Science….Sometimes we as parents feel we need to have a fully-loaded Magic School Bus, a lab coat and the personality of Billy Nye, or a degree from M.I.T. to be able to teach our children about science. We can easily get intimidated, wondering if our children will ask us a question we don’t have an answer for…..thinking we need to devise a series of foaming or bubbly experiments….wondering if we have to dissect something….Fear not! Science can be as accessible as any other topic of learning, and Scholastic is here to help!

I had the pleasure of reviewing three books from the Let’s-Read-And-Find-Out Science series, made available in the March SeeSaw flyer from Scholastic. This incredible series of books walks you and your child through a science related topic in a very straightforward and understandable way. I had used (and loved!) several of the books from this series in my kindergarten classroom, and was so excited to be able to share these with my own children. Each of these books presents a wealth of material in kid-friendly language. Many of the books provide additional information for families who want to extend their learning and discover more about the topic on their own. I also loved that each of the books in the series we reviewed sparked interesting discussion with my kids, and inspired them to ask a TON of questions. My children were engaged….and excited about what they were learning. Information was pouring into their brains through a fun, colorful, and unassuming medium. (And, I didn’t have to be a scientific super-genius to be able to share these books with them!)

In “A Tree is a Plant”, written by Clyde Robert Bulla, children are shown step by step how a tiny seed can transform into a tall tree. The text asks questions of the child as you read along, engaging them with the information and helping to hold their interest. As the pages unfold, children are shown how the seed grows and changes. Also introduced are topics like seasons, parts of a tree, and what plants and trees need to grow and thrive. This book includes a discovery section in the back with 2 at-home experiment ideas and a list of other informational resources.

In “Down Comes the Rain” by Franklyn M. Branley, children discover water in a whole new way. So much information is packed into this adorably illustrated (James Graham Hale) book. Your child will pick up a ton of new vocabulary as you read this book, discovering water vapor, water droplets, evaporation, condensation, and more! In a climate that is typically VERY rainy, this book was particularly interesting for my kindergartner. It was fun to see her applying some of what she learned in this book as she observed the clouds outside, noting that the dark clouds must be holding a lot of water. (They were!) We were also able to go back and read the section on ice drops, after they appeared on our deck one morning this week. Your kids will love being able to learn more about something so prevalent in their daily lives.

In “Bugs are Insects” by Anne Rockwell, your child will learn what something needs to be considered an insect. Through questions that get your child thinking critically, your child will examine creatures to determine if they are an insect, checking for the correct number of body parts and legs. Your child (and you!) will learn the difference between a bug and an insect, and will pick up some great vocabulary words like  “thorax” and “internal skeleton.” After reading this book, my son and I went on an insect hunt in our yard. The book got him thinking, and got him excited about science! He wanted to explore and further his discovery!

One of you will get to WIN this three pack of awesome science books for your own little budding scientist! I know you will LOVE learning and discovering along with your child as you read through the Let’s-Read-And-Find-Out Science books from Scholastic!


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