Earth Science Explored Elementary: Reading List

 

Below is a list of books recommended for students in the Earth Science Explored Elementary (Level A) program. It is not necessary to read every book in this list, and parents should choose books most fitting to how they’re using the course at home. Some are for younger readers, others for older readers, and most would make excellent read-alouds.

Books on a Budget

Before making any purchases, we recommend seeing if any of these books are available at your local library or through interlibrary loan.

We’ve created a spreadsheet you can access here to help you know what books are available through open sources (Hoopla, Open Library, and on Youtube as read alouds).

Important notes:

  • While this course does not address the age of the Earth, there are some books in the list that refer to the age of the Earth as being millions of years old. It is difficult to find books on some topics that do not reference this. However, we’ve tried to keep the references to a minimum. You may want to preview the books before assigning them to your children.
  • Many books are repeated through several lessons.
  • Consult the supplemental guides for each lesson (or the Student Adventure Guide) to know the relevant pages in each book.

Books Listed in Lesson Order

Lesson 1

The Goldilocks Zone, by Drew Sheneman

Just Right: Searching for the Goldilocks Planet, by Curtis Manley

What’s So Special About Planet Earth?, by Robert E. Wells

Your Place in the Universe, by Jason Chin

Scientists Who Changed History: Great Lives, by DK

Scientists: Inspiring Tales of the World’s Brightest Scientific Minds, by Isabel Thomas

Lesson 2

The Earth and Sky, by Gallimard Jeunesse and Jean-Pierre Verdet

The Four Spheres of Earth, by Paul Larson

Lesson 3

The Discovery of Longitude, by Joan Marie Galat

Follow that Map! A First Book of Mapping Skills, by Scot Ritchie

How to Go Anywhere (and Not Get Lost), by Hans Aschim

Lesson 4

Earth Cycles, by Michael Elsohn Ross 

You Wouldn’t Want to Live Without Clocks and Calendars! by Fiona Macdonald

Lesson 5

On Earth, by G. Brian Karas

Sunshine Makes the Seasons, by Franklyn Branley

The Reasons for the Seasons, Gail Gibbons

Lesson 6

Beastly Biomes, by Carly Allen Fletcher

Many Biomes, One Earth, by James Needham

Seasons, by Hannan Pang

Lesson 7

The Skies Above My Eyes, by Charlotte Guillain and Yuval Zommer

Weather, by Rebecca Rupp

Looking into the Atmosphere, by Martha London

Lesson 8

The Hydrosphere: Agent of Change, by Gregory Vogt

Follow the Water from Brook to Ocean, by Arthur Dorros

Rocks, Rivers, and the Changing Earth: A First Book about Geology, by Herman Schneider and Nina Schneider

Oceans: Making Waves!, by Simon Basher

Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers who Changed Science, by Rachel Ignotofsky

Lesson 9

The Hydrosphere: Agent of Change, by Gregory Vogt

Rocks, Rivers, and the Changing Earth: A First Book about Geology, by Herman Schneider and Nina Schneider

Oceans: Making Waves!, by Simon Basher

Exploring the Deep Dark Sea, by Gail Gibbons

Stickmen’s Guide to Oceans in Layers, by Catherine Chambers

Lesson 10

Glacier on the Move, by Elizabeth Rusch

The Hydrosphere: Agent of Change, by Gregory Vogt

Rocks, Rivers, and the Changing Earth: A First Book about Geology, by Herman Schneider and Nina Schneider

The Water Beneath Your Feet, by Ellen Lawrence

Icebergs & Glaciers, by Seymour Simon

Lesson 11

Water: Up, Down, and All Around, by Natalie M. Rosinsky

Water is Water, by Miranda Paul

The Hydrosphere: Agent of Change, by Gregory Vogt

Water, Water Everywhere, by Melvin and Gilda Berger

Scientists Who Changed History: Great Lives, by DK

Lesson 12

Clouds: Faces of the Sky, by Jenny Markert

Weather, by Rebecca Rupp

The Weather Book or The New Weather Book, by Michael Oard

The Man Who Named the Clouds, by Julie Hannah and Joan Holub

Lesson 13

Weather, by Rebecca Rupp

Fahrenheit, Celsius, and Their Temperature Scales, by Yoming S. Lin

Feel the Windby Arthur Dorros

Weather Words and What They Mean, by Gail Gibbons

The Weather Book or The New Weather Book, by Michael Oard

Weather, by Seymour Simon

Weather Forecasting, by Gail Gibbons

Lesson 14

Weatherby Rebecca Rupp

Down Comes the Rain, by Franklyn Branley

The Weather Book or The New Weather Book, by Michael Oard

The Secret Life of a Snowflake, by Kenneth Libbrecht

Storms, by Seymour Simon

Lightning, by Seymour Simon

Lesson 15

Hurricanes!, by Gail Gibbons

Eye of the Storm, by Rick Thomas

Hurricanes, by Seymour Simon

The Weather Book or The New Weather Book, by Michael Oard

Lesson 16

Hurricanes!, by Gail Gibbons

Eye of the Storm, by Rick Thomas

Hurricanes, by Seymour Simon

The Weather Book or The New Weather Book, by Michael Oard

Lesson 17

The Geology Book, by John Morris

How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World, by Faith McNulty

The Street Beneath My Feet, by Charlotte Guillain and Yuval Zommer

Earth’s Crust, by Conrad Storad

Rock Collecting for Kids, by Dan R. Lynch

Rocks, Rivers, and the Changing Earth: A First Book about Geology, by Herman Scneider and Nina Schneider

