The Last Word On Nothing

Last month, I recommended a few children’s books that I thought reflected the curious, adventurous, and humble scientific spirit of The Last Word on Nothing. Friends and readers have since added their favorite titles to the list — thank you! May these books bring all of you, and the young explorers in your lives, some late-summer reading pleasure.

A Log’s Life by Wendy Pfeffer, recommended by science journalist Jill Adams.

Bats at the Beach by Brian Lies, recommended by Colorado horsewoman and bon vivant Marla Bear Bishop.

The Magic School Bus series, recommended by science journalist Siri Carpenter and by Kim Todd (author of the terrific grownup science books Chrysalis and Tinkering with Eden).

The Story of Frog Belly Rat Bone by Timothy Basil Ering, Dinotrux by Chris Gall, and Baghead by Jarrett Krosoczka. Recommended by Colorado artist and adventurer Regan Choi.

Too Busy Marco by Roz Chast and That’s How by Christoph Niemann, recommended by NYU linguistics professor Lisa Davidson.

Stellaluna and Verdi, both by Janell Cannon, recommended by Oregon neonatal nurse Sandy Duchow-Pressley.

The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson, recommended by our own Jessa Gamble and by science journalist Jessica Marshall.

Not a Box by Antoinette Portis and its sequel Not a Stick, recommended by Colorado librarian and musician Elliot Jackson.

Red Sings from Treetops by Joyce Sidman and Antarctic Antics by Judy Sierra, recommended by Jessica Marshall.

Titus Tidewater by Suzy Verrier, recommended by University of Arizona ecologist Raphael Sagarin.

And a few picks from Smithsonian Magazine associate editor Sarah Zielinski, who publishes an annual roundup of kids’ science books on her excellent blog Surprising Science: The newest edition of The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle, What Came First? by Sandro Natalini, The Humblebee Hunter by Deborah Hopkinson, The Ice Age Tracker’s Guide by Adrian Lister and Amy’s Light by Robert Nutt.

Top photo credit: iStockphoto.