#stem stories

🔬Children’s Books by Black Authors for National STEM Day and Beyond

📚National STEM (and STEAM) Day is Monday, November 8th👩🏾‍🔬

This list of children’s books by Black authors has stories that feature real-life and fictional explorers, scientists, inventors, farmers, and much more. STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Some educational programs also incorporate the arts, hence STEAM.  The purpose of National STEM Day is to “inspire more students to take an interest in the field of STEM.” Black people are underrepresented in STEM careers, so reading about young Black characters involved in various STEM activities or biographies of amazing scientists, inventors, or astronauts, may foster more interest. 

Go HERE to see the book titles for STEM/STEAM Day!

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✍🏿Debut You: A 2020 Debut Author Series: Dr. Theanne Griffith

Debut You is an interview feature on Our Stories Matter blog. Debut authors, who have released or have upcoming releases in 2020, are given five questions to answer about themselves and their book. 

Read👇🏿an excerpt.

Explain your writing procedure, such as how you come up with ideas, carve out time to write (or, if you can write anywhere at any time during the day), deal with writer’s block, or anything particular or peculiar.

I am a full-time scientist, so my writing practice may not look like that of others. When I write, it has to start in the morning. If I haven’t written anything before noon, I am unlikely to make progress on the page that day. I usually like to get started at 9 a.m. and write for at least three hours but sometimes can squeeze in an extra hour or so. I am usually able to write just about anywhere. I’ve written in the lab while doing an experiment, in my office, in my bed, even in my car! The only thing I need to write well is silence. I don’t even listen to music. On the other hand, I can edit and revise at any time. If I don’t have time to write during the day or am having a tough time getting words out, I will usually shift my attention to editing at night, especially if I am actively working on a project. When I am in between projects, I love daydreaming about new ideas. I think the importance of staring into space and getting lost in thought is overlooked as a critical part of the creative process. I’ve definitely come up with some good ideas by simply zoning out for a bit!

Continue reading Dr. Theanne Griffith’s Debut You Interview

The Magnificent Makers Chapter Book Series

Author: Theanne Griffith

Illustrator: Reggie Brown

Publisher: Random House BYR

Available on Bookshop 👇🏿

#3 Riding Sound Waves (September 8, 2020)

#2 Brain Trouble (May 19, 2020)

#1 How to Test a Friendship (May 19, 2020)

Find more children’s and young adult books by Black authors here

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📚Black Women in STEM: 12 Children’s Books for Women’s History Month

“Girls are capable of doing everything men are capable of doing. Sometimes they have more imagination than men.” Katherine Johnson

The recent passing of genius NASA mathematician and scientist, Katherine Johnson, has renewed interest in the book, Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race. The book portrayed the fascinating life of Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Christine Darden. In an interview about the book, author Margot Lee Shetterly stated, “I really hope that this goes a long way to helping all of us change our perception about what a scientist looks like, what a mathematician looks like, who’s capable of doing that work at the highest level. Hidden Figures, a New York Times bestseller and the Oscar-nominated movie were instrumental in the public’s growing interest in women in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) field. There are many Black women in STEM whose achievements are still hidden or have not been widely told. The books listed tell well-known and lesser-known stories of Black women scientists, physicians, inventors, etc.

Happy Women’s History Month!

Our stories matter.

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📚The Magnificent Makers, A Chapter Book Series

Theanne Griffith

Reggie Brown

Random House BYR

Book #1 How to Test a Friendship

Book #2 Brain Trouble

BOOM! SNAP! WHIZ! ZAP! The Magnificent Makers series is filled with science, adventure, and characters that readers will love! Every book includes two science activities kids can do at home!

A modern-day Magic School Bus for chapter book readers!

Violet and Pablo are best friends who love science! So when they discover a riddle that opens a magic portal in the Science Space at school, they can't wait to check it out! Along with their new classmate, Deepak, the friends discover a magical makerspace called the Maker Maze. It's a laboratory full of robots, 3D printers, an antigravity chamber, and more. Doors line the walls of the makerspace, with a new science adventure waiting behind each one.

Available at👉🏿| Amazon | IndieBound

Find more children’s and young adult books by Black authors here

New Picture Book Release

My Rainy Day Rocket Ship

Markette Sheppard

Charly Palmer

Denene Millner/S&S BYR 

Rainy summer days are no match for a little astronaut who builds the perfect rocket ship for an indoor space adventure to another galaxy, where the sky is his only limit!

Available at👉🏿| Amazon | IndieBound

Find more children’s and young adult books by Black authors here

Mae Among the Stars

Roda Ahmed

Stasia Burrington

HarperCollins, 2018

Little Mae’s curiosity, intelligence, and determination, matched with her parents' encouraging words, paved the way for her incredible success at NASA as the first African American woman to travel in space.

⭐“enchanting, inspirational...illustrates the importance of encouraging and supporting children’s dreams.”-Kirkus  

Find more children’s and YA books by Black authors here

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📢New Release - Available Now!

📚Buzzing with Questions: The Inquisitive Mind of Charles Henry Turner

Janice N. Harrington

Theodore Taylor III

Calkins Creek

Charles Henry Turner's mind itched with questions. Fascinated by animals, bugs, and crustaceans, Turner studied their lives. When books didn't answer his questions, he researched, experimented, and looked for answers on his own, even when faced with racial prejudice. Author Janice Harrington and artist Theodore Taylor III capture the life of this scientist and educator, highlighting his unstoppable curiosity and his passion for insects and biology. The extensive back matter includes an author's note, timeline, bibliography, source notes, and archival images.

Ages: 7 and up

Grades: 2 and up

Pages: 48

⭐"A relatively unknown entomologist comes out of oblivion in this engaging picture book biography. Harrington’s text is inviting, and Turner’s enthusiasm comes through clearly... Taylor’s bright, cheerful, expertly rendered cartoon illustrations complement the text. Harrington and Taylor have rescued a worthy scientist from obscurity."- School Library Journal, Starred Review

Available at👉🏿| Amazon | IndieBound

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New Middle-Grade Book

My Life as an Ice-Cream Sandwich

Ibi Zoboi

Dutton BYR

National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi makes her middle-grade debut with a moving story of a girl finding her place in a world that's changing at warp speed.

Available at👉🏿Amazon | IndieBound

Find more children’s and YA books by Black authors here

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If you believe BCBA provides a valuable service, please take a few minutes and give to our 4 Dollar Donation Drive in support of our mission to promote awareness of children’s and young adult literature by Black authors.