Tandem Recommends: STEM in Storybooks

Feb 7, 2022 | Book Recommendation List, Our Blog

Children’s storybooks introduce a world of concepts – both new and familiar – to young readers. A turn of the page reveals a new situation, a new word, and ignites the imagination. As we focus on STEM this month, we encourage you to check out our top picks below. View our interactive read aloud videos and download our accompanying Activity Guides to keep the fun going long after storytime ends! All our activities can be easily enjoyed at home, using common items you likely already have at home.

Clap, Clap! by Madalena Matoso
Ages 0-2
STEM focus: Math

Get ready for some noisy, mathematical fun! This interactive book is all about sounds and movement. Each page describes a new sound or movement and indicates how many times that action should be repeated.
View virtual storytime / Download our Activity Guide
Vea la hora de cuentos virtual / Descargue nuestra Guía de actividades
看我們的視頻朗讀故事 / 下載我們的活動指南

Shapes by Xavier Deneux
Ages 0-2
STEM focus: Math

This book features raised shapes and cutouts that encourage children to interact with the book. See each shape in two different ways: the shape on it’s own and again in some real world context.
View virtual storytime / Download our Activity Guide
Vea la hora de cuentos virtual / Descargue nuestra Guía de actividades
看我們的視頻朗讀故事 / 下載我們的活動指南

Press Here by Hervé Tullet
Ages 3-5
STEM focus: Science

Watch the yellow dot magically transform as you press, tap, shake, and interact with this delightfully simple book. Children love practicing different actions with each turn of the page and seeing how each action transforms the yellow dot.
View virtual storytime / Download our Activity Guide
Vea la hora de cuentos virtual / Descargue nuestra Guía de actividades
看我們的視頻朗讀故事 / 下載我們的活動指南

Field Trip to the Ocean Deep by John Hare
Ages 3-5
STEM focus: Math and science

A group of students explores the bottom of the ocean. When one student gets separated from the rest, they make some interesting new friends and discover a lost city. Will they be able to reconnect with their class? Or will they be stuck at the bottom of the ocean forever?
View virtual storytime / Download our Activity Guide
Vea la hora de cuentos virtual / Descargue nuestra Guía de actividades
看我們的視頻朗讀故事 / 下載我們的活動指南

Check out our STEM in Storybooks discussion panel featuring children’s book authors Ana Crespo, Rajani LaRocca, and Omowale Moses in conversation with mathematics learning researcher Marlene Kliman. In this video, we explore how pictures books can help children gain a foundation for STEM and see themselves as scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and more!