8 Books To Inspire Kids To Love Maths And Science

Whether it's because of uninspiring teachers or complicated material, I'm sure many of us have memories of dreading our maths and science homework. Yet, as these are such important subjects for developing new technologies and better understanding of our universe, it's becoming more and more essential to inspire young learners to be interested in maths and science.

Luckily, children's books authors understand that the way to get kids to learn is to treat their imaginations, so there are a whole host of books out there that work maths and science into their plots, or that feature characters that love the subjects. Here are 8 examples of these inspiring books, listed roughly in order of age appeal, youngest to oldest.

Baby Goes To Market by Atinuke, illustrated by Angela Brooksbank

This pre-K classic and winner of the 2018 Mathical prize for children's literature follows a Nigerian mother shopping with her baby. What makes this book effective is how it includes maths in the plot. Readers will pick up on the concept of subtraction in the basic subject without having to be told they're learning.

Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by David Litchfield

Ages four and up will enjoy this fun-filled account of the history of the planet and the surrounding solar system. Narrated by a cartoon rendition of the Earth itself, it's aimed at inspiring kids to be interested in planetary physics from a young age, inspiring them to learn teh maths and science that explains the makeup of our planet as they grow up.

Absolutely One Thing by Lauren Child

This read is great for teaching a range of ages about everyday uses of maths. The fun and humor can appeal to really young kids while the older ones can engage in the maths questions pondered by Charlie. All of this is paced to make it a fun jaunt that sneaks in some learning without the kids noticing.

Math-terpieces by Greg Tang, illustrated by Greg Paprocki

These two Gregs have created a unique bridge between the world of art and maths aimed to please the eye and tease the brain. Readers are posed maths questions through a series of classic art masterpieces, the answers to which can be found through pattern recognition, number combinations, and foundational maths skills.

A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars by Seth Fishman, illustrated by Isabel Greenberg

A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars is the book for any child - and any parent - who has looked at the night sky and wondered about what's up there, or been curious what's under the ground or in the ocean. It makes huge numbers like trillions and quadrillions a little easier to understand and gives them an idea of the infinity of numbers.

Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by Mike Holmes

Kids who are interested in computers and programming will love the Secret Coders series of graphic novels, following Hopper and Eni as they investigate strange mysteries in their school. Puzzles are factored into the action to get test readers' brains as they crack the mysteries, and the whole series is packed with adventure and intrigue.

Nick And Tesla by Steve Hockensmith and Bob Pflugfelder

In this series, readers follow along with 11-year-old twins Nick and Tesla as they invent and investigate using science and maths. Each story features a mystery the kids solve with inventive projects, directions for which are provided with the book so that readers can try them out for themselves.

Giant Pumpkin Suite by Melanie Heuiser Hill

In this coming of age story, Rose, a lover of maths and music, as she attempts to win a state fair pumpkin competition with her twin brother. Giant Pumpkin Suite is aimed at children in grades 6 to 8 and hopes to inspire them to love maths as much as the main character.


To conclude, maths and science needn't be remotely boring, or something to dread, as these books show. In fact, it's quite easy to learn about both subjects through games, puzzles and other activities, without even noticing. Read these books together to surely develop a strong appreciation for maths and science.


Guest Blogger:
Beatrix is an educational writer at Research Paper Writers and Oxessays writing services. Beatrix writes about children's education and parenting, in particular with relation to STEM subjects