Now that summer is in full swing, your calendars are likely filled with trips and activities you’ve been looking forward to all year long. But as fun as it is to lounge at the pool, relax at the beach, or get extra hours of screen time, it’s also a good idea to take a break from all your summertime activities and enjoy some downtime to recharge. And what better way to do it than picking up a book or two from our STEM summer reading list?

Why Is Summer Reading Important?

Reading and comprehension skills are essential for a student’s academic success. And while we do understand that reading isn’t exactly a favorite summer activity for most, experts suggest that the summer break is the best time to encourage students to be self-motivated and voluntary readers.  

Making sure you set time aside to start a reading habit over the summer is especially important. According to the 2020 study Teacher & Principal School Report: 2nd Edition by Scholastic, up to 62 percent of teachers notice a significant decline in their students’ academic learnings once fall rolls in. This is known as summer learning loss or summer slide–a phenomenon that shows students lose up to two months worth of school learnings over the summer break. Another study shows that this summer setback accounts for a loss of 27 percent in math and 20 percent in reading.

One of the most effective ways to stem summer learning loss, according to the Scholastic Report, is through summer reading. Whether you’re reading fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, or e-books, reading for fun and access to high-quality materials have been shown to positively affect students’ academic skills. 

In fact, a study on the impact of pleasure reading on academics showed that students who read independently and for their own enjoyment experience increased performance at school. Particularly in subjects like English, science, math, and history. The Scholastic report also reveals that an overwhelming majority of educators attest that reading for fun significantly improves a student’s comprehension skills, vocabulary, fluency, writing and conversation skills, and overall academic achievement.

Are Literacy Skills Important for STEM Learning?

The STEM Next Opportunity Fund and the Molina Foundation published a 2018 study, The Role of Books and Reading in STEM: An Overview of the Benefits for Children and the Opportunities to Enhance the Field, giving a clear answer to this question. Researchers assert that reading and literacy skills go hand-in-hand with STEM learning and activities, adding that the most robust STEM programs are the ones that successfully integrate high-quality literacy materials with hands-on investigations and experiments.

More specifically, the study concludes that incorporating related reading materials with hands-on activities, experimentation, and instruction can help improve a student’s inquisitiveness and curiosity, understanding of science concepts, awareness of how scientists study physical phenomena, and knowledge of the nature of science.

STEM Summer Reading List for Young Learners, Teens, and Grown-Ups too!

When choosing STEM-themed books that are perfect for your reading level and interests, you will find plenty of great options. But if you need some help to get started, below are our top picks!

STEM books for students in elementary

• Simple Machines by D.J. Ward, Illustrated by Mike Lowery - Best for students in the primary levels, this colorful nonfiction book is a fun take on the six simple machines–the lever, wheel, axle, pulley, ramp, wedge, and screw–and understanding how they work and make life easier.

• STEAMTeam 5: The Beginning by Greg Helmstetter and Pamela Metiver - A fast-paced, action-adventure book series, STEAMTeam 5 centers on five girls who use their talents and knowledge of science, technology, engineering, art, and math to save the day. The Beginning is the first book in the series and a great way to introduce young students (especially girls!) to the amazing world of STEM/STEAM. 

• The Story of Buildings: From the Pyramids to the Sydney Opera House and Beyond by Patrick Dillon, Illustrated by Stephen Biesty - This book explores the story and history behind some of the most well-known architectural wonders of the world. Detailed illustrations that take you inside these famous structures are guaranteed to keep little architects and engineers hooked!

• Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty, Illustrated by David Roberts - Perfect for young learners with big imaginations, the Rosie Revere picture book series teaches kids about resilience in pursuing their passions and how failures can also lead you to achieve your dreams. Also, check out the other books in the series featuring Rosie’s friends: Ada Twist, Scientist and Iggy Peck, Architect!

STEM Books for Tweens and Teens

• The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer - A memoir of Malawian author William Kamkwamba, it recalls the story of how 14-year-old William went on a mission to save his family’s crops after their tiny village was hit by a severe drought. Poring over the science books he found in his village library, William finally found a solution: a windmill. (Check out the picture book edition for younger readers.) 

• The Comic Book Story of Video Games by Jonathan Hennessey, Illustrated by Jack McGowan - If you’d rather spend hours playing video games than flipping the pages of a book, this one might be just what you need to change your mind. Presented in full color, this comic book depicts the complete, illustrated history of video games–from its early beginnings during World War II to today’s mobile games.

• Rise of the Rocket Girls by Natalia Holt - Written by microbiologist Natalia Holt, this best-selling and well-reviewed book gives a compelling and inspiring look at the lives of the unsung women scientists who became a powerful force behind man’s quest to explore space and the great beyond. Their empowering stories are the perfect encouragement for teen girls to never doubt their abilities to achieve their dreams and make the impossible happen.

• See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng - A funny, moving, and unforgettable story about a space-obsessed boy (and his dog Carl Sagan, named after his favorite astronomer) who dreams of launching his golden iPod into space, just like how the real Carl Sagan launched his Golden Record in 1977.

STEM Books for Young Adults and Grown-Ups

• The Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley-Robinson - If you’re fascinated by the idea of humanity being able to inhabit Mars one day, then this series is for you. The trilogy is an epic tale that illustrates and depicts how mankind would colonize Mars, and eventually, the entire solar system. 

• Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World by Matt Parker - As any scientist and mathematician would know, even the most brilliant minds are not always going to get it right. Funny and entertaining, the book takes a close look at the times somebody did the math–and got it wrong. The book may be all fun and humorous, but it also successfully depicts just how crucial math is in our everyday lives.

• The Particle at the End of the Universe by Sean Carroll - Fast-paced, awe-inspiring, and even hilarious, the book, written by Caltech physicist and writer Sean Carroll, chronicles the search for and eventual discovery of the Higgs boson.

Instilling a passion for STEM learning is one of the things we continuously strive to do here at Stemly. We take note of your interests and ensure that our math and science tutoring lessons involve activities that hone your natural curiosity and inquisitive nature. With this STEM summer reading list, we hope to inspire you and other students to know more about the world around us and see it in a different light.

Reach out to us today to know more about our math and science tutoring service. Stemly provides comprehensive, one-on-one, online Math tutoring, Physics tutoring, Chemistry tutoring, and Biology tutoring that target your specific areas of need while strengthening your key skills to ensure you achieve your academic goals and are well-prepared for all your future learning.