Experience Biology Elementary: Reading List
Below is a list of books recommended for students in the Experience Biology: Elementary 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:
- There are some books in the list that refer to evolution, however we do our best to choose books that do not wherever we are able to find appropriate books. We encourage parents to preview all books to determine whether you’d like to omit the book, skip certain parts of the book, or use the book to discuss some of these topics with your student.
- 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
What’s Smaller than a Pygmy Shrew?, by Robert Wells
The Biosphere, by Gregory L. Vogt
Lesson 2
The Basics of Cell Life with Max Axiom, by Amber Keyser
Enjoy Your Cells, by Fran Balkwill and Mic Rolph
The Cell Works, by Patrick A. Baeuerle and Norbert Landa
Lesson 3
The Basics of Cell Life with Max Axiom, by Amber Keyser
The Cell Works, by Patrick A. Baeuerle and Norbert Landa
Francis Crick & James Watson: Pioneers in DNA Research, by John Bankston
Understanding DNA: A Breakthrough in Medicine, by Tony Allan
Lesson 4
The Cell Works, by Patrick A. Baeuerle and Norbert Landa
Exploring Ecosystems with Max Axiom, by Agnieszka Biskup
Lesson 5
Karl, Get Out of the Garden!, by Anita Sanchez
The Biosphere, by Gregory L. Vogt
Lesson 6
Exploring Ecosystems with Max Axiom, by Agnieszka Biskup
The Biosphere, by Gregory L. Vogt
One Small Square: Woods, by Donald Silver
One Small Square: Cactus Desert, by Donald Silver
One Small Square: Rain Forest, by Donald Silver
One Small Square: Savannah, by Donald Silver
One Small Square: Arctic Tundra, by Donald Silver
Lesson 7
Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes, by Nicola Davies
Archaea: Salt-Lovers, Methane-Makers, Thermophiles, and Other Archaeans, by David M. Barker
Bacteria: Staph, Strep, Clostridium, and Other Bacteria, by Judy Wearing
The Bacteria Book: The Big World of Really Tiny Microbes, by Steve Mould
Lesson 8
The Bacteria Book: The Big World of Really Tiny Microbes, by Steve Mould
Lesson 9
The Bacteria Book: The Big World of Really Tiny Microbes, by Steve Mould
Fungus is Among Us!, by Joy Keller
The Mushroom Fan Club, by Elise Gravel
Fungi: Mushrooms, Toadstools, Molds, Yeasts, and Other Fungi, by Judy Waring
Lesson 10
Plant Parts, by Richard and Louise Spilsbury
Eli Whitney and the Industrial Revolution, by Heather Moore Niver
The Tree Book: For Kids and their Grown Ups, by Gina Ingoglia
Lesson 11
Plants: Flower Plants, Ferns, Mosses, and Other Plants, by Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone (Note: the intro to chapters 4 and 5 refer to the earth being over 100 million years old)
The Tree Book: For Kids and their Grown Ups, by Gina Ingoglia
Lesson 12
Plant Parts, by Richard and Louise Spilsbury
Botany: Plants, Cells, and Photosynthesis, by April Chloe Terrazas
The Tree Book: For Kids and their Grown Ups, by Gina Ingoglia
Lesson 13
Plant Parts, by Richard and Louise Spilsbury
Tops and Bottoms, by Janet Stevens
The Tree Book: For Kids and their Grown Ups, by Gina Ingoglia
Lesson 14
Plant Parts, by Richard and Louise Spilsbury
Flower Talk: How Plants Use Color to Communicate, by Sara Levine
Lesson 15
Seeds and More Seeds, by Millicent E. Selsam
The Tree Book: For Kids and their Grown Ups, by Gina Ingoglia
A Weed is a Flower: The Life of George Washington Carver, by Aliki (lower elementary)
Who Was George Washington Carver? by Jim Gigliotti (upper elementary)
Lesson 16
Carnivores, Herbivores, Omnivores, by Nicola Tyrrell
Animal Classifications: Invertebrates, by Angela Royston
