After Hours

Children's books about Star Wars, science experiments, and space

By · April 20, 2011, 3:44 AM PST · HuTerra

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  • Star Wars ABC

    They say knowledge is power, and I think nobody knows that like geeks do. Even if your kid doesn't dig Star Wars (I feel your pain), you can still geek out together with some great books that appeal to him or her. The book suggestions in this gallery will encourage geekness even among the youngest members of your family unit. If you prefer to see these suggestions in list format, read my Geekend post about children's books.

    Geekify your younglings from day one with Star Wars ABC. Maybe my kiddo would like Star Wars if only we'd had this book when he was a baby.

    Cover image courtesy of Amazon.com

  • A Wrinkle in Time

    A classic introduction to science fiction for the Intermediate reader, A Wrinkle in Time was on the bookshelves of most geeks I know.

    Cover image courtesy of Amazon.com

  • Diary of a Wimpy Kid

    I have it on good grade-school authority that every kid needs to read the entire Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

    Cover image courtesy of Amazon.com

  • Dork Diaries

    Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-so-Fabulous Life doesn't get the rave reviews of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but it's the same concept for girls. The difference in what geek girls and boys deal with daily might seem slight to adults, but to them it's two different worlds.

    Cover image courtesy of Amazon.com

  • Geek Chic: The Zoey Zone

    Encourage your geek girl to be true to herself with Geek Chic: The Zoey Zone.

    Cover image courtesy of Amazon.com

  • If You Decide to Go to the Moon

    Help your early elementary-age child prepare for a trip to the Moon with If You Decide to Go to the Moon.

    Cover image courtesy of Amazon.com

  • Magic Tree House series

    There's a trick to the Magic Tree House series: each storybook has a companion informative book. It's an entertaining way to learn history, with a lot of science packed in. Historically, science is what pushes society forward.

    Cover image courtesy of Amazon.com

  • Matilda

    Not that Matilda is particularly geeky, but it is still one of my favorite books, and I'm pretty certain that's because I related to the character. Plus, Roald Dahl is possibly the best children's author ever, because he doesn't talk down to his audience.

    Cover image courtesy of Amazon.com

  • Star Wars: A Scanimation Book

    Moving images in Star Wars: A Scanimation Book get even the littlest geeks interested in Dad's (in our case) favorite movie.

    Cover image courtesy of Amazon.com

  • Silly Rhymes for Belligerent Children

    Some reviewers claim this book is too high-level for the elementary and middle-school set; I say they aren't giving kids enough credit. Silly Rhymes for Belligerent Children offers poems about some of science's more disgusting points.

    Cover image courtesy of Amazon.com

  • Stink: Solar System Superhero

    Stink: Solar System Superhero is actually book 5 of a series, but this particular book makes space cool to kids.

    Cover image courtesy of Amazon.com

  • HEROES! Draw Your Own Superheroes, Gadget Geeks, & Other Do-Gooders

    HEREOS! Draw Your Own Superheroes, Gadget Geeks, & Other Do-Gooders teaches the comic-loving kid how to find his or her internal Stan Lee.

    Cover image courtesy of Amazon.com

  • 365 Simple Science Experiments with everyday materials

    365 Simple Science Experiments with everyday materials presents accessible science concepts and encourages science fun at home. The topics have a wide range, and really illustrate how science is a part of daily life.

    Cover image courtesy of Amazon.com

  • 50 Dangerous Things (you should let your children do)

    50 Dangerous Things (you should let your children do) reminds us that science is best when lived.

    Cover image courtesy of Amazon.com

  • Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred: Seriously Geeky Things to Make with Your Kids

    Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred: Seriously Geeky Things to Make with Your Kids has how-to's for hands-on geek fun. Soldering is an important skill; teach your youngling so she won't be embarrassed when she attends a Hacker Space event.

    Cover image courtesy of Amazon.com

  • What If? Mind-Boggling Science Questions for Kids

    What If? Mind-Boggling Science Questions for Kids author Robert Ehrlich does a great job explaining science in a way that works with how kids think, while encouraging them to ask "What if?"

    Cover image courtesy of Amazon.com

  • Cool Circuits and Wicked Wires

    Kids love books that explain science while guiding them through simple experiments. Cool Circuits and Wicked Wires focuses on the science of electricity. Teach your kids what happens if they stick a fork in the outlet the safe way.

    Cover image courtesy of Amazon.com

  • Naked Eggs and Flying Potatoes

    The experiments in Naked Eggs and Flying Potatoes go a bit further than simple household ingredients, but everything needed is reasonably easy to find.

    Cover image courtesy of Amazon.com

Star Wars ABC

They say knowledge is power, and I think nobody knows that like geeks do. Even if your kid doesn't dig Star Wars (I feel your pain), you can still geek out together with some great books that appeal to him or her. The book suggestions in this gallery will encourage geekness even among the youngest members of your family unit. If you prefer to see these suggestions in list format, read my Geekend post about children's books.

Geekify your younglings from day one with Star Wars ABC. Maybe my kiddo would like Star Wars if only we'd had this book when he was a baby.

Cover image courtesy of Amazon.com

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By Nicole Nash

Nicole Bremer Nash is Director of Content and Social Media for HuTerra, where she uses SEO and social media to promote charitable organizations in their community-building and fundraising efforts. She enjoys volunteering, arts and crafts, and conduct...

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