Science Books for a Six-Year-Old?

[Gabrielle]

Hi,
I have a 6 year old that says "reading is boring" =(. As an avid reader, this makes me so sad!
WE've tried a number of different series (Magic Tree House, Henry & Mudge, Captain UnderPants), but none of them seem to draw his interest enough to sit down and spend some time reading.
He seems to like science (non-fiction) and is drawn to graphic novels (which I'm not too excited about because I'm not sure how much "reading" he is actually doing with these books.
Can anyone recommend some science/non-fiction and/or books about dragons/mythical creatures that might be appropriate for his age (6 yrs/1st grade)? Pictures/drawings accompanying text are helpful at this point.
Thanks in advance =)

[Michele]

I like Gail Gibbons and
Steve Jenkins for illustrated non-fiction for little kids. Also:

Surprising Sharks (Boston Globe-Horn Book Honors

Dragons

[SamZ]

Pretty much anything that is in the Usborne beginner's Science series are big hits at our house!

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

I agree with Michele, try Steve Jenkins.

Also Coral Reefs, Redwoods and Island: A Story of the Galápagos by Jason Chin

I also really like this longer picture book by David Suzuki, There's A Barnyard in My Bedroom (and these other books by the same author also look interesting, Salmon Forest, The Backyard Time Detectives).

Into the Sea and Life in the Boreal Forest by Brenda Z. Guiberson (she has other non-fiction science/ecology books published, but these two I have read and enjoyed).

Another book about the boreal forest, Northern Refuge: A Story of a Canadian Boreal Forest

And for a picture book that is a bit more advanced and scientific (a bit like an elementary biology book, Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth).

And if your son likes mathematics,

How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? (perfect for Halloween and the kids are your son's age, I think).

The Rabbit Problem

The Water Hole

Blockhead: The Life of Fibonacci

And for some poetry suggestions (if your son might consider science based poetry):

Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature's Survivors (this is wonderful, both for the poems but also for the supplemental explanations)

Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature (by the same author equally good)

As the Crow Flies (this is quite fun and shows that crows are successful and often mischievous)

Flicker Flash (fun concrete poems about light)

I also tend to enjoy Wendy Pfeffer's non fiction picture books. Don't know if your son would be interested in her books about seasonal celebrations, but if he enjoys science and ecology, he might enjoy A Log's Life.

And now for some picture book biographies,

I, Galileo
Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei
Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas
Mary Anning and the Sea Dragon (this was great)
Summer Birds: The Butterflies of Maria Merian (great story, interesting illustrations)
The Man Who Made Parks: The Story of Parkbuilder Frederick Law Olmsted (really interesting and the illustrations are breathtaking, this is the man who created Central Park)

And finally, although this is not strictly a science picture book, I strongly recommend If the World Were a Village: A Book about the World's People (maybe your son might still be too young for the scope of this, but it's definitely a book to make one think and discuss)

[Gabrielle]

Wow! Thanks so much everyone for the great ideas :)

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

Gabrielle wrote: "Wow! Thanks so much everyone for the great ideas :)"

I hope you find some both you and your son will enjoy.

[Gabrielle]

I'm a biologist :) so it doesn't take much to make me happy when it comes to science!

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

Gabrielle wrote: "I'm a biologist :) so it doesn't take much to make me happy when it comes to science!"

Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth (you really need to get this book then, I cannot recommend it enough).

[Michele]

I also loved Redwoods. There is also a cool, fairly short video at NPR redwoods video that I used to promote the book to my classes last year.

[Anne]

Another possible direction that my son loved was books about mythical creatures - not stories, but "scientific" info about them. I've written a whole series of blog posts that discuss some of the many books we looked at, and you might find something there that looks like it would appeal to your son. Try these posts:
http://nydamprintsblackandwhite.blogs...
http://nydamprintsblackandwhite.blogs...
http://nydamprintsblackandwhite.blogs...
http://nydamprintsblackandwhite.blogs...
http://nydamprintsblackandwhite.blogs...
I hope some of those will be helpful!

[Lin]

Try My Father's Dragon.

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

How about checking some of the master lists in the Picture Book Club (for this group). There are a lot of interesting topics, with lots of picture books listed (and not just ones for younger children either).

Here is a link to two of the master list topics (there are quite a large number, so you should do your own exploring as well)

http//www.goodreads.com/topic/show/977602

(about ecosystems)

http//www.goodreads.com/topic/show/818243

(about magical creatures)

[Gabrielle]

Oh my gosh!! Thank you! Anne, I absolutely lOVE your blog, what an amazing resource! I just requested several of the books from the first post you listed from our library! I can't wait to see if my son likes them =).

[Anne]

Oh good, I hope he does!
On my blog on the side bar there's a category "list of books". There might be something else for him there, although that includes a wide spread of things and my kids are now 11, so some of it will be too old for him I'm sure. There are also lots of ideas there for read-alouds, which someone mentioned above and in which I'm a firm believer.
Good luck in fostering a reader!

[Cheryl, Host of Miscellaneous and Newbery Clubs]

I just read and enjoyed Gentle Giant Octopus: Read and Wonder by Karen Wallace. I think it would be good for a variety of ages, depending on whether they're reading it with help or independently, and how much they're interested. I learned a few things, including that they are "about as clever as cats, and curious."

[Cheryl, Host of Miscellaneous and Newbery Clubs]

(Technically we frown upon even this kind of self-promotion, but I'll let it slide this time, as you mentioned other titles and are clearly sincere, not spammy.)