Bubble Homes and Fish Farts, by Fiona Bayrock
Lesson 17
Sponges: Spectacular Sea Creatures, by Laura Sue Perricone
Sponges are Skeletons, by Barbara Juster Esbensen
Manfish: A story of Jacques Cousteau, by Jennifer Berne
Lesson 18
Wiggling Worms at Work, by Wendy Pfeffer
The Lifecycle of an Earthworm, by Bobbie Kalman
Yucky Worms, by Vivian French
Lesson 19
Jellyfish (A Day in the Life: Sea Animals), by Louise Spilsbury
Life in a Coral Reef, by Wendy Pfeffer
Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau, by Jennifer Berne
Seashells, Crabs, and Sea Stars, by Christine Kump Tibbitts
Marvels of Creation: Sensational Sea Creatures, by Buddy and Kay Davis
Lesson 20
Starfish, by Edith Thacher Hurd
Star of the Sea: A Day in the Life of a Starfish, by Janet Halfmann
Seashells, Crabs, and Sea Stars, by Christine Kump Tibbitts
Marvels of Creation: Sensational Sea Creatures, by Buddy and Kay Davis
Lesson 21
Next Time You See a Seashell, by Emily Morgan
Giant Squid: Mystery of the Deep, by Jennifer Dussling
Gentle Giant Octopus, by Karen Wallace
Seashells, Crabs, and Sea Stars, by Christine Kump Tibbitts
Marvels of Creation: Sensational Sea Creatures, by Buddy and Kay Davis
Lesson 22
High Tides for Horseshoe Crabs, by Lisa Kahn Schnell
Seashells, Crabs, and Sea Stars, by Christine Kump Tibbitt
Lesson 23
Animal Scavengers: Army Ants, by Sandra Markle
Chirping Crickets, by Melvin Berger
Summer Birds, by Margarita Engle
Small Wonders: Jean-Henri Fabre & His World of Insects, by Matthew Clark Smith
Spiders: All About Their Web-Building Skills, Bodies, Diets, and More! by Seymour Simon
Scorpion Man: Exploring the World of Scorpions, by Laurence Pringle
Lesson 24
Bone by Bone: Comparing Animal Skeletons, by Sara Levine
What is a Vertebrate? by Bobbie Kalman
Lesson 25
Marvels of Creation: Sensational Sea Creatures, by Buddy and Kay Davis
Animal Classifications: Fish, by Angela Royston
The Best Book of Sharks, by Claire Llewellyn
Sea Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea, by Chris Butterworth
Lesson 26
Big Night for Salamanders, by Sarah Marwil Lamstein
From Tadpole to Frog, by Wendy Pfeffer
Animal Classifications: Amphibians, by Angela Royston
Lesson 27
One Tiny Turtle, by Nicola Davies
Snakes are Hunters, by Patricia Lauber
Turtles in My Sandbox, by Jennifer Keates Curtis
Python, by Christopher Cheng and Mark Jackson
Marvels of Creation: Sensational Sea Creatures, by Buddy and Kay Davis
Lesson 28
How do Birds Find Their Way?, by Roma Gans
Feathers: Not Just for Flying, by Melissa Stewart
Take Along Guide: Birds, Nests, and Eggs, by Mel Boring
The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of James Audubon, by Jaqueline Davies
Lesson 29
Marvels of Creation: Sensational Sea Creatures, by Buddy and Kay Davis
The Story of Jane Goodall, by Susan Katz
The World of Mammals, by Memoria Press
Lesson 30
Animals Born Alive and Well, by Ruth Heller
A Mammal is an Animal, by Lizzy Rockwell
Books Listed in Alphabetical Order
Animal Classifications: Amphibians, by Angela Royston
Animal Classifications: Fish, by Angela Royston
Animal Classifications: Invertebrates, by Angela Royston
Animal Scavengers: Army Ants, by Sandra Markle
Animals Born Alive and Well, by Ruth Heller
Archaea: Salt-Lovers, Methane-Makers, Thermophiles, and Other Archaeans, by David M. Barker
The Bacteria Book: The Big World of Really Tiny Microbes, by Steve Mould
Bacteria: Staph, Strep, Clostridium, and Other Bacteria, by Judy Wearing
The Basics of Cell Life with Max Axiom, by Amber Keyser
The Best Book of Sharks, by Claire Llewellyn
Big Night for Salamanders, by Sarah Marwil Lamstein
