STEM Reading Videos
We’ve scoured the web for the best stories highlighting the diversity of the STEM experience and STEM in Minnesota. Sections are split into elementary and preschool age videos. Please contact us with any additions or suggestions.
Elementary
Written by Nicola I. Campbell, illustrated by Julie Flett
”Set in the Nicola Valley, British Columbia, in Canada's westernmost province, a First Nations family goes on an outing to forage for herbs and mushrooms. A grandmother passes down her knowledge of plant life and the natural world to her young grandchildren.”
(Read from space!)
Written by Andrea Beaty, Illustrated by David Roberts
”Ada has always been endlessly curious. Even when her fact-finding missions and elaborate scientific experiments don’t go as planned, Ada learns the value of thinking her way through problems and continuing to stay curious.”
Written by Xelena Gonzalez, illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia
”Grandpa says circles are all around us. He points to the rainbow that rises high in the sky after a thundercloud has come. He and his granddaughter meditate on gardens and seeds, on circles seen and unseen, inside and outside us, on where our bodies come from and where they return to. They share and create family traditions in this stunning exploration of the cycles of life and nature.”
Written and illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max
”Astrid has loved the stars and space for as long as she can remember. “I want to be an astronaut!” she says to everyone who will listen.”
Written and Illustrated by Kim Smith
”When the annual Maker Match is held, Meg and Simone are paired as a team but can't seem to stop arguing. When their extraordinary project turns into a huge disaster, they must find a way to join creative forces, lift each other up, and work together.”
Written by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James Ransome
”Come meet the good, the bad, and the ugly—yes, germs! Told from the perspective of Sam the Salmonella, this informative picture book introduces young readers to helpful and harmful germs, exploring their discovery; the breakout of historic diseases; the invention of pasteurization, vaccination, and penicillin; and other fascinating details about the world of microscopic organisms.”
Written by Josh Funk, Illustrated by Sara Palacios
”Pearl and her trusty rust-proof robot, Pascal, need to build a sandcastle before summer vacation is over, and they're going to do it using code. Pearl breaks the big we-need-a-sandcastle problem into smaller steps, then uses conditionals, loops, and other basic coding concepts to tell Pascal exactly what to do. But building a sandcastle isn't as easy as it sounds when surfboards, mischievous dogs, and coding mishaps get in the way.”
Written by Cheryl Blackford, Illustrated by Laurie Caple
“From winter hunts to picnic foraging, Coyote makes his deliberate way through the seasons in his urban habitat.”
Written by Roda Ahmed, illustrated by Stasia Burrington
”When Little Mae was a child, she dreamed of dancing in space. She imagined herself surrounded by billions of stars, floating, gliding, and discovering. She wanted to be an astronaut. Her mom told her, "If you believe it, and work hard for it, anything is possible.
Written by Elizabeth Rusch, Illustrated by Teresa Martínez
”The true story of how a scientist saved the planet from environmental disaster.”
Written by Reeve Lindberg, Illustrated by Pamela Paparone
“As a young black woman in the 1920s, Bessie Coleman's chances of becoming a pilot were slim. But she never let her dream die, and became the first licensed African-American aviator.”
Written by Dr. Ashley Denmark, illustrated by Mike Molz
“ A STEM children book that teaches children about various types of doctors such as neurosurgeon, ophthalmologist, dentist, cardiologist, pharmacist and so much more!”
Written by Laura Sulentich Fredrickson, Illustrated by Laurie Caple
“Wander through wintry woods and along frozen creeks to observe eagles soaring, deer munching, and muskrats hiding as the winter solstice arrives in a whirl of snowy confetti and dancing starlight.”
Written by Kate Messner, Illustrated by Chris Silas Neal
“Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow exists a secret kingdom of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals that live through the winter safe and warm, awake and busy, under the snow. Discover the wonder and activity that lies beneath winter’s snowy landscape in this magical book.”
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Written by Molly Beth Griffin, Illustrations by Jennifer Bell
“Hike alongside Rhoda as she collects rock after rock, “red ones and blue ones and stripy ones,” from forest and river and lake, on a north woods adventure.”
