Kids & Company Blog

5 Books to Engage Children in STREAM Learning 

In Kids & Company classrooms, we follow an emergent or cue-based approach to learning that allows children to lead their own discoveries.  As early as Preschool, we introduce STREAM learning opportunities to encourage children to explore their world and start to develop their observational and critical thinking skills at a young age. You may have heard of STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. At Kids & Company, we call it STREAM because we also include Reading and Art within our teaching framework.

Through this framework, we hope to foster a love of learning and discovery in our children. Through gentle guidance, we use open-ended questions to encourage our children to examine, investigate, analyze, and evaluate different subjects. We encourage you to do the same at home! We’ve curated a reading list of books that are inspired by this teaching framework and help get children excited about STREAM concepts through real-world applications. 

1. When I Build with Blocks by Nikki Alling

This book transports an everyday classroom into various imaginative scenes - from outer space to the ocean - using blocks!  Blocks are an amazing open-ended STEM tool that allow children to use their imagination, while they learn about math and spatial relations. 

2. Be a Maker by Katey Howes

Rhyme, repetition, and a few seemingly straightforward questions engage young readers in a discussion about the many things we make, encouraging them to use critical thinking to tinker and discover.

3. Future Engineer by Lori Alexander

Engineers want to know how things work. And so does Baby! In this book, discover all the incredible ways in which Baby already has what it takes to become an engineer. This book includes lots of fun engineering facts to help foster curiosity and empower little ones to keep trying . . . and learning!

4. The Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

This book is about a girl who is going to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing! She doesn't just "make" her magnificent thing - she "tinkers and hammers and measures," she "smoothes and wrenches and fiddles," she "twists and tweaks and fastens." These precise action words are likely to fire up the imaginations of children eager to create their own inventions and are a great tie-in to learning about STEM.

5. If I Build a Car by Chris Van Dusen

With energetic rhyme and action-packed artwork to match, If I Built a Car is sure to fuel any young inventor with big plans and grand imaginations. 

Posted on: Friday March 24th, 2023

Posted by: Kids & Company