Books in Smithsonian Readers series

Paper is paper, no matter how it is folded. It can be a paper airplane. It can be a paper boat. Learn about the fun shapes that paper can be folded into with this STEAM book. Created in collaboration with Smithsonian, this book makes it easy for parents and teachers to introduce STEAM to their youngest learners. The real-world examples 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. With a single repetitive phrase, it helps beginning readers learn to read and is ideal for kindergarten students and ages 4-6.

Learn all about life on the farm with the Smithsonian!Developed in partnership with the Smithsonian and esteemed literary childhood literacy expert Dr. Adria Klein, Smithsonian Readers Pre-Level 1: Life on a Farm is designed to encourage reading comprehension while introducing children to the vehicles, animals, and crops that make up farm life. Children will learn about how a farm works while building reading skills with the carefully designed leveling structure. After reading this nonfiction book, children can use the included quiz to reinforce reading comprehension. Also includes more than twenty-five stickers and six perforated fact cards for continued learning fun!

Earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis. Headline-making natural disasters with devastating consequences for millions of people. But what do we actually know about these literally earth-shaking events? New York Times bestselling author, explorer, journalist, and geologist Simon Winchester—who’s been shaken by earthquakes in New Zealand, skied through Greenland to help prove the theory of plate tectonics, and even charred the soles of his boots climbing a volcano—looks at the science, technology, and societal impact of these inter-connected natural phenomena. A master nonfiction storyteller, Winchester digs deep into the powerful natural forces that shape the earth, exploring the how and why of world-changing events from the 19th-century’s infamous volcanic eruption at Krakatoa and the earthquake that flattened San Francisco, to the 21st-century tsunamis that devastated Indonesia and Japan. It’s a gripping story about what happens when our seemingly unmovable planet shakes, explodes, and floods—all richly illustrated with fascinating historical and stunning contemporary photographs.

What happens after death? That was a big question for ancient Egyptians. They believed that a person needed his or her body in death as much as in life. So they did all they could to preserve and protect the body. For them, preparing for life after death was an important part of life! Learn about the science behind mummification with this book 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!

Learn about Bei Bei the panda and his home at the National Zoo. 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 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.

Includes Book and Gigantic 100-Piece Model! Learning takes on an extra dimension with this Make Your Own Skeleton kit. Assemble the model skeleton while learning about different parts of the human body — feet and legs, hips, spine, ribs, arms, head, and jaws — in the accompanying book. Following easy step-by-step instructions, Make Your Own Skeleton blends model-making with anatomy and behavior, teaching children about the human body in a whole new way.

Have you ever heard of a space farmer? Space farmers are astronauts who have received special training to learn how to grow plants in outer space. Learn about the challenge of farming in outer space with this high-interest STEAM book created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution. 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. Ignite a curiosity about STEAM topics with this high-interest text!

Come on into America's most famous home! Everybody knows the building at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. It's the White House, home to US presidents, first ladies, first children, and even first pets! But aren't you curious: why is the house white (and how many gallons of paint keep it that way)? Who built the place? How many rooms are in there and what are they used for? Where does the president work? Where does the first family live? Is there really a bowling alley in the White House? The lively text and interesting photographs in this fact-filled 8 x 8 will answer all these questions and more about daily life in the most famous house in America.

Take a virtual tour of the Smithsonian National Zoo's Small Mammal House with this high-interest STEAM book! Along the way, learn how zookeepers designed a habitat for the black-footed ferret, an animal once thought to be extinct. You'll also learn about the many factors the keepers take into consideration when designing zoo enclosures. 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. This STEAM book is ideal for ages 6-8 and is especially appealing to reluctant readers.