Books in Smithsonian Readers series

Learn to read with the Smithsonian! Developed in partnership with the Smithsonian and esteemed literary childhood literacy expert Dr. Adria Klein, Smithsonian Reader Level 2: Dinosaur Discoveries provides accessible and engaging content designed to encourage further progress in children’s reading abilities. From the terrifying Tyrannosaurus Rex to the soaring Pterodactyl, children will learn about dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures while building reading skills with the carefully designed leveling structure. After reading the 32-page high-quality introduction to nonfiction, children can take a quiz that reinforces reading comprehension.

This fun and informative STEAM book about sharks makes it easy for parents and teachers to introduce STEAM to their youngest learners. Created in collaboration with Smithsonian, this book uses real-world examples to make STEAM topics easier to understand. It features an age-appropriate STEAM activity that is perfect for makerspaces and introduces kindergartners to the steps of the engineering design process. It helps beginning readers learn to read and is ideal for kindergarten students or ages 4-6.

To be a chef, you need to have a great palate, knife skills, and... science skills? It's true, cooking requires more ""science"" than you might think! Learn about the innovations and technology behind great cooking with this informative book. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this STEAM book will ignite a curiosity about STEAM topics through real-world examples. It features a hands-on STEAM challenge that is perfect for makerspaces and that guides students step-by-step through the engineering design process. Make STEAM career connections with career advice from Smithsonian employees working in STEAM fields. Ideal for school reports and projects, this informational text will appeal to reluctant readers and ages 6-8.

Cats are a perennial favorite with young kids. Filled with great tips and guidelines for kids getting their first cat. Lavishly illustrated with full-color, up-close photographs, award-winning science writer Seymour Simon captures cats as they hunt, give birth, and play. This nonfiction picture book is an excellent choice to share during homeschooling, in particular for children ages 6 to 8. It’s a fun way to learn to read and as a supplement for activity books for children.Seymour Simon knows how to explain science to kids and make it fun. He was a teacher for more than twenty years, has written more than 250 books, and has won multiple awards.This book includes an author's note, glossary, and index and supports the Common Core Learning Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) standards.

Lighthouses have helped sailors navigate for centuries. But lighthouses are not built like they used to be. Learn how innovations like computers and solar power have improved lighthouses over time. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this STEAM book will ignite a curiosity about STEAM topics through real-world examples. It features a hands-on STEAM challenge that is perfect for makerspaces and that guides students step-by-step through the engineering design process. Make STEAM career connections with career advice from actual Smithsonian employees working in STEAM fields. This book builds young readers' foundational literacy skills and is ideal for 1st grade students or ages 5-7.

Have you ever wondered how the wind makes a kite fly? Learn about the wind with this fun STEAM book for kindergarten that makes it easy for parents and teachers to introduce STEAM and beginner science topics to their youngest learners. Created in collaboration with Smithsonian, this book uses real-world examples to make STEAM topics easier to understand. It features an age-appropriate STEAM activity that is perfect for makerspaces and introduces kindergartners to the steps of the engineering design process. It helps beginning readers learn to read and is ideal for kindergarten students and ages 4-6.

This STEAM book for kindergarten makes it easy for parents and teachers to introduce STEAM to their youngest learners. Created in collaboration with Smithsonian, this book uses real-world examples to make STEAM and basic science topics easier to understand and teaches the concept of buoyancy. It features an age-appropriate STEAM activity that is perfect for makerspaces and introduces kindergartners to the steps of the engineering design process. It helps beginning readers learn to read and is ideal for kindergarten students or ages 4-6.

Home is a long way from home!There are no refrigerators in space—think about it! Life on the International Space Station is well, another, way of life: you wake up in a sleeping bag tied to the wall; open a food package which keeps your meals from floating away, and then maybe go to work . . . walking in space! (And the toilet? That’s a story!) A lively reader about daily life on the ISS.

Learn about the many things humans can do to get warm when they are too cold. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this STEAM book will ignite a curiosity about STEAM topics through real-world examples. It features a hands-on STEAM challenge that is perfect for makerspaces and that guides students step-by-step through the engineering design process. Make STEAM career connections with career advice from actual Smithsonian employees working in STEAM fields. Introduce early science topics to young readers with this STEAM book that is ideal for 1st grade students or ages 5-7.

The Wright brothers wanted to build a flying machine. The path to achieve their dream was filled with many obstacles. Countless hours would be spent studying and testing their plans. But their hard work paid off, and today they are known as the "forefathers of flight." Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this Smithsonian Informational Text builds students' reading skills while engaging their curiosity about STEAM topics through real-world examples. It features a hands-on STEAM challenge that guides students through every step of the engineering design process and is perfect for makerspace activities. It makes STEAM career connections by providing a glimpse into the lives of real-life Smithsonian employees currently working in STEAM fields. Discover engineering innovations that solve real-world problems with this book that touches on all aspects of STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math!

Primate Power! What's got long red hair, toes that work like thumbs, arms longer than its legs, swings from tree branch to tree branch, and can even use an iPad? The amazing orangutan! Smithsonian's National Zoo is actively working to help save this endangered primate. Curious about how? Check out this 8 x 8 filled with full-color photos and lively text about how orangutans live and how the Zoo provides for their enrichment and survival.

The perfect election-year activity book from Smithsonian.It all started with George Washington . . . as does this cool activity book that looks at each of the United States presidents and what was notable—or notorious—about their terms. Filled with facts, photos, puzzles, mazes, word games, and other fun activities, plus a full-color sticker page and press-out, build-your-own Oval Office cards.