Written by Nathan Bryon, Illustrated by Dapo Adeola
”Meet Rocket – a plucky aspiring astronaut intent on getting her community to LOOK UP! from what they’re doing and reach for the stars.”
Written by Jan Bourdeau Waboose, Illustrated by Brian Deines
“Two Ojibway sisters set off across the frozen north country to see the SkySpirits' midnight dance. After an exhilarating walk and patient waiting, the girls are rewarded by the arrival of the SkySpirits - the northern lights - dancing and shimmering in the night sky.”
Written by Cynthia Rylant
Illustrated by Lauren Stringer
“A young girl, her friend, and her grandmother enjoy the many things a snowy day has to offer.”
Written by Vivian Kirkfield, illustrated by Chris Ewald
”Sarah E. Goode was one of the first African-American women to get a US patent. Working in her furniture store, she recognized a need for a multi-use bed and through hard work, ingenuity, and determination, invented her unique cupboard bed. She built more than a piece of furniture. She built a life far away from slavery, a life where her sweet dreams could come true.”
Written by Kim Norman, illustrated by
”When Scott builds a bot, a bippity-bot, sparks fly . . . and his entire classroom goes wild. Before long, fiery ants and carnivorous plants, a freaky frog, a big-bellied boa, and an exploding "volcano" have wreaked total havoc. Can Scott's bot, which started it all, manage the mess?”
Written by Junia Finley Mosca, Illustrated by Daniel Rieley
”As a girl coming of age during the Civil Rights Movement, Patricia Bath made it her mission to become a doctor. When obstacles like racism, poverty, and sexism threatened this goal, she persevered — brightening the world with a game-changing treatment for blindness!”
Written by Thomas Peacock , Illustrated by Annette S. Lee
”Two young brothers look to the stars and spin stories, some inspired by Uncle, some of their own making. The best one involves their grandmother and her place in the forever sky.”
Written by Julia Mosca, illustrated by Daniel Rieley
“When young Temple was diagnosed with autism, no one expected her to talk, let alone become one of the most powerful voices in modern science. Yet, the determined visual thinker did just that. Her unique mind allowed her to connect with animals in a special way, helping her invent groundbreaking improvements for farms around the globe!”
Written by Brittney Shipp, illustrated by Robin Boyer
“The Meteorologist In Me is an inspirational tale about a little girl named Summer. She loves studying the weather and sharing interesting weather facts with her family and friends. But she also has a big dream, to be a TV Meteorologist!”
(Read from space!)
Written by Jeffrey Bennett
”Diego is a young boy who daydreams of being a wizard with magical powers. During about the first half of the book, he imagines using these powers to make the world a better place, and in particular to fight global warming. But when he snaps out of his daydreaming and remembers that he can’t really do magic, he wonders whether there is anything he can do in real life to help save the world.”
Written and illustrated by
Wong Herbert Yee
“There's a mysterious set of tracks through the snow, but who do they belong to-a rabbit, a duck, a woodchuck? On this brisk day one little girl is determined to find out. So off through the woods she tramps in hopeful discovery. Where will the tracks lead her and what might she find?”
Video includes a snow song and a reading of Best in Snow by April Pulley Sayre
Written and illustrated by Shanda McCloskey
”Lucas has a new best friend when he bring T-Bone the Drone home from the store. They enjoy playing, flying, and even recharging together--but Lucas has been spending so much time with his new toy that he's on the sidelines when he tries to join the neighborhood Wiffle ball game. When the ball sails over the fence where a scary dog lives, it's the perfect opportunity for Lucas and T-Bone to do what friends do best: work together!”
Preschool
”Rhyming riddles framed by brightly painted clues, introducing elements that makes Minnesota special.”
(Read in English and Cree)
Written by Richard Van Camp, illustrated by Julie Flett
”A tender book for babies and toddlers that celebrates the potential of every child. With its delightful contemporary illustrations, Little You is perfect to be shared, read or sung to all the little people in your life―and the new little ones on the way!”
Written by Roseanne Greenfield Thong, illustrated by John Parr
”In this lively picture book, children discover a world of shapes all around them: rectangles are ice-cream carts and stone metates, triangles are slices of watermelon and quesadillas. Many of the featured objects are Latinx in origin, and all are universal in appeal.”
