Back to School: Books to Bridge Summer Fun and School Focus
- Science, Naturally!
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Written by Kit Jones-Painter
Designed by Kit Jones-Painter
Edited by Eileen M. Halpin, Faith Lustig, and Chloe Sutton
It’s that time again! The school year is kicking into gear. It’s time to load fresh notebooks into backpacks, clean-out lunch boxes, and set those early morning alarms. It can be a stressful time for the whole family as that first day of school looms ever-closer on the horizon. But it doesn’t have to be! Ease the transition between summer fun and school focus by reading books that excite your kids about learning.
Luckily, those are the kinds of books we specialize in at Science, Naturally! Encourage a passion for learning with any of these back-to-school reads for your youngster. Keep reading to see three highlights from our catalog, all of which have received awards and stellar reviews from Reader Views.
Women in Botany
This title is part of the Science Wide Open series by Mary Wissinger covering trailblazing women throughout history that have made an impact in the STEM field. It is a fantastic and impactful collection of six books featuring women from across the globe who contributed to various fields of science. It’s a great blend of accessible science education, history, and female empowerment for a diverse audience.
Women in Botany traces how a single seed can flourish into a world of difference. Likewise, the minds of young readers will flourish with a passion for plants. The beauty of the message is that it is straightforward, accessible, and inspiring—“the ecosystem has many moving parts that have to work efficiently and effectively to benefit those who depend on it.” And we are one part of that ecosystem!
After reading, your kids will be prepped to participate in the ecosystem like a botanist following the path paved by a long history of women. Not only is this book educational, but it inspires young girls everywhere to chase their STEM dreams. As Reader Views put it, “the impact that this book will have on girls who read it can’t be underestimated. Anyone, however, can marvel at how they used their intelligence, skills, and talents to change botany forever.”
How Do You See the World?
Chances are, you’ve met someone who needs glasses to see. Maybe that person is you!
A good chunk of the world’s population has some sort of vision impairment—roughly 2.2 billion people globally, according to 2026 WHO statistics. How Do You See the World gives readers the chance to view the world through fresh eyes, as author Noureddine Melikechi teaches readers about the various conditions that impair vision, with visual representations illustrated by Michelle Simpson. Big words like astigmatism and myopia are made approachable through kid-friendly definitions and colorful illustrations. By the end, readers will be optometrists in the making.
Due to its educational content, Reader Views reports that they can “easily see this book being used in school curriculum or even a doctor’s office to help children better understand their own eye health.” But it’s no sterile textbook. “Michelle Simpson’s illustrations help make this learning journey evocative at every twist and turn, providing clear and easy visuals for how someone with eye issues such as astigmatism, nearsightedness, farsightedness, etc., might see the world.” This is explored through a blurry left-side page and a corrected right-side page viewed through a pair of glasses, normalizing glasses as a corrective aid.
Between the educational content and the artwork, How Do You See the World is “an excellent book and strikes a great balance of attention-grabbing and educational.” This makes it the perfect book to kick off a semester of curiosity and learning.
Tiny Tern Takes Flight
Going back to school can be scary, but Tiny Tern Takes Flight transforms the prospect of a daunting task into a terrific adventure. By witnessing a young tern who makes the journey to the arctic for the very first time, little ones will be inspired to return to a new class through a surprisingly relatable story. Author Donna B. McKinley follows this resilient bird on an extraordinary tale, which flies from pole to pole and back again every year seeking warmth and food, making it the longest migration of any animal.
Tiny Tern’s tale is rich with emotion and courage. “The journey is arduous, filled with moments of tension and resilience, but it’s also a story of triumph—showing the power of perseverance and the incredible strength found in even the smallest creatures.” Fiona Osbaldstone’s illustrations add “exquisite detail and a sense of wonder” that pulls readers in and helps them “feel the wind under Tiny Tern’s wings and the determination pushing it forward.” And of course, it has wonderful educational value as well. McKinely sprinkles “fascinating facts into the story… These nuggets of science are blended seamlessly, offering a gentle introduction to STEM concepts like biology and migration.”
Reader Views says it best: “Tiny Tern’s incredible feat of endurance is inspiring, and highlights the resilience, determination and the beauty in our natural world. If you’re looking for a story that combines adventure, heart, and science, ‘Tiny Tern Takes Flight’ is a must-read.” Readers of all ages can close the book with the confidence that they, too, can overcome the trials of a new season. If Tiny Tern can fly across the world, then kids can ace the next grade, no sweat!
From the soil, to the skies, to our own human eyes, natural wonders abound! Nothing inspires the spirit of discovery like a good book, and these are three excellent ones to gear up for the new school year. Whether your kiddo is fascinated by plants, animals, or anatomy, these books will encourage curiosity, expand knowledge, and empower readers to explore the vast world we live in.
And if none of those topics catch your eye, never fear. There’s a wide variety of STEM topics, many more of which can be found in the rest of our Science, Naturally! catalog. We have something for everyone. By the time you turn the last page, your child will be ready to tackle the new school year like the budding scientist they are.