The Biosphere, by Gregory L. Vogt
Bone by Bone: Comparing Animal Skeletons, by Sara Levine
Botany: Plants, Cells, and Photosynthesis, by April Chloe Terrazas
The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of James Audubon, by Jaqueline Davies
Bubble Homes and Fish Farts, by Fiona Bayrock
Carnivores, Herbivores, Omnivores, by Nicola Tyrrell
The Cell Works, by Patrick A. Baeuerle and Norbert Landa
Chirping Crickets, by Melvin Berger
Eli Whitney and the Industrial Revolution, by Heather Moore Niver
Enjoy Your Cells, by Fran Balkwill and Mic Rolph
Exploring Ecosystems with Max Axiom, by Agnieszka Biskup
Feathers: Not Just for Flying, by Melissa Stewart
Francis Crick & James Watson: Pioneers in DNA Research, by John Bankston
From Tadpole to Frog, by Wendy Pfeffer
Flower Talk: How Plants Use Color to Communicate, by Sara Levine
Fungi: Mushrooms, Toadstools, Molds, Yeasts, and Other Fungi, by Judy Waring
Fungus is Among Us!, by Joy Keller
Gentle Giant Octopus, by Karen Wallace
Giant Squid: Mystery of the Deep, by Jennifer Dussling
High Tides for Horseshoe Crabs, by Lisa Kahn Schnell
How do Birds Find Their Way?, by Roma Gans
Jellyfish (A Day in the Life: Sea Animals), by Louise Spilsbury
Karl, Get Out of the Garden!, by Anita Sanchez
Life in a Coral Reef, by Wendy Pfeffer
The Lifecycle of an Earthworm, by Bobbie Kalman
Marvels of Creation: Sensational Sea Creatures, by Buddy and Kay Davis
A Mammal is an Animal, by Lizzy Rockwell
Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau, by Jennifer Berne
The Mushroom Fan Club, by Elise Gravel
Next Time You See a Seashell, by Emily Morgan
One Small Square: Arctic Tundra, by Donald Silver
One Small Square: Cactus Desert, by Donald Silver
One Small Square: Rain Forest, by Donald Silver
One Small Square: Savannah, by Donald Silver
One Small Square: Woods, by Donald Silver
One Tiny Turtle, by Nicola Davies
Plant Parts, by Richard and Louise Spilsbury
Plants: Flower Plants, Ferns, Mosses, and Other Plants, by Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone (Note: the intro to chapters 4 and 5 refer to the earth being over 100 million years old)
Python, by Christopher Cheng and Mark Jackson
Scorpion Man: Exploring the World of Scorpions, by Laurence Pringle
Sea Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea, by Chris Butterworth
Seashells, Crabs, and Sea Stars, by Christine Kump Tibbitts
Seeds and More Seeds, by Millicent E. Selsam
Small Wonders: Jean-Henri Fabre & His World of Insects, by Matthew Clark Smith
Snakes are Hunters, by Patricia Lauber
Spiders: All About Their Web-Building Skills, Bodies, Diets, and More! by Seymour Simon
Sponges are Skeletons, by Barbara Juster Esbensen
Sponges: Spectacular Sea Creatures, by Laura Sue Perricone
Star of the Sea: A Day in the Life of a Starfish, by Janet Halfmann
Starfish, by Edith Thacher Hurd
The Story of Jane Goodall, by Susan Katz
Summer Birds, by Margarita Engle
Take Along Guide: Birds, Nests, and Eggs, by Mel Boring
Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes, by Nicola Davies
Tops and Bottoms, by Janet Stevens
The Tree Book: For Kids and their Grown Ups, by Gina Ingoglia
Turtles in My Sandbox, by Jennifer Keates Curtis
Understanding DNA: A Breakthrough in Medicine, by Tony Allan
A Weed is a Flower: The Life of George Washington Carver, by Aliki (lower elementary)
What is a Vertebrate? by Bobbie Kalman
What’s Smaller than a Pygmy Shrew?, by Robert Wells
Who Was George Washington Carver? by Jim Gigliotti (upper elementary)
Wiggling Worms at Work, by Wendy Pfeffer
The World of Mammals, by Memoria Press
Yucky Worms, by Vivian French
