages young readers in the excitement of the race, encouraging them to make choices about the design of the hamster's car along the way. This story is not just about speed and competition; it also celebrates creativity, determination, and the joy of pursuing one's passions.

YouTube (Read Aloud): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhqMMa66o5Y

Internet Archive Library: https://archive.org/details/hotrodhamster0000lord_h7y8

"Katie and the Starry Night" by James Mayhew is a magical adventure that brings art to life, as young Katie steps into the canvas of Vincent van Gogh's "The Starry Night." Through her eyes, readers explore the swirling, vivid landscape of one of the world's most famous paintings, meeting various characters and discovering the beauty of art along the way.  While exploring the paintings, many of the directions are explored, both as she tries to get in the painting, and once in the painting. While teaching about directions, this enchanting story encourages children to appreciate art and inspires them to imagine the stories behind the paintings, blending education with adventure and creativity.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26w8WJz_9dQ

Internet Archive Library: https://archive.org/details/katiestarrynight0000mayh

"Ricky the Rock that Couldn't Roll" by Jay Miletsky is a heartwarming story about Ricky, a round rock who, unlike his rock friends, cannot roll because he has a flat side. Determined to help their friend, the other rocks come together and brainstorm creative ways to get Ricky rolling. The story celebrates teamwork, kindness, and the power of perseverance, showing how friendship can overcome obstacles. Now, from a scientific standpoint, it allows you to discuss with your students that rocks that are rolling display kinetic energy, while Ricky is nothing but potential energy. With its rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, the book delivers an inspiring message about inclusion,embracing differences, and really contrasting kinetic and potential energy.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEW1pB3I2qY

Internet Archive Library: https://archive.org/details/rickyrockthatcou0000mile

"Rosie's Walk" by Pat Hutchins is a classic picture book that delivers a simple yet engaging story with minimal text and expressive illustrations. It follows the unsuspecting Rosie the hen as she goes for a walk around the farm, blissfully unaware of the fox trying (and failing) to catch her at every turn. This delightful tale of Rosie's journey is a wonderful exploration of prepositions and spatial concepts, presented in a humorous and accessible way for young readers.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHycGh4q58Q

Internet Archive Library (only available for people with print disabilities): https://archive.org/details/rosieswalk0000hutc_d7d6

Internet Archive Library (Chinese): https://archive.org/details/mujiluosiqusanbu0000hutc

Internet Archive Library (Spanish): https://archive.org/details/elpaseoderosalia0000hutc

Internet Archive Library (Welsh with English subtitles): https://archive.org/details/maginmyndamdroma0000hutc

"Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature" by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth Krommes, is a stunning picture book that celebrates the beauty and mystery of spirals found in the natural world. Through lyrical text and exquisite scratchboard illustrations, the book explores how spirals appear in various forms and functions, from the curves of a ram's horns to the tendrils of a vine and the swirling galaxies in the night sky. Though it does have more content focused on the appearance of a spiral in an object over the spiral motion referenced by the learning outcome, this is an engaging book that familiarizes students with what a spiral is. There is also a great epilogue filled with information about the various plants and animals in this book.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE3AfI63VLE

Internet Archive Library: https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780547315836

"Up, Down, and Around" by Katherine Ayres and Nadine Bernard Westcott is a lively picture book that takes young readers on a colorful journey through a garden. Through engaging, rhythmic text and vibrant illustrations, it teaches children about the ways plants grow—some going up, some moving down into the earth, and others growing around and around. This book not only introduces basic concepts of plant life and directions but also celebrates the joy of gardening, encouraging kids to explore the wonders of the natural world.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFUwZJVDifU

Internet Archive Library: https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780763649029

"We’re Going on a Bear Hunt" by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury is an adventurous children's book that takes readers on a captivating journey through swishy-swashy grass, a splashy river, and oozy mud in search of a bear. With its repetitive and rhythmic text, the story engages children in the excitement of the hunt, culminating in a surprising encounter with a bear and a hasty retreat back home. This classic book delights with its playful illustrations and the thrill of adventure, encouraging imagination and interactive reading. While onomatopoeia certainly plays a role in this book, it really highlights the directions over, under, and through.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE3AfI63VLE

Internet Archive Library: https://archive.org/details/weregoingonbearh0000rose_z0u5

"The Missing Piece" by Shel Silverstein is a poignant and thoughtful picture book that tells the story of a circle missing a wedge-shaped piece of itself. On its journey to find the missing piece, the circle learns about contentment, self-discovery, and the nature of happiness. Silverstein's simple yet profound illustrations and text explore themes of fulfillment and the search for completeness, while simultaneously demonstrating the ease of motion for a wheel when compared to an "incomplete" wheel. There are over a dozen different read alouds of this book, and of the few I looked it, it is most interesting to see how each reader creates their own version of the song the Missing Piece sings--perhaps this can help you decide which one to use!

YouTube (Animated): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_I3-zNJLlI

YouTube (Read Aloud): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozrW98EyE6s

Internet Archive Library (only available for people with print disabilities): https://archive.org/details/missingpiece00silv

Internet Archive Library (Korean): https://archive.org/details/odirokassulkkana0000silv

In "Wheel Away" by Dayle Ann Dodds, young readers embark on a lively journey exploring the world of wheels through the adventures of a group of animals on a biking day out. With playful rhymes and vibrant illustrations, the book celebrates the joy of cycling and the versatility of wheels in various settings. Dodds' engaging narrative not only introduces children to the concept of wheels and their functionality but also encourages outdoor activity and the fun of exploring the world on two wheels.

YouTube (Read Aloud): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRSIaU87CLY

Internet Archive Library: https://archive.org/details/wheelaway00dodd

"Vroom Vroom: Poems About Things with Wheels" is a dynamic collection of poems that celebrate the excitement and mobility provided by various wheeled vehicles. From the rumble of motorcycles to the smooth glide of skateboards, each poem captures the essence and adventure of different modes of transport. With its lively verses and captivating illustrations, this book invites young readers into a world where wheels spin, engines roar, and every journey promises thrill and joy, making it an enchanting read for children fascinated by anything that rolls and vrooms.

YouTube (Read Aloud): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfwvLTVWyoI

"Wheels and Axles to the Rescue" explores the fundamental concepts of simple machines, focusing specifically on how wheels and axles are utilized in various rescue scenarios. Through engaging text and vivid illustrations, the book demonstrates the role these mechanisms play in facilitating movement and enhancing efficiency in emergency services, from fire trucks rushing to a scene to helicopters lifting off the ground. It serves as an educational tool for young readers, offering insights into the practical applications of physics in real-world problem-solving and highlighting the importance of wheels and axles in saving lives.

Internet Archive Library: https://archive.org/details/wheelsaxlestores0000thal

"Wheels Go Round" is an engaging children's book that dives into the fascinating world of wheels, illustrating how they are an essential part of many vehicles and machines. Through vibrant illustrations and simple, captivating text, the book showcases different types of wheels in action, from bicycles and cars to roller skates and ferris wheels. This delightful read educates young readers on the mechanics and importance of wheels, sparking curiosity about how things move and encouraging an early interest in science and engineering.

Internet Archive Library: https://archive.org/details/wheelsgoround0000unse