written by Don Brown

For readers interested in space exploration history, One Giant Leap: The Story of Neil Armstrong by Don Brown is a children’s picture book that tells the inspiring story of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon. With engaging illustrations and simple, clear text, Brown shows Armstrong’s determination through the challenges he faced on his journey. Kids will also learn a bit about the space race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union as the book highlights Armstrong’s role as a symbol of human achievement, too. This biography captures the excitement of space exploration and emphasizes Armstrong’s humility, often focusing on how his work was part of a larger team effort.

written by Beverly Bircha

Pasteur’s Fight Against Microbes tells the story of the life and achievements of the French scientist Louis Pasteur, highlighting his determination to prove that tiny organisms were responsible for many diseases. This concept was not widely accepted at the time, but Pasteur’s curiosity and determination to understand microbes helped him develop the process of pasteurization to enhance food safety. Pasteur’s Fight Against Microbes is both educational and inspirational for children as it shows how persistence and scientific inquiry can lead to world-changing discoveries.

written by Joyce Sidman

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian’s Art Changed Science by Joyce Sidman is a fascinating biography that tells the story of Maria Merian, an extraordinary 17th-century artist and scientist. The book highlights Merian’s groundbreaking work in the fields of entomology and natural history, focusing on her meticulous observations and illustrations of butterflies and insects.

Sidman explores Merian’s childhood passion for nature, her determination to study insects at a time when few women were involved in science, and her eventual journey to Suriname to document the life cycle of butterflies. The book emphasizes her revolutionary approach, as Merian was one of the first to document insects in their natural environments and show the full life cycle, challenging the scientific ideas of her time.

written by Jules Verne

First published in 1870, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is a classic science fiction novel written by Jules Verne. The story follows the incredible underwater adventures of Professor Pierre Aronnax, his servant Conseil, and a Canadian whaler named Ned Land, who are captured by Captain Nemo aboard the submarine Nautilus.

The novel begins when a mysterious sea creature, believed to be a gigantic monster, terrorizes ships in the oceans. A French warship is dispatched to hunt it down, and the three men are brought along as part of the crew. However, they soon discover that the “monster” is actually Captain Nemo’s Nautilus, a technologically advanced submarine. Captain Nemo, a brilliant but tormented man, takes them on an extraordinary journey beneath the sea, exploring shipwrecks, coral reefs, and even encountering dangerous creatures like giant squids.

The novel is a blend of adventure, exploration, and scientific curiosity. Verne’s detailed descriptions of marine life, underwater ecosystems, and technological innovation were groundbreaking at the time and remain fascinating.