Scientists Who Changed History: Great Lives, by DK

Lesson 18

A Rock is Lively, by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long

Rock Collecting for Kids, by Dan R. Lynch

Minerals, Rocks, and Soil, by Barbara Davis

Rocks, Minerals, and Soil, by Susan Markowitz

Rocks, Rivers, and the Changing Earth: A First Book about Geology, by Herman Scneider and Nina Schneider

Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers who Changed Science, by Rachel Ignotofsky

Lesson 19

The Geology Book, by John Morris

Rock Collecting for Kids, by Dan R. Lynch

Minerals, Rocks, and Soil, by Barbara Davis

Rocks, Minerals, and Soil, by Susan Markowitz

Rocks, Rivers, and the Changing Earth: A First Book about Geology, by Herman Scneider and Nina Schneider

Lesson 20

Earth’s Crust, by Conrad Storad

Plate Tectonics, by Eileen Greer

Plate Tectonics, by Jason D. Nemeth

Plate Tectonics and Disasters, by Tom Greve

Scientists Who Changed History: Great Lives, by DK

Lesson 21

The Geology Book, by John Morris

Earth’s Crust, by Conrad Storad

Rock Collecting for Kids, by Dan R. Lynch

Rocks, Rivers, and the Changing Earth: A First Book about Geology, by Herman Scneider and Nina Schneider

Plate Tectonics and Disasters, by Tom Greve

Lesson 22

The Geology Book, by John Morris

Vacation Under the Volcano, by Mary Pope Osborne

Hill of Fire, by Thomas P Lewis

Volcanoes, by Franklyn M. Branley

Volcanoes, by Gail Gibbons

Volcanoes, by Seymour Simon

Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers who Changed Science, by Rachel Ignotofsky

Lesson 23

Earthquakes, by Franklyn M. Branley

The Ultimate 10 Natural Disasters: Earthquakes, by Anna Prokos

Earthquakes: Disaster and Survival, by Jennifer Reed

Danger! Earthquakes, by Seymour Simon

Plate Tectonics and Disasters, by Tom Greve

Scientists Who Changed History: Great Lives, by DK

Lesson 24

It’s a Tsunami!, By Nadia Higgins

The Science of a Tsunami, by Robbin Koontz

Disaster Zone Tsunamis, by Cari Meister

Tsunamis and Floods, by Joanna Brundle

Lesson 25

The Geology Book, by John Morris

Rock Collecting for Kids, by Dan R. Lynch

Erosion, by Joelle Riley

Examining Erosion, by Joelle Riley

Rocks, Rivers, and the Changing Earth: A First Book about Geology, by Herman Scneider and Nina Schneider

Shaping the Earth: Erosion, by Sandra Downs

Lesson 26

Minerals, Rocks, and Soil, by Barbara Davis

Rocks, Minerals, and Soil, by Susan Markowitz

Jump Into Science: Dirtby Steve Tomeck

Discover Dirt, by Pamela Hall

Soil, Silt, and Sand: Layers of the Underground, by Jody Sullivan Rake

Digging on Dirt, by Rena Korb

Lesson 27

Rock Collecting for Kids, by Dan R. Lynch

I Really, Really, Really Like Fossils, by Ruth Carter

The Geology Book, by John Morris

Fossils Tell Stories, by Yu-ri Kim

Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers who Changed Science, by Rachel Ignotofsky

Stone Girl Bone Girl: A Story of Mary Anning of Lyme Regis, by Laurence Anholt

Lesson 28

Rock Collecting for Kids, by Dan R. Lynch

The Geology Book, by John Morris

Erosion and Sinkholes, by Joanna Brundle

Canyons, Lisa J. Amstutz

Lesson 29

Caves and Caverns, by Gail Gibbons

Caves, by Lisa J. Amstutz

Lesson 30

Fountains of Life, by Elizabeth Gowell

The Magic School Bus: On the Ocean Floor, by Joanna Cole

Reaching the Ocean Floor, by Therese Shea

Ocean Speaks: How Marie Tharp Revealed the Oceans Biggest Secret, by Jess Keating

Solving the Puzzle Under the Sea: Marie Tharp Maps the Ocean Floor, by Robert Burleigh

 

 

 

Books Listed in Alphabetical Order

Beastly Biomes, by Carly Allen Fletcher

Canyons, Lisa J. Amstutz

Caves, by Lisa J. Amstutz

Caves and Caverns, by Gail Gibbons

Clouds: Faces of the Sky, by Jenny Markert

Danger! Earthquakes, by Seymour Simon

Digging on Dirt, by Rena Korb

Disaster Zone Tsunamis, by Cari Meister

Discover Dirt, by Pamela Hall

The Discovery of Longitude, by Joan Marie Galat

Down Comes the Rain, by Franklyn Branley

The Earth and Sky, by Gallimard Jeunesse and Jean-Pierre Verdet

Earth’s Crust, by Conrad Storad

Earth Cycles, by Michael Elsohn Ross 

Earthquakes, by Franklyn M. Branley

Earthquakes: Disaster and Survival, by Jennifer Reed

Erosion, by Joelle Riley

Erosion and Sinkholes, by Joanna Brundle

Examining Erosion, by Joelle Riley

Exploring the Deep Dark Sea, by Gail Gibbons

Eye of the Storm, by Rick Thomas

Fahrenheit, Celsius, and Their Temperature Scales, by Yoming S. Lin

Feel the Windby Arthur Dorros

Follow that Map! A First Book of Mapping Skills, by Scot Ritchie

Follow the Water from Brook to Ocean, by Arthur Dorros

Fossils Tell Stories, by Yu-ri Kim

Fountains of Life, by Elizabeth Gowell

The Four Spheres of Earth, by Paul Larson

The Geology Book, by John Morris

Glacier on the Move, by Elizabeth Rusch

The Goldilocks Zone, by Drew Sheneman

Hill of Fire, by Thomas P Lewis

The Hydrosphere: Agent of Change, by Gregory Vogt

How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World, by Faith McNulty

How to Go Anywhere (and Not Get Lost), by Hans Aschim

Hurricanes!, by Gail Gibbons

Hurricanes, by Seymour Simon

The Hydrosphere: Agent of Change, by Gregory Vogt

I Really, Really, Really Like Fossils, by Ruth Carter

Icebergs & Glaciers, by Seymour Simon

Jump Into Science: Dirtby Steve Tomeck

Just Right: Searching for the Goldilocks Planet, by Curtis Manley

Lightning, by Seymour Simon

Looking into the Atmosphere, by Martha London

The Magic School Bus: On the Ocean Floor, by Joanna Cole

The Man Who Named the Clouds, by Julie Hannah and Joan Holub

Many Biomes, One Earth, by James Needham

Minerals, Rocks, and Soil, by Barbara Davis

Ocean Speaks: How Marie Tharp Revealed the Oceans Biggest Secret, by Jess Keating

Oceans: Making Waves!, by Simon Basher

On Earth, by G. Brian Karas

Plate Tectonics, by Eileen Greer

Plate Tectonics, by Jason D. Nemeth

Plate Tectonics and Disasters, by Tom Greve

Reaching the Ocean Floor, by Therese Shea

The Reasons for the Seasons, Gail Gibbons

Rock Collecting for Kids, by Dan R. Lynch

A Rock is Lively, by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long

Rocks, Minerals, and Soil, by Susan Markowitz

Rocks, Rivers, and the Changing Earth: A First Book about Geology, by Herman Schneider and Nina Schneider

Scientists Who Changed History: Great Lives, by DK

Scientists: Inspiring Tales of the World’s Brightest Scientific Minds, by Isabel Thomas

Seasons, by Hannan Pang

The Secret Life of a Snowflake, by Kenneth Libbrecht

Shaping the Earth: Erosion, by Sandra Downs

The Skies Above My Eyes, by Charlotte Guillain and Yuval Zommer

Soil, Silt, and Sand: Layers of the Underground, by Jody Sullivan Rake

Solving the Puzzle Under the Sea: Marie Tharp Maps the Ocean Floor, by Robert Burleigh

Stickmen’s Guide to Oceans in Layers, by Catherine Chambers

Stone Girl Bone Girl: A Story of Mary Anning of Lyme Regis, by Laurence Anholt

Storms, by Seymour Simon

The Street Beneath My Feet, by Charlotte Guillain and Yuval Zommer

Sunshine Makes the Seasons, by Franklyn Branley

Tornadoes!, by Gail Gibbons

Tornadoes!, by Lorraine Jean Hopping

Tornadoes, by Seymour Simon

Tsunamis and Floods, by Joanna Brundle

The Ultimate 10 Natural Disasters: Earthquakes, by Anna Prokos

Vacation Under the Volcano, by Mary Pope Osborne

Volcanoes, by Franklyn M. Branley

Volcanoes, by Gail Gibbons

Volcanoes, by Seymour Simon

The Water Beneath Your Feet, by Ellen Lawrence

Water is Water, by Miranda Paul

Water: Up, Down, and All Around, by Natalie M. Rosinsky

Water, Water Everywhere, by Melvin and Gilda Berger

Weather, by Rebecca Rupp

Weather, by Seymour Simon

The Weather Book or The New Weather Book, by Michael Oard

Weather Forecasting, by Gail Gibbons

Weather Words and What They Mean, by Gail Gibbons

What’s So Special About Planet Earth?, by Robert E. Wells

Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers who Changed Science, by Rachel Ignotofsky

You Wouldn’t Want to Live Without Clocks and Calendars!, by Fiona Macdonald

Your Place in the Universe, by Jason Chin

